3rd birthday present ideas

[talcam]

DD2 has angelmans syndrome she will be 3 next month and I was wondering if anyone had any good suggestions for birthday presents for her.

Her main problem lies in a lack of speech although she has picked up quite a few makaton signs now. She has been assessed has globally delayed and has a short attention span.

Her nursery suggested posting things and things with music reward for doing things?

Any ideas greatfully received.

I don't know how much you want to spend, or if this would work, but my DS (autistic) has a portable DVD player which he loves loves loves. He plays with it most of the day, and has learned quite a lot just by fiddling around and pressing buttons. If that's no good, there are some fantastic things in the Disney shop - eg he loves this Mickey mouse toy which spins and lights up when you press the side. Or they do little packets of figurines from each film - my son loves all the Mickey characters. The other things he loves more than anything are what we call "squidgies" - they are sort of balls which you squash and squidge and they bulge out in different colours. They're very cheap and are usually in the small toys area of toy shops, near the tills! Or a helium balloon, or a balloon kit where you can make long balloon dogs? All these are things I would not have thought of buying, but we've ending up buying them again and again as he plays with them till they are worn out! Happy birthday DD2 of talcam!

I second sickof, my ds has ASD and will be 3 in June and that is what we will be getting him, he will only sit for more than 5 seconds when a DVD is on. Some other great hings are this and this or maybe this These are all good for encouraging coordination and give a reward of sorts

Hi talcam, DD1 also has angelmans syndrome. She will be 3 in July. Would love to hear more about your daughter. Some things DD loves - the light and sounds drum from elc. Those pop up tunnels - she spends ages crawling up and down, and her swing - she would spend all day in it.

Thanks these are all great ideas please keep them coming .

Unfortunately smaller things are out as she still puts things in her mouth, although she does seem to be able to get things through her digestive system like the small yellow rubber man previously known as Micheal.

Any suggestions in any price range are welcome as i am expecting any day the onslaught of phone calls "Any ideas about birthday presents?"

DD2 has UPD form of angelmans and as a result we are very lucky because she is very highly performing for an angel. Eg she has quite a lot of signs now even although we only found out 4 months ago and only started signing then. She is very loveable but full of nonsense.

IIRC early learning centre does a wooden postbox with wooden "letters" to post in, shouldn't have any small pieces.

Dd2 (3) likes shape sorters, puzzles and anything to do with numbers, if we had a bigger garden she would love a swing or a trampoline.

She also likes water play so maybe a water/sand table to go outside.

What about something like this for vocalisation. You can put different pictures in pre-record the word for said picture. Its meant for family photos, but I think its excellent for a non verbal child as well.

Just thought, DS2 who has autism, has this and also this. Both give a musical reward when you put the coins/blocks though the correct slot.

DS2 is 3.6 and loves them.

second totalchaos's suggestion of a post box. someone posted on here before that it can be used to post flashcards of pictures as a game which could help to develop vocabulary/sign vocabulary.

Dd1 (ASD) also loves the Orchard games, which are great to teach turn taking or they can be played with just 1 player, she likes Greedy Gorilla and Blue Dog Red Dog. We also use flash cards and picture snap cards.

oo am liking the post box idea we been using a box but ds would love this .

We have a post box but had never thought to use it with other things that is a great idea.

ooh yes, Orchard games does a nice Noah's Ark game (meant to pair off the animal cards and put them in the ark), that would work well as a posting game. Waterstones and John Lewis definitely stock a range of the Orchard games, as do the more traditional toyshops.

I do love orchard park games I have to say that one sounds great she loves animals.

Our dd2 has Tuberous Sclerosis and has just had her 3rd birthday. Got a fab sand and water play table from ELC which has been out all day in the garden! Also got the In the night garden shape sorter and large wooden building blocks to match. Relatives bought a musical toy from Marls and Spencer that has a mirror attached to it. You press the buttons to get different instrument sounds and nursery rhymes. She loves anything musical so we have a huge instrument box. anything noisy goes down well!

I will check out the music thing from marks. Speaking of has anyone ever heard of Neurosmith musicblocks?

Dd has the music blocks, i searched high and low for them and eventually got them from e-bay and dd wasn't interested at all . She spends more time playing with her Bob the Builder talking phone.

Ah maybe not worth getting the american relative to post them over then