Christmas present ideas for teen with special needs?

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 at her request 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???

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Has she asked for anything?

She might be happy with just the latest dolls, after all, and it would be a shame to spend a fortune on something she doesn't really want. Maybe even a teaset or such.

CH27

What about a course of horse riding lessons? Some centres run classes for children with special needs as it can be very theraputic.

teabag29

No she hasnt asked for anything, infact she said she doesnt want anything this year as theres nothing she can think of . I hadnt thought of horse riding lessons, what a great idea. I think she would love that thankyou I shall look into it

sock-knitter

i was going to suggest horse riding lessons, one of my sons did horse riding with a local school that did riding for the disabled he loved it, have to say that my other son would have hater it he is scared of all animals.
if she likes dolls, why not get her another one, my boys loved bears from build a bear, and loved all the little outfits you can buy them
i also got one of mine at that age, a big set of those beads that are on wires, as they had one at the hospital he atteneded, everyone told me i shouldnt be buying toys suited to a younger child, and i ignored them, ds1 played with those beads all the time, also he is now 16, and loves threading beads, so this year he has another bead jewellery set, if it keeps them happy stuff what others might think
shaz x

jakes-mum

Thats quite a tough one, does she have friends of her own age that like 'grown up' presents or are her friends of a similar developmental age? I only ask as if shes in a mainstream school and her friends act 13 going on 18 then she may want to fit in with them present wise, if shes happy with toys that are orientated for younger children I would shop for an 8 year old.

I did meet a very lovely man when I was in my teens on holiday he wa in his late 20's but his disability made him much younger and he loved to draw, he was inundated with pens, pencils, paper, notepads but was in his element according to his parents everytime he got more. If she likes dolls, maybe look at the latest barbie accessories, how about sylvanian families? If she has a particular big doll she loves, maybe an outfit for it. If she likes make believe, my sister did buy her children a puppet theatre one year so they could stage their own shows

Gemmy_2

is she into a particular tv programme?

Toto

I'm sorry I can't help OP, I have a very similar problem. I have a 14 year old with severe autism and fragile x. She isn't into toys, loves her ipod has a mountain of clothes. Her developmental age is around 3. No idea what so ever what to get her this year. It's so tough getting it right with these special kids isn't it.

Peanuckle

The only thing I would add is don't get too hung up on spending the same amount on each child, my eldest son has Asperger's and one year all he wanted for Christmas was a box of tissues and some easter egg foil :eek: Thanks to Cadbury's I got the foil (rang customer services and they were able to help) and got his tissues then got myself in a mess because I'd spent a lot more on the others. Obviously I bought him other things but when the big day arrived he was absolutely ecstatic that he'd got what he'd asked for and all my worry about balancing the spending out was for nothing. tbh I don't think he even opened any other present until a few days later lol

minimoneysaver

Does she like books? If she isn't a reader, how about books on CD? Art things, and especially Wedgits! These are always a massive hit with all children and adults.
http://www.wedgits.com/
I got my daughter her first set at about 24 months old. At 6 years old these are still one of her favourite toys. I purchased two sets to ensure she could do more with them.

Toto

Peanuckle wrote: »

The only thing I would add is don't get too hung up on spending the same amount on each child, my eldest son has Asperger's and one year all he wanted for Christmas was a box of tissues and some easter egg foil :eek: Thanks to Cadbury's I got the foil (rang customer services and they were able to help) and got his tissues then got myself in a mess because I'd spent a lot more on the others. Obviously I bought him other things but when the big day arrived he was absolutely ecstatic that he'd got what he'd asked for and all my worry about balancing the spending out was for nothing. tbh I don't think he even opened any other present until a few days later lol

That's a sweet story, I'm glad he got what he wanted. All my daughter wants is a peppa pig swimming costume, difficult when she is an adult size 12 lol. She also asks for a halloween cat suit, but not the leotard leggings type, it has to be the kind that they sell for little kids in the shops. She doesn't get that they just don't make this stuff in adult sizes, sigh.

OP I do second the riding lessons. My daughter does riding for the disabled with school and it is the highlight of her week.