# Gift suggestions for old man and young boys. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426 "2012-07-16T18:10:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/1 "2012-07-16T18:10:06Z")
I have to get some gifts and I have no idea what to get. I have two nephews who I don’t really know very well. They are 12 and 8, being raised very religiously and are young for their ages. I don’t even know what kinds of things they like. I also have to get something for my dad. This one’s going to be almost impossible I think. He has Parkinson’s disease, is not active, likes watching TV and sitting in the yard with the dogs. He likes boats and he can’t eat crunchy things. He is not into electronic gadgets. Any suggestions at all because I’m stumped. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/2 "2012-07-16T18:24:04Z")
Might your dad enjoy magazines from a different era? Like from the 50s or 60s? You can find them on eBay. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/3 "2012-07-16T18:30:20Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I have to get some gifts and I have no idea what to get. > > I have two nephews who I don’t really know very well. They are 12 and 8, being raised very religiously and are young for their ages. I don’t even know what kinds of things they like. > > Any suggestions at all because I’m stumped. 😕 A basic triops kit would a cheap hit with these boys I bet, I used to buy them at Wal-mart for under 5 bucks. If you want to spend more you could buy them a bowl or container for them too with some gravel. [http://toys.scholarschoice.ca/images/products/25/Triops-Kit-N52685\_XL.jpg](http://toys.scholarschoice.ca/images/products/25/Triops-Kit-N52685_XL.jpg) My nephew LOVED it, don’t tell him I got it in the aquarium section of wallyworld. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/4 "2012-07-16T18:35:51Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Might your dad enjoy magazines from a different era? Like from the 50s or 60s? You can find them on eBay. That’s an interesting idea. I wonder what kind of magazines would be interesting to him. He was born 1947. > [@grude](#): > > A basic triops kit would a cheap hit with these boys I bet, I used to buy them at Wal-mart for under 5 bucks. If you want to spend more you could buy them a bowl or container for them too with some gravel. > > [http://toys.scholarschoice.ca/images/products/25/Triops-Kit-N52685\_XL.jpg](http://toys.scholarschoice.ca/images/products/25/Triops-Kit-N52685_XL.jpg) > > My nephew LOVED it, don’t tell him I got it in the aquarium section of wallyworld. That’s a really good idea. Ok I also have to get something for my brother. He loves fishing, hiking and doing stuff with his boys. I thought about maybe a really cool fishing lure but I don’t know what a really cool fishing lure is. I also have to get something for his wife. She’s very religious and is a school teacher at a private, religious school. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/5 "2012-07-16T18:39:37Z")
Maybe a tape recorder and some books on tape for your dad? For the boys, I like the triops idea. Wish I had seen that when my kid was younger. He would have been ALL over that! For brother who loves fishing, a gift card to an online fishing store like Bass Pro Shops? Or Cabella’s? For the wife, maybe a really nice Yankee Candle? (This one’s kinda throwin’ me.) OR - my mom suggested this, has she read the book, “The Shack”? You could get her a copy of that I guess. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/6 "2012-07-16T18:52:19Z")
> [@Missy2U](#): > > Maybe a tape recorder and some books on tape for your dad? > For the wife, maybe a really nice Yankee Candle? (This one’s kinda throwin’ me.) OR - my mom suggested this, has she read the book, “The Shack”? You could get her a copy of that I guess. That’s a good idea. I bet he’d like the James Harriot series. The Shack sounds too sad. A really nice candle is a good idea. I’ve always wanted to get my dad an autographed Don Cherry T-shirt or jersey. My dad really isn’t all that old but he is in very poor health and I don’t think he’ll be around for too many more years. I also think my parents are lying to me about just how sick he is. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/7 "2012-07-16T18:53:44Z")
Boys are easy. Legos. ---
**Author:** ![phxjcc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phxjcc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phxjcc)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/8 "2012-07-16T18:55:39Z")
For your father Books Gipsy Moth Circles the World (1967). Chichester Adrift, Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea. Callahan Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage. Lansing The Rise & Fall of the British Empire. James A Leatherman All Purpose Tool If it is hard for him to walk, then having one of these in a kitchen drawer gives him pliers and screwdrivers all in one handy small tool. And his friends will ooh and aah over it. And us old guys love gadgets–not electric gizmos like iPods or iPads, but stuff that actually _does_ something (ie. mechanical). ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/9 "2012-07-16T18:56:56Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I’ve always wanted to get my dad an autographed Don Cherry T-shirt or jersey. My dad really isn’t all that old but he is in very poor health and I don’t think he’ll be around for too many more years. I’m so sorry - that’s got to be really tough. [Here’s what I found for Don Cherry autographed stuff](http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/player/Don_Cherry) - maybe you’ll be able to find something he’d like! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/10 "2012-07-16T18:59:47Z")
