16 yo boy bday gift?

[momz]

nephew is turning 16. My kids are still little, so i have no idea what would be a good gift for him.

He is in driver's ED, so will be driving soon, but he doesn't have a car. He enjoys basketball, but already has everything that I could think of related to this. He recently started umpiring little league baseball and is having fun doing that, but I'm not sure what kind of gift might be useful there. He doesn't have a girlfriend, and is not currently dating. He is active in his church's youth group too. He is a really good kid, gets good grades, in general obeys his parents, although he has the typical teenage obnoxiousness.

All in all, I'm really proud of the man he is becoming and want to recognize this milestone for him, but I'm not sure what to get for him. Any suggestions?

 

[dakcp2001]

Gift card! Teenagers like to pick their pown gifts. Or maybe Itunes gift card? Best buy? Does he play video games? Or a Mall gift card, he could find something there. Maybe a AAA membership and a car saftey kit? His parents would like that. lol. And AAA will get him discounts.

 

[auntie]

Get him a gift card for the mall. Let him spend it where he wants.

Let it be his choice. He'll appreciate the freedom to make his own decisions.

He can spend on the movies, a store, food court ..whatever.

You can always attach a small token type of gift and card with it.

 

[mamacatnv]

I agree with GC's - movies, food etc. that is a tough age to buy for.

Perhaps some type of book or small token that expresses what you said about how proud you are of the young man he is becomming also. You are an Aunt, you can get away with the mushy stuff

 

[stsomewhere]

GC for gas. That way when he borrows the car he can fill it up.

 

[luvmy3]

Cash. I know it sounds impersonal but every teen nephew or niece I have asked what they want, the answer is always cash.

If you know of an author he likes you could always get him a book and write a nice inscription it, to go with the cash of course

 

[mjkacmom]

Cash!

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

nephew is turning 16. My kids are still little, so i have no idea what would be a good gift for him.

He is in driver's ED, so will be driving soon, but he doesn't have a car. He enjoys basketball, but already has everything that I could think of related to this. He recently started umpiring little league baseball and is having fun doing that, but I'm not sure what kind of gift might be useful there. He doesn't have a girlfriend, and is not currently dating. He is active in his church's youth group too. He is a really good kid, gets good grades, in general obeys his parents, although he has the typical teenage obnoxiousness.

Oh you must be my son's long last aunt! Really - my son is turning 16 next month, plays basketball and baseball - just starting umpiring, gets good grades, not dating, youth group, and until recently -- perfect - but now the teenage attitude has hit hard!!

Sorry I don't have a great gift idea. Although he recently got a giftcard to DQ which was kind-of out of the box and he LOVED it. He'd love a Q'Doba card too since that's where the kids go for lunch around here. I don't have any great ideas either - I guess just paying for his insurance should be enough!

Editing to add: Actually a hand written note in a card from an extended family member about how proud you are of him would be huge too. I think my son would love to have his "good choices" recognized, and it also serves as an encouragement for them to continue on that path.

 

[golfgal]

I agree, cash or gift cards. Our boys love gift cards to ITunes, movie theater, Target or Subway the most.

 

[clh2]

GC for gas. That way when he borrows the car he can fill it up.

My DD just turned 16, and we got her a gas GC.

 

[bananda]

itunes card

 

[tiggerlover]

As the mother of a teenage boy I would say cash or an iTunes card.

 

[rie'smom]

Ask his parents if you can have a key made for thr car he'll drive. Then get a nice key chain and a gc to pay for a tank of gas.

 

[scrapquitler]

GC for gas. That way when he borrows the car he can fill it up.

that is exactly what I was going to say

 

[Golf4food]

Cold, hard cash.

 

[RUDisney]

My DS will be 16 next March. He likes cash.

He used to like GCs, but you can't use them cumulatively when they are to different places, so he'd prefer a visa gift card or cash. That way, he can decide what he wants and from where he wants it.

Now, if I could just convince my MIL that cash is a better gift than an expensive pair of jeans for my kids...

 

[PollyannaMom]

When my oldest niece turned 16, we wrote a "poem" on posterboard. I don't remember all of it now, but it had lines like "We wish we could get you car," and the word was replaced by a matchbox car, taped onto the posterboard - things like that. The second to last line ended with "16", replace by a box of 16 crayola crayons, and then the last line said something about a mix up "... sorry they're all green." - and the "crayons" were actually tightly rolled-up bills (any combo to make the amount you want). It went over really well.

 

[ICF]

a 16 yr old girl might make a good gift???

I would say a gift card for gas or cash would be a good idea....

 

[auntie]

Why I think the idea of a gas card, is a nice thought...if he doesn't yet own a car or have his license, you might want to wait on that. You can always give him one when he does actually have a vehicle of his own.
I say this because my son's friend (age 17) got a GPS for Christmas. Great right?..
Just one thing..he didn't have his drivers license yet. It was actually kind of sad..as the gift was from his parents. I know they thought it was a great idea. Only..heck..the kid was 17 and it was Christmas morning. He would have really appreciated something he could have used, rather than something he had to put away and save.
Now, I know his parents are lovely people and got the GPS because they were planning on getting him a car for his birthday which was three months later in March. Only..the look of disappointment on this kid's face...when I asked him what he got for Christmas.
Get him something he can use...like a gift card at the mall, which he can use in any store. Usually even in the movies and Food court..or as other's have said..COLD HARD CASH. You can always give him a small token type of gift to go along with it.

 

[Mikes:)Mom]

Does he like video games? Does he have an Xbox? The big thing around here is Xbox Live. It lets you play against your friend without being together. Its $50 a year, you buy a Xbox Live GC. Other great thing for the Xbox, They sell headphones. My son saved his money for really nice ones. I think they were $65. The head phones allow you to talk with your friends as you play. BUT the best part is I don’t have to hear the TV when I trying to sleep. You do have to have the internet. Good Luck!! My DS15 is hard to shop for too! His into sports too, but they can only have so many balls and bats!!