15 year old DS! Argh!

[timeou]

Apart from an Xbox game he doesnt want anything! He doesnt 'play' with anything any more - won't do anything craftlike. I am struggling to know what on earth to get him. He's not into clothing brands or designer things.

Any ideas? He likes science and geography - likes magic trick type things and unusual things. Ideas - especially stocking filllers would be most appreciated :)

Ah just loaded it - that might be perfect as you say maybe not for Christmas, but I've been looking for something to do in either our October or Nov hols - we are all off for a few days from Monday 12th so a weekend in Manchester is definitely possible!

Thanks :)

Dh would rather burn his eyes out with a blow torch mind you but we'll not worry about that too much :)

That made me laugh about your DH Wipe - scorching his eyeballs...

ha ha - just plucking up the courage to suggest it now..... Train £170, Premier Inn for 3 nights £315 - but the tickets seems really reasonable :)

You only live once right? Boys would adore it, i'm not fussed and DH would hate it - maybe he could stop at the Lake District and I'll take them myself, everyone a winner!

Looks perfect!

I once took DS & friend to early science museum equivalent. Took a book. Dragged them away at voiding time. They didn't want lunch.

Closing Not Voiding

I will check with DH when he gets in to see whether he knows of any early next year instead that might work as a Christmas present for you. HTH x

placemarking - have a 13yr old who is equally difficult...

Thanks that would be fab :)

We did a Comicon once with DH in tow - he was a bit bemused by the whole thing. The last gaming thing we did was in the Museum in Edinburgh - I went in with them as they were supposed to have an adult and DH enjoyed going round the museum - we came out for lunch and then DSs went in by themselves - they look enough older to pass as 16 and they are well behaved anyway so no-one bothered and DH and did the rest of the museum (boys have been before anyway).

I think we could probably both manage one day with a book as Capewrath suggests but I am thinking the whole weekend might be overkill.

If we could find something else non sporty (i.e. no Stadium tour) to do in manchester for a day or two it would make a whole city break. Any recommendations?

Although having said that maybe DH would enjoy the stadium tour instead of the expo? he likes sport :)

I went to the theatre & art galleries, but I'm sure someone from Manchester could advise!

Thank you for this thread OP, my DS will be nearly 15 this Christmas, and three are some are ideas here.

I'll try another thread later once I've broached it whenever whatever it is he is watching is finished :o

Stadium tour a no go as there must be a match that weekend - probably not good news from a busyness perspective I would assume?

i am sure there will be things of interest - after all I am sure there are teenagers etc living in manchester that find stuff to do.

Great ideas here.

Tetris lamp and PC gamer magazine went down well with teenage DS last year. Also mug with his favourite game logo on it. Rug for his room.

This is the trial magazine subscription I've just ordered if it's of interest to anyone?:

www.geekymonkey.tv/magazine/

I could have so done with this thread a year or 2 ago! DS is 18 straight after Xmas and has now become easier to buy for (motorbike and clothes plus Xbox 1 games!) but up til now he's been a nightmare!

Late to thread so not sure if this has been mentioned...

Membership of the Royak Geographical Society
www.rgs.org/HomePage.htm

My son is the same age and his geography teacher encouraged the class to join. If you are London based they hold Monday not lectures which are supposed to be v good (don't know as DS wasn't interested in joining) and I think they also stream them live if you are not able like to get there.

Good luck!

Unicycle £35 ish from Amazon/ebay.
Money capsule keyring - fill with emergency money (£10/£20)
Adopt an animal at a zoo.
3d printing pen - Dd has one, pretty cool
RC helicopter £20 ish Amazon
A mug with appropriate personal slogan. (ds at 21 talks about his beard a lot, he oils it etc ... We bought him a mug with the slogan "With great beard comes great responsibility"

The football museum in Manchester is really good.

Wankerdeasalwipe

We saw these
www.citizenshop.co.uk/index.php/royal-marines-commando-tough-watch-citizen-watches.html

At the air show this year and they are really nice.

Just another addition to my Big Bang Theory list further up this thread - some Froot Loops (Howard's astronaut nickname) - available on Amazon or maybe at B&M - I'm sure I saw some there.

Some good ideas here! Teenage boys are difficult. DS has his birthday today (14) so here are some things he got that others could use as xmas present ideas :

• ITunes voucher (at the moment there is 15% off at Tesco, so I bought a £15 vchr for £12.75)

• New contract for phone, including data when he has been pay as you go and restricted to Wifi only.

• Manchester United mug from Sports Direct

• Dart board

• Sharpies marker pens (so he doesn't steal his sisters!) £7 from WHsmiths for 24 when you buy some other stationary. So bought 30 WHsmiths fine liner felt tip pens for £6

• rain bow nerds (£1 from Poundland) and rainbow nerds mobile phone cover (from ebay)

• Adapter for iPhone to attach to his electric guitar amp

• Jack Wills shower gel

• Infographica book by Martin & Simon Toseland. Great visual book with lots of facts in. I don't see the attraction, apart from the fact that it is well illustratred but DS loves it!

• The Big book of football's funniest quotes (he's in to football!)

• New rucksack (bought a trendy one for him that was more than we would normally pay)

Last Christmas I also did a 'Fanta' hamper for him where I collected Fanta themed sweets and toiletries, mostly from poundshops.