Gift for 6-year-old with Asperger's
December 15, 2010 8:13 AM Subscribe
Sorry all, but I do have a gift question that I can't find the answer to elsewhere. I'm looking for a gift for a six-year old with Asperger's who is currently very interested in locks of all sorts.
A good friend's son is on the spectrum and his current obsession is locks/doors, but in the past, he has been really interested in other mechanical objects like fans, etc. so the gift doesn't need to specifically be lock-related. He also enjoys drawing, but I wanted to try to find him something cool that might be lock-ish or mechanical, but for a kid. He already has all sorts of combination locks, etc. I don't want to get him something like a book about locks, but instead something that he can actively/physically play with. Any ideas?
A good friend's son is on the spectrum and his current obsession is locks/doors, but in the past, he has been really interested in other mechanical objects like fans, etc. so the gift doesn't need to specifically be lock-related. He also enjoys drawing, but I wanted to try to find him something cool that might be lock-ish or mechanical, but for a kid. He already has all sorts of combination locks, etc. I don't want to get him something like a book about locks, but instead something that he can actively/physically play with. Any ideas?
I was a big-big fan of the Klutz books when I was a kid. (OK, I still am.) I think the Klutz Book of Knots might be a really good choice for this little guy.
Also, a locking diary/journal with blank pages for drawing on might be really cool. Maybe with a set of cool stickers to decorate the outside.
posted by phunniemee at 8:26 AM on December 15, 2010
Also, a locking diary/journal with blank pages for drawing on might be really cool. Maybe with a set of cool stickers to decorate the outside.
posted by phunniemee at 8:26 AM on December 15, 2010
... is your kid's son me? Seriously.
This might be asking for it (and I guess you should probably check with his folks first), but if they're legal in your locality, I would go for a set of lock picks and some simple locks to practice them on. That would have made 6-year-old me deliriously happy.
posted by dorque at 8:28 AM on December 15, 2010
This might be asking for it (and I guess you should probably check with his folks first), but if they're legal in your locality, I would go for a set of lock picks and some simple locks to practice them on. That would have made 6-year-old me deliriously happy.
posted by dorque at 8:28 AM on December 15, 2010
It's not lock related or mechanical, but I wonder if he would like Snap Circuits? His interest in mechanical stuff plus his liking of physically touching the locks made me think of it. We bought it for my son when he was six turning seven and while we had to help him a little with the reading, he really loved it. The kit makes things like a door bell and an alarm and stuff like that. It's pretty cool.
There's also a whole page of lock boxes - basically, little boxes with locks and latches and doors. They seem pricey, so I don't know if that's what you're looking for.
posted by cooker girl at 8:28 AM on December 15, 2010
There's also a whole page of lock boxes - basically, little boxes with locks and latches and doors. They seem pricey, so I don't know if that's what you're looking for.
posted by cooker girl at 8:28 AM on December 15, 2010
There's also a whole page of lock boxes - basically, little boxes with locks and latches and doors. They seem pricey, so I don't know if that's what you're looking for.
This is $115? Seriously? It seems like something he might have fun with, though--I'm sure you could DIY an awesome one with a cheap cutting board from Target and a $30 trip to Home Depot if you decide to go that direction.
posted by phunniemee at 8:36 AM on December 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
This is $115? Seriously? It seems like something he might have fun with, though--I'm sure you could DIY an awesome one with a cheap cutting board from Target and a $30 trip to Home Depot if you decide to go that direction.
posted by phunniemee at 8:36 AM on December 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Actually this visible combination lock would be a much better gift. These guys also have cutaway cylinders so he can practice picking.
posted by electroboy at 8:39 AM on December 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by electroboy at 8:39 AM on December 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
This puzzle lock would either fascinate or frustrate him: "Not only does it require three keys and four sequential operations to open, but it has no noticeable keyholes." Kind of spendy, though. I'd consult with the parents before I got it, or anything, really.
posted by dogrose at 8:41 AM on December 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by dogrose at 8:41 AM on December 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
The Paper Locksmith is a book of patterns and instructions for building various styles of lock out of paper, which would be a good way to get a solid undertanding of how the different types of lock actually work. I haven't seen a copy for myself, but the reviews I've seen have been uniformly positive.
