What are you getting your 10 year old son for Christmas?

[lattemomof3]

Trying to get some ideas as I have a shopping weekend approaching with my sis in laws, we try to knock out some of the Christmas list. Ds knows he wants a new iPod touch, his old one is broken, but he's stumped on anything else. We usually only let him have one electronic gift, he'd also like the Skylanders giant but he'll have to wait until his b-day. He loves Legos but wants the town hall building, which is over $200, so too pricey since his big gift is the iPod.

 

[tikilyn]

I'm getting my ds 9 an ipod touch,docking station with a clock on it,xbox games, a video gaming chair, xbox head phones (see the pattern)LOL Some clothes will be added in for good measure.

 

[brymolmom]

I'll be watching this thread closely as I am stumped for my own ds10 this Xmas. He would love an itouch - and asked for it last year...But we haven't given in on this one - honestly he'll only use it as a portable gaming system so I want to try to push that off maybe til his next birthday.

The ONLY thing I have for sure on the list is getting him box set of Star Wars DVD's. And maybe a new Wii game.

Perhaps some books. But I have no ideas for a series to get him.

Last year I was in a similar situation with not a lot of ideas for him so I went ahead and got him a new, bigger bike. He is set with that one for at least a few more years now - but might be an idea for others of you.

Would love to hear more ideas!

 

[StephMK]

DS10 got a touch for his bday and loves it. I'm not sure what we're getting him yet but here are my ideas so far. Most of these he has asked for at some point this year. He's ready for a room makeover but I'm waiting to see if we're moving or staying put first so maybe next summer.

itunes card
docking station
Skylanders Giants
Lord of the Rings lego set
guitar amp
archery glove & some lessons if I can find a local place
new pjs
books - he has flown through anything written by Rick Riordan or Suzanne Collins so I'm not sure what yet.

 

[mom2t]

Mine is getting Ipod touch 4th gen., case, Wimpy movies and his stocking from Santa. We are giving digital camera - scored great deal yesterday $50 off $140 - WII game , ds game, some books, couple small lego sets, clothes and the new Monopoly board you use the touch with. The docking ststion would be a great birthday gift in April.
I need to buy Ipod, lego sets and Monopoly game.

 

[mom2t]

I like to buy tickets to events after Christmas

Science Center membership - this allows us to get in other centers when we travel. Used it on our Pa. and beach trip last summer and will use it at the Outer Banks this summer plus all the other times we did day trips this year especially in the summer. More than paid for itself.
Harlem Globetrotter tickets
Circis tickets

I might do movie tickets is my son's stocking this year.

 

[mom2t]

Mine is getting Ipod touch 4th gen., case, Wimpy movies and his stocking from Santa. We are giving digital camera - scored great deal yesterday $50 off $140 - WII game , ds game, some books, couple small lego sets, clothes and the new Monopoly board you use the touch with. The docking ststion would be a great birthday gift in April.
I need to buy Ipod, lego sets and Monopoly game.

 

[clm10308]

My DS10 wants his own cordless drill for Christmas. Yeah, I know he is a bit strange. He is also getting some of those kids building kits like from Home Depot. I got a build your own air hockey kit on clearance in the summer.

 

[lucigo]

Once my 9yo got an ipod (and now an ipad) everything else was obsolete. Lots of $$ in itunes cards, and educate yourselves in preventing overspending (don't attach a credit card, use gift cards).

 

[Fjobe]

DS9 is getting an itunes card, Haunted Mansion Game of Life, Solar powered building set from the scholastic book club), and a Pokemon black/white 2 for the Nintendo 3DS. That is all he has asked for. I will probably get him some books (not sure what yet - he is on the 5th Harry Potter book now) and something else that he doesn't expect. A docking station is a good idea, but may be pricier than what we want to spend since we are doing a WDW/Cruise trip in March.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

I see a lot of 10 year olds are getting iPod touches. Mine has asked for one but I think we might get him the Kindle Fire instead. He really isn't into music and the Fire has a bigger screen, better for watching movies and gaming. He is also getting a science kit and he wants those Switch N Go Dinos. He loves Legos, too, so we'll probably get him some.

