Really need some present ideas for my 13 year old DD...

teabag29

I know its early still but I want to get my xmas prezzies sorted asap so i'm not struggling come december. I have been saving park vouchers, tesco xmas savers club and tesco vouchers all year and these should all be posted out next month when I plan to go on a shopping spree.

I have my other 3 kids sorted in terms of what to get them but I have no clue what to get my dd who is 13 in November. She isnt your average 13 year old, she has learning disabilities (she ranges from learning age 5 to age 8 depending on the subject) and is due to see paediatrician next month to be asessed for dyspraxia. She also has sensory problems and behaviour and emotional issues so hoping paediatrician can look at it all and see whats what (i have long suspected aspergers but time will tell).

So anyway, she is behind with her development in the sense that she is more like a 6 year old than 13, she likes to play with dolls and pretend teacher games etc and likes to play alone. I am at a real loss as to what to get her for xmas. She has lots of clothes, make up etc (which she never really uses). She has a ds, mp3 etc but again doesnt really use them. Nothing seems to occupy her for more than 5 minutes.

Last year I got her a mobile phone but she was very immature with it and began texting ppl hi or just a random letter,and ringing numbers she didnt know etc.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can get her? I usually spens about £500 on them each but have decided thats too much and this year will drop that to £300. I was thinking of tickets to go and see something but unsure what???

SugarSpun

It sounds like she's very into imaginary play, why not a nice set of puppets and maybe a theatre so she can put performances on for you and make her solo activity a social one?

Does she like art? You can make an arts/crafts set as childlike or as grown up as you please, poster paint vs. acrylics and paper vs. proper canvases etc. Or a cake making kit?

Keep an eye out on Groupon, things like falconry days might appeal, where she gets to spend time with an instructor and a large bird?

teabag29

Thanks. No she hates art, alongside pe its her worst subject. She does like imaginary play lots and drama and cooking are the only subjects that interest her at school. I'm not sure how she'd get on with puppets but it might be worth a try. My youngest daughter who is 3 has some hand puppets but the older one doesnt seem to be into them, its dolls and teachers. Basically where she gets to play the boss (i.e the teacher or the mum) and gets to tell her pupils what to do hehe.

She also loves cooking but I have to be careful as she also has a food obsession which has been spiralling out of control over the years, particularly with sweet foods. I love the idea about falconry or maybe a gift experience day...I shall look whats on offer. Thanks

poppet

what about a big dolls house - perfect for a 4-9 yr old age group You canget some fabulous ones now with 3 storeys and furniture for all the rooms - imaginary play at its best.

or how about a scooter - they seem to be more popular than bikes and mit would be great exercise.

craftier

I have Aspergers Syndrome and my sons have autism. They are very difficult to buy for too, as not a lot of 20 yr olds are 'into' Thomas the Tank Engine etc! So nothing comes in a suitable size. I agree with the doll's house suggestion, I loved mine when I was a teenager. Otherwise, what about something for her bedroom? My grandpa bought me a rocking chair for my bedroom when I was about 13, and I still have it now (age 50+!).

ostrich_lady

Hi there

I have great sympathy for you - it can be very difficult choosing appropriate gifts.

Two out of my 3 children have similar learning difficulties and both very much enjoy music. I enrolled my daughter (at age 12) into our local Clive's Music School (it is a franchise so it comes up on google and caters for different ages) which is very informal style music lessons - no grade exams - and which ends with all the group jamming songs together like a band. Perhaps it would be worth a look to see if anything appeals to her - we had a free taster session first. If she enjoys it, learns the basics and gains a bit of confidence then she may be able to move over to having lessons at school instead (it cost me £84 a month but the lessons at school are free). Could help with socialising a little and stop her becoming isolated. If she enjoys drama then perhaps you have a local children's drama group or circus skills lessons - which could help co-ordination in a fun way.

Both of mine also enjoy ice skating (surprisingly in view of the dyspraxia!) so perhaps try her with that - you could maybe buy a course of one-to-one lessons if she likes it. Neither of mine have been good at PE at school but both took to the ice well.

We took my daughter to see the Bratz on tour at the MEN arena a few years ago and also to Disney Princesses on Ice - both as gifts and both of which she loved.

Good luck!

Lunar_Eclipse

teabag29 wrote: »

the older one doesnt seem to be into them, its dolls and teachers. Basically where she gets to play the boss (i.e the teacher or the mum) and gets to tell her pupils what to do hehe.

My girls play schools ALL the time, so if you haven't got one already, I highly recommend a whiteboard.

In fact, one of my daughter's main presents a couple of years ago was 2 whiteboards (£2.50 each in Tesco, who still have them, so a friend could play too), whiteboard pens, folders etc It was a fairly large present, size wise, used daily, and cost about £10.

Dolls are also popular in our house. A wooden dolls house (that can be transformed into a school, hospital, hotel etc too with Playmobil or Sylvanian families) would go down extremely well with both my girls and I highly recommend it given what you have said about your daughter's interests.

So, a stocking, whiteboard & pens, dolls house (Chad Valley do a nice plain one) with some sort of accessory is my suggestion.

my3girls

What does she say when you ask her what she would like?

I think the whiteboard sounds like a great idea :money: my dd would love that infact, she always plays schools/teachers and is forever wasting so much paper. You could make a big gift basket with everything inside.

They do little school sets that you could use:

http://www.funlearning.co.uk/creative-play/pretend-and-play-school-set

Or for a big present, Playmobil do a school, they are very well made and attention to detail is amazing;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Playmobil-4324-Furnished-School-Building/dp/B0021ZQP42/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

The gift experiences soundgood to, as do the disney on ice ideas.
Does she like animals? A lot of Zoo's do a 'keeper for a day' experience, where you can go round and feed the animals, going into the enclosures etc. which look brill.

Hope you find somethign she will love, and that you get the answers you need from the paediatricians.

Good luck

Jenni
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