Need gift ideas for a 17 year old boy

[tripletsmama]

My nephew has his ring ceremony this weekend where the kids are given their class rings. However, he doesn't want a ring. I don't understand this, but oh well! I want to get him something nice to celebrate the occasion. His birthday was last week so it should be a bigger gift or a couple little gifts to cover both celebrations. I want to get him something significant, not just something he wants at this moment. I feel the whole ring ceremony concept merits something more meaningful than the typical gift. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[ckay87]

What occasion, exactly? They have a ceremony for receiving class rings? Sweet Lord, when will it end?

I must be misunderstanding something

 

[MrsDuck]

My nephew has his ring ceremony this weekend where the kids are given their class rings. However, he doesn't want a ring. I don't understand this, but oh well! I want to get him something nice to celebrate the occasion. His birthday was last week so it should be a bigger gift or a couple little gifts to cover both celebrations. I want to get him something significant, not just something he wants at this moment. I feel the whole ring ceremony concept merits something more meaningful than the typical gift. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!

I can definitely understand why a 17yo boy wouldn't want a class ring...

Why not ask him what he would like for his birthday or ask his parents? They would probably know best.

My go to gift for teenage boys: iTunes gift cards, movie giftcards, cash. If you know what he likes, it helps.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

He's actually really smart for not getting a class ring. You wear a high school class ring until you graduate... maybe in college. But after college, you aren't going to want to wear your high school class ring.

I didn't get a high school class ring because I was holding out for a state ring (and luckily got it!), but I hardly wore/wear that. My BF did get a class ring from high school and says he wore it maybe once. It's so expensive for soemething most people hardly wear.

Does he like music? Most teenage boys do. Take a look at Beats by Dr. Dre headphones (studios - most boys don't like the solos) or a Beat Box by Dr. Dre. It will be a great gift to take to college.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Hmm...maybe a really nice pocket knife?

A toolbox with a nameplate and a couple of starter tools?

New, nice leather wallet (my 19 year old son loves Fossil) with a gift card inside?

 

[DebD4T]

DD#1's class ring came in the mail. LOL

OP, why do you feel you need to get him a gift for the ceremony?

To answer your origianl question...

will he be driving soon, or is he already driving? Maybe gift certificates for a car wash/oil change? Gas gift cards?

 

[momto3pirates]

How about a nice camera or video camera? My sister gave my ds16 a camera for his birthday and he has really enjoyed it.

 

[Christine]

My son goes to a small Catholic high school and, for now, they have been purchasing class rings for their juniors. I doubt they will do this forever but the school is new and I think they are doing it for the first few classes.

Being Catholic, they do hold a Ring Mass when they give out the rings. It is a ceremony and parents or whoever attends. As far as I can tell, it's never been a gift giving occasion. The ring is the focal point. It's not a ceremony that is celebrating an achievement or anything.

 

[4greatboys]

My nephew has his ring ceremony this weekend where the kids are given their class rings. However, he doesn't want a ring. I don't understand this, but oh well! I want to get him something nice to celebrate the occasion. His birthday was last week so it should be a bigger gift or a couple little gifts to cover both celebrations. I want to get him something significant, not just something he wants at this moment. I feel the whole ring ceremony concept merits something more meaningful than the typical gift. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!

Is there anything he collects? A special band he really likes? If not, most boys his age could always use an itunes gc for music, movies or games. If he has a xbox you get him some points that he could get games or add ons with.

As for the ring, my oldest son did not want one in high school but my next oldest did.

 

[shortbun]

Does he have a car? Something for his car like good floormats would be nice. My son is 17. I can't think of gifts for him, let alone figure out what other people should get him. I agree that the headphones by Dr. Dre would be good but most kids have specific headphones that they want. Speaker/charger for his MP3 player? There is so little that boys this age need besides money. My son would LOVE a pair of basketball shoes from The Foot Locker, a la gift certificate. His shoes run $150 or more because he has big, wide feet and it's hard to fit him. Does your nephew have an Iphone? You can get the 4S for not a lot; the newest is the 5.

 

[tar heel]

I have three sons. One got a classring. He didn't wear it once he went to college. I've not seen it lately. I hope he hasn't sold it for the gold, considering how much it cost.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Gas card!

Also like the pocket knife idea, although by 17 he would hopefully have that covered.

 

[RitaE]

There's a ring ceremony? With gifts???

Somewhere in significance between a birthday and a Bar Mitzvah?

 

[disykat]

Another one here who's never heard of a ring ceremony. If you want to give a gift though, my 17 year old would vote cash!

 

[kacaju]

However, he doesn't want a ring. I don't understand this, but oh well!

I have 3 girls...and the older two didn't want a ring either. The
3rd is only in 7th grade...but I doubt she is going to want one either

 

[Wishing on a star]

A 'ring' ceremony....
For a kids class ring.

Really.... Really??????

I would def. want to buy him a nice birthday gift.
Or maybe plan for a really nice graduation gift.
That would be up to what you would like to give, and what he possibly might appreciate!!!

Don't know if I would acknowledge a 'ring ceremony'.

 

[mdsoccermom]

My nephew has his ring ceremony this weekend where the kids are given their class rings. However, he doesn't want a ring. I don't understand this, but oh well! I want to get him something nice to celebrate the occasion. His birthday was last week so it should be a bigger gift or a couple little gifts to cover both celebrations. I want to get him something significant, not just something he wants at this moment. I feel the whole ring ceremony concept merits something more meaningful than the typical gift. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!

I don't understand. What occasion are you celebrating? It's a class ring he didn't want.

I would just get him a birthday gift. Every teen loves gift cards and cash.

 

[tripletsmama]

Thanks for the suggestions, all. I'm really liking the toolbox idea since its something he would take with him when he moves out. That makes it seem more long lasting, like the ring.

To those who asked about the ring ceremony...I had never heard of it either. When my brother was explaining it to me and then said my nephew didn't want a ring, I didn't understand why he would attend. However, my brother said its an event the whole class goes to whether they're getting a ring or not. Anyway, the whole family is going to dinner after the ceremony so I wanted to get him something nice.

 

[Gorechick]

How about a watch or iTunes gift card?

 

[mr.bungle]

M ex wife was cleaning out my side of the closet a while back and found my class ring. She sent it to me and it doesn't even fit on my pinky... not that I'd wear it anyway. I think this is one of the school traditions that needs to go away.