 

[pklein09]

When DS12 turned 9 and 10, we got him Snap Circiuts as per a recommendation from the Budget Board. He LOVED them....and he still plays with them. Short description: there are circuit diagrams in a book and the child puts them together to complete a circuit. Some of them turn on a light, others launch a spinning wheel vertically. Some come with a motion sensor so it only goes off when someone passes by. I got the initial set from Amazon, but found additional sets at Mom & Pop toy stores.

Does he do anything outside? Does he need a new bike? Junior set of golf clubs? Student microscope? Student telescope?

Good luck!

 

[McKelly]

DS10 got a touch for his bday and loves it. I'm not sure what we're getting him yet but here are my ideas so far. Most of these he has asked for at some point this year. He's ready for a room makeover but I'm waiting to see if we're moving or staying put first so maybe next summer.

itunes card
docking station
Skylanders Giants
Lord of the Rings lego set
guitar amp
archery glove & some lessons if I can find a local place
new pjs
books - he has flown through anything written by Rick Riordan or Suzanne Collins so I'm not sure what yet.

For books: Has he read the Ranger's Apprentice series? My son loved those books and he also is a fan of Rick Riordan and The Hunger Games.

 

[brymolmom]

When DS12 turned 9 and 10, we got him Snap Circiuts as per a recommendation from the Budget Board. He LOVED them....and he still plays with them. Short description: there are circuit diagrams in a book and the child puts them together to complete a circuit. Some of them turn on a light, others launch a spinning wheel vertically. Some come with a motion sensor so it only goes off when someone passes by. I got the initial set from Amazon, but found additional sets at Mom & Pop toy stores.

Does he do anything outside? Does he need a new bike? Junior set of golf clubs? Student microscope? Student telescope?

Good luck!

Hey pklein - Can you elaborate on the snap circuits? This sounds VERY possible for my ds10 and maybe even for a gift for my 2 nephews. I took a look on amazon and am confused....Is there a 'starter' set that I need to get initially first and then the rest of them are the add-ons? I'm guessing the 'JR' set is likely for younger kids...I'm looking at the $80 set that I'm thinking would be the one to watch??

 

[brymolmom]

Your 10 year olds have been reading Hunger Games?? How did that go? I read the series myself and can't imagine my 10 year old reading that. He can handle the difficulty - I guess it's the premise of a 'fight to the death' and some gory detail that makes me think I should wait until he's at least a few years older....thoughts?

DS finished off Harry Potter and currently is almost done with everything Rick Riordan.

 

[zoemurr]

Hey pklein - Can you elaborate on the snap circuits? This sounds VERY possible for my ds10 and maybe even for a gift for my 2 nephews. I took a look on amazon and am confused....Is there a 'starter' set that I need to get initially first and then the rest of them are the add-ons? I'm guessing the 'JR' set is likely for younger kids...I'm looking at the $80 set that I'm thinking would be the one to watch??

They all can stand on their own. My son received a set a few years ago and didn't bond with it, but he likes more creative types of things. I think the set got was $50.


and to the PP: my son read THG at 10 also. He isn't much of a reader at all, and the rest of our family had read it, and tons of kids in his class. He has never been excited about a book so we went with it. He was fine.. then we took him to the movie.

If your child hasn't asked to read it I'm not sure I would introduce it, especially if they are sensitive. I didn't really enjoy it, but my kids weren't bothered at all.

 

[IllinoisMommy]

When my son was 10 last year we go him Xbox games, books, DVDs (Wimpy Kid, The Lightning Thief, etc) and sports and Scouting gear. He loves fishing and the outdoors- so that helps, and he is really into Sports so anything UnderArmour brand can't go wrong. I also got him an inexpensive outdoor type watch and he loved it.

