Coming up with gift ideas for teenagers with Reactive Attachment Disorder or RAD can be quite a challenge.

Anything that can connect to the internet is dangerous.

Aggression and destructive behaviors are often present.

Anything can become a weapon.

If life wasn't hard enough there are significant struggles with self-esteem, social situations, and so much more!

The holiday season can be so difficult when raising a teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder.

We hope these gift ideas inspire and help your family have the happiest of holidays!

Gift Ideas for Teenagers with Reactive Attachment Disorder

Warning: This page contains content related to Reactive Attachment Disorder that may be triggering to some.

 

Important: Children with RAD are victims of abuse and/or neglect. Behaviors associated with Reactive Attachment Disorder are due to how the brain forms while the innocent child is surviving trauma. It is our goal to support healthy and loving families where children with RAD can heal, if possible.

Paperback Book

Paperback books cause a lot less damage than hardcover books when used in unsafe ways.

They're also less expensive, in case they are destroyed or lost.

If you have a teenager with RAD who enjoys reading, books can provide both caregivers and teens a break.

My teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder loves to read. She will spend hours and hours in her room reading. 

We support this as it's beneficial for everyone in the house.

Movies on Blu-ray or DVD

Due to our teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder in the house, we do not subscribe to online streaming services except for Disney+.

We stick to old fashioned DVDs or Blu-rays to prevent possibilities for watching content that is inappropriate or encourages unsafe behaviors towards self, friends, and family.

When it comes to ratings we're very particular.

Our teen with RAD enjoyed the book, Pride & Prejudice and can't wait to watch the movie.

Music CDs

Instead of electric devices that can hook up to the internet, we stick to old fashioned DVD players with music CDs. 

A record player with albums is also an option as well as they are back in style.

Using these options instead of streaming music online helps us keep our teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder that much safer.

If hard plastic cases are an issue, it's always easy to pick up a soft covered CD holder.

Our teen with RAD is a HUGE Taylor Swift fan and is working on collecting all of her CDs to play in he room and in the van.

Calendar

Calendars make great gifts for anyone, but especially a teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder.

Anything to help with organization, keeping track of time, and accountability makes a huge difference.

Wall calendars are soft and inexpensive. 

Most are not spiral bound. (Avoid those that are spiral bound.)

My teen with RAD looks forward to her new calendar every year.

This year she's very excited to embraced her love of Harry Potter all year long.

Puzzle

I don't know what it is about puzzles, but I've never met a child or teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder that doesn't like them.

Puzzles help keep hands busy. 

They provide fabulous visual input.

For kids that need to keep hands busy and are on high alert at all times, puzzles can provide calm and relaxation.

The teen with RAD in our house has always loved puzzles. 

She finds such joy in putting them together and will spend hours doing so.

Sports Merchandise

If you have a teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder who shows an interest in following a sport and/or sports team, sports merchandise is a perfect gift idea.

The safety concerns related to your teen with RAD, will guide you on what types of sports merchandise will be appropriate.

Our teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder is notorious for breaking lawn chairs throughout the year.

We're excited to find one that is very sturdy and specific to interests she has in hopes that it will hold up better.

She is also looking forward to a new baseball cap with her favorite basketball team logo on it.

There are so many choices of sports merchandise out there to meet any and all needs teens with Reactive Attachment Disorder have.

Clothing

Many teens enjoy receiving new clothing, especially when it is a brand they like or has designs or graphics that represent interests.

Teens with Reactive Attachment Disorder often go through clothing faster than their peers, so one really can't go wrong with new clothes.

My teen with RAD is HUGE into Marvel right now.

Her favorite character is Loki, which I find quite comical. 

This shirt is absolutely perfect for her.

Outerwear

Time outside is great for everyone, but for a teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder it's so incredibly important. 

Outdoor attire for any and all types of weather can be so incredibly helpful.

Outerwear, especially hats and gloves are lost so easily, so having multiple sets isn't a negative thing.

Snow pants and other winter sports attire can also be helpful to encourage activity during cold winter months.

My teen with RAD shows extreme sensitivity to cold and snow, due to trauma she experienced early in life. 

We always try to make sure we're set up with everything she needs for the winter season.

Bedding

Creating a safe and clean bedroom for a teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder can be challenging.

Aggression and destructive behaviors can complicate things further.

Fortunately, every teen needs bedding.

If RAD behaviors warrant that bedding be washed often, it's always great to have more than one set on hand.

Bedding can be a great safe way to help create a personalized space for a teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder.

Comforters and quilts can be some of the safest gifts.

My teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder has finally worn out bedding she received six years ago and is ready for something new.

I'm excited to for to receive this bedding from PB Teen.

I have found that it lasts longer than any other place we've tried and is made so well.

LEGO Set

LEGO sets are not just gifts for kids. 

Teens and adults also enjoy them.

Though LEGO sets can break and hurt when stepped on, the individual pieces can be pretty indestructible. 

Putting together a LEGO set can also provide opportunities for bonding experiences, when teen led.

My teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder has always collected LEGO Friends Sets.

This has not stopped, even as a teenager.

This sailboat is top on her list!

American Girl

Teens with Reactive Attachment Disorder are often less mature than their peers. 

Due to trauma early in life, they are often delayed in their ability to play safely.

It's not uncommon for teens with Reactive Attachment Disorder to have interests that seem to be typical of younger children.

In these situations, embrace the interests and allow appropriate play.

Play means healing.

Our teen with RAD really struggled with dolls of any kind when she was younger. 

Over the past year, she has fallen in love with them, especially her American Girl Doll.

I am so excited to support her in wanting more outfits for her doll.

Learning how to care for a doll appropriately can lead to her becoming a fabulous mother in the future.

Barbie

The Barbie movie has taught us that no one is too old for Barbie.

If a teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder can be appropriate with Barbie dolls, they can make a great gift.

Remember toys for teens with RAD are fabulous things if they are in line with interests and appropriate behaviors.

For teen boys, action figures are a fabulous alternative.

Barbies have been a favorite toy of our teen with RAD.

She enjoys playing with them often.

As she's grown older, she uses them when writing stories and novels, acting out scenes, and creating illustrations of how characters look.

Every year she looks forward to collecting the new holiday Barbie.

You'll notice that no online electronic devices or accessories are included on this list as we've found them to be a bit too much for our teen with Reactive Attachment Disorder.

You know your teen with RAD best and if something like that may work.

Happy shopping!

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