Ideas for12 year old boy

[meanymum]

Am really stuck for Christmas. Has just started secondary school, has birthday in Dec too. So for his birthday we're getting him docking station/radio for his Ipod Touch. DS1 is getting more interested in clothes (what's trendy for this age please?) but I can't think of anything else! Alternative is getting him and his brother (9) a joint present/s? Help I'm stuck

I noticed in Hawkins they were selling the most fantastic little RC helicopter. It really looked good. Not like some of the polystyrene flying toys that crash and break after one go

Was tempted for my ds who's 9 but it's the sort of thing boys love whatever age they are.

Also they are about to sell in lidl next week a planetarium light which looks pretty cool.

Other than that um..camera?

I really sympathise about being stuck and birthdays near Christmas taking up all the pressie ideas.

All my three have had recent birthdays. I'm not so stuck for Christmas ideas for ds, but dd's are a real headache this year.

DS (12yo in Y7) - here the brand they all seem to be into is this ridiculously overpriced clothing

We're also getting him an itunes voucher; xbox live subscription; usual smellies - you know how much lynx boys this age go through ; selection box; few books and thats about it unless I can steal some of the ideas on this thread

I take it he has a mobile?

How about a camera? (my 12 yo last year loved his but unfortunately it broke this summer)

Or a snazzy watch? (again, my son loved his all singing, all dancing watch but again the strap attachment broke this summer and believe it or not can't be replaced so we are looking at getting him either a new camera or a new watch for his 13th)

What does he like to do? What is he interested in?

Do you have space for a basketball goal outside?
Ping pong table or mini-snooker table? (no idea how much those things cost, btw so forgive the suggestion if they are exorbitant)
Inline skates and helmet?
Skateboard?
Adult bicycle, or one he can do 'stunts' on?

Thanks for suggestions so far. Yes he has a mobile, bike, watch, camera, games table (he's not really a spoilt child!). He loves reading and scouting (outdoor/explorer/camping things). Already got supply of Lynx, etc for stocking . Will investigate Bendybobs suggestions. Got some remote helicopters last year and they were rubbish so we sent them back! Super Dry clothing - do they do boys stuff (he's not a big 12 year old) or only men's? We have a Wii and boys would like a PS3 or XBox but was hoping to hold out for another year or so before getting another games console thing

Rock climbing lessons
Tickets to a premier league game or a music concert
Camping items - sleeping bag, backpack, tent, etc
Telescope
Drum kit or one of those sets of drum heads where he has to wear headphones to hear what he is doing?
Piano Keyboard

The drum head idea is good (definitely with headphones) or rock climbing lessons. Like the sound of those. Might investigate. Thanks.

my ds12 loves joules ruby shirts ,and ive got him some stuff from bright minds -a how to draw monsters book and a massive wall map for him to colour in.(hes arty}
hes also having xbox 36o and some star wars lego (and a massive 1kg bar of dairy milk}
how about football stuff-new ball,goals,shinpads.new bop it games,simpsons jigsaw,top gear books.

Some great ideas on here. Will check on Bright Minds website. He's not really arty or into football and think (not sure!) he's grown out of Lego (but he's got loads). Not had a Bop It yet so that's a good idea. Also Top Gear books are another good idea. Maybe lots of little things might be the way to go for Christmas. Last year he got Monopoly City which he loved and it was nice to see him/us playing boards games for a change.

Oooo sell me your lego meanymum

Some good ideas on here. I got the dss xbox kinect to share and ds1 will get games etc... plus books.

Well he still plays with the Lego sometimes and so does his brother so I can't get rid of it yet Curiousmama. Sorry. Must admit I got a lot of ours from my friend who's boys had grown out of it and my boys were really chuffed.

Think the boys would really like the xbox Kinect too but I'd like to wait a bit longer otherwise I'll just have the same problem next year.

No was just joking DS2 has a lot anyway but I'm getting some of ebay for a stocking filler.

My ds is 12 in january - I asked him if Lynx was the 'in' thing and he said all the boys wear it and all the girls hate it

Ds is getting
Annuals which he loves (including top gear, scooby doo, bart & simpson, horrible science and horrid henry - It's that in between age I guess and they were on offer. I shall probably give half for xmas half for his birthday in January)
A lava lamp
Find Shawn Jigsaw (bit like where's wally but with shawn)
New Prof layton for ds
Mario party for wii - on his list
super mario galaxy2 - on his list
Box of new series of Gogo's crazybones - On his list
Couple of dvds - including box set of home alone which was on offer, he's really into that kind of violence humour at the moment
And some other bits and pieces as well as lots of little items for his stocking (incuding stuff like top gear pen, rubicks cube key ring, sock and gloves).

He's also now asking for another wii game which I'm hoping grandpa will be getting...

For his birthday we're off to centre parcs and he's getting to do several activities (arial adventure, spy challange, small mammal encounter and such) which is going to more than cover his birthday. So maybe some kind of activity your ds is interested in (skiing if you have a dome near you, sailing, cinema vouchers etc) may go down well.

I have a green gaming laptop that I'm currently putting though it's paces, though all my kids have computers. So it wouldn't be much of a chirstmas pressent. Maybe I should get them something different for chirstmas. Ah but what would I do with this green gaming laptop .

Hmm - I guess I should talk to you later then. Lucky I didn't order that yesterday isn't it....

Getting our DS a telescope. He also wants a remote control aeroplane and binoculars.

Bench clothing all the rage here.

LOL Gillybean about the Lynx! Am also getting some Top Gear things for stocking (soap on a rope!) and some annuals. Still likes Horrible History.

Also thinking about some new board games now he's a little older. Suggestions anyone?

Must say this in between age is quite hard.

Ds 12 in febuary has asked for electric drums. What about a guitar or keyboard?

He is also getting some Harry Potter replica merchandise. He already has Voldemorts wand so I may get him Harrys.

DS1 is 11

Ideas / presents bought for him so far:

'Sound machine' (Hawkins Bazaar)
iTunes voucher
Nerf Dart Tag set
Set of 'Chrub series' books
Fifa 11 for Wii
Guiness World records
A DVD of some sort (to be decided)
A new dressing gown (!)
Guitar picks
Guitar pick up for his acoustic
Jelly bean selection box

Hits for us have been -posh yo yo you can do tricks with, stunt scooter, mini air hockey table, wii Party (great for all ages), anything remote control though accept they will probably have short life spans and spare yourself the angst :), footballs and more footballs, as stocking filler 3d xmas specs turn your xmas lights into snowmen, reindeers or santa. They are fab!