In the past have gotten him a docking station for his IPod Touch and he used it every night. Until it broke- so he may be getting another one this year

 

[IllinoisMommy]

My kids are all big readers, so if anyone wants book recommendations....Diary of a Wimpy Kid, anything Rick Riordan, Hunger Games series (though may be too intense for some 10 year olds- talk to people who have read it), Rangers Apprentice series, Eragon series, Harry Potter. There is also a series of graphic novels (basically elaborate comic books) called Bone which my boys really liked.

I love books for the holidays It has been so fun choosing books for a little girl after years of books on monsters, dragons, wizards, etc. I need a little Pinkaliscious in my day

 

[StephMK]

For books: Has he read the Ranger's Apprentice series? My son loved those books and he also is a fan of Rick Riordan and The Hunger Games.

I don't think so. Thanks, I'll have to check them out! I"m hoping to get him some new ones and series are always good for him. He just finished Firestar? or whatever book #3 is about dragons by Chris D'Arcy.

Hey pklein - Can you elaborate on the snap circuits? This sounds VERY possible for my ds10 and maybe even for a gift for my 2 nephews. I took a look on amazon and am confused....Is there a 'starter' set that I need to get initially first and then the rest of them are the add-ons? I'm guessing the 'JR' set is likely for younger kids...I'm looking at the $80 set that I'm thinking would be the one to watch??

DS also has some Snap Circuits that he got based on reviews here too. He has the jr set and still pulls it out sometimes. That was one of my 3rd grade classes favorite rain day recess activities last year- even the girls loved it.

He really likes the one that makes a car and has had fun with that one. I was looking at the green energy set too.

Your 10 year olds have been reading Hunger Games?? How did that go? I read the series myself and can't imagine my 10 year old reading that. He can handle the difficulty - I guess it's the premise of a 'fight to the death' and some gory detail that makes me think I should wait until he's at least a few years older....thoughts?

DS finished off Harry Potter and currently is almost done with everything Rick Riordan.

Yes, DS read them all before the movie came out after we finally agreed. DD18 had read them and I knew the subject matter so it was a tough decision. He was relentless in getting me to take him to the movie version opening weekend.

He did admit that the books are pretty graphic. He has some mild anxiety issues but these books didn't bother him much. Most of the kids in his class read them around the same time. Mainly, it got DS even more interested in archery than he was after trying it at Scouts.

 

[Jedana]

DS9 is getting:

1

• -2 video games (for either his new 3DS or the Wii--or maybe an xbox 360 if santa brings one for the family)
  
• new tent (2 man size)--he has a 4 man sized one, but we're looking at smaller backpacking style.
  
• sleeping bag--one with a liner, so he can use just it in the heat, or double it with the bag if it's not
  
• mess kit
  
• couple lego sets--big into the superhero ones right now
  
• new pjs (family tradition)
  
• beywheelz if still into them (beyblades are so out, I was told )--if not, whatever the new toy is
  
• remote control aircraft/cars (he bought 2 with his birthday money and loves them, but it takes 30 minutes to charge and they last 5 minutes)

stocking stuffers:

• small lego sets
  
• compass, fire starter kit

(can you tell he's a scout, lol. In May, he becomes a Webelos, and can start building fires, going to camp without mom, etc)


family gifts:

• movies (Thor, Ironman--bluray; DS got Ironman 2 and Avengers for his bday)
  
• Xbox 360 (depends on money)
  
• a new board game or two (running out of games, MB--get moving on some new ones!)

Last year he got a Daisy bb rifle, an archery set (and all the targets and gear for those) and a drum set. We do books throughout the year--he has preordered and paid for the new Wimpy Kid book already. (and yes, I make him use his money on occasion for books--it's good for him)

He wants an ipod touch, but I think he needs to show me a bit more responsibility with his things before I buy him one. He paid for the DS and the 3DS himself--sold his toddler toys, saved allowance and birthday money, etc.

He only gets gifts from us--our extended families are not as giving as we are--so it may seem like a lot, but it's all he'll get.