What is your 10/11/12 year old boy having?

[SwedishSolveig]

I have no idea what to get him. We do not do ipads and the like as I don't believe a child needs something like that. We might get him a cheap mobile phone. What toys does your 10/11/12 year old want? (He is 11)

Mine is getting lego. Some board games as a joint present with his younger brother. We have also booked them a trip up the shard as kids go free in the holidays. Have also got a v cheap mobile so he can text his friend about when he's on minecraft as currently I have to text them. Also a t shirt socks pants chocolate and a minecraft annual.

Chemistry lab set, battleships, onesie (naice one in cotton from JL), pJ's, Guiness book of world records, lava lamp, guitar,…..

Lego
Animation camera (from MN thread )
cushion for his room
1 year's back issues of his favourite comic, The Phoenix
personalised Minecraft pencil case (Ebay)

He has expressed an interest in night vision spy binoculars and other spy gear, and I have also suggested to family that they might get various board games, a USB microscope, a beanbag. Last year he really loved making models of various buildings out of kits, Airfix, and robot related things.

My current 12 year old is mainly doing technology I'm afraid. Laptop, thing to transfer his computer game play to YouTube etc. And computer games. He loves manga and anime, so a t shirt, some books and bits to do with that and new pyjamas, annuals/ Guinness book of records. No toys at all. My current 13 year old had for Christmas last year when he was 12, an architectural drawing board and lots of proper art stuff, some animation software, a graphics tablet and some Lord of the rings lego as well as books, annuals and Pjs, smelly stuff etc.

They are both getting dirt stunt scooters from grandparent and usually money from family. They are lucky boys.

My 11 year old is way into the sphere of technology. He has two interests. Nerf guns and Minecraft.

He has two wishes from us this year:

Nerf guns - he modifies and rebuilds them, so wants plastic spray paints, and components for the inside to make the darts go faster and longer.

Server pack for Minecraft, as he has built a minecraft community on his server, and he wants to re-engineer the skins and remodel the game with different gun packs and amours, tied up with subscriptions that people can purchase from him. We told him we need to see a business plan before we can let him upgrade his server and keep it live and on 24/7. His biggest wish is for me to help him set up a wordpress blog, and link it with youtube and screen grabs from minecraft gameplay (totally fallen for the minecraft marketing strategy of letting the users market the game)

Much as I would love to be like you, at 11 I think your DS does need some sort of technology if he is to have things in common with his peers.
DS never actually watched the TV until he was nearly 3 and that was fine. We recently had a period with no TV which was great. It was summer so we walked in the evening, chatted, played games etc. so I am well aware of the benefits of a no technology rule. However as a child I was the one who never got to watch the in show at the time, never had a game boy (or whatever it was at the time) and it alienated me from my peers in so many ways I cannot allow DS to go through that, though we do strictly limit screen time.
DS is nearly 10 now and aside from an xbox he is having bits for his hobbies, books, perhaps some Lego, clothes/ PJs etc. Personally I am eternally grateful that DS has so many hobbies as it makes gift buying sooooo much easier :o

Sadly, my 11yo would be baffled and disappointed if I bought him toys, he's had no interest in them since he was about 7. This year he wants Amazon vouchers to buy stuff on his Kindle and games for various consoles. Rather dull presents but he's not bothered about anything but books and technology unfortunately.

Rugby items, London wasps jersey and hoodie and wallet
Skull candy earphones
converse varisty jacket
converse or adidas trainers
Books Cherub series, Darren shan, etc
Monopoly
Jenga
Mountain bike gloves
sketch book
Superdry Hoodie and sweatshirt, especially a zip up one

all stuff that is on his list, doesn't mean that he will get everything though. He's 12 in January, and yr 7. unfortunately now acutely aware of wearing the right stuff to fit in!

oh and ps3 games

My boys have all the tech but never watch tv. They do have limits, and they also have many other things in their lives. They swim and are doing lifeguard training, they do judo and also Scouts and have recently gotten into board games. Add in some socialising with friends, some of which is on line, I don't necessarily think that having access to technology is harming them, it's the way things are now. I think that it would affect their social lives and probable future careers not to have it. I am also glad that I don't have any more lego coming into the house!

