What on earth do I get a 13 year old boy?

[shemademedoit]

Title says it all really. I have 4 monsters, and the eldest "doesn't really want anything" for Christmas. I think he's after cash (not going to happen). Has a laptop (fancies an ipod touch/DS...again, not going to happen). I'm not sure I can face anymore junk in the house, and his lego collection is big enough already. Help! Any suggestions? He loves rowing, science etc Any fabulous sites you can recommend? Thanks in advance. xxxxxxxx

Maybe there's something he'd like to do rather than more stuff - which obviously depends on his interests and your budget.

What is wrong with cash? I also have a 13 year old and I know that what they love most is to have some independence - the chance to buy their own clothes/go out to the cinema with their friends.
Why spend money on something he doesn't want or won't use.
If you really can't hand over the cash, why not turn it into clothes/cinema/games vouchers so he is limited on what he can spend it on?
I would buy something small, so he has something to unwrap (a Lynx set or something similar?) and put the cash or vouchers inside.

I agree with Grimma. We've moved in this direction for presents.

The only "stuff" they desire is ridiculously expensive and way beyond our christmas/birthday budgets. So we've done experiences instead.

In summer ds1 (14) had a hawk day for his birthday and ds2 (12) has a "zoo keeper for a day".

For Christmas I'm getting them theatre tickets, cinema vouchers and Chill Factore trip. We might get Airkix as well (with Tesco vouchers!). Apart from that they will get a few chocs/sweets each. They've put computer games mostly on Amazon wishlists for the rellies to fight over, so they'll have some parcels to unwrap.

If he's into science have a look at the science museum's online shop. They do kits and stuff for that sort of age group.

A really cool kite?
Telescope
'Proper' binoculars
An inflatable canoe

'Proper' binoculars are very expensive!!

Thanks for the ideas! Love the idea of an experience. He did water ski'ing a while back and loved it. Too costly to do again, except if it was for a big pressie. Will check out the science museum site too. Please do keep the ideas coming: they're really appreciated.

I just found a site here with loads of watersports 'experiences' - not sure where they are located - or maybe something like windsurfing (I think our club does taster for kids for approximately nothing). Maybe not ideal for midwinter though!

Sport clothes or equipment?
For my god son, 13, I am getting an swiss army knife as he loves the outdoors. in previous years, I got him a football outfit (was goal keeper then) and some fashionable jumper.

a t shirt from eg topman/ralph lauren/superdry - if on ebay much cheaper
a driving lesson - great success with our ds - in fact the rest of the family is now clubbing together to give him another; likewise an archery lesson (much cheaper) or a serious cookery lesson (not a kiddies one)
if an outdoor child, a decent compass, map of somewhere, thermos + swiss army knife
whittling kit from hawkins
a new watch - with gadgets (ebay and amazon great on these)
look at the smithsonian website as well as the science museum
a stop watch