Need gift ideas for 9 year old boy, please

[Dung Beetle]

My son says he doesn't know what he wants, and I surely don't know, so here we are less than two weeks before Christmas and I haven't found a thing. If anyone has any ideas, they will be greatly appreciated.

At the risk of sounding old and crotchety, I'd really like to hear ideas that don't have anything to do with video games. Why, when I was a nine year old, they didn't even have video games. (Well, yes, they did, but I mean I didn't personally have any.) All we had were dogs and BB guns, and we liked it that way!


(And no, the boy is not getting a dog or a BB gun. What am I, nuts?)

[WhyNot]

What's he into? Books? Eragon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375826688/qid=1134569018/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/102-5011588-4706508?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) is a fantastic book in a good series that will be just a little challenging for him.

Comics? Some old-school Spider-Man or Superman are cool and pretty kid-safe. I'd stay away from X-Men or anything Niel Gaiman for now. ;)

Science? Target has a wonderful line of activity sets put out by National Geographic (http://www.target.com/gp/search.html/ref=/601-9774852-3944919?%5Fencoding=UTF8&index=target&field-browse=1038620&field-keywords=national%2Bgeographic) which are affordable and really neat. The old standbys like microscopes and ant farms, but also some really creative ones as well. There are only 6 on the website, but dozens in the store near me.

Building stuff? My son loved K'nex (http://www.target.com/gp/search.html/ref=/601-9774852-3944919?%5Fencoding=UTF8&index=target&field-browse=1038620&field-keywords=K%27nex) at that age, and they come in carrying cases or tubs for storage. Of course, there's always Lego (http://www.target.com/gp/search.html/ref=/601-9774852-3944919?%5Fencoding=UTF8&index=target&field-browse=1038620&field-keywords=lego)

If he's into large scale building, consider getting him a tool kit - but one with real wood and steel tools, not a plastic crapy thing.

Acting/Creative Play? Hit a Thrift Store for a bunch of wildly-colored and pattered shirts, ties, shorts, tablecloths, draperies, and scarves. Put them all in a wooden trunk marked "Wardrobe". Or you can buy sets, but most are (unfairly) girl themed.

[DeadlyAccurate]

What about something like this? (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000246L7U/qid=1134569644/br=1-12/ref=br_lf_t_12//104-3472166-1729529?v=glance&s=imaginarium&n=1003178)

Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set

Board Games

Construction sets (like Legos or any of the other 5 million different types). Is he old enough for those more grownup Legos (Bionicles, I think they're called)

Books

Gift Cards (Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble)

Movies (Madagascar and March of the Penguins are recent releases)

I'm a huge fan of creative toys for kids, and one benefit of something like construction toys or that kit I linked to on the first line is that it's something they can play with right away. When I was a kid, it sucked to get too many things that you couldn't play with immediately.

Oh, and I just bought my 5-year-old nephew this (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0007WX1EI/qid=1134570100/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-3472166-1729529?v=glance&s=toys&n=507846) for his Christmas gift. I don't know how popular that'll make me with his parents, though.

[Shirley Ujest]

I feel your pain.


I refuse to give the curse of video games.

Castle (http://www.liveandlearn.com/toys/falconcastle.html)

Knights and Stuff (http://www.toyknights.com/) (Seem like really nice folks here.)

A ping pong ball catapult & action figure (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6002451671&category=1197&refid=store) (You secretly want it. Buy two or three for all out warfare!)

Gondola pulley system for an afternoon of fun! (http://cgi.ebay.com/Gondola-Chair-Lift-Clamp-Winch-Set-for-Treehouses-NIB_W0QQitemZ6002580472QQcategoryZ1197QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem)


and you are all set.

(Cause that is what my kids are getting, minus the castle and pulley system.) We can send out kids to therapy together.

[FlyingRamenMonster]

How about $50 and a bank account?

