Christmas gifts ideas?

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My son is 4.5 years old, but the size of a 7 year old by now, but, there are rocking horses that actually have room to grow for him. He seems to like rocking on them at the store and his feet don't even touch the wood footrests yet. I've done some searching and it seems rocking toys are a good thing for kids on the spectrum. Do you think I should go for it? There is a used one I can get for a 'reasonable price', but its still expensive ($150 when new $300). I can always sell it when he's outgrown it too. He has a TON of toys he doesn't play with (he doesn't do pretend play)- a play kitchen, cars, firehouse, legos, etc. He has really, really poor hand strength too.

Anyway, he's still going through diagnosis through Kennedy Krieger. He's had the OT (he needs work on fine motor and some gross motor), Speech (needs work on pragmatic speech, but is not far enough behind to qualify for special help in schools probably) and he's met with the Developmental Specialist Pediatrician who has ordered a whole slew of more appts and diagnostics. For now she has him at PPD-NOS, borderline Aspergers. She also worries about Anxiety. He meets with the psychiatrist for the first time next week (nov. 13th).


Other toy suggestions?

Definitely! I love to rock, too. It's fun and relaxing at the same time.

Thanks for the response. I always think of rocking horses for 2-3 year olds, but he seems to love it and I wonder if it's even good for him. He LOVES his mini trampoline.

Other idea is to get him some sort of bike/trike meant for bigger kids (like a big wheel?) because he's not ready for a bike with training wheels yet. He JUST figured out his tricycle just as he outgrew it and it was one of those bigger kettler trikes that grow with the child. He finally figured out how to pedal at 4 years 2 months.

I've been considering getting a weighted blanket for my 14 yr old son for X-mas. Does anyone have any experience with these things? Mostly what I want to know is, how do you figure the correct weight of the blanket? I read the website and it gave general guidelines, but I'm hoping to hear from someone who has "been there and done that."

Is it a rocking horse on rockers, or a spring horse? I had a spring horse as a kid. I loved it, and rode for hours at a time. I would not give it up when I outgrew it, but continued to ride the thing until the springs became too stretched out to bounce.

I see similarly sized, fancier ones on craigslist for around $60, or new for $130. I am guessing you are looking at one on rockers; those seem to be more expensive. Probably because adults find them decorative, while a moulded plastic horse on springs is just kitchy.

That sounds like a great idea! In fact, I wish I had one!

I expect a rope hammock-chair would go over nicely.

I loved to swing slowly in the short arcs that hanging chairs do. This is supposed to be good for us for the same reason rocking is. This sort of design is very nice because your weight makes the ropes hug you, and they're inexpensive on Amazon (stand and woman not included.) Since he's little I'm sure you could just put a big hook-eye in a rafter to hang it.

I've noticed that if there is hammock or swinging fabric chair around, my son will be in it. I've been thinking about installing one outside. Most likely a chair; hammocks are too easy to fall out of. And lots of extra space around the chair, so he can safely go crazy.

We are getting my son 4.5yrs a balance bike. The ones with no pedals at all. It is brilliant for balance (obviously!!) and coordination, turning corners, and just general gross motor confidence.

The one we have is for age 3-6yrs, so maybe it would suit your son too. I know he has mastered the pedals on a trike, but a 'big' bike is another story!! !

Here is a picture of the bike:

http://www.nimblefingers.ie/shop/index. ... e&pID=1152

xx

Actually, he's tried these pedal-less bikes in the stores and they scared him as they fall over. He couldn't figure it out. We went with a scooter instead for his birthday last year. (a really nice one by the way. He mastered it in two outings. It's pricey, but he can grow with it and it has the maneuverability of a REAL scooter and not that crappy 'baby' scooters. We called the compay direclty and they sold us the handle bar versus the pilot ball for a handle. At it's smallest size, it was perfect him at age 4 (about average size 6).

http://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Scooter-Stee ... pd_sim_t_6

Ooooops!! ! we have already bought this bike for him. I hope he can go on it!! !

Better get a really nice 'back up' present, in case he just falls over, and hates it. He goes on his big brothers skooter, slowly....but okay.

Glad I know that now before the 'big day', thanks xx

You never know. I know someone who has one and their kids loved it. Henry was just a bit freaked out how it wasn't like his tricycle. After it tipped twice, he didn't want to try it again.

This scooter I showed has two wheels up front and a double single wheel in back, so it's stable. It turns by leaning on the board left or right. I was surprised how quickly he picked it up because he still has problems steering the trike while pedalling.