Ideas for 7 year old girl

[Youknowwhatright]

My DD is autistic but very “high functioning” for want of a better term. I really struggle with ideas for Christmas and birthday which is made worse by the fact that her birthday is two weeks before Xmas!

She doesn’t really play in the way that a lot of kids her age might. She does quite nice pretend play with her sisters or friends but has never done pretend play alone. Therefore while we do have some Barbie’s etc she doesn’t play with them much. I have always tended to get her either things like art supplies as she enjoys drawing, bigger gifts like scooter or bike, lots of books, sometimes clothes. However she recently said she’s sad that she doesn’t have many toys in her room which is true. It’s because when left to her own devices she mainly reads. She will sometimes play with fidget/sensory toys like squishies which she likes but I can’t think what else to get her. She’s not particularly into any characters or films. She doesn’t watch any ads so she never really asks for anything specific. The toys would need to have a particular purpose so I don’t think she’d like cuddlies for example as they don’t really do anything. Thanks for any ideas!

What about something like a marble run set?

Does she like horses? The crafty ponies sets are lovely and can practice tacking up etc m (not crafting, name is misleading!)
my 7yo likes Lego if that’s an option, definite purpose there with the build.

Yoto
magnatiles
marble run (natgiografic do a motorised lift)
lego sets (3 in 1 ones seem to go down well)
washable pets from crayola
slime

Kapla?

Lego definitely. Build and display the sets and set them up in different scenes. My DD likes the Harry Potter ones which are good for setting up in scenes but another good option is the 3 in 1 kits that can be rebuilt into different models rather than just built from nice and displayed

Take her round a big box toy store on the pretence of buying a gift for someone else, and take a note of anything she is drawn to. My Dd 7 is like this, just wants art stuff and books. But this tactic has got her some toys she does play with - like little live pets, a vida the vet playset she loves even though she’s not v into the programme, she likes the mini lockers and accessories which come with the school type dolls even though she doesn't have the dolls - stuff I would never have guessed!

You can get bigger sensory items like bubble tube, lava lamp, Pilates ball and weighted lap teddies. At this age my autistic daughter got into first aid and enjoyed a real first aid kit and book which she practiced on us and teddies.

a barbie hairdressing head? interactive globe, crystal growing trees or kids microscope or clock?

I saw a feelings pineapple the other day - like a Mr Potato Head but specifically designed to express the childs feelings - if that might suit her - appreciate it may be too babyish

Lego?

Marble run, the wooden ones like Quadrilla aren't cheap but sound nice when the marbles run along them.

Keyboard / piano and maybe some lessons?

I know you say no cuddlies, but if she is feeling sad that she can't see toys around her but at the same time doesn't like playing, cuddlies do fulfil that role. Jellycats are particularly good - they look lovely and you can get ones related to something she likes e.g. a croissant or cheese fondue if she has an interest in food, or a dragon if she likes mythical books.

As pp said, Lego is also great, both for the making part and for the display purposes afterwards. Again get a set that links to her other interests, be it Harry Potter or Wicked or cactuses or rocks.

Art/craft supplies that look like toys: an easel, a small sewing machine, a weaving loom, bracelet kits

I've been debating whether my son (12) is too old for this - I know he'd have loved it a few years ago https://shop.sciencemuseum.org.uk/products/marble-run-starter-set-gecko

• Lego sets, my dd loves the character/disney type ones.
• Hama Beads
• Styling hair/head

My 7 year old autistic DD loves art/ drawing so I give her lots of art materials, glass paints etc. She loves these art boxes (also good for holidays):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tiger-Tribe-People-Drawing-Colouring/dp/B088R1VNQQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa

She loves receiving post so I also got a subscription to an art magazine for her birthday.

Lots of lego.

Jewellery-making kits (she is a magpie). Loom bands. Other crafty things like rock painting kits.

Marble runs are a big hit as others have said!

She likes tracking animals in the Fahlo app. https://myfahlo.com/en-gb

Sensory lights and lots of fluffy blankets always go down well.

Board games. She’s becoming very good at Cluedo and finds Cards Against Humanity hilarious (kids’ version!!!)

Obviously many, many books!

New Yoto cards.

Nintendo switch games.

She loves the ant farm and butterfly farm from Insectlore. https://www.insectlore.co.uk/

She’s also very musical so perhaps some music lessons as a PP said. She’s a good age for that now. Mine loves to sing as well as playing instruments so her mini-microphone to practice at home is good.

She’s also always on the swings in the garden. Movement like that (perhaps a wobble board?) can be very therapeutic. She’s also a big fan of beanbags/ beanbag chairs to chill out on.

Oooh and the Smartgames puzzles… also good for travel.

My DD of a similar age loves Gravitrax: a bit like a marble run but more advanced so might keep her interested for longer!

Does she like music? A keyboard has gone down very well with ours.

Kapla

This and maybe one of their books of ideas.

My 7 year old also loves her Schleich horses and any sort of building project. Teifoc do kits with mini bricks and mortar. We have the castle which has seen much love over the years (can be rebuilt).

A dolls house to build and decorate herself? I got a wooden slot together one off Amazon as an Oct holiday project for me and dd. We're going to try and turn it into a Gingerbread house apparently.

A weighted soft toy?

Hexbugs? My DS7 and DD9 (autistic) both love these.

loads of great ideas, thanks! Will start googling.

we do already have a piano and I was thinking of getting her lessons but they’re very expensive - at least £25 a week round here so that’s rather more of an investment! I’m specifically looking for toys.

we do already have a marble run but she doesn’t show a huge amount of interest. I think she’d get frustrated with Lego and struggle to follow the steps - not very visually/spatially skilled and has always struggled a bit with construction but a mixed bundle of Lego might work well.

A remote control car or robot maybe?

Rather than Lego I would go for playmobil sets - she can do imaginative play with them or just set up great scenes which if she’s drawn to order and things being ‘just so’ it can be a great outlet

£25 a week for music lessons is expensive
I found somewhere much cheaper by going to a music school rather than a teacher coming to the house.

I'd try her with both lego and playmobil.

What about simple games? Things like Snap cards, dominoes or Frustration. Just something to introduce her to games generally.
A Spacehopper, or pogo stick.
Not a toy as such, but children's cookbook and baking set.