help me find gifts for ds1 aged 8

[Calamityjude]

I am struggling to find something my ds1 would like for Christmas. He is 8, and into inventing, and creative things. When I asked him he said he wanted some wood and some tools for cutting it, but I feel that it would be not advisable with ds2 around (21 months)

He is saving to buy a tablet (a whole other thread) and he is not a huge fan of lego, sadly :(

how much has he saved for a tablet? could you make u p the differance?

you can get some kid wood creating kits..which if it was supervised would he enjoy?

At the moment he about £30 saved towards a tablet. The reason we wanted him to save for things as he has recently been breaking stuff in the house and we want him to learn to take of his and others property.

Do you have any links to wood creating kits please?

Does the inventing/creating have to be big things? My sister bought my DS a make your own book kit (from hobby craft I think) for his 8th bday which he loved. There are also quite a few making cars/robot kits around.

Snap Circuits on Amazon look like something he'd be into (they do different size kits).

i think wood and tools is a great idea! surely there is somewhere he could use that without ds2 around?
it's no different to having stuff like lego and things with little parts that younger siblings need to be kept away from surely?

i do like a nice creative child :-D

Not sure, but I have a nephew of the same age with similar interests, so I'm marking my spot.

For his birthday, we got him a kit to build a combustion engine. Went down very well.:)

the trouble is we live in a flat, so it is not easy for ds to make things without ds2 interfering.

I would love to nurture his creative/inventing habits, but obviously need to consider the safety angle. We may have a budding James Dyson on our hands

I will look into the snap circuits. Thanks. He loves knowing how things work.

Does anyone know anything about the John Adams Hot wires set? It is quite expensive and don't want to be wasting my money.

ahh ok... the john adams set is good, my parents have that at their house for the boys to play with and they all enjoy it

What about something like this only glue - no saw's involved. There are probably much bigger / better sets out there too

My ds has his birthday before Christmas too, things he is getting from us and extended family are:-

onesie
torch
skylanders game and figures
far gum - he loves toilet humour!
kneeboard or skateboard
a pet? Ds is getting fish

Do you have a "Range" store near you? they do loads of brilliant make / crafty stuff

My kids including ds aged 8 love the hot wires set. Ds also loved this - it's like chopping up polystyrene!