What to get... how much to spend... ASD DS

[thederkinsdame]

Hi, I wondered how much you are getting your kids for Christmas? DS (ASD) likes toys, but we are reluctant to spend loads, as it's so hit or miss as to whether something will be played with. I feel mean not getting much, but also don't want o buy him some old tat just for the sake of it IYSWIM.
Any ideas? He's 3 BTW

5inthebed- i'm not sure, i have a feeling it might be battery powered, the moon has batteries. They both have good reviews on Amazon.

Thanks for all the brilliant ideas guys! I am swithering, as DS does seem to 'get' Xmas a bit this year, but all he wants is play dough and some sweets (!) I've bought him some bits and bobs, including the snowman book and CD (he LOVES the film, as there's no language and it's a very simple story) Also bought this: peg board which was about £11. He was fascinated by the one the OT has, and played with it for hours.
In an ideal world. I would love to get him this... kitchen set

but we can afford it and it would take up too much space! I am thinking of gettign hima microwave though, as he has a few small kitchen bits, so we could set it all up for him then pack it away again as needed.
But my DH thinks I should put down my purse and not buy anything else...

That should read can't afford it, obviously! LOL

DS1(6) is getting an mp3 player (he loves zoning out with headphones on so it'll be a treat for him) and some kids' CDs that we can rip for him as well as some tracks off our own music collection.

He's also getting a numberjacks annual (one of his big loves) and some other books plus some DVDs of 60s/70s kids' programs, since these really help him chill, too. He needs all the chillin' he can get, lately! He'll also be getting stuff like jigsaws.

DS2(3.7) is getting some peppa pig and some timmy time figures, some plastic animals, a fun with numbers counting DVD and a leapfrog word whammer thing, since he loves his fridge phonics and is picking up on word recognition, even though he's non-verbal. It'll be a useful skill (reading and, even writing) to nurture in him. (We discovered, this week, that if we hold his hand steady, he can write his own name!!!!)

That moon in my room thing looks fantastic!

ouryve - i have a huge numberjacks fan here, too. He's obsessed with counting and numbers, even tho he's only 3.5. I think I may have to get him the annual too! It's fab that your DS2 can write his name!

Because the boy is non-verbal and often fairly passive and resistant to doing what we want him to do, he often surprises us, simply because it's so easy to under-estimate him!

I am getting DS2 the ELC garage - he saw it in our local store and loved putting the cas down the helter skelter. I was so glad I had found something because otherwise he would be opening just books on Christmas day. I have also bought him a Waybuloo DVD as its the only thing that transfixed him long enough for me to do anything.

Its his 3rd birthday soon after Christmas, so I am going to buy him a block of hours at our local softplay.

Marne those crayons are great - will be putting them on the bithday list!

Garage is a winner here. DS has had one since he was 1.6 and it's still played with most days!