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?)
What’s he into? Books? Eragon 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 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 at that age, and they come in carrying cases or tubs for storage. Of course, there’s always 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.
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 for his Christmas gift. I don’t know how popular that’ll make me with his parents, though.
… though that might be better-suited for a birthday. Magnetix 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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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[li]flamethrower[/li][li]dynamite[/li][li]fishing rod[/li][li]skateboard[/li][li]sled[/li][li]stuffed tiger[/li][li]Spaceman Spiff outfit (in case you hadn’t already guessed where all this is going…) [/li][/ul]
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