What's everybody buying their kids for Christmas this year - age 12 and up?

[DisneyMomx7]

I haven't started Christmas shopping yet but so far I think:

DS (10) new wii games, basketball jerseys, baseball jerseys, tickets a 76ers game and who knows what else.

DD (11) - gift certificate to GF Spa, clothes from justice, Itune gift cards, and I don't know what else.

DD (13) - Wii or XBox, rock band, gift certificate to GF Spa, clothes from Justice, Itunes gift card and I don't know what else.

 

[GJM]

Plus my DS birthday is Dec. 16 -

He has all the electronics, I admit he wants for nothing and we have family that buys for him.

His cell phone was a Christmas gift from grandma - which was free from Verizon.

TV in his room is one we had and moved, he doesn't even watch TV in his room.

Itouch - I purchased for myself but don't use so he uses it.

Laptop - this he got as a BD gift before DH was deployed so they could use the webcam and talk, this came in so handy.

He also has Wii, Playstation, and Xbox 360 these were all gifts at some point, this year he really just wants a game for the Xbox.

He could care less about clothes, there is never anything he says he wants, getting him to get clothes is like pulling teeth. Even if we offered a vacation he doesn't seem to care, he is just happy being home - now me I will take the vacation!

DH & I don't even get each other gifts because there is nothing I can think of I want, except a new car, but that isn't happening!

When does the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid come out - my DS has all the books and loves them

 

[alwaysmom]

DS14 asked for a laptop and programming software ???? (we figured he'd want xbox stuff)

DS12 asked for a DS & Wii game & a Kayak.

DS24 gets his AAA renewed and a gift card, his GF is getting a fleece blanket & pillow that I make.

Have not even started Christmas shopping yet.

 

[Soarin_04]

I have to say that I feel behind the curve here...I see that alot of kids under 13 already have the ipod, itouch, tv in room, laptop, cell phone, etc, etc...my kids DS11 and DD8 have none of those things. Do any of you ever feel like because sometimes kids get those things so young nowadays that there is 'nowhere to go' as far as gifts when they get older?

I also worry that if we give our kids too much, too soon that they will grow up to think that all this stuff is easy to come by and will have HUGE sticker shock when they are adults themselves and realize that they cannot continue the lifestyle they enjoyed as children.

Am I alone?

Heck, no, you're not alone. Everyone's different but when my sons were that age, I thought they were too young for the big ticket items and they really didn't ask for them anyway.

My soon-to-be 13 year old bought his own Ipod last year after Christmas -- combination of a sale, saved spending money, and a few gift cards. And he treats that thing with a lot more care than I know he would if I bought it for him. It was such a great lesson for him, to have him hand over all the cash and the gift cards and walk away with $2 in his pocket. I can't tell you how much I loved that moment!!!

He does have a cell, but there were major conditions. He had to exist with a Go-Phone for a year to prove we could trust him. We finally put him on our AT&T plan when he went away to camp this summer but he doesn't have texting on his phone. He has to earn it, or save up enough to cover the bill, which he's unable to do.

Ok, now, in terms of what he and his 11 year old brother are getting? The 11 year old asked for legos, books, and a few DS /Wii games. The 13 year old has asked for books, an Ipod clock / docking station, and the same DS / Wii games as his brother, which means there will be some shared gifts there.

The other thing they're aware of is that the November trip we're taking to Disney is our family Christmas gift, and their ski club dues that I paid will be their birthday presents (one bday in November; one two days before Christmas).

 

[Colleen27]

My 12yo hasn't asked for much of anything yet, just a couple of DVDs and CDs that he'd like to have. He was planning on asking for a new bike but with him riding to school every day we didn't wait until Christmas on that one. I think the dreaded drum set conversation might rear its ugly head since he just started playing drums in the school band this year, and that would make a good Santa gift.