I'd also recommend lockpicking. As a hobby it rewards patience, a puzzle-solving mindset and a delicate touch, but there aren't any difficult concepts that a child would struggle with. A decent set of picks is pretty cheap (The ones I've seen are 10-20 euros, IIRC) and there are plenty of resources available online or in books. There's a list of resources toward the bottom of this page. None of those look particularly child-friendly, so the parents might need to read the book and learn along with the child.
If you do decide to go for lockpicking and can afford it, a lock with the side cut away -- so you can see the pick and the cylinders while you're working on it -- is a fantastic learning aid. I'd strongly recommend going for one of those if possible.
Otherwise, while you can buy startlingly expensive training locks, it's probably just as easy to get hold of some old, fairly cheap locks and mount them into a board yourself. If possible, aim for cheaper locks (generally easier to pick, with fewer anti-picking measures; specifically, avoid floating pins). I'm told that it's pretty easy to remove pins from locks, which you should do so your lock board has a lock with just one pin (will open if you sneeze at it), with two pins (requires a bit of attention), three pins (starting to be a challenge)... etc.
posted by metaBugs at 8:57 AM on December 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'd also recommend lockpicking. As a hobby it rewards patience, a puzzle-solving mindset and a delicate touch, but there aren't any difficult concepts that a child would struggle with. A decent set of picks is pretty cheap (The ones I've seen are 10-20 euros, IIRC) and there are plenty of resources available online or in books. There's a list of resources toward the bottom of this page. None of those look particularly child-friendly, so the parents might need to read the book and learn along with the child.
If you do decide to go for lockpicking and can afford it, a lock with the side cut away -- so you can see the pick and the cylinders while you're working on it -- is a fantastic learning aid. I'd strongly recommend going for one of those if possible.
Otherwise, while you can buy startlingly expensive training locks, it's probably just as easy to get hold of some old, fairly cheap locks and mount them into a board yourself. If possible, aim for cheaper locks (generally easier to pick, with fewer anti-picking measures; specifically, avoid floating pins). I'm told that it's pretty easy to remove pins from locks, which you should do so your lock board has a lock with just one pin (will open if you sneeze at it), with two pins (requires a bit of attention), three pins (starting to be a challenge)... etc.
posted by metaBugs at 8:57 AM on December 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
Wordlock is a combination lock that uses letters/words instead of numbers.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:43 AM on December 15, 2010
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:43 AM on December 15, 2010
You should also look at 3D puzzles like this one.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:45 AM on December 15, 2010
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:45 AM on December 15, 2010
ThinkFun has some great options:
Gordion's Knot
Block by block
36 cube
Knot-tying game
Knot-tying book (another) and various kinds of rope?
posted by barnone at 10:08 AM on December 15, 2010
Gordion's Knot
Block by block
36 cube
Knot-tying game
Knot-tying book (another) and various kinds of rope?
posted by barnone at 10:08 AM on December 15, 2010
I wonder if the Dangerous Book for Boys would be appropriate yet. There are lots of fun activities and ideas in there. He could grow into the stories and other parts.
posted by barnone at 10:11 AM on December 15, 2010
posted by barnone at 10:11 AM on December 15, 2010
Everybody else has much deeper lock knowledge than I do, but the first thing that came to mind for me was a piggy bank safe...which I had and loved as a kid. It might be a tad simple for what you are looking for, but I still think some of them are very cool.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:18 AM on December 15, 2010
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:18 AM on December 15, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks to all of you for such great suggestions!
posted by fabesfaves at 11:07 AM on December 15, 2010
posted by fabesfaves at 11:07 AM on December 15, 2010
What about a Japanese puzzle box? There are plenty on Amazon. They lock, but in a way he's probably never encountered before.
posted by embrangled at 2:47 PM on December 15, 2010
posted by embrangled at 2:47 PM on December 15, 2010
Sorry, here's the link to puzzle boxes on Amazon.
posted by embrangled at 2:49 PM on December 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by embrangled at 2:49 PM on December 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
I haven't been 6 for a long time, so I don't know what the skill level is like, but how about a real mortise lock? I used to work at a door hardware company and when I trained new people, a fun thing to do on the first day for them when I needed a break from talking is taking apart a mortise lock and putting it back together. If you get the most basic one (passage), there aren't that many moving parts or springs.
posted by oreofuchi at 8:19 PM on December 15, 2010
posted by oreofuchi at 8:19 PM on December 15, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by inturnaround at 8:24 AM on December 15, 2010