Gift for 12yr Boy

[Mkrop]

I like this! Thank you ill check out kohls!

While at Kohls, get him some Nike or Under Armour gear. The Nike Elite socks are huge here (SEPA). And most of the kids just play stuff on their phone, but they love the game Heads Up. They like the phone version of course but they play the regular version when then cant have their phones.

My 12 year old likes Dove Mens Care over Axe, you can sometimes get a gift set for that at CVS.

 

[Grmnshplvr]

I have 2 nephews this age, under armour is big, minecraft, nerf. Oh and if you're looking for something cheap to add on, Beanbozzled not sure if that is spelled correctly. It is a disgusting jelly bean game and the boys LOVE it

 

[sunshinehighway]

You could throw a gift card to Gamestop in there (if there's one near you). They sell used games as well as new ones so he could probably find a video game he wants.

 

[NJlauren]

You could throw a gift card to Gamestop in there (if there's one near you). They sell used games as well as new ones so he could probably find a video game he wants.

Good idea too! As an add on how much is good $20?

 

[Cadiewampus]

12 year old girl?

 

[Malibustyle23]

$20 would be nice. He could get most used games there for that price or a little bit more. If not he could also get Microsoft points, Xbox live, accessories, etc. Whatever his gaming needs and wants are.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

I would totally go with Axe - while I hate it, 12 year old boys LOVE it, and that is what matters.

I also agree with Nike and Under Armor, or Addidas. Hoodies and athletic pants.

Also, if you know his shoe size, a pair of slides in the same brand. I like the socks idea someone else posted, too.

My kids are altheltic-minded, so any sort of football or basketball is always a hit, too.

They would look at me in confusion and wonder where their real gifts were if I bought them a sports jacket and dress shirt.

ETA: I just asked DS15 if, when he was 12, I gave him a sports coat and dress shirt for Chirstmas, would he like it and this was is reponse:

"Umm, if you gave me a dress shirt, I would wonder where we were going that you want me to wear it. I'd be OK with a sports jacket"..

I said "Really??"

He said "yeah, sports jacket. You mean like a jacket with a team logo on it right?"

Me - "no...." and explained what it was

Him: "why would you buy me something like that? I already have a suit coat"

LOL

 

[Domo]

Slightly out there, but what about a Mamod? They're basically miniature traction engines. You fill the boiler, light up some fire lighters and bingo, one steam engine. Loved mine.

 

[NJlauren]

ETA: I just asked DS15 if, when he was 12, I gave him a sports coat and dress shirt for Chirstmas, would he like it and this was is reponse:

"Umm, if you gave me a dress shirt, I would wonder where we were going that you want me to wear it. I'd be OK with a sports jacket"..

I said "Really??"

He said "yeah, sports jacket. You mean like a jacket with a team logo on it right?"

Me - "no...." and explained what it was

Him: "why would you buy me something like that? I already have a suit coat"

LOL

Love this!

 

[sunshinehighway]

Good idea too! As an add on how much is good $20?

$20 sounds like a good amount. He should be able to get a game he wants with that.
I know my 12 year old nephew just loves going to Gamestop.

 

[mom2rtk]

Get him a pair of Nerf guns and lots of ammo. TONS of fun.

 

[Chelley00]

I didn't even think about Nerf! My kids love them. I don't buy them because I hate picking up darts and breaking up fights but everyone else buys my them. Even my college boys like them.

 

[mom2rtk]

I didn't even think about Nerf! My kids love them. I don't buy them because I hate picking up darts and breaking up fights but everyone else buys my them. Even my college boys like them.

I'm still finding darts from the set we bought a couple years ago. But it was totally worth it.

 

[TAX GUY]

My son is 12, 13 in a few months. As mentioned, anything "comfortable" for clothes. No jeans or anything dressy. Running/wind pants, hoodies, brand t-shirts and those crazy socks.

Do NOT get him a $20 skateboard. If he's into boarding then he probably already has one and it wouldn't be one of the "cheap" ones (no offense).

He's a boy. Don't get anything that smells nice. Anything he can throw, kick, drive or control would be good. RC car, helicopter, drone, etc. Those little things sold at kiosk's in the mall would be perfect. He WILL break it, no matter what so the less expensive ones are perfect. If he is into athletics at all, the old faithful is a whiffle ball and bat. We go through several sets a year with the neighborhood kids. They don't always play but when they get bored with the same old old....someone breaks out the bat and ball and they have a game for at least an hour.