He's a pretty "young" (or old fashioned) 12 as far as his taste in gifts. He's not all that interested in the electronics yet, and the couple things that he wanted (Wii, MP3 player) he got last year. Legos are still a safe fall back if I can't think of other ideas, especially the Star Wars and Harry Potter sets, and he's talked about the Lego board games collection a few times. He's also mentioned a fishing pole he'd like, but he's already got two nice ones so I'm not really interested in buying him a third.

Aside from that, iTunes cards for music downloads and Wii Points cards so he can expand his collection of Rock Band tracks are always easy gifts, and since he's starting to go more places without us I'm thinking about gift cards for DQ where the middle schoolers tend to get together.

 

[Colleen27]

I have to say that I feel behind the curve here...I see that alot of kids under 13 already have the ipod, itouch, tv in room, laptop, cell phone, etc, etc...my kids DS11 and DD8 have none of those things. Do any of you ever feel like because sometimes kids get those things so young nowadays that there is 'nowhere to go' as far as gifts when they get older?

You aren't the only one. I like that my kids are behind the curve that way, because I don't think it is a great idea for kids to have the full assortment of adult gadgets at an age where they really don't appreciate/understand what those things cost. But living where we do, my kids have a pretty old-fashioned childhood and they're still (at 12 & 9) more interested in riding bikes around town, swimming and fishing in the rivers, and playing pick-up sports in the field than in electronic amusements, so they haven't even expressed more than a passing interest in any of those things. More old fashioned, age-appropriate (IMO) things make their wish lists at this point. There will be plenty of time for electronics when they're older and have truly outgrown Legos and fashion design dolls and model rockets and craft kits.

 

[herdtoDisney]

Reading this thread, I realize I need to start planning!

Hmm. I think for my 17 yo (18 at Christmas) we are going to give him Dh's old 1995 GMC Jimmy truck. We were going to sell it and ds expressed interest-so we may suprise him and just give it to him. He is in college and always paid the insurance on our car he drove in highschool (and gas, and did the maintenance himself) , so I'd be happy to let him have it and have it be his (he does not have the car at school since he's not 18). And some gift cards for places near his school.

The 14 yo-probably a gift card to Hot Topic and a rock band game, not sure what else. He's a tough one to buy for! I'll have to talk to him and feel him out. Maybe some warm pj's.

12 yo-he likes to make stuff out of computer parts so maybe some parts and a nice set of headphones for his Itouch (which he won! he's the only one in our house with anything like that ) and I got him a nice silver cross. He and 14 yo are getting new Bibles too, they have ones with a kiddie cover on them so now they'll have ones that look older.


In our family, we generally try to do around 3 gifts per kid-one 'big' item and a couple small ones (but a few more is ok, especially if it's games that can be shared). I will probably also give them each a $20 Disney gift card to use on our trip in Feb.

I think my whole family is behind the curve, LOL! We just got a flatscreen tv as our family gift last Christmas, and only because our old tv wasn't working. We do have a bunch of computers but dh and ds built most of them from parts. I kind of want an Itouch like my ds won, but I'd probably just break it like I do with anything electronic I touch, so I probably won't get one. One year I got a GPS for Christmas and it was stolen out of my car on Presidents Day.

 

[2disneyboys]

It is so hard to walk the line of not going over the top yet, still getting them what they want! Kids nowdays are exposed to so much more then say, I was at thier age. My youngest (7) is one of the only kids in his class that does not have a cell phone! We JUST got our 10yo a cell phone (cheapie phone, basic service) They both however, have ipods (basic ones) dsi's, and we have a family Wii and PS3 (it helps that daddy likes the gaming systems himself!) they do NOT have thier own computers but there is one in the family room that is customized with security settings based on thier individual log ons. I think in the "techno" world that we live in now its important to me to allow my kids to have access to the various toys out there.. but it doesn't mean they each have to have thier own...

This year, we are doing something new... our main gift to the family (me, dh, & the boys) is we are going to WDW the week after christmas (actually leaving Christmas night) I will get each of the boys a few things to open, but it will mostly be clothes and legos and new soccer balls etc.

