What can I do for my sons birthday???

[devientenigma]

Whenever he has had or been invited to a party, disco or soft play in the past he hasn't joined in. He's sat out withdrawn. He also doesn't bother with the other kids there. However he has asked for a football party!!! He wants me, his dad, siblings, nanna and auntie to go. When I ask about classmates he says no. He has also been for a meal on a tea visit to the local repite centre to the football stadium so don't know if this is what he has in his mind. I just don't know what to do for him. please help!!!

must be a good chance he is remembering the tea visit to the stadium - is that at all possible to arrange ?

the football party sounds like a good idea!

ds hates birthday parties but for his 5th we had his at the 10 pin bowling, we had 4 lanes booked and invited all his friends from nursery, they also had face painting then lunch and ice cream etc in the cafe,it was great as everyone was kept busy and all the attention wasnt on ds and he really enjoyed it!

Had similar worry about my ds this year.. last year he was in a small class and we invited everyone to a 'film night' after school with a supper followed by cartoon and a couple of episodes of shaun the sheep. then cake and singing happy birthday. They loved it.

This year DS (6) didn't want to invite any friends, just family, and all the characters he could think of from TV. ().

I worried silly about it but at the last minute I invited two neighbours with their two kids, and adult family, and we all had some pizza for tea then the kids played, we read them a story and they played hide and seek until it was time to go. Again it was great. so long as there's bithday cake,and singing and LOVE it will be fine.

Maybe you could play a bit of football, or watch a bit of football at the park or on the TV, and have a football cake... dress up in footy gear? learn some football songs?

Would the local club let him go and watch a practice game for a bit? ( assuming a whole game would be too much).

Lord, it's so hard when they can't really get across what they want! Don't worry about the friends though, by next year you'll be wishing he didn't want to invite so many!

agree with cyber, could you get hold of and show him a picture of the relevant eaterie to see if he seems v. enthusiastic to return? if he doesn't want his classmates then don't bother with them, don't feel he should have them there.

Thanks for the replies,loving the ideas. Can I just add he will be 9 on his birthday, however he is significantly severly delayed with lots of sensory needs, autistic traits etc as well as being down syndrome. I also just didn't want to do anything outdoors with it being too cold...he gets frequent recurrent pnuemonia. I have never managed to get his day right and for many years never had a presant as I just didn't know what to buy. His play skills are very limited. His birthday is next month, I just wanted to get it right in my head, as usually it's a rush trying to work out what to do on the day. Cheers guys, take care x