OT-Gift for 12 yr boy w/downs

[Tricia's mom]

I would like to purchase a gift for a friends son who is 12 years old and has Down syndrome. Any suggestions?
I am lost with 12 yr old boy??? I have a 4 yr old dd..girlie girl...I have a hard time with boy gifts .
Happy Holidays
Thanks.

 

[Que_Sarah_Sarah]

What about an inexpensive digital camera? Or even one of the ones that don't get damaged when you drop them (Fischer price?)? It's a boy gift as well as something personal and visual.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

Nerf balls are a big hit with boys of all ages.

 

[susykt4]

This may be a regional thing, but I asked my 6th grade daughter what the boys in her school are into and she said Beyblade tops and Dagedar marbles. I know a couple of people with Down syndrome and both would have been very offended to have received a "baby" version of anything when they were 12.

 

[cornflake]

I think it totally depends on what he's into, given his age (I mean he's not like 3 where it's more 'three-year-olds tend to love elmo') - does he like sports? Does he follow a team that you know of? Does he like space stuff, legos, Star Wars, etc.

There are some people with Down's that are lower functioning that will enjoy something tailored toward someone younger but 12 doesn't seem like it'd be so far off unless he's more delayed. I hope you know what I mean - a friend's uncle who had it enjoyed more kid-like stuff than most grown men but as a kid I think kid gifts would have been perfectly appropriate for him.

If you don't want to ask, just think about what you've seen him wearing - team stuff? What you may have seen him playing or heard him talk about with regard to video games, or board games, or stuff like that. Barring that, I'd find another friend with a similarly-aged boy and ask what's in in your area as some stuff is very local, like the marble thing in another poster's area, that kind of thing is not on the radar here at all.

 

[DopeyDame]

Check out this company: http://www.downsdesigns.com/
They were featured on CNN recently. Maybe a nice sweater from here that should be well fitting?
good luck! Christmas shopping can be so stressful!

 

[lucigo]

I have an 8-yo with autism, and his tastes run the extreme, he wants a vintage gameboy game, an Itunes card, dagedar balls and a magnadoodle among other things. As the parent of a disabled child I would not be at all offended if someone asked me what types of things he is into. If you really don't want to go that route, get him something from a common store with a gift receipt just in case he would rather pick out something else.

 

[thebeesknees]

My sister has Down Syndrome, and her tastes run the gamut from little-kid stuff like Barbies to more "grown-up" things like journals, etc. She LOVES gift cards in any way, shape, or form. McDonald's, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart are her current favorites. If in doubt, ask his mom or dad. They can probably direct you to something he would love.