[FlyingRamenMonster]

... though that might be better-suited for a birthday. Magnetix (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009SZYX/qid=1134575610/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-1379813-6652822?v=glance&s=imaginarium&n=507846) are pretty cool. I can never walk past them on display without stopping to play with them, and I'm quite a ways out of their targeted age range.

[girls => shoes]

A Swiss Army knife is good at that age. Be sure to get one with the little Swiss flag on it, so his pals won't tell him it's a fake.

[Clothahump]

Martial arts lessons.

Check out schools in your area and go observe classes. If you find one you like, sign him up on their beginner program, then wrap the uniform and put it under the tree.

[Dung Beetle]

Some good ideas here. I'm thinking along the lines of something I could set up in front of the tree, and have him run out and go "wow!", so the building sets look likely. I really liked your suggestions, Shirley, but I'm a little late to order for Christmas. (The boy will probably still need therapy!)

Clothahump, I'm filing your idea away for a possible birthday gift, just because I don't have time to take him to lessons at this point.

[An Arky]

If he's into building stuff, or experiments - Snap Circuits (http://www.daxstores.com/educational-toys-snap-circuits.html) kits are pretty cool.

[DrLoveGun]

A wood burning kit, definately a wood burning kit. He can make interesting things, and redecorate your furniture.

[Capt. Ridley's Shooting Party]

Meccano

[Lemur866]

Surely you've heard of Lego? Lego is appropriate for all ages, you just keep giving more sophisticated sets. Plus Lego benefits from network effects...the more Lego you have the more you can do with new Lego.

[Man With a Cat]

OOH-OOH, I can say it first!!!

A 10 year old girl.

I also like DrLoveGun's suggestion.

[Hilarity N. Suze]

Does he already have a razor scooter? Cause if not, those are popular. Plus it comes with the coolest stupid warning ever: "Caution: this item moves when used."

(Unless they came to their senses and took that warning off)

[Carol the Impaler]

My nephew got a jacket with a radio "built-in" with headphones in the hood. He frickin' LOVED it. His uncle got it at Target.

[Rhiannon8404]

If he's into building stuff, or experiments - Snap Circuits (http://www.daxstores.com/educational-toys-snap-circuits.html) kits are pretty cool.

This is what I was coming to suggest, but I see you've beat me to it. These are seriously cool.

[Zabali_Clawbane]

Roboraptor (http://www.roboraptoronline.com/)? I think it's nifty, and I one, I'd just have to play with it away from the already nervous cat, so I wouldn't terrorize her.

[Rhinocerous]

Have you considered buying him pornography? I guarantee it would be his favorite gift and would occupy much of his time.

[633squadron]

My son says he doesn't know what he wants, and I surely don't know, so here we are less than two weeks before Christmas and I haven't found a thing. If anyone has any ideas, they will be greatly appreciated.


flamethrower
dynamite
fishing rod
skateboard
sled
stuffed tiger
Spaceman Spiff outfit (in case you hadn't already guessed where all this is going...) :D

[Zabali_Clawbane]

Gah! This:
I think it's nifty, and I *one should be "I *want one" :o

[AThingWithFeathers]

My brother is around that age, and I get him mangas, mostly to get him to read. They are Japenese comic books and are often based on popular anime shows (or the other way around.) I usually get my brother Dragon Ball Z mangas or Ruroni Kenshin, but there are many others. I think DBZ is the more PG rated of the two though.

[Dung Beetle]

flamethrower
dynamite
fishing rod
skateboard
sled
stuffed tiger
Spaceman Spiff outfit (in case you hadn't already guessed where all this is going...) :D

He'd love it! He's always been big on Calvin & Hobbes. I was going to get him the box set, but his dad beat me to it.

[ShibbOleth]

OOH-OOH, I can say it first!!!

A 10 year old girl.

I also like DrLoveGun's suggestion.