Don't do video games. Encourage him to GO OUTSIDE. Plus, there are certain games some kids play. Without knowing him personally, it would be hard to pick one he would actually use.

 

[cijay]

I would totally go with Axe - while I hate it, 12 year old boys LOVE it, and that is what matters.

True, but I don't know if he wants to attract other 12 year old boys. But fair enough, you're right, it should mean something to the recipient. I was just thinking of the poor parents.

Remote helicopter is totally what I would do - never thought of that.

12 year old boy + drone = bad news. May as well give him a key to every girl's house so they can see the real thing up close and personal.

Someone else said about the $20 skateboard. I would go for skateboard accessories more than the board itself.

Are you somewhere with winter? Or are summer things okay Christmas presents? I always felt bad for the kids who get new bikes for Christmas here. "Here's your gift, now in 5months you can use it."

Combine something functional (scarf) with something team-related.

Also, this is going to sound profound but find out what local gang colours are to avoid them. Our youth shelter welcomes donations but nothing solid red. (Hoodies and caps, mostly, I think they'd be fine with socks or a scarf.)

 

[mom2rtk]

Axe as a Christmas gift was a running joke for years at our house. Our boys would have thought it was a gag gift.

 

[NJlauren]

True, but I don't know if he wants to attract other 12 year old boys. But fair enough, you're right, it should mean something to the recipient. I was just thinking of the poor parents.

Remote helicopter is totally what I would do - never thought of that.

12 year old boy + drone = bad news. May as well give him a key to every girl's house so they can see the real thing up close and personal.

Someone else said about the $20 skateboard. I would go for skateboard accessories more than the board itself.

Are you somewhere with winter? Or are summer things okay Christmas presents? I always felt bad for the kids who get new bikes for Christmas here. "Here's your gift, now in 5months you can use it."

Combine something functional (scarf) with something team-related.

Also, this is going to sound profound but find out what local gang colours are to avoid them. Our youth shelter welcomes donations but nothing solid red. (Hoodies and caps, mostly, I think they'd be fine with socks or a scarf.)

Thank you! While yes we have winter he is a NYC resident so him using a skateboard in the winter would not be unheard of.

As for gang colors I have no idea where he lives in NYC so I'm not sure I would be able to get that info.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

True, but I don't know if he wants to attract other 12 year old boys. But fair enough, you're right, it should mean something to the recipient. I was just thinking of the poor parents.

Remote helicopter is totally what I would do - never thought of that.

12 year old boy + drone = bad news. May as well give him a key to every girl's house so they can see the real thing up close and personal.

Someone else said about the $20 skateboard. I would go for skateboard accessories more than the board itself.

Are you somewhere with winter? Or are summer things okay Christmas presents? I always felt bad for the kids who get new bikes for Christmas here. "Here's your gift, now in 5months you can use it."

Combine something functional (scarf) with something team-related.

Also, this is going to sound profound but find out what local gang colours are to avoid them. Our youth shelter welcomes donations but nothing solid red. (Hoodies and caps, mostly, I think they'd be fine with socks or a scarf.)

Haha...I think you are right about that! My 6th grade daughter's 12 year old boy friends secretly want to attract the 15 year old girls, and they think Axe is the way to do it! LOL

But in reality, it's really just about the branding for the PE locker room. That's the whole reason my older son wanted it. Once the boys found out that nobody really cares what brand deodorant each other wore, they stopped wanting it. The good thing is, by 13-14, they are so over it! It's a short-lived phase, but one that is oh-so-important at 12!

Adiddas makes a decent smelling deodorant and body spray, so that would be a good alternative, too! I'm sure UA probably has one out as well.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

Axe as a Christmas gift was a running joke for years at our house. Our boys would have thought it was a gag gift.

DH started buying the gift set for DS when he was about 11-12, then once he outgrew Axe, DH started giving him a razor/shave kit. DS told me in secret once that he doesn't understand why DH thinks that this is a GIFT LOL

I told DH that and he said now it's ON! DS will be getting a shave kit every year for the rest of his life SO, DH makes sure to buy one and wrap it up every Christmas now. DS is almost 16.

With the price of razors the way they are, DS will appreciate this once he's out of the house and buying them for himself!

 

[ahutton]

For a toy - a pair of cool nerf guns with lots of ammo is fun - he and a friend or family member can do a nerf war. We do those in the office sometimes to blow off steam. Regular games are fun too - although those also depend on having a group to play. Yahtzee, Guesstures, Pictionary, The Game of Things, HedBanz and SceneIt all have versions that would be appropriate for all age groups.