What to get 12yo son for Christmas

[mom0299]

I've seen a lot of post about what to get girls for Christmas. I don't have any problem getting ideas for my 10yo DD, but my 12yo DS is another story. He wants an XBox (has a Wii), but I dont' know if we are going to get that. He has a fairly new phone (better than mine). He got an ipod last year and doesn't use it a whole lot. I just don't know what to get him. What are you getting for your preteen/early teen boys?

 

[IDoDis]

If he likes playing Guitar Hero on the Wii, have you considered buying him an electric guitar & amp and signing him up for lessons? My DS is 10, but he started taking lessons over a year ago. Just don't buy the cheap guitars from Wal-Mart or TRU. You can get a better one for around the same price at a music store.

 

[Xcited4Disney]

I'm giving this a bump back to the first page! I have a 12 year old nephew so I need suggestions as well.

 

[daisyduck123]

My DS11 will be 12yo in February.

All he wants:
XBox 360 Games
XBox 360 accessories
Tech Deck stuff

He doesn't have a phone yet, although he wants one. We're going to wait a few years on that. My feeling is that if the kids get everything at such a young age...then there's nothing left to give them when they're older.

He also would love a tv in his room, but we're thinking he'll be at least 16yo for that. His DD15 doesn't have one in her room yet either.

 

[marcyinPA]

If he likes playing Guitar Hero on the Wii, have you considered buying him an electric guitar & amp and signing him up for lessons? My DS is 10, but he started taking lessons over a year ago. Just don't buy the cheap guitars from Wal-Mart or TRU. You can get a better one for around the same price at a music store.

We did this for our boys last Christmas...they were 13 and 9 then. We got a Fender kit from the Guitar Center...it was around $250 or so. Since that time, we've also purchased a bass guitar and a drum set (my youngest plays drums). My DH and the boys are up in our attic "jamming" all the time. It's been a great investment!

 

[stacy2197]

I havn't decided what to get my 12 year old yet but this is a few things I'm trying to decide against
Laptop
Playstation 3
Metal detector
and He wants fossils.
I can't decide what I'll end up getting him.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

My 12yo isn't asking for much. He wants an itunes gift card, a subscription to Roblox (a game website), a ripstik, a couple Wii and PS2 games, and a cell phone that's pretty much it. If he likes sports you could get him a jersey for his favorite team. Or an RC truck, walkie talkies, a digital camera or camcorder.

 

[Kae]

My DS want a DSi, Super Mario for the wii, the Tony Hawk game for wii, tech deck stuff, snowboarding mittens a couple pairs, connect 4 x 4. I think we are going to get him a flat screen for his room like a 19" would like a 22 or 23' but they really don't have any deals on those. A friend has a custom mirror place so we are having a snowboarder mirror made for his room.

Kae

 

[jacksmom]

Hi! My ds is 12 also and he wants a laptop,an IPod Touch, and some X Box 360 games! Such expensive things! We did buy him a nice laptop from Best Buy at a back to school sale that came with a free printer, Laptop case and a mouse! And I bought 3 video games at Toysrus's buy 2 get 1 free sale! And I did buy the IPod Touch on sale at Walmart! I have also bought him an IPod dock that was on clearance at Target (it was originaly around $80. and I got it for $55.) But, I don't have a lot left to spend on him! I am planning on buying an ITunes gift card, but would love some less expensive ideas so he will have a few more things to open! He will only be getting 2 other small gifts from Grandparents! Any less expensive gft ideas??? Oh, One other thing he is asking for is a Phiten necklace! He is really into baseball, but was on an AllStar team this year and has all the equiptment he needs! Would love some other ideas!

 

[3boymthr]

Well, my oldest (not 12, but he acts like it) asked for a PSP and he's getting one. This is the best bargain the Rock Band bundle at Best Buy: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+...8149&skuId=9327276&st=PSP rock band&cp=1&lp=1

It's a lot - $169.99 but the Best Buy price for the bundle is the same as just the PSP and is $30 less than a similar bundle anywhere else. The bundle includes a $20 game and a $30-40 memory card (depends upon where you look for it).

Other things he wants are Celtics or Patriots tickets, a new bicycle and drum roll please... Hickory Farms meat and cheese

 

[r4blessings]

I actually just came from the amazon website where I ordered my ds11 and ds8 electric scooters for $79! I saw someone post the deal on another thread on the dis, and I went over to amazon to see what was available.

This isn't on my son's lists (they are only allowed to ask for 2-3 things, the rest are suprises for being such great kids) but I know they will love it! DS11 and ds8 love their power wheels jeep and motorcycle, although the 11 would never ride it in the yard anymore, b/c he is so big! But I know they are going to FLIP OUT over these!

