Looking for Christmas gift ideas for an adult down syndrome new family member.

Me | 12/23/13 | Vanity

[Clint N. Suhks]

I know it's late but we just heard we will have this guest and any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks And Merry Christmas.

[stilloftyhenight]

Art supplies, so it won’t matter what age level she is at. A set of pastels and drawing paper or watercolors and paper.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Chocolates.

[greedo]

Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookies

[redheadtoo]

Something to snuggle with, like a Teddy bear or a doll.

I've worked with the developmentally disabled for nearly thirty years. This woman is an adult. Toys are not appropriate.

[redheadtoo]

I'm very experienced working with people who live with Down’s Syndrome.

I like the ideas of clothing, music, and art supplies. Candy has been suggested but I disagree. Many people with Down’s Syndrome are overweight or have heart problems.

I once worked with a woman with Down’s Syndrome who loved all things related to John Lennon. Setting her down with a picture book about her favorite musician was a real treat.

The big thing is to make certain it is age appropriate! She is an adult!

Giving her a babyish gift might cause her to become upset. Also, if gifts are being handed out to the other people, she will feel left out is she doesn't receive one.

People with Down's Syndrome can be very sweet, or they can be totally mulish.

If your guest is not on her best behavior allow those who know her better to deal with it. An example is a tantrum after being told she can't have anymore cookies.

Don't rush in and offer her more cookies! This will only teach her that having tantrums will get her what she wants. Those who care for her on a daily basis will not be happy with you. A better choice would be to put the cookies away. Your other guests will understand.

Thank you for welcoming this lady into your home.

[Clint N. Suhks]

So one of the things we got her, that I researched on the internet, was jigsaw puzzles. They are 24 piece, 35 piece and 60 piece for 6 year olds. She is institutionalized but I don’t know at what level. Are these too immature for her?

[6323cd]

[6323cd]

So how did it go?

[Clint N. Suhks]

The iPod Shuffle was a wonderful hit. She started dancing and my MIL and her BF, who is the father, were so surprised they couldn’t thank us enough. They’ve never seen her react that way. The fluffy blanket, elementary jigsaw puzzles were a bust but she loved the gold pin and scarf.

The iPod Shuffle was ground breaking. We already owned 239 country songs from iTunes and put them on the inexpensive $39 iPod so if she loses it or breaks it we can replace it.

All the help here was invaluable. Music, jewelry, clothing was the best advice, thank you all so much! My MIL left in tears.

[Clint N. Suhks]

We also learned she’s not with Down’s Syndrome but severely mentally handicapped. We had a few problems with trips to the bathroom, constant confusion, but all in all they said she coped very well and is on new meds that help her not become angry or violent. They said this was the best she’s ever been in these new circumstances. Not because anything we did of course, it was just the perfect storm of circumstance.

[6323cd]

Excellent, glad it all worked out well. Music usually is the best icebreaker!

[redheadtoo]

one of the things we got her,... was jigsaw puzzles.

Jigsaw puzzles are good. You can get to know her by working on them with her. The 60 piece puzzle is probably too difficult

If she is incapable of doing them by herself, you can give her individual pieces and show her where to put them. She will enjoy hand-over-hand activities.