 

[disneybound31]

You aren't the only one. I like that my kids are behind the curve that way, because I don't think it is a great idea for kids to have the full assortment of adult gadgets at an age where they really don't appreciate/understand what those things cost. But living where we do, my kids have a pretty old-fashioned childhood and they're still (at 12 & 9) more interested in riding bikes around town, swimming and fishing in the rivers, and playing pick-up sports in the field than in electronic amusements, so they haven't even expressed more than a passing interest in any of those things. More old fashioned, age-appropriate (IMO) things make their wish lists at this point. There will be plenty of time for electronics when they're older and have truly outgrown Legos and fashion design dolls and model rockets and craft kits.

I agree with everything you have written- it makes us sound very small town and country, but we have a very similar type of lifestyle. Yes, almost all of DS11' s friends have cell phones and multiple gaming systems, but we don't feel pressured to jump on that bandwagon. We take walks and play basketball and go to the park. Play with the dog, read books, play board games...the kids can only play their DS's on weekends...no tv on school days..our life is still busy but not chaotic like alot of my mom friends complain about...

So far our Christmas shopping list has: DS11- underarmor shirts/clothing, Wii game, movie gift card/passes, board game, big gift might be a DSi...his 5 year old DS has finally bitten the dust
DD8- pillow pet, board game, books, movie passes, antique armoir I am re-finishing for room/has full length mirror on front- she likes to sing/perform to kid cd's and some kind of Dairy Queen toy that makes real ice cream...have yet to be able to locate that item anywhere..anyone seen this? Santa?

 

[mousebymarriage]

DD14 hasn't really asked for anything yet. She is not really into name brand clothing items, her motto is "if I like the way it looks then I don't care what the lable says". Her one and only name brand item must have is Uggs, and they have to be real Uggs. She just got a new pair for her b-day a couple of weeks ago because the 3 pair that she had last year all bit the dust (she wore all 3 pair for 2 years so we got our moneys worth).
She has an I-pod touch, a cell phone, a TV in her room(20" flat screen) and a brand new laptop(she bought the laptop-a macbook pro, with her own money saved from graduation and birthday.). I know we will buy her some clothes and maybe some things for her room which is being redone in a few weeks, other than that I have no clue.

DS9 has only asked for a couple of Wii games (the Wii was their big gift 2 years ago for christmas)and a new skateboard,nothing fancy just a regular skateboard with a "cool" design. He has been hinting around for an XBox but, not sure about that one. He has been asking for a cell phone for a year but, I don't think it's gonna happen. I told him "Michael, you aren't allowed to go anywhere without a grown up or your sister so why do you need a cell phone". He says "mom, I just do!" Knowing him he would probably text me from the next room and say "hi". He has a tv in his room (a 13" regular screen), a nintendo DSlite, and an I-pod nano. He is very into all kinds of sports , which reminds me, he did ask for a new bowling bag because he bowls on a league on saturday mornings. He will probably get some new other sports stuff (he also plays on the following teams: soccer, hockey, baseball) and clothes. I think we may get him tickets for a hockey game (New Jersey Devils-his favorite team). Not sure what else he wants but, I told him he needs to make a list because the family is asking what he wants for Christmas.

 

[musicbuff]

Clothes!!!

 

[Staxeon]

You aren't the only one. I like that my kids are behind the curve that way, because I don't think it is a great idea for kids to have the full assortment of adult gadgets at an age where they really don't appreciate/understand what those things cost. But living where we do, my kids have a pretty old-fashioned childhood and they're still (at 12 & 9) more interested in riding bikes around town, swimming and fishing in the rivers, and playing pick-up sports in the field than in electronic amusements, so they haven't even expressed more than a passing interest in any of those things. More old fashioned, age-appropriate (IMO) things make their wish lists at this point. There will be plenty of time for electronics when they're older and have truly outgrown Legos and fashion design dolls and model rockets and craft kits.

I agree with you and disneybound, but our kids are behind the trend by our own design.

