Presents for an 11 year old boy who says he doesn't want anything

[Becauseofthebigpen]

We're struggling to come up with Christmas present ideas for our 11 year old son (year 7) who doesn't seem to want anything in particular. He's not into football but he does love: history, myths, facts about countries (capital cities etc) board games, computer games, D&D, and he has a great offbeat sense of humour. He's a big reader.

If you have a boy who sounds a bit like this, what are you getting him for Christmas?

Thank you :-)

Have you looked at the website Wicked Uncle?

My son is similar in age and interests and the unusual things they sell here always go down well.

My son also like the things in Menkind (neon signs and funko pops etc).

For Xmas I have bought him:

Skate board (he does like to do this)
Map of rude places book
Pjs
Funko pops
Neon corner lamp for his bedroom
Work map poster for his bedroom
Magnetic sand timer he will like

My 11 year old has the exact same interests and never has a wishlist either.

So far, we're getting him:
Steam gift card
D&D special dice
D&S figurines to paint
Concert tickets to go with DH
LED lights for his room (app controlled)
Vintage posters from his favourite graphic novel

I've just bought an escape room game themed on Greek myths for a gift, or an actual escape room?
D&D dice even if he plays an online version.
Present Indicative is quite a good website for quirky gifts

We went to hear Mark Smith (antiques roadshow medals expert) last month. He talks about the VC. One of the best talks I've ever heard. He has book out (January....something like WW2, my Dad and me). If he's into history etc I would highly recommend a visit to a talk near by and book.

The ‘Where in the World’ board game is very good. Much enjoyed in our house of 2 ‘geography facts’ obsessed teens. Plenty of difficulty levels and everyone plays every go, so there’s no sitting around waiting.

The Dominic Sandbrook ‘Adventures in Time’ books might be worth a look.

A few ideas:
Civilization computer game might be of interest - it is a history based strategy game - if he plays on computer
Race across the world and
Horrible History board games
Tickets to an exhibition or location that might interest him - depending on where you are.

You mentioned GnR. Did you see they're headlining Download Festival next year? You can only buy full weekend tickets at the moment and won't be able to get day tickets until the spring, but just mentioning in case you might want to look at it for a birthday or something!

My son is the same age and sounds quite similar. He's getting a phone, Diesel Only the Brave fragrance, a smart watch (not a pricey one - Amazon had the Samsung Fit 3 for £28), a mini fridge for his room, Zombie Kittens card game, some clothes, Pokémon pjs and a Japanese snack box (we went to Japan at Easter 😀), a Horrible Histories book, Guinness World Records 2026 book, light up keyboard/mouse mat, a cuddle cushion for when he's reading in bed and a little clip-on reading light

What about an extended day trip to a city of his choice. You can get cheap flights on Skyscanner

Horrible histories books and board games

I've got my dd a bird of prey experience day, would he like something like that?

For her birthday recently, we had a weekend away to her choice of place.

Catan is great fun and expansion packs are available, so if he likes the game you can build on it with extra sets in the future.

Depending on where you live there might be a historical site you could book a trip to? Or a site linked to something he's particularly interested in?

Similar to my 10yr old who is getting from us and various others:

Lego
Casio watch with step counter
Stuff related to the game Silksong which he loves
Warhammer stuff
Books: Coraline, The Graveyard Book and others, plus a choose your own adventure type book
Table hockey as a joint present
Subscription to The Week Junior
Pretty D&D spinner thing which you can use instead of dice (or as a fidget toy)
We have tons of board games otherwise he'd get one of those

https://www.board-game.co.uk/product/forbidden-desert/

This is a good cooperative game.

If looking for a bigger present..3d printer. Can recommend the Bambu Lab A1 mini. Maybe a switch 2 console. Smaller gifts, Gundam figures to build, citadel paints and figures, d and d or warhammer to paint.

Experiences / vouchers for

If he’s a history buff then you are in luck. First, DK produces fab history books. There’s History! Knowledge encyclopaedia and Timelines of World History and a street through time, before you even get into specific periods.
Then there’s kids versions of adult history books like Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan and (ok it’s geography but it’s cool) Prisoners of Geography and Yuval Noel Harari’s Sapiens.
Then there is great historical fiction like war horse by Michael morpugo, the eagle of the ninth by Rosemary Sutcliffe, the Dom Sandbrook books (Alexander the Great is particularly good for an 11 year old boy) and the Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey.
Board game wise there’s Risk and history based escape room games
excursion wise Churchill’s war rooms are amazing or the Roman sites along Hadrians wall
or the horrible histories stage show or boat cruise
membership - British Museum? If you’re in London or reasonably close?

then more generic 11 year old presents:
a fake poo or whoopie cushion for pranks
a moonball of some kind (Lava ball, the one with the strap etc)
a fidget toy - needoh seems the current obsessions
really nice pencils and sketchpad if he likes drawing
chess, backgammon
Poetry for Neanderthals, exploding kittens, or similar silly game
finger skateboards
book of jokes
A nice t shirt
a mouth organ
A Lindt chocolate teddy bear

If he likes D&D, he may like warhammer or magic the gathering.

This is exactly my son! He's mentioned a telescope and some kind of plushies of planets? He's really into planes and geography too!

I also have got him Atlas of Invisible Things (like data, etc)

I've got DS1 "History of the world in maps" for Christmas, it looks great - really in depth.

A small thing, but i think he will be excited...the same bubble gum smelling hair gel that the barber uses.

My history loving DS enjoys playing the board game Diplomacy. They played it at school in History lessons. Games can last for ages though!

Aquila subscription?

Audible subscription, Waterstones gift card!

Oxford Atlas of the World I think the Time one is good too. Plenty of facts, info and of course maps.