You're probably a year or two early there, although actual mileage may vary.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Building stuff? My son loved K'nex (http://www.target.com/gp/search.html/ref=/601-9774852-3944919?%5Fencoding=UTF8&index=target&field-browse=1038620&field-keywords=K%27nex) at that age, and they come in carrying cases or tubs for storage.I got a Big Ball Factory (http://orgs.bloomu.edu/msc/Center%20Stuff/K'NEX%20Pictures/K'Nex%20Ball%20Factory%20(large).jpg) for myself years ago because it reminded me of a certain Sesame Street clip (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6322607&postcount=32).

I've seen a Big Air Ball Tower (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001NE5PW/qid=1134669588/sr=1-28/ref=sr_1_28/103-5102539-9755811?v=glance&s=toys) running in a Toys R Us and considered getting one of them, too.

How about combining K'nex with Hot Wheels? This thing (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00020LYB2/qid=1134669342/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_3/103-5102539-9755811?v=glance&s=toys&n=507846) looks like lots of fun!

[monster]

Does he like sports? My 9 year old son is crazy for baseball cards. You could get him a big binder with 100 plastic card pages. Buy a couple of the boxes of cards, spread them out (still in their packs of 5 or 10) in front of the tree. That would occupy him for several hours organizing them into teams and putting them into the pages. They have football, hockey, and basketball cards too if baseball isn't his thing. My son has an American League binder and a National League binder. (But then again, he's a compete baseball nut)

We also gave him a new bike and had it assembled in front of the tree last year. And more along the sports line (since my boy is a fanatic), in the past we've given him the street hockey goals put together already, a tennis racquet with a bag of balls, and a scooter - not all in the same year, mind you.

Scene It has a kids trivia edition that is a blast to play.

Tops on his list this year is the Fly Pen, made by Leap Frog. It is a computer in a pen with lots of games, homework help, and the like. That's under the tree this year with some accessories.

[gigi]

He'd love it! He's always been big on Calvin & Hobbes. I was going to get him the box set, but his dad beat me to it.
Drool...I've ogled that at Borders...tremendous gift!!

[ZipperJJ]

My cousin has been into "spy gear" for a while now (he's 13). Ever since that Spy Kids movie came out, that sort of stuff has been popular. Now there's a few more kids movies and TV shows about spies.

I think I bought him some gear from Wild Planet (http://www.wildplanet.com/helpcenter/wp_choosetoy.php) before but I am positive you can get this sort of thing at the local toy stores and department stores (so you don't have to wait for shipping).

[ShibbOleth]

Speaking of spy gear, my kid asked for something like an electronic detector gadget for his room, I guess to know if someone has gone in it. I have no idea where he came up with this or where to find it. Any suggestions?

[Lute Skywatcher]

Speaking of spy gear, my kid asked for something like an electronic detector gadget for his room, I guess to know if someone has gone in it. I have no idea where he came up with this or where to find it. Any suggestions?Depends. Does he want to be warned if someone opens the door while he's in the room or does he want to know if someone was in the room while he wasn't there?

[ShibbOleth]

Depends. Does he want to be warned if someone opens the door while he's in the room or does he want to know if someone was in the room while he wasn't there?

I'd have to guess it's the second one, since his room is so small that the warning of someone entering his room might come a split sceond before he heard the door open.

[Lute Skywatcher]

I'd have to guess it's the second one, since his room is so small that the warning of someone entering his room might come a split sceond before he heard the door open.Of course. The more difficult one. Radio Shack has an electronic project kit that should help.

The easy part would be to hook the door to a pair of leads so as to complete a circuit while it's closed. That circuit would be hooked to a relay and cause another circuit to trip when the door's open. The problem is wiring the kit to prevent the alarm circuit from resetting when the door closes.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Maybe he can work out a way for one of the leads to drop off its mount when the door opens?

[bagkitty]

Have you considered buying him pornography? I guarantee it would be his favorite gift and would occupy much of his time.


Not to mention it would help him become much more popular amongst his peers. :D

[Mehitabel]

Nine is a good age to start reading the Lemony Snicket Series of Unfortunate Events books to learn that the world, if sometimes quiet, is an unpredictable and morally ambiguous place.

[Dung Beetle]

We're all over that. I'm as much into it as the kids are!