What would a 12 year old boy want for Christmas? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I am starting to do my Christmas shopping and am stumped by my 12 year old nephew. I have no idea what he would like. I asked his mom (DS) and she hasn't a clue either.
He plays football and baseball but has everything he needs as far as equipment goes. I feel bad because although I am close to him, I feel like he is at such a weird stage right now. He's too old for "toys", so what else can I get to make Christmas fun and memorable for him? I don't want to give him $$$, or do you think he would prefer it?
I have 2 little girls, so I guess I'm a bit out of touch with what the boys are into these days...
If anyone has any suggestions - please let me know.
Thanks so much for your input!
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Tara Hanley
Enchanted Escapes Travel by Tara
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I have an 11yr old son and his greatest desire for christmas is cold hard cash - "Not a gift card Mum". It may seem like the easy way out but it is what he wants. (He will go straight to the bank to convert the $$ into US$$ for our 2008 trip) He wants to buy everything for himself and I am going to stand back and watch!!! LOL.
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My nephew (now 15) has been wanting gift cards to sporting goods stores, iTunes goft cards or cash for the past few years. He is also into paint ball so he occasionally asks for a piece of equipment but normally he just wants $$ so he can buy supplies.
Without a specific request from the child, I agree with everyone else's advice - a gift card would probably work great--- however, I've found that cold hard CASH is always a welcome gift - that way they're not restricted as to where it can be used.
Cash. Or, you can give him a gift card to the local movie theater or the video rental place if he's into video games.
I've been giving my nephew cash, and always with a weird little funky gift that I've seen that reminds me of him.
We have 1 nephew and 14 nieces, most of them being between 11 and 21. Teen girls are not any easier!
Having raised three teens and survived the adolesences of many neices and nephews, I know it's hard at first but as others said cash or gift cards. They like bookstores, CD stores, ITunes, and even those nice Visa/american express ones you can use anywhere as well as favorite clothing stores.
I often do like Teresa and put it with a small, inexpensive symbolic gift, for your nephew maybe a baseball or some piece of equipment that you can always use lots of . My DD rides so one thing I would ask people to get her was tall boot socks. They come in all kinds of patterns and colors and are fun to buy and she can always use more.
My DSis will often get my kids a magazine subscription and the most recent copy of the magazine.
At first moving to the cash/gift card approach to neice/nephew gift giving was tough but it's what they really appreciate. I also always give kids away at college a card to a chain restaurnat that they enjoy.
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What else is he into? At that age my son was asking for things that were Japanese, so we bought things to decorate his walls, a "waterfall" for his room (that plays other sounds like birds, storms, etc). My son also likes playing role-play games with friends like Dungeons and Dragons or Warhammer. There are books and figures that go with those games that he might like....if he's interested in that at all.
On the more practical side, at that age it might be a nice thing to get his own nail kit or shoeshine kit. Or go more fun, like an ice cream maker or such.
My nephew is 12 and it is a hard age to buy for. He likes to read and actually likes clothes, so books and a Gap or Old Navy shirt are safe bets for him. He's not really into popular music yet, but he does love movies and games, so computer/board games and DVDs are also safe. Gift cards are always popular.
Definitely iTunes gifts cards or iPod accessories (skins, maybe?), if he has an iPod.......otherwise:
- gift certificates to movies,
- maybe a magazine subscription to ESPN or Sports Illustrated Teen if he's into sports
- if you know his parents are getting him a new game system (DS, Wii, etc.....) you could get a game or accessories for that. (They always need more controllers)
- Blockbuster gift certificates to rent video games
My son is 11 and all he wants are books and video games, and video game accessories. I think a Visa gift card would be a great idea. There are a few things he wants to buy online that I would never fork over my card for (like upgrades in some stupid online fantasy game), so know my son would be in 7th heaven if he had a "credit card".
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*~*Tina
Picking up our Brasilian exchange student at the a/p
I forgot to mention - last year I gave my nephew cash for Christmas but to make it more "gift-like" I used this money origami web site and folded the $$ like a shirt and wrapped it in a shirt box! It was a huge hit!
I was also thinking along the lines of a gift subscription to a sports magazine. Even if it ends up being a title that he already gets they will just extend the subscription date.
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