Dirty Santa ideas for teenage boys

[NYCgrrl]

Thank many for giving the definitions of various Christmas games: Dirty Santa, White Elephant, and Yankee Swap.
Never played any of them.

 

[Lalabubbles]

Amazon has some nice packable backpacks for around $12.99 for some of them. We used one at Disney this past summer and it worked really well. I actually bought one for our family “circle gift” ( that’s what my family calls it ).

 

[disneychrista]

Because he has no money, can't drive, and would rather just hand someone a $10 than wrap a present.

I get boys are different but if one of my daughter had had something like this and didn't at least want to pick out the gift, they would go empty handed and not get to participate.

I'm actually surprised a 16yo would want mom to pick it out. Because at 16 mom's don't know anything about anything, so of course they couldn't possibly pick out something "good."

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It's a Yankee Swap to us, too, and we do one every XMas Eve. I can pick up funny or unusual presents when I see them all year long.

Whatever you get, I would probably throw a Jiffy Pop in the bag.

 

[ronandannette]

The most popular gift my DS ever took to one of those exchanges was a bull horn we got at an army surplus place. The kids nearly knocked one another out trying to get it. Good gravy was that thing obnoxiously loud!! I’m sure the parents of the lucky recipient would have liked to hunt me down and “thank” me.

 

[anniemae]

Is it supposed to be a joke gift? If so, years ago, my friend told me she went to a yankee swap and the hot gift was a children's book called "Everybody Poops," a roll of toilet paper, some bathroom spray and a pin that said "I pooped today!" I guess everyone got a good laugh and was really aggressive (in a fun way) in trying to get that gift.

 

[BrianL]

I always think of White Elephant as like a work gift exchange with small gifts like candles and ornaments. Dirty Santa is the same with the same rules, but the gifts may be less appropriate (but don't have to be).

 

[disneychrista]

I always think of White Elephant as like a work gift exchange with small gifts like candles and ornaments. Dirty Santa is the same with the same rules, but the gifts may be less appropriate (but don't have to be).

In the end they are all the same thing with the "rules" defined by the group/participants.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

The most popular gift my DS ever took to one of those exchanges was a bull horn we got at an army surplus place.

That's hysterical ....... I would totally copy this except that DS would be one of the kids fighting for it. It wouldn't be nearly as funny if it came back home with us..


Is it supposed to be a joke gift? If so, years ago, my friend told me she went to a yankee swap and the hot gift was a children's book called "Everybody Poops," a roll of toilet paper, some bathroom spray and a pin that said "I pooped today!" I guess everyone got a good laugh and was really aggressive (in a fun way) in trying to get that gift.


That was DS' favorite book when he was little........ "A one humped camel makes a 1 hump poop, a 2 humped camel makes a 2 humped poop - just kidding."

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Also these are sometimes called Chinese gift exchanges. I prefer white elephant as it doesn't make any racial or nationality overtones.
Portable speakers, gloves that have the rubber tips so you can still use your phone, flashlight that goes on a head strap...

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I wonder why it needs to be related to scouting? Is that a guideline the troop set or is that what you think it should be? I would just get a $10 gift card to Game Stop or a MC/Visa gift card. It will probably be the gift most of the kids are trying to get

 

[DisneyOma]

Maybe call all the other scouting moms and see what they are getting?

But this makes me sad - even boy scouts can't do this independently?

 

[AppleDumpling]

If you want something scouty, you can get a Scout Christmas ornament. I just bought one for a friend’s Eagle court of honor.

 

[Donaldswife]

My 17 year old daughter just took this cookie skillet to a white elephant gift exchange and it was a big hit! The cast iron skillet could be reused when camping.

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/st...Vs41bCh38Ow07EAQYASABEgIiqfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

I wonder why it needs to be related to scouting? Is that a guideline the troop set or is that what you think it should be? I would just get a $10 gift card to Game Stop or a MC/Visa gift card. It will probably be the gift most of the kids are trying to get

It's a guideline - they interpret it pretty loosely but the rules do say it needs to be something scouting related. That's why there are so many multi-tools and mess kits. There have been a few gift cards in the past (and the previously mentioned $10 worth of change frozen in a block of ice). Gift cards for some reason just don't go over very well with this group. I don't know why, it would certainly make it easier.

 

[Uncle Coaster]

How about Girl Scout cookies?

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

Maybe call all the other scouting moms and see what they are getting?

But this makes me sad - even boy scouts can't do this independently?

Several posters have mentioned this. I'm really not sure why it's such a hot button issue. Seriously, he is a teenage boy, he has no money and doesn't drive. We don't live close enough to the store for him to walk there. So, I can either pick something up on my lunch break while I'm running errands or I can make an extra trip in the evening. Time isn't something I have a lot of right now.

If you want something scouty, you can get a Scout Christmas ornament. I just bought one for a friend’s Eagle court of honor.

I love this idea. I'm going to sock it away for next year (the nearest scouting store is an hour away and there's no time to order anything online at this point.)

 

[disneychrista]

Several posters have mentioned this. I'm really not sure why it's such a hot button issue. Seriously, he is a teenage boy, he has no money and doesn't drive. We don't live close enough to the store for him to walk there. So, I can either pick something up on my lunch break while I'm running errands or I can make an extra trip in the evening. Time isn't something I have a lot of right now.

He can still come up with an idea and you could pick it up. I just find it odd that you are the one choosing the item.

 

[sharona]

For us White Elephant is an unused unwanted regift exchange. Yankee Swap is similar to your dirty Santa but slightly different rules (first you open then you can force a trade with any opened gift - at the end whoever went first has final swap rights). I may suggest we try your rules this year to switch it up.

Sometimes we force a theme like As Seen on TV items or gift cards or sports team items, sometimes it’s anything goes.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I love this idea. I'm going to sock it away for next year (the nearest scouting store is an hour away and there's no time to order anything online at this point.)

DS is an Eagle Scout; we have a few on our tree.

FYI, Hallmark puts out a Snoopy “Beagle Scout” ornament every year (really cute). You could look in a card store or other store that carries Hallmark products (Kohl’s, for one), though they’re priced a bit higher than $10. And there are several made by Kurt Adler that I’ve seen in various local stores.