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Xmas ideas for potential ASD child

18 replies

ANiceCupofTeaandASitDown · 04/10/2011 11:54

Sorry, sorry I know its early Blush but Im trying to be organised this year and in the vain hope of achieving that goal I thought I would try to pick some brains. DD is 3.7, non verbal and potentially has ASD. I wondered if anybody could give some ideas of what your DCs with similar problems enjoy playing with? Im a bit stuck for inspiration so any ideas gladly accepted. Thanks!!

OP posts:
saintlyjimjams · 04/10/2011 11:59

I used to try too much at xmas. Now (ds1 aged 12, severely autistic) we keep it light and really look at ds1's interests and not buy too much (too overwhelming). One of his favourite presents ever was a book photos of our home town.

Other things that have worked include music blocks (not sure they're still made), scooter. Now we just buy surf stuff as that's what he likes doing and clothes (weirdly he likes new clothes). Of course when younger thomas tf tank engine stuff.

But I'd say don't go overboard ime it's too much and becomes overwhelming. It used to take ds1 10 days just to open the presents as he really couldn't cope.

saintlyjimjams · 04/10/2011 11:59

Oh and spinny shiny lights.

Agnesdipesto · 04/10/2011 12:15

DS doesn't really play (4.11) but he does like anything stimmy. So anything with buttons, lights, music or very obvious cause and effect. He likes marble runs and car garages with ramps. He likes flexi track from ELC - all our boys have loved this. They used to do other sets eg dinosaur and you get bits off ebay. Toy guitars and keyboards. Books where you can press the buttons.
I love melissa and doug toys eg the wooden puzzles and pattern block sets
He likes funny things eg those awful dancing toys eg snowmen that sing and wobble around. He thinks they are hilarious.
But mainly I just put the money towards a day out at a water park or saving up for centerparcs. He doesn't like presents, doesn't open them or play with them on the day so we prefer to just take him out somewhere he loves.
Nothing worse than family turning up with presents he doesn't open or touch.

wasuup3000 · 04/10/2011 14:07

At that age my ds fav pressie was a rainmaker toy and a spinning top. ELC and Hawkins Bazzar ar e very good for touchy, feely, shiney old fashioned toys. Same suggestions as everyone else really, he loved a music keyboard, a handheld computer that you can carry about, magnadoodle, that tree thing that you can roll balls down that you push through a hole, as well.

suburbandream · 04/10/2011 14:21

Another vote for Hawkins Bazaar here. One of DS2's favourite things is an egg-shaped light that gently changes colour. Also, those 70's style fibre-optic lights and lava lamps (there's a theme developing here Smile). Like saintly, I try to keep it quite low-key as DS (now nearly 8) finds it all a bit overwhelming TBH

zzzzz · 04/10/2011 15:17

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keepingupwiththejoneses · 04/10/2011 15:49

ds3 5.4 is mad on dinosaurs, we have got him this and this. I can recommend trampoline great investment.

maryellenwalton · 04/10/2011 16:34

After the penny finally dropping that ds1 (4.9) really doesn't want or need anything for entertainment other than his ipad/ the computer, I have decided to put a stop to buying toys or similar. He doesn't have any interest, and I have an awful feeling of deflation/ frustration when he doesn't want to open any presents and then discards them without even looking at them.

I guess it's all about managing my expectations...I wasn't able to see that giving him toys like his siblings was about my desires, not his. He couldn't give a stuff if it's Xmas, although, like Agnes' ds he does love the dancing/ singing tat, and we will take him round the garden centre to his heart's content so he'll get his fill!

Also as Agnes said, my new plan is to ask friends and relatives to chip in towards something like a legoland/ aquarium/ kew gardens pass so that he can have fun at the places he loves all year round!

But they're all pretty tight, so let's see Grin

cansu · 04/10/2011 16:52

A while back for ds1 aged 10 I decided to spend money on stuff to make him more comfy so bought blackout tent, massive beanbag sofa thing, new tv and dvd for his room, dvd's of old favourites etc. For dd (more interested in stuff) cbeebies characters dvds and loves talking characters of Upsy daisy etc. I also have bought her hawkins bazar style squidgys, and recently a dark den and torches to play with inside said thing (though haven't got this yet).

saintlyjimjams · 04/10/2011 19:48

Agree with maryellen - although it took me a lot longer than her to stop buying toys in the hope ds1 might like them.

For his birthday he had a surf and was given money towards future surfs. Still not learning I picked up a skateboard and some haribo to wrap. He ate the haribo and 6 months later still hasn't looked at the skateboard. Loved his surfs though. :)

I think just focus on what you know your child likes, then get a few bits, and don't worry if it's not as much as you'd like to get. IYSWIM.

Agnesdipesto · 04/10/2011 20:06

Oooh yes an annual pass
DS just discovered rollercoasters this year so thats an idea...
Sadly we're not near legoland

MrsMagnolia · 04/10/2011 21:28

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Marne · 04/10/2011 22:12

Dd2 at that age liked:
Puzzles
Duplo
Tomy toys (the spinning musical thing)

I think a tent is a great idea, ikea do some great stuff including tents and swinging chirs ect.

bialystockandbloom · 04/10/2011 22:32

Agree with loads on here. We got months of play from the Elefun game zzzz mentioned (the one where the elephant blows paper butterflies in the air to catch in nets). Squidgy, light-up, or musical stuff popular. Is he into painting/crafts? If so, finger paints, ink stamps etc.

An inspired friend gave him some soft swords last christmas when he was 3.5 - still loves them now. They were from poundland Smile

If he's watched films, talking characters might be an idea (Toy Story a hit in this house).

Like agnes the singing bloody xmas reindeer/polar bear nonsense was massively popular. Ds particularly loved a polar bear singing George Michael Last Christmas Hmm

We bought a bilibo last year, which was also v popular (actually too much so: he put everything he could find into it and spun it as fast as it would go, so bricks, blocks and plastic rubbish flew around the room endangering all around, and we eventually banned it on grounds of health & safety Grin)

PipinJo · 05/10/2011 05:52

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PipinJo · 05/10/2011 06:04

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Marne · 05/10/2011 13:51

pipinJo- i would buy him girls stuff if thats what he wants, i have to buy dd1 boys toys each year, i quite like it as i get fed up with all the girly toys.

I often buy things that will look good if they are not played with, so a wooden kitchen would look nice or a dolls house Grin. We have a cupboard full of toys that hardly get played with (ben and holly's kingdom, Peppa pig, Sam ect..), last year dd1 wanted hotwheels so we got them and they were only played with on christmas day then dd1 returned to being glue to the pc Sad.

squidworth · 05/10/2011 17:02

My DS is 5, non verbal with limited interest I bought him www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40100253/
I go to pound land and buy junk so he has things to open and I don't have to waste hundred on toys he will never use. Family buy him premium bonds.

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