Our kids have been asking for their own ipod touches, cell phones, etc etc but we shoot them down because flat out they don't need them and they wouldn't be responsible for them. DS13 and DS11 don't even use the house phone to call their friends, and go out to a friend's house maybe once a week...why do they need cell phones? DS13 thinks he's responsible enough but just last week his class took a planned trip to clean a local park, and after 3 straight days of rain thought a stark white sweatshirt and his less-than-a-week-old-new shoes were the way to go. *facepalm*

They're getting good digital cameras each, with a memory card that will last them forever. Its a gift that has practical use, will last them for many years, and they can use them on school trips. We'll be rounding out the tree with more stuff too but that's the big gift.

 

[pyrxtc]

All of my kids are getting Lego's for x-mas

DS7 will be getting a PSP or DSi, this will be his first newer electronic since he just got a gameboy last year. Lego's, games for device, trucks, nerf stuff, paintball gun and paintballs

DS9 will be getting a PSP, Lego's, games for device, nerf stuff, paintball gun and paintballs

DD13/14 for x-mas will get a Zune HD, Lego's, clothing, games for her DSi, music, hair stuff, gum

DD16 will get a gas card (just got license), a month payment on her insurance, clothing, make-up, maybe some repairs on her car (don't know what it needs yet but she has to pay for them since it is her car), sneakers

the family may get another Wii for the playroom since I can't seem to find just the plug-in stuff so it can be moved back and forth without unhooking from everything. I use it the most in the living room for working out but it can be a PIA when they all want to use it on the weekend and the living room TV is taken over for hours.

 

[linnylu]

I agree with everything you have written- it makes us sound very small town and country, but we have a very similar type of lifestyle. Yes, almost all of DS11' s friends have cell phones and multiple gaming systems, but we don't feel pressured to jump on that bandwagon. We take walks and play basketball and go to the park. Play with the dog, read books, play board games...the kids can only play their DS's on weekends...no tv on school days..our life is still busy but not chaotic like alot of my mom friends complain about...

So far our Christmas shopping list has: DS11- underarmor shirts/clothing, Wii game, movie gift card/passes, board game, big gift might be a DSi...his 5 year old DS has finally bitten the dust
DD8- pillow pet, board game, books, movie passes, antique armoir I am re-finishing for room/has full length mirror on front- she likes to sing/perform to kid cd's and some kind of Dairy Queen toy that makes real ice cream...have yet to be able to locate that item anywhere..anyone seen this? Santa?

I saw the Dairy Queen blizzard maker at Toys R Us yesterday. Went home and read reviews on Amazon. The reviews aren't that good on it. Someone suggested getting a "real" electric icecream maker and toppings. The DQ blizzard maker is made of plastic and the reviews said it broke easily.

 

[mhsjax]

DD is 16, and the one thing that she mentioned that she wants is a nice necklace. I posted (probably on the community board) that I didn't know what to get her that she would like- and the solution I'[m going with is to make her a dried pasta necklace - with a note that her and I will go shopping to pick out what she really wants.

Other than that-her stocking stuffer stuff is usually Breast Cancer Awareness office supplies (i.e. pencils, pens sharpies). We've been doing this for a couple of years now, and I really think she would be disappointed if we did something different than that for her stocking.

AND - we may get her a plane ticket to go visit a cousin that lives in the detroit area.

Oh, I love that pasta necklace idea. That is great.

 

[java]

DD wants a camera. She is 13.
My 16 year old wants nothing but it evens out because the 2 youngest want everything.

My 16 year old is really into photography so I'm sure I'll be buying lots of "stuff" for his hobby even though he says he wants nothing he has hinted about a filter for his lense.

 

[mhsjax]

I have to say that I feel behind the curve here...I see that alot of kids under 13 already have the ipod, itouch, tv in room, laptop, cell phone, etc, etc...my kids DS11 and DD8 have none of those things. Do any of you ever feel like because sometimes kids get those things so young nowadays that there is 'nowhere to go' as far as gifts when they get older?