For Dad, books on tape and a tape player with big buttons. \* He may be fine with CDs, but most older folks are more comfortable with tapes. Or any device which can download and play audio books and NPR-type stuff. (Hopefully a more informed person can elaborate.) For the boys - how religious? Like, no Santa Claus-religious? Take away super hero toys because they compete with the omnipotence of God-religious? If it doesn’t mention \__ **name of diety here** _ it’s evil-religious? What religion? In general, most fundamentalists will not argue with anything that has to do with survival skills building, and most young boys are into camping. Maybe ropes and a knot tying book, or other woodscraft related things? A pup tent and flashlights. . . If their parents are not anti-graven-images types then a sketch pad, how-to-draw book and art supplies would give them an outlet. Kazoos, harmonicas, recorders and guitars can also provide outlet for tightly bound children. Include a book of camp songs from the religious store to aid parental acceptance. Even an electric keyboard can be bought fairly inexpensively these days. hth \*Or, what Missy said, LOL! ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/11 "2012-07-16T19:01:01Z")
> [@phxjcc](#): > > For your father > Adrift, Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea. Callahan > > Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage. Lansing > > A Leatherman All Purpose Tool He would love those! > [@Missy2U](#): > > I’m so sorry - that’s got to be really tough. [Here’s what I found for Don Cherry autographed stuff](http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/player/Don_Cherry) - maybe you’ll be able to find something he’d like! 🙂 I looked there already, maybe he’d like a puck or something. I just know he’d love to have a shirt or something he could wear. I’m making lists of all these suggestions and I’m so glad to have some ideas now! ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/12 "2012-07-16T19:01:32Z")
> [@grude](#): > > A basic triops kit would a cheap hit with these boys I bet, I used to buy them at Wal-mart for under 5 bucks. If you want to spend more you could buy them a bowl or container for them too with some gravel. > > [http://toys.scholarschoice.ca/images/products/25/Triops-Kit-N52685\_XL.jpg](http://toys.scholarschoice.ca/images/products/25/Triops-Kit-N52685_XL.jpg) If “raised very religiously” happens to mean Young Earth Creationists, would they have any strong opinions either way on the kids raising their own “prehistoric” animals? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/13 "2012-07-16T20:05:18Z")
> [@heathen\_earthling](#): > > If “raised very religiously” happens to mean Young Earth Creationists, would they have any strong opinions either way on the kids raising their own “prehistoric” animals? 😛 Yes, they are Young Earth Creationists and I now get them triops! I think I’ve decided on Legos and triops for each of the boys. Those two books listed up thread for my dad. I still think a really cool fishing lure would be good for my brother. A real fancy schmancy one. Still a bit stumped for sister in law. She’s very nice, doesn’t wear makeup or jewelry, is against secular music. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/14 "2012-07-16T20:39:21Z")
Three ships in bottles. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/15 "2012-07-16T20:44:35Z")
Does she knit or sew? A gift card to a local crafts store might be useful for her if she does. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/16 "2012-07-16T20:48:17Z")
> [@phxjcc](#): > > A Leatherman All Purpose Tool > If it is hard for him to walk, then having one of these in a kitchen drawer gives him pliers and screwdrivers all in one handy small tool. And his friends will ooh and aah over it. And us old guys love gadgets–not electric gizmos like iPods or iPads, but stuff that actually _does_ something (ie. mechanical). Brilliant, and I also think that 12 and 8 isn’t too young for a kid to have one…though I would understand if their parents felt otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/17 "2012-07-16T22:03:36Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Brilliant, and I also think that 12 and 8 isn’t too young for a kid to have one…though I would understand if their parents felt otherwise. I don’t think they would mind that at all but it did make me think of a Swiss Army Knife for each of them. I bet they’d think it was super cool and then I’d be the super cool aunt! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/18 "2012-07-16T22:26:32Z")
Remote control helicopters for them all. I’m dead serious, we’ve given them to 10-year-old boys and sixty plus men, and they all like them. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/19 "2012-07-16T23:08:50Z")
I was going to suggest a traditional pocket knife for your dad, seeing how he likes being outdoors. but his illness might not make this advisable. How about a home theater? ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426/20 "2012-07-17T03:55:09Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > I was going to suggest a traditional pocket knife for your dad, seeing how he likes being outdoors. but his illness might not make this advisable. > > How about a home theater? I got my dad a nice Swiss Army knife a few years ago. They have a good home theatre but unfortunately the dogs are afraid of it :smack:. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-suggestions-for-old-man-and-young-boys/628426.md?page=2)