My twin boys 10 are having from various people:-

Hobbit Lego
Disney Infinity for the Xbox
bag for Infinity figures
electricity kits
coloured metal cash boxes(HB bargains at £2.99)
stamp album and stamps
loads of books(Lord of the Rings box set,Itch,Itch Rocks,Guiness Book of Records,Minecraft annual,Hobbit annual.....)

Not each,it's split between both

well we were a bit baffled this year as he is not hugely into Minecraft (yet) and owns no gadgetry yet so it was feeling a bit tricky. But just yesterday DS nearly 11 has let us know the only thing he really wants is Risk, and for us all to play it every day over Christmas. And the Home Alone Box set and some itunes vouchers so he can build his own play list.

He is also getting the Maps book that is just huge and fabulous and will make a change from the GBoR and a subscription to STEW magazine... brand new and looks brilliant check out stewmagazine.co.uk/about/

Oh and it looks like DS will be getting a STEW subscription (thanks kitchenfairy :o)

ds has from various people

hudl , headphones , cover
mine craft lego and annual
demon dentist book by david walliams
the middle season 1 ,2 dvds
fifa 14
slushi cup
football kit

connect 4 flip
tech deck mega ramp

Ds (10) (from us, 3 sets of GPs and godparents):

Humungous marble run
Fishing gear (landing net and scales)
Nerf gun
Outdoor survival stuff (think flint, bivvy bag, water purification tablets)
Books (latest Skullduggery Pleasant and Lyra's Oxford)
Card tricks set (book and rigged cards)
Fluffly slippers (the boy loves his slippers)

With sister - board game and domino run

Would say that because of his dad's job he already has access to every form of technology known to man (except ds/playstation). IME most 10/11 year old boys converse in the language of Minecraft.

soontobeslendergirl, what is the " thing to transfer his computer game play to YouTube" please?

that is exactly what DS wants to do, and I have no idea how to achieve it .

kitchenfairy whats the Maps book????

I'm so happy to read I don't have the only minecraft addict.

The one I bought is a world game maker from Malkin that had a good write up, but there are loads, I'm told that a dazzle will work, but it didn't seem to mention that in the spec. There is also something called Game capture by Roxio and some of the more expensive ones can cope with HD too but not too sure if you will need that

From us:
Full sized guitar (until now he's had a 3/4 sized one)
Skullcandy headphones
and his stocking

R2D2 bag and Chewbacca bobblehead from MIL and the rest of the family will probably get him books and more Star Wars related things!

Slightly younger at 9 nearly 10 but he's getting from me and DP:

Drawing tablet to plug into his laptop with art software
Minecraft books/t-shirts etc
Marvel lounge pants
Earphones
Simulation games like SimCity/the sims add ons
maybe some vouchers for amazon so he can choose some things for himself
Futurama box set as requested
other stuff as and when I find it

Note: Ds has ASD and does not play with toys AT ALL so his interests are very technology based.

Out of interest, did any of you actually read the sample STEW magazine?

Quint, where are you getting the plastic spray paint and components for the Nerf guns from?
DS1 would love this as he customises, rebuilds his Nerfs too.

Mine 12 year old is getting a BMX, Xbox game, board games, books, dog calendar and a onesie.

Ds 12 has an ipad, he saved up for a loooong time. I think everything balances out though, he surfs, goes to running club x 2 times a week, doesn't really watch tv much.
So far:
slushi cup,
itunes card
Bolt autobiog
wetsuit gloves
wetsuit balaclava

Those tiny helicopters look quite good, might be an idea.

It's a funny age all cool one minute and boring everyone silly about a power ball the next.

He sources the bits online, otherwise B&Q. We got paints from B&Q too. Otherwise, the paints used for world of warfare are excellent! (But pricy)