We have an ongoing deal with the Attackkids that we’ll teach them ‘spy skills’. This has resulted in them taking archery and riding classes, as well as surf camp. Consider a camp that teaches a cool skill, like rock climbing, surfing, snowboarding- something it’s good to know, but tough to learn.
I’m going to take a guess and say that you either don’t know any 14 year olds or your owns kids are long past the age of teenagerhood. Kids that age are not shy about asking for what they want. And if he doesn’t want trendy clothes, giving them to him is a huge waste of money.
And you didn’t get a detail wrong, you told the OP they were treating their 14 year old like a child because they wanted to give him a gun that is very popular with teenagers right now. So you were just plain wrong.
Or, worse, you miss the mark of the style he wants.
I have a 14 year old boy. What he loves most at this age is excercising new found independance. Anything he can do on his own with his friends. Gift cards to movies, paintball, sports etc. (Don’t know where you live, my boys are into Hockey and up here NHL tickets are a fortune, so we give AHL tickets…closer to drive, and I find them discounted on Kijiji for $15 each) At this age the boys eat like crazy and food is big in their lives. I got him gift cards for a popular sub shop across from his school, and called some of his friends’ moms to do the same so they can go out for lunch as a group. (did same with movie passes…if his friends get them too, they can go together during the school break) Ski or snowboard passes. Remember, with the school break they need stuff to do.
My son is also into airsoft and I found a cool target for airsoft at Walmart. Parts collapse when you hit it. He likes to go online and play “Mind Craft” and there is a download version for about $20. I presume you don’t want just giftcards and want something more visual, tactile to open as a gift…X-box or PSP games…new headphones, oh- for his birthday, I got him a locking cabinet for his room…we have little ones, and they often get into his stuff…he loved having a way to lock it away from them. I did have a rule that we had to keep the spare key. Amusingly, he used it to lock his Halloween Candy away from the little kids, and I insist his airsoft and paintball guns go in it too. My son went thru a stage where he was crazy about weapons…then he started making his own “longboard” skateboards, and now all he wants is tools! whew…sorry that was so long! :smack:
I’m turning 14 soon as well. I already have one but I would consider either BMX or skate. My birthday I’m asking for more parts for my bike cause I’m really into Bmx and dirt jumps. But i always need new parts cause I sometimes crash and need new replacements.