Tough Christmas Present Task !?

Question

For Thomas pictured left, he is a tough one to buy for thats why i couldn't add this to my other Christmas question

Thomas has autism non verbal, although ten his 'mental' age is 2 or 3 he hates very complicated things ...so any ideas !

Answer 1

Suggestions that I have you may already have but who knows.  Moon sand.  Duplos.  Vtech alphabet town its 20 dollars and at target.

Have you looked at West music.  A Remo ocean drum its in percussion but a subset of percussion under sound effects has really great stuff.  we have a cabasa, the mice bells.  I have seen videos of Thomas using the Remo floor tom but wasn't sure if that was at school.  We have this one and its very durable.  A triangle.  We have done music therapy and that is how West music came my way.

I don't know how he is with mouthing things but a take on the marble run is the ramp where the cars go down back and forth, its nice and visual.

We also have a bed tent.  They come in a full size too.  How about a bean bag chair?

I saw the old style race track in the store, with 2 larger cars and the controller is like a laser gun you just point and push.  

Do you have the rapper snappers?  Super duper has them and kids of all ages seem to like them.  We have a bunch of theraputty.

EDIT: My 2 spectrum sons can't get a sense of if they will like something from a commercial, catalog, or even if its in the box in a store.  I don't know if others are like that or not, but I find I have to guess and pick what I think they will like.  Sometimes I am wrong, but usually get it right.

Answer 2

Fisher-Price Spark Art Easel or any kids stand Easel.They have them in all age ranges .was suggested for my son when he was younger by an early intervention team. he loved it and it helped for more than i thought in the long run.

Answer 3

my mother is a special ed teacher and she said depending on what he likes most austic children are very musical so she suggested maybe a keyboard or something that he could play and make his own music  

Answer 4

i no how you feel alex take a leaf OUT OF THOMAS BOOK AND HAS LOTS OF  VTECH TOYS   HE ALSO DOSE NOT INTERACT WITH TOYS ... BUT HE DOSE HOW EVER LOVE HIS TRAMPOLINE AND WE GOT A INDOOR 1 FOR HIM ???? JUST A IDEA ? BET TOM WOULD LOVE ONE    ITS ONLY SMALL BUT HE GETS ENJOYMENT OUT OF IT WHEN ITS TO COLD OR WET TO PLAY OUTSIDE

Answer 5

Hello! First I want to say my daughter Ivy is like your Thomas, so I understand how frustrating it gets every Christmas! I just came across the gift I'm getting her for Christmas this year-it's Vtech of course,lol.

http://www.vtechuk.com/products-and-acce...

There are better pictures of it here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/VTech-Learn-Arou...

Another great one is here-

http://www.etoys.com/Fisher-Price-Musica...

It is the only toy my daughter has ever stayed interested in. (she also prefers books & boxes,lol) She may forget about it for a while, but always comes back to it. Hers is getting so beat up I am getting her another one this year. (she has had hers since 2000 & it still works just great- it's very durable. but she lost the pieces that go with it) The link for it is from a site that only ships to the U.S. but it has a good description. I found one on eBay.co.uk-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fisher-Pricefinger...

but it is used. I'm not sure how available they are anymore. Well hopefully you'll be able to get some good suggestions here & shopping this year might be easier! (you can always hope, lol) Take care :)

Answer 6

Please don't take this as offensive, it's not meant to be - but is he capable of role play and things like that?

My son will be 2 next march, so I stuck to 2-3 age things for this Xmas. So far he's got a washing machine (he is OBSESSED with the washing machine lol) and a mop broom and dustpan set. He's also got a mini trampoline but not sure if that's appropriate given that Thomas is obviously going to be bigger than Finn.

He's also got things like puzzles and books - you can't go wrong with those!!

I'm wanting to get him a train set too - perhaps Thomas would like that - he can click all the pieces together and stuff.

Sorry to not be more helpful!!

Answer 7

Hi yes it can be a bit tough just too much to choose from. One way that can help you decide is to read reviews, the link below you will find lots of stuff for kids all with a little review. Good luck Malc.

Answer 8

I know my little boy LOVES cameras, they have these "rough and tumble" digital ones for kids now - really hold up to bonks and bumps. That might be a fun way for him to express himself. Also, I don't know if it is warm all year where you are but water toys are also great and provide fun tactile stimulation. They have these big outside water table things with a place to pour water and spouts and all that. Oh, man - you are getting your shopping done already! I am way behind!

Answer 9

Does he like music? What about something that plays music? Or a marble run....they are complicated but simple..he's be able to manage it but he might not like the noise.

Answer 10

A couple of cardboard boxes. My kids would love it.

How about those foam building blocks - the big ones?

He'd love stacking them up, and knocking them over again. I'd have fun doing that too.

A new Teletubbies DVD

A new Tweenies DVD

What about a Xylophone?

Ummmmmmmmmmm

What about a new Trampoline? A little one inside, since it's coming up to winter. That was he can jump on it, even when it's raining.

Or a trip to Thomas Land?? I want to go, but Andrew said No Charli. NO fair.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Answer 11

a dvd player, and sum dvd's

highschool musical, hairspray, the harry potters

sumthing musical id say is a great idea

Answer 12

you can do a personalized present that he likes at present.

personalized in a way that it just for him!

**great idea dude! i loved it!

Answer 13

Well, obviously I do not know him, so it is hard for me to say, but I will attempt answering anyway.You will have to let me know if my answer was of any help.

How able is he ? By this I mean, does he require 24 hour surveillance or can he be left unsupervised for short periods of time ?

Has he got any sense of danger ?

Sorry for all the questions, I am just trying to get an idea of the severity of his Autism.

Reading some of the answers you have got, I notice that someone suggested a marble run, which you seemed to think was a good idea. My concern would be that, with the mental age of a 2 or 3 year old, he might make the mistake of putting the marbles in his mouth.

Assuming he does not have any physical disability. Is he interested in sports ? If he is, then perhaps you could centre his interest around those.

Another idea that I had, was to take him out shopping. I know that he is non verbal, but would he be capable of physically directing you towards his interests ?

If you took him into a toy shop, and told him that he could chose what he wants for Christmas and you will buy it for him, is he the type that would set off excitedly running round the shop looking at everything and wanting practically everything in site, or would he be more reluctant to do so ?  

If you do not feel as if you could cope with a shopping trip ( I know how hard they can be for any mother with a young child, let alone one with a learning disability, no offence intended ) perhaps you could give him a catologue. Argos ? ToysRus ?

Although, yet again, that centres back to his ability. Would he be able to choose what he wanted or would he stare blankly at the pages ?

I am not sure where you are from, but here, in the UK, DNA toys might be a good shop for Thomas.

Answer 14

Well you know him better than anyone... maybe some large building blocks, toy trucks, toys that play music, art supplies, or his own photo album?

Answer 15

My youngest grand son,also Thomas,loves

Wooden Thomas the tank plus his Teddy.

As yet not walking or talking and partially

deaf but well loved like your Thomas.

Bless em both.

Down syndrome lad.