Presents for a 7yo DS who is no longer excited about material posessions

[CatsArePeople]

He's my youngest and the popular toys have been done to death already. Legos, Nerf guns, RC cars, tablet devices.

what we don't have yet is a Nintendo Swith, however, we do have other consoles and enough of screen entertainment already. His bday is just before Xmas so a big party is pretty much out of question.

Will he understand the concept/be ok with gifts that will take place in the future? If so, could his gift be a future visit to a theme park, water park, show, Kidzania, etc?

Is "no longer excited by material possessions" some sort of new polite euphemism for "extremely spoiled and rudely ungrateful" by any chance?

Pokémon cards?

Is "no longer excited by material possessions" some sort of new polite euphemism for "extremely spoiled and rudely ungrateful" by any chance?

No rude, but just can't say what he likes or wants. Has pretty much everything already from older siblings.

How about an experience then or a visit to somewhere he would like? Or a days fishing or take him out on a boat, a Thames excursion for example.

My 13yo is the same - she is vocal about climate change and the impact of 'stuff' on the planet. We have agreed a no spend on stuff year but instead spend on experiences like days out, concerts, trips etc.

7yo is young for that but there is no harm.

Any interest in gardening? You could gift tools, seeds, etc so he can learn to grow vegetables, herbs, bee friendly flowers this spring?

7yo also good age for a bicycle.

My son's birthday is Christmas week and he's having a party after school. It's a good time to have a party in December imo.

What about a stomp rocket, kite, skateboard, tree hammock, carabiners and kit to make rope swings, explorers kits, fire making equipment, binoculars, anything like that that can be used outside rather than toys?

How about an experience then or a visit to somewhere he would like? Or a days fishing or take him out on a boat, a Thames excursion for example.

Thinking about that. Maybe a day in London. Just as i say - couple of days before Xmas, plus covid still going around - aren't many options.

As for things - older DC were always very particular. If they wanted a lego set, they knew exactly which one. So lots of lego acumulated over the years and no longer a novelty. i know, first world problem

Would he like something to make, a bee hotel or similar?

Ds1(11) is similar, he doesn't want toys or stuff really. We're redecorating his bedroom and he will have some race tickets for next year.

A comic or magazine subscription. Phoenix, Beano or the week junior?

Ds2 wants All The Shit though, so there will be plenty of stuff to play with.

My DC love days out as gifts. So it might be a trip to Harry Potter studio or a theatre trip. They don’t mind if it doesn’t take place til several months later. My similar aged DS as yours also likes treats where it’s just him with me/DH so a trip to cinema and pizza or whatever but just for him and he gets to choose. So a ‘you choose’ certificate is the gift basically.

What about adopting an animal that are indangered. Paying it to a charity where you put an actual child through school in a third world country. They send letters etc as they grow, could then become penpals with your child etc.

What about adopting an animal that are indangered. Paying it to a charity where you put an actual child through school in a third world country. They send letters etc as they grow, could then become penpals with your child etc.

We already do Dogs Trust. These overseas charities I'm not sure what to make of them. Which one would you recommend? Not Oxfam please.

My DS aged 9 likes getting tickets and experience gifts. He’s got a room full of toys and lego that are barely played with, so other than the odd Switch game, there’s not really much stuff he wants or gets excited about. One year we got him tickets for Alton Towers with a night at one of the hotels, which is themed and had entertainment etc. One year it was tickets to see a musical, which we booked for the boring period between Xmas and New Year to give us something to do. However I do buy him a small, gadgety gift or book as well.

My son is the same; he's been given Horseriding lessons and scuba lessons and a 'trip' of his choice in the past ... all these things he loved, and he wouldn't have gotten them otherwise

DD’s fave present was a zoo experience where you feed the animals

Comic subscriptions or a craft/stem subscription box? We've had Beano and Phoenix comics, Toucan box and Kiwi Co boxes.

Or how about a baking kit to make something edible?

They always like cash 💰 💵

My DS was always a bit tricky so new games for PS and Xbox always went down well

He's a good age for a Nintendo Switch do I'd probably go for that

I'm buying mine a patch of ocean to be deep cleaned (he's into that from school) - and a new board game (Memoir '44 cos he's in a war phase at the moment)

Consumables? My DS is much younger than yours and loves a kids' bath bomb and a box of fancy biscuits. I know that probably doesn't help for big presents but maybe for smaller stockingy gifts.

Any hobbies he's been wanting to try? Perhaps you could get him lessons for something and the equipment he needs to get started. I was given a brass rubbing set one year when I was about 7 and it resulted in a total obsession and much time spent traipsing around churches 😆 not suggesting that necessarily but encouraging a hobby requiring equipment/supplies might be handy for future gifts too.

Some books?

I have 2 sons around the age of yours, they're getting:

Eldest that's he's asked for and getting:
Goalie gloves
Football cones
FIFA 22 for Switch
A ridiculously oversized teddy

Additional gifts he's not asked for but we're getting:
Slippers
Dressing gown
Oodie
Pictionary Air Kids vs Grown-ups
Magic 8 ball (current book he's reading has this in it)
More books in the series he's reading
Prob clothes relating to his fave footie team

Youngest:
He's asked for lots of small toy figures only as he spends hours playing with the ones he's got. He wants pokemom, spiderman and ooshies

He's also getting:
Paint pens and pad
Echo dot
New switch game
Among us figure set
Mario Kart steering wheel for switch
Moon lamp
I was thinking of a Yoto player or Toniebox but I think we'll just use the echo dot for audiobooks as it's so expensive to buy the actual speaker, then there's the accessories, and that's before the expensive books on top!

They'll get more than this but that's all we can think of so far. Some of the above are being given from family members, we have a really big family and they always ask for ideas.