main present for 11 yr old boy with birthday right by Christmas

[ErnesttheBavarian]

We have 3 boys, so no shortage already of boys' toys. I've got him (and big brother) a gaming chair for Christmas and a lava lamp.

I've got his 8 yr old brother a Hex bugs habitat thing.

He already has got a scooter, an iPod touch, a Nintendo DS, a wave board. He has a newish bike, Not into skateboarding. We already have a microscope, telescope, camera (none of which are ever played with :()

He doesn't 'need' anything.

He's not yet into fashion or buying stuff for himself, so think he would be disappointed with money.

Really struggling to find a big (special) present. Being so close to Christmas, I worry he gets overlooked by relatives. OTOH I hate getting stuff just for the sake of it. He's not very demanding. If it were his big brother I would have no problems (presented me with an 11 page Christmas list, colour coded and bound in a folder. )

Hi ernest (we've been missing yu over on the German thread)! How about some new ds games - are there any new ones he'd like?

aw thanks. I've been off mn for ages due to addictive tendencies. I stupidly came back for Christmas ideas, and got uscked right back in. I've lurked a bit on German thread but not returned cos can't keep up. Thinking of you though :)

He has asked for a couple of wii games so I got sil to get him 1, and the other I bought for everyone, as it ends up being a family thing anyway, but a wii game doesn't feel like a main present. Ds1 got a skateboard (which he really wanted) and ds3 got a stunt scooter (which he said he wanted but has barely touched).

Ds2 isn't into skateboarding. Not yet into snowboarding. I fear his birthday will be a damp squib :( (esp as we fly back to Germany the day after his birthday, so he'll get a couple of small things in England, some here when he gets back, but nowt special. yet)

what about "a something to do" present? something he would like to do or try out like .... horse riding .... canoeing etc? My Ds turns 7 very close to christmas, one of his presents is a junior keepers experience at the zoo in Auckland.

Has he got inline skates yet? Or are roller skates back in fashion? Lol I had these groovy things when I was a teenager!!

ds1 is 11 and is getting a phone for birthday and a BMX bike for christmas.

He is also getting a remote controlled helicopter and a "build your own combustion engine" as he is car mad.

Other bits being bought by various rellies... Wimpy kid book, some footie games. Liverpool shirt. STeven Gerrad autobiography. penknife.

a couple of years ago, his uncle bought him and his sister experiences - they went down so well - dd got a SCUBA lesson, DS got climbing lesson (asthmatic, so couldnt do SCUBA). They were one of the Best.Presents.Eva! apparently and they still talk about them.

he's got a few bits and bobs lined up. We have got more wheeled divides between our 4 kids than is polite to have!

The activity thing is a good idea. Actually, what we did do until the latest rounds of birthdays, was dh would take them away, just the birthday boy for a weekend somewhere.

this was good as it meant they spent time 1-2-1 with dad who they don't see much, they have hopefully special memories, and they don't actually need anything. The last couple of birthdays we haven't done it though. In theory it's a good idea, but the reality is a bit difficult - e.g. it's ds2's birthday 2nd Jan, during the 2 week school holiday when whole family is away anyway. and ds1 birthday during summer holiday, again, we were all away together for it anyway, so the logistics I think are what knocked that idea. Maybe we should revisit it. Thanks.