Do you get disappointed with the lack of enthusiam

[macwoozy]

I bought loads for ds this year, I admit I've spoilt him but he's had a bad year and I just wanted him to have a really great day. I should have known better really that he doesn't express the glee that other children show, but even things that I thought would excite him went barely noticed. I've just watched the tape of ds opening his presents, and he's only concerned about getting on this damn computer, ignoring all the great presents that I've bought. 3 days later and there's a pile of presents that he can't even be bothered to investigate. He is more than capable but just doesn't seem to have the curiosity that other children would experience.

I bet I'm not the only one to feel disappointed, even though it's what I should expect???

J's 9 this year but still hanging on to the idea of Santa Claus. I told him around October that both we and SC parents had noticed that he didn't play with many of the toys he got for last Christmas so this year he'd be getting fewer presents but better quality ones, as he's getting older. He was OK about this, especially when I directed him to the Lego website and told him to make me a list. Basically I got him what I knew he wanted, no tat or 'surprises', and he's been happy with them. There are still a few gifts lying around uninvestigated, mainly from other people, but it's not as bad as it has been previous years.

ds1 used to take days to open his presents. This year I took him out for a walk on Dartmoor before he'd finished opening his stocking presents and ds2 and ds3 (aged 5 and 2) almost passed out - they couldn't believe it.

What I have found is that things I think he'll like - he does eventually. Last year we bought him a periscope. It took hikm 6 months to find it but then it didn't leave his side for a week, and he's returned to it intensely a few times since as well. On Christmas day he refused to even look at it.

Can be heartbreaking though. It's just the difference right in your face isn't it.

It was a bit better for us this year as DS2 actually unwrapped presents for the first time - we taught him how to in his ABA programme. Previously he'd pull at the paper once, then run off. But still the only presents he took immediate notice of were a Tellytubby that he's seen in the toyshop (and played with) loads of times before and two videos. The rest are lined up on the windowsill waiting for him to notice them - and as Yurt says, he will, eventually. We only wrapped a few presents this year - the rest we just left casually about the place - in the hope that this would make a difference, but it hasn't really.

Do you think your DS will take notice of his presents in time MacWoozy?

I've just been trying to persuade ds to unwrap his stocking presents as he hasn't bothered. I was hoping things would be slightly different this year as he did seem to have more of a sense that something was going on. Plus I had a small success last year with a lightning mcQueen toy that he actually loved so I thought it might have given him the idea that presents can be nice! No such luck though.

And don't you get sick of people teling you, you should teach your children to say 'thankyou', and set them an example!

one of the advantages of being non-verbal you don't get expected to say thank you.....

Oh yes, I always worry when ds gets a present. If he doesn't like it, he won't hold back, it can be very embarassing

Ds has been looking forward to Xmas for weeks, but on the day he just seemed more eager to play on the computer than actually playing with any of his new toys. I have to actually encourage him and set his new toys up, otherwise he doesn't seem to have any motivation to do it himself, or it would take months, if at all.

There's about 10+ presents still lying here in the lounge that have been unwrapped but not actually opened. Some of these things he's seen in shops and has shown much interest, but now he's got them, it's like he can't be bothered to even open up the box.

I wonder if I could just hide them and wrap them up again for next xmas, I wonder if he'd notice

last year ds2 was scared by his pile of presents even after he opened them he wouldn't take anything out of the boxes.

This year he ripped off all the paper was VERY honest about the things he liked & didn't like. Then all of a sudden he hit overload & took himself off to the other room & sat alone & in silence. DH put an old war film on for him & thats were he stayed, we took it in turns to go & sit with him but tbh he didn't care.

DS spent Christmas under table 'making friends' with new smiley stress ball!!
Birthday party was great though! How? Wrote a picture timetable for the day, got bouncy castle at local sports centre so other kids didn't care whether he played or not (not).
Put all presents in a bin liner on arrival at party so they didn't see his lack of interest, then wrote 'thanks for the great present' cards!
4 months later he said it was good because he didn't have to join in!
Hope the party goes well!