The red one is 79, and there is a pink one (didn't need that....dd is not even going to be 6 until Jan) and then a blue one that is $119....so they are both getting red for that price! We can just mark theirs somehow.

So, now I am officially, officially done with the older boys! Oh, and right before that, I did order ds8 the sims game for the wii....its on sale for $11 and change with $3-4 dollars s/h. I think it was sims kingdom and he loves animal crossing so I thought that might be a good choice. I had gotten older ds a wii game, and toy story mania for ds4 so I was looking for a game for my 8 yr old.

Hope this helps someone!

 

[mom0299]

Thanks for the suggestions, so far. Keep them coming!
We are actually getting a guitar for DD10 because she's been wanting to take lessons for quite some time. Our kids only get three gifts from us and then a few small things in their stockings. He really wants the XBox 360 and we might do that since it's the only things he's asked for. I'd love to hear more suggestions- maybe some less expensive ones.

 

[SarahD]

I actually just came from the amazon website where I ordered my ds11 and ds8 electric scooters for $79! I saw someone post the deal on another thread on the dis, and I went over to amazon to see what was available.

This isn't on my son's lists (they are only allowed to ask for 2-3 things, the rest are suprises for being such great kids) but I know they will love it! DS11 and ds8 love their power wheels jeep and motorcycle, although the 11 would never ride it in the yard anymore, b/c he is so big! But I know they are going to FLIP OUT over these!

The red one is 79, and there is a pink one (didn't need that....dd is not even going to be 6 until Jan) and then a blue one that is $119....so they are both getting red for that price! We can just mark theirs somehow.

So, now I am officially, officially done with the older boys! Oh, and right before that, I did order ds8 the sims game for the wii....its on sale for $11 and change with $3-4 dollars s/h. I think it was sims kingdom and he loves animal crossing so I thought that might be a good choice. I had gotten older ds a wii game, and toy story mania for ds4 so I was looking for a game for my 8 yr old.

Hope this helps someone!

Thanks! Just ordered my 7 year old one for Christmas. She's been asking for one and I thought I'd have to get it from WalMart for $100. Can't beat $79.99, no sales tax and free shipping!

 

[IDoDis]

Does he like football? How about a football jersey from his favorite team?

A nice dart board -- Sam's Club has a decent one out right now. There are also ones that keep electronic score now.

Does he help his dad around the house with fixer-uppers? Maybe his first cordless drill & tool box?

 

[akcire]

I don't know where you live, but last year I bought my brother-in-law (adopted and 20 years younger than my husband) a pair of snow shoes and poles. I was pretty much looking for anything to decrease his amount of screen time (TV, video games, computer).

I wasn't sure if he'd like them, but thought I would get him something different. A couple summers before he took my rollerblades (they fit him then) so I thought these may be a winner. The snow shoes were a big hit. He now has 3-4 buddies who have them too. A couple times last winter I drove them to local forest preserve trails, handed them a cell phone (for snow shoe related emergencies) and waited in the car while they trekked around. Other times they take them to the park or school yard.

This year we are getting him a membership to the Morton Arboretum (so he can trek and learn about trees) and a bunch of stuff from LLBean to enhance his exploring. Also we found a Nike hat that has ear phones connected for his I-pod, for times he may go alone--I think it was for running, but it will do.

He was really bummed when all the snow melted in the spring and just the other day told me he had gotten the snow shoes out to make certain his shoes still fit in the bindings (he is growing like a weed).

So not a gift for all kids, nor for those in the southern/warmer states; but an odd gift that had strange appeal to a then 13 now 14 year old.

 

[rszdtrvl]

My son has both a birthday and Christmas next month. He is turning 13. Some items we are getting him are :

Digital Camera
Nintendo Dsi
Band Hero PS2
Bowser's Inside Story DS game
New Super Mario Brothers Wii
Pajama pants

And a few just filler items. Keep in mind that some are for Christmas and some are for his birthday. We have the "big 3" video game systems (Wii, XBox 360, and PS3) as well as a PS2 that is in his room.

His main things he wants are video games and a DSi. And he mentioned getting a digital camera for school field trips.

 

[debster812]

DS is also 12. He really was not asking for much

He's getting a PS3 (actually for him AND DH)
couple of soccer jerseys
soccer training gear (agility ladder, drills for the ladder, new shin guards)
iTunes gift card

He really is so easy to please, and is not asking for much more than that.

He's also going to be getting an LL Bean rolling duffle bag, as we go to FL each February to see my parents, and he goes to 2 sleepaway camps with his soccer team, so he needs his own bag.