Need present ideas for 9 almost 10 yo who has "everything". $125 Budget

[3boymthr]

My mom is looking for ideas for my 9 almost 10 yo DS. He has a ton of stuff (as in the seams are busting on his room) as well as two older brothers who also have a ton of stuff and he doesn't play with a large variety of toys as toy wise he's very mature (swords, nerf guns and legos are pretty much it). In addition his older brothers are both getting a couple of really cool "toys" from grandma so a single splashy item would be ideal. Grandma doesn't buy them anything throughout the year instead goes all out at Christmas. Her total budget is $225 of which she's spent $100. And can I say I've completely run out of ideas - as have my friends

He already has a ton of techy items; nintendo DS, ipod touch (with dock), wii, as well as legos up the wazoo. The other thing Grandma is getting him is Skylanders with 5 add'l figures and a GC to Game Stop so not a video game. Santa is bringing him a 3DS to upgrade his old DS plus 2 games for that as well as a Nerf Nitron, couple of board games and a video and an itunes GC, so....any thoughts?

 

[Jeninindy]

Cannot come up with a thing......If he were older, I would say an airsoft gun.

 

[MomToOne]

Nook or Kindle?

Tickets to some sort of event?

Is there any place where an annual membership would be good (local water park, etc.)?

And of course, there's the gift loved by all of the kids I know: cash! LOL

 

[momto3pirates]

I got my 10 and 12 year old nephews games that have a gun (looks like a nerf gun) and you dock your iPod or iPhone and shoot what comes on the screen. They both have everything so it was hard to pick for them. You have to download the app but it is free. I think the guns were about $35 at Target.

 

[monkey30]

We had the same problem!! So this year we went in a new direction, my mom got him a jersey of his have hockey team with his name and number on it,

We are trying to focus on outdoor play this year, stuff the kids can enjoy in the snow.

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Does he make stuff with duct tape? It is a big thing around here and I am getting an 11 yo boy a bunch of pattern duct tape (skulls, flames etc.)

I like the jersey idea if he is into sports.

 

[nicolet]

I would go with a nook or kindlePromote reading!!!. My son got one this year for his birthday and reads everynight. I noticed if he doesn't read he doesn't sleep well.

We went with the nook and I'm glad we did because we don't go to barnes and nobles much but when they have school nights there we can by giftcards for the nook. A lot of kids around here are taking them to school to read now.

 

[HM]

This is over the budget, but if he has a computer that he can use and likes drawing, being creative...a Bamboo Tablet?

 

[leadfootlevi]

A telescope
An electric piano/guitar/drums

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

a few months of Gamefly (that's the by mail gaming rental place if I've got the name right)? Not much to play with on "the" day but he would probably have fun trying out a ton of different games.

When in doubt (or when the child has "too much stuff) I aim for "experience" type presents.

 

[wintersnowwhite]

Sounds like your child has everything he could want. Maybe grandma should take the rest of that money and by some toys for less fortunate children. Or have your son take that money to purchase toys for needy kids.

 

[adventure_woman]

I would do an activity. Maybe a year pass to the local zoo/gift card for restaurant - chuck e cheese or something that you normally don't do.

 

[Styx Fan]

Definitely an activity or experience of some kind. Sounds like he has more than enough "stuff". Maybe a class of some sort to expose him to some new ideas. Would he like to try a martial art? Some kind of art class? Music class? Music concert? Sports event? How about going in together on a trampoline? Is there a baseketball hoop in the driveway? Does he have a bike? Ripstick? Rollerblades? Anything not electronic!

Honestly, I find it kind of sad that a child that young has everything and there is money looking for ways to be spent. Less can be more.

 

[duffy]

If there's that much money to be spent, and he has everything, how about a donation to a charity in his name?

Spend it on some kids who don't have all that stuff.

 

[labdogs42]

How about "skins" or cases for some of his electronics? Those are always fun!

 

[Juliet25]

If there's that much money to be spent, and he has everything, how about a donation to a charity in his name?

Spend it on some kids who don't have all that stuff.

I agree--donate it to a charity or put it into college savings.

 

[TnTWalter]

college fund...

clothes...

bedding...

books...

 

[MomToOne]

After all the threads I've seen on people going on and on about how "my in-laws treat my kids worse then their other grandkids when it comes to gifts", people really want Grandma to give less to the 9 year old than she does to his two older brothers and donate the extra to charity because "he has too much stuff"?

Really??

We're not talking 10-20 dollars here, we are talking a significant difference in amounts, assuming Grandma had the same budget for each child to start with. He WILL notice. While adults would be able to process that (although even the simple choice of a charity in my family could start wars based on radically different beliefs), a 9 year old child would not be able to, even if he was able to make it sound like he did because he knew that is what is expected. He would internalize it in a negative way.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

After all the threads I've seen on people going on and on about how "my in-laws treat my kids worse then their other grandkids when it comes to gifts", people really want Grandma to give less to the 9 year old than she does to his two older brothers and donate the extra to charity because "he has too much stuff"?

Really?? We're not talking 10-20 dollars here, we are talking a significant difference in amounts, assuming Grandma had the same budget for each child to start with. He WILL notice. While adults would be able to process that (although even the simple choice of a charity in my family could start wars based on radically different beliefs), a 9 year old child would not be able to, even if he was able to make it sound like he did because he knew that is what is expected. He would internalize it in a negative way.

I would rather that than grandma telling me that she isn't getting my kids anything because she has decided that 11 year olds only want expensive stuff and so she isn't buying for any grandkid.

She (grandma in OP's post) already spent $100...if she puts the rest in a college fund, that isn't that big of a deal.

I do agree on the charity if it was the ONLY thing though. I had that happen to me when I was 10 and it still upsets me (not as much as then, of course!). Mine was done as a punishment though. Totally didn't get the message because I internalized it as you say.

 

[AllesonWonderland]

I agree with activity type gifts. Maybe a mini golf or bowling gift certificate, movie passes, batting cage certificate if he's into sports. The certificate could be put with something else so he still has something to open. (Popcorn/candy with a movie pass, batting gloves with a batting cage certificate, etc.) Plus, if you live in a cold climate and it's a warmer weather activity, it will make for fun times later on in the year. (Perhaps right about the time he's getting bored with some of his Christmas gifts!)