My sisters want to know what to buy ds and I am stuck...

[mogs0]

As a family, we go a bit over the top at Christmas. I'm trying not to buy as many things for all members of the family this year - including 9 yr old ds.

My sister wants to buy ds an electric guitar for Christmas but I'd like him to at least do grade 1 on his acoustic before switching so asked if she'd wait until his birthday in the summer.

There are a few small things that he'd like but both sisters and my mum like to go shares on a big gift for him. I sometimes contribute but this year I have got him the leapfrog globe as his main present.

I'm thinking about offering them the globe to give him and I'll give him the smaller things that I've got and maybe one or two other really small things that he spotted in a shop on the weekend.

Any suggestions? They have given him money previously but they prefer to get him something he can open.

[reckoner]

I would get the electric guitar. It is easier to play than acoustic. DD uses both and takes the electric to her lessons. No problems.

[dilbertina]

metal detector? Treasure hunt for coins in garden etc I got decent looking one for under £25 on amazon. (real not toy one!)

[mogs0]

reckoner - that's interesting, thanks. She's seen one in Argos but I know nothing about guitars so don't know whether it would be ok or whether to go to a music shop and get one. Any opinion in this? Also, will he have to have an amp aswell? The Walls of this house are already bursting at the seams!

Dilbertina - she bought him one last year! The boy has everything! He's the only child in the family and they like to spoil him...a lot.

[SickleBOO]

The Argos one is fine to start learning on. I think the starter kit comes with a smallish amp.

[reckoner]

I have the black Squire, which is brilliant and I prefer it to DH's more expensive Fender strat. I play a lot without an amp but a 10w amp would be enough to start with.