Are these ok gifts .. Not to odd??

[Thesmallthings]

If been racking my braid on what to get my two children.

Ds1 who's 13. Am thinking if a desk and gaming/office chair.

How ever ds2 who will be 11 the 28th if December.
I'm stumped. He likes cooking so thought about a decent cooking book aimed at children.
Would a blender be a odd present? My thoughts where he could experiment and make his own smoothies/drinks but is it to odd? Not suitable?

They just don't seem present-y?

Depends on your children and whether they would find them exciting. For me at that age I would have been disappointed in an office chair or blender but I wasn't into cooking or computers. But even as an adult I don't get excited by kitchen appliances or furniture and wouldn't appreciate them as a gift! I would say thank you and seem happy but would be inwardwardly disappointed.

A blender is an odd present. If you really want to go down that route I’d go with something like a waffle maker or a cake pops maker

how into cooking?

Because if he's seriously into it, rather than a blender, I might go for something more exotic - like a sousvide machine or something more chefy (I've seen ones that you put in the pot, like an element rather than the ones that are like a deep fat fryer)

(and for the elder - gaming rigs are cool - have you seen the driving setups?)

My favourite ever present was a blow torch, so weird is not necessarily bad if that's what they would like.

I think a blender is a dull present for an 11yo. If you must get a kitchen appliance I think something like an ice cream maker would be more fun and less just functional.

My DS11 loved his waffle maker a few years ago, he makes them for weekend breakfasts. I think a blender is a bit weird, but there are some fun things out there. We have an ice cream maker from Lakeland which my DS14 uses and has taken over using.

My DS14 last year got a fab gaming chair, he loves it, with its cushioning etc but he did ask for it. Maybe worth sounding him out first.

Ds1 has talked about a desk and chair.. It's me that doesn't think it's very exciting, but because they are so pricey I wouldn't be able to get him any thing else.

Ds2 is always trying to make meals, yesterday he was trying to squeeze grapes for the juice
Last year I got him a box of funny smelling body wash and he loved making "soaps at bath time with them. So he is a bit weird him self.

Waffle maker not a bad idea

I think a blender is fantastic - id have loved that at that age - could you find a cooking course in a day - a grown up one and go together ?

Ahh if he sounds like he'd love a blender!

One of my favourite Christmas memories is the year I got bedroom furniture, I was SO excited.

I got DD 14 a blender one year and a spiraliser another year and she seemed really pleased with them!

DD’s friend is 11 and asked for a smoothie/milks shake maker for
Christmas.

Not really odd if you are in it.

I have a 13yo DS. This year for Christmas, he has asked for - a new desk and chair!

You know your kids OP, if it is something you think they will enjoy then don't worry if it doesn't feel like a 'proper' present.

Dd got one last year and she loved it. She hadn't asked for it but still uses it and loves whizzing up a potion or two in it.

How about a juicer/centrifuge for making fresh grape juice etc?

A juicer may be an idea to. He loves experimenting and I do cook with him but I want something he could do all by himself. With out me worrying he'll burn the place down.

bitter and twisted it must be a are thing lol. In was looking at this from Argos.

Got DS1 a panini press for Xmas last year. Solved what we were going to have for lunch on Xmas day too. Highly recommended.

The Breville Blend Active Blender is really good for smoothie & shakes

A smoothie maker/blender with a smoothie book sounds ideal. If you also got a more general kids cook book you could have a look through to see what equipment it would need and give a few of the things along with it - it's really frustrating when you get a new cook book and don't have the right size loaf pan or whatever. I would have loved those things at those ages.

adam that's a really good idea, was going to get a kid cook book but getting exactly what he needs will be brilliant.

I'm a little excited now, it's ethier going to be a big hit ot a wtf moment.

I did see some time ago that you can get a Kitchen Aid with the owner's name painted on. Can't remember the price, but I imagine it was expensive!

We got DS2 a gaming chair last year. He is 6'2" tall and was uncomfortable on a standard chair. He loves it.

Have also bought cookery items for gifts, DD got a smoothie maker when she was at uni and DS1 loves his ridge monkey cooking thingy (similar to the Diablo cooking thingy).

You know your kