Birthday present ideas for teenage boy

[ZenBeam]

My son's birthday is in a couple days, turning 15, and I'm looking for ideas. There isn't anything he's asking for ("money"). He has a laptop (ostensibly for school, but he plays Mine-Craft on it a lot), an ipod, a bicycle, and a skateboard (last years present).

He's not that much into video games, but plays them sometimes. He did like Shaun White's skateboarding, so we're getting him the new SSX. My wife was thinking a first person shooter, but felt that Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and the new Battlefield were too violent, based on videos online.

We'll probably also get him an iTunes gift card.

Anyone have any other ideas?

[Ibanez]

Stunt Kite ? (http://www.canadiankitecompany.com/) It'll get him outside, they're fun and powerful. RC Glider kit. (http://www.fatlion.com/sailplanes/index.html)

[robert_columbia]

jewelry perhaps? When I was a boy (in the US) it was considered girly for a boy to wear necklaces and whatnot, but this is pretty much no longer the case.

[living_in_hell]

iTunes gift card

Ha! Just saw that. Any gift card would be good--maybe for a sporting goods site or store?

[Algher]

I have one a little older. He likes cash - we actually helped him open up his first account, with the ability to trade stocks.

Another idea, depending on what you want to spend, is an experience instead.

[Rhiannon8404]

My son is turning 14 in August. He doesn't want things either. We're going to see Aerosmith/Cheap Trick. We got really good seats.

[Blank Slate]

How about a gift certificate for a flying lesson?

[Lynn Bodoni]

A multitool, if he's responsible enough. He needs a talk about how he can't take it to school with him, but I have always had good results with giving a Leatherman or Gerber multitool as a gift.

[shantih]

My son's big present from us for his 15th birthday this year was Skyrim, which inspired him to hug us both in appreciation. Physical affection! From a 15-year-old boy! I'm still basking.

[ExcitedIdiot]

Porn. 15 year old boys LOVE porn.

[Raza]

BuckyBalls. My mid-teens-to-early-twenties nephews have a blast playing with them whenever they visit. Not suitable if there are young children in the house.

[Sampsiceramos]

What every 15 year-old boy wants. A 15 year-old girl! :D

In all seriousness, silk sheets are big, soft, adult swaddling blankets of orgasmic awesome. He may initially be skeptic, but they're simply delightful.

[Sicks Ate]

What every 15 year-old boy wants. A 15 year-old girl! :D

In all seriousness, silk sheets are big, soft, adult swaddling blankets of orgasmic awesome. He may initially be skeptic, but they're simply delightful.

Like he needs more of an excuse to masturbate!

Or more material to masturbate with...

[Ellen Cherry]

My own laddie is turning 15 in July and I'm getting him speakers for his iPod(s). Yes he has three. No I didn't buy them all. On the subject of silky sheets, he also likes his big fluffy robe I got him for Christmas. He also likes funky retro T-shirts.

[DMark]

If he hasn't already, he is nearing the age where it isn't cool to do things with parents anymore.

If financially possible I would suggest the last of the great family trips to someplace fun - an amusement park, a vacation in the woods by the lake or near the beach or someplace that you have gone in the past that would be fun. Take lots of pictures...time flies and it will be great to have some family photos of the good times.

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

Huh. I had a bet with myself, but I lost: I thought post ten would actually be post 2.

I'll second the call for tickets to something cool; two tickets would be about right.

[enalzi]

As a former 15 year old boy, I would say that if he wants cash, give him cash.

[jharvey963]

As for "experience" gifts:

A ticket to one of those indoor sky diving places.
An introductory flying lesson (as previously mentioned).
Bungee Jumping.
Indoor rock climbing.
Jet Skiing.
A day at a shooting range. Especially if fully automatic weapons are legal in your state.
A trip to DragonCon, ComicCon, etc.
A helicopter ride.

Regarding the shooting range suggestion: I'm as liberal as the next guy on this board, but I was very surprised at how much fun shooting was. Contrary to the stereotypes, almost all of the ranges I've shot at are run by hyper-responsible, respectful, safety-conscious people. Consider signing up for introductory lessons. And if you're in a state where fully automatic weapons are legal, I'd recommend signing up for shooting one of those, just for the experience. Going to a shooting range will also give your son a taste for the reality of weapons, compared to the fantasy of weapons in his FPS games.

J.

[Living Well Is Best Revenge]

It's his birthday. Give him what he wants: cash.

Cheesy "outings" with his family are not what teenagers want.

[Living Well Is Best Revenge]

If he hasn't already, he is nearing the age where it isn't cool to do things with parents anymore.

If financially possible I would suggest the last of the great family trips to someplace fun - an amusement park, a vacation in the woods by the lake or near the beach or someplace that you have gone in the past that would be fun. Take lots of pictures...time flies and it will be great to have some family photos of the good times.

This sounds like punishment, not a gift.

[Ellen Cherry]

Oh, now. My son still likes us. Honest!

[Dread Pirate Jimbo]

All young men should own a quality mitt (http://www.rawlingsgear.com/baseball/baseball-gloves/ggle1179-125.html) at some point in their lives.

[sisu]

Paint ball with his dad and few mates! If your state doesn't allow it then go karting is pretty cool.

He got a lot of enjoyment about shooting his old man, we still laugh about it now!

And we gave him the balance in money.......

Dad with a 20 year old son.

[VOW]

Last Christmas, I gave my son (26) a marshmallow shooter and a bag of marshmallows. He went CRAZY over it!

He used to have a warehouse job, and the Christmas before I gave him a remote-controlled forklift. I think he loved that more than the fire engine he got when he was six!

The "cool outing" suggestion is great, but I humbly suggest he be allowed to bring a friend.

A gift certificate for "Think Geek" would be brilliant, too!


~VOW

[SecretaryofEvil]

As a former 15 year old boy, I would say that if he wants cash, give him cash.

I couldn't agree more. Teenagers always need cash. He needs cash to order pizza and go to movies and take girls out and what not. Besides, gift cards are kind of pointless. Why not just give him the money and let him decide how he wants to spend it?

I know some people get very sentimental and have a lot of fun with gift giving and receiving, but a lot of people just have more practical feelings about it. Especially young males.

[sisu]

Last Christmas, I gave my son (26) a marshmallow shooter and a bag of marshmallows. He went CRAZY over it!
He used to have a warehouse job, and the Christmas before I gave him a remote-controlled forklift. I think he loved that more than the fire engine he got when he was six!
The "cool outing" suggestion is great, but I humbly suggest he be allowed to bring a friend.
A gift certificate for "Think Geek" would be brilliant, too!
~VOW

yeah always bring along some friends, it replaces the "birthday parties" we all had to put on when they were younger.

NERF guns! All my sons love these from the 12yo to the 20yo and yes even the 46 yo dad get's involved ;)

[Spud]

This thread just goes to show that there is never a right answer for things like this. There are as many different "correct" answers as there are different personalities of kids. I've got a 14 year old boy as well as a 15 year old boy. Some of the things that other's kids hugged their parents for would make my boys cringe. The OP said they felt Call of Duty Modern Warfare was too violent... my youngest has been playing it since the day it came out... I have no problem with it. Neither boy is really a gamer though so I don't know if they are even still playing it at all. My 14 year old wants anything lacrosse related. Both boys want a weight bench. Clothing is also good, but they have to pick it out. They both also love any electronic gadgets. The things I tell any relatives for gift suggestions are cash or gift cards to Dick's Sporting Goods, Best Buy, or Target.

[bengangmo]

Porn. 15 year old boys LOVE porn.

Don't laugh - just yesterday our local paper ran a story about a 15 year old getting crabs from entertaining those ladies 3 times a week at his house...

[BobLibDem]

Take him skydiving!