For example, DH's brother has gotten all those things and more for our only newphew(7) and now complains every bday and Christmas that he can't think of anything to get his kid because he already has it all...he thinks we are cheap and old fashioned because our kids get clothes, board games, legos, dollhouses, pogo sticks, craft stuff, maybe one DS game, movie passes, etc...

I also worry that if we give our kids too much, too soon that they will grow up to think that all this stuff is easy to come by and will have HUGE sticker shock when they are adults themselves and realize that they cannot continue the lifestyle they enjoyed as children.

Am I alone?

My kids all have laptops but they are in the laptop program at school so they need them, can't be in it without one. Cell phones, mine get theirs in 6th grade. Ipod's and stuff like that, yep they all have them, but when they get those, it is all that they get. They don't like board games any more, and I never did, too old for dollhouses, movie passes I refuse to pay for even as a Christmas present.

Mu kids lifestyle is very frugal, except for these things, they don't eve ask for anything, they don't wear designer clothes and we don't vacation, they don't have half of the things that their friends do. In short, I don't think you can judge a kid by what electronic he has. I won't eve have b-day parties for my kids, I just take them out to dinner. They get no splurges except for this. This is what they love and I will do this for them.

Sure I miss the time when they wanted toys, but at 13,11,and 9 they just don't. Well 9 year old does and he will get some. But the other 2, not happening, So they get what they ask for, because they don't ask fir at all during the other 11 months. They still play outside with friends, I can't buy outside, it is already provided. Bikes, they have them, basketball net, we have that. It is more important to me to buy what they really want than to buy them toys at this age, they would think I had lost my mind.

PS the also don't have any grandparents alive and no one in our family buys gifts for each other, something we decided not to do, so again, this is their only gift.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Every other year we get a big family gift and every other year we go to Disney as our gift. This year is Disney so the kids won't get anything from us. They will each geet $50, $25 from my grandparents and $25 from my great grandma, otherwise no extended family. So that just leaves Santa. I am pretty sure this year he will be leaving a gift card for $150 to Spalsh Lagoon. The cost of a hotel room for the night with waterpark for 2 days as long as we plan right. They would like to do BB in Disney but it would cost well over that for a day for the 5 of us so they can get this and we can go over break. We might have to add a little but that is ok.

My kids don't have the things the other kids do but surprisngly they don't complain about it. They complain about things, jsut not that. They all seem to enjoy ding things more then having things. As far as other things to open, I watch what catches their eyes in Disney and on the last night I shop and DH takes them to the pool. I pack it all in the car and they never know the wiser. This works for DD8 and DD11 but DD16 won't want much so she will get some $5 gift cards for the places she walks to with her friends.

 

[Mkaz]

DD18 would like a new sewing machine, bamboo tablet, an anime dvd, and a PSP game.

DS10 would like an ipod touch. He will be 11 the first week in January, but I'm not keen on the idea. Still seems a bit young to me. I'm hoping I can find one that is comparable. He would also like some Nerf guns and legos.

I have their stockings stuffers pretty much figured out, but not purchased yet. The will be getting Ramune soda, Japanese candy, Pocky, a gift card, Iwako erasers, and some scratch off lottery tickets. I might add a few other things depending on what I find.

 

[pigletto]

I really have no ideas yet. Usually by now I have the bigger gift already purchased and plenty of ideas for smaller gifts. This year.. no idea.
DD 13 needs a new winter coat, and the one she wants is is almost $300. The problem is that she can't wait for it until Christmas, it will be too cold here and her old one is far too small. I might get it and tell her that part of it is a Christmas gift. It's not that I wouldn't buy her a coat, just not one that expensive.
Other than that I need to come up with ideas. I will not put tv's in their rooms. I'd never see dd again To each their own, I just know it would not work for my kids.

DD got an Ipod Touch last year, and it is having an issue that should be covered by warranty but I didn't keep the receipt so I don't even know if I can take it in. I need to get on that