depression in toys r us

[Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads]

ds1's bday tomorrow. We're hoping to get him a tom cat SN bicycle eventually but they're a thousand quid (!) so we need to apply to a charity for part funding.

Anyway decided to go to toys r us for some things to open tomorrow. Decided to steer clear of therapy and get things he woiuld enjoy. I walked round the store for an hour getting more depressed as I couldn't find anything he would want.

Eventually bought a toy washing line (which he'll love), a dog thing that dances to an ipod (which he may completely ignore) and a balamory play set.

For a 7 year old. He has no idea its his birthday tomorrow.

God I hate his birthday. Another year gone, but we're still stood still.

JimJams I've had several conversations with parents where they ask what their child plays with and I have had to say 'well not much really.'
Does your Ds like the computer? I often suggest that parents look to buy software that their child like to play with in school, this company is good \link{http://www.inclusive.co.uk/index.shtml\inclusive technology} stuff is expensive but if you have other relatives asking what to give you could say £20 towards this please.
I hope this might help for the future

lol- he does sound SO ace. I love that speedy litheness that some kids with autism (and actually all kids I think but nt kids get it socialised out of them pdq cos we don't like chaos enough, even at parties and fun days) get when they're intent on doing something pleasurable. The other kids shouldn't have been so slow. But then again their insistence on using unnecessary mats probably held them back.:)

Happy birthdat to DS1, birthdays are a nightmare, all that expectation from pressie givers and then you dread the kids opening the pressie and the non reaction, i never know what to buy my three, one of my girls would be so happy with a carton of milk and an agros book! not the sort of pressies your typical 12 year old girl would want. hope he loves his washing line.

Jimjams :(

Hugs to you tonight.

Thinking of you tomorrow too. Hugs Blossom xxxxxx

((((((((((((((Jimjams))))))))))))))))

Hugs also to your DS for tomorrow.

I hope you get through tomorrow okay. And Happy Birthday to Ds1 - I hope he has a lovely day.

hope you are having a nice day jimjams

Have you ever thought of trying the special needs catalogues, we have recently got a couple of things for ds from there,
\link{http://enablingdevices.com/families.aspx?id=41&session=child\these are good}

that one is american but have a branch in the uk but cant find the catalgue sorry they will give you the web address if you phone

whats really good about them is they have taken normal toys like barbie,playskool and fisher price and addapted them for special needs and you just use switches with them

hope you enjoy the day

Hi Jimjams, I hope DS1 and the family DO have a lovely birthday today, I'm sure you will. Its a horible yearly landmark that is unavoidable and can be sad. I have given up on "toys" as such (mind you, he's 11 next birthday) and buy DS activity-related things like the exercise balls he likes, rocking chair, wobble board etc. This year I'm working up to an exercise bike and free-standing hammock! With other people I either get them to give me money towards something and tell them what it is, such as the rocking chair which cost £150, or I manage to come up with one or two things he might like and I will buy him t-shirts if he needs them although its not very exciting. I'm going to buy him an official England football shirt and cricket shirt which are expensive but I like them and they're appropriate for a boy of any age (DH at 47!). One of the best things I got recently was a Babyliss bubble spa, a little mat that goes in the bath and makes TONS of bubbles without much water or bubble bath, he loves it and it keeps him quiet/happy for ages. I got it on Amazon. DS has no interest in TV, DVDs, computer unfortunately, much as I'd like him to.
I also know what you mean about challenging for the prize of being the most difficult in a group of kids with SN . I told you before that I used to trawl my mind to think of anyone who had a worse situation (DS-wise) than me and I came up with 2 out of everyone I know, that used to keep me going, horrible though it is.

... oh JimJams

I feel I have to point out that Toys R Us is one of the 9 Circles of Hell (I personally feel its number 3)... I always leave feeling despondent too

Happy Birthday to Jimjam-let .. it maybe doesn't matter if he knows or not .. you know and it is your celebration of your life and your love for DS

some good ideas there davros. I thought of a hammock chair. I wish I'd been more organised this year but tbh I've been trying not to think about it. Computers made a promising start a few years ago, but not really anymore. DS2 doesn't help by trying to take over. I wonder if comet have a bath mat I could grab today.

Davros - I can't think of anyone!!! Not in terms of being able to access things.

Jimjams, I am so sorry. I hope today is better than you feared, and Happy Birthday to ds1.

As a tiny bit of help Tchibo have both hammock chairs and free-standing hammocks either this week or next- I'll try and find the link.

\link{http://www.tchibo.co.uk/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/uk/-/GBP/TdUkBrowseCatalog-Start;sid=XkFG5VMePKRG5Bd5X8hMgVCKFLyreWUMrPw=?CategoryName=preview&source=NAVI\Should be here}.

Happy Birthday for today, Minijimjams.:)

Hope the washing line is a big success and that things aren't too stressful- sometimes I think that getting really sad leading up to things kind of gets it out of the way and the day itself goes better than you thought. Really hope that happens for you, jj.

Thanks Tamum, I might have a go at the free standing hammock, not sure what I could attach the hammock chair to....
Jimjams, I could only think of two people worse off than me in that they too only had one child who had severe ASD like DS and that was our situation then. The thing that was worse for them was their crap DHs! They could access activities etc easier than I could though . I have a feeling that your DS1 is like mine, actually very interactive, spontaneous and affectionate etc (described as a "determined communicator" in his Statement ) but with that comes a LOT of behaviour.... no free lunch!

but toys r us is the pits anyway.

Woolies does that Babyliss bath mat Jimjams, and they should be open today.

Happy Birthday to your DS1!

Like the idea of the bubble mat, Davros. Just looked and Boots have a Babyliss Bubble Magic Kids Bath Spa mat online but it does say for over 12s ......however as DD is closely supervised I'm sure it would be fine.
Hope the party went well, jimjams.

Davros- hammock chairs come with stands!

Well we got through today. I think ds1 had a nice time. We went to our disabled swimming club this morning, I took him to look at campervans this afternoon and he cried when we left. He loved his cake and us singing happy birthday, and he'll get that again tomorrow at school.

I feel like I've been through an emotional wringer. But still, it's done, for another year. He's still shouting upstairs. Bloody summer.

Davros- you're right ds1 and your ds are very similar. Your ds is the person the most like ds1 I have met- excellent at getting the point across, affectionate and interested in strangers (you know how your ds came back into the room when we were there and was giving us sideways looks- exactly what ds1 would have done), but oh yes so many behaviours, and- in our case at least, absolutely no idea that he should be basing his behaviour on the people around him.

Glad the sliding fantastico had a good birthday, jj.:)

And he's asleep at last! :) 7 years ago I was just starting the happiest year of my life (really).

happy birthday little JJ.

A very happy birthday to ds1 jimjams :) xxxxxx

Only 3 months and dd will be 7 too !

Happy birthday to your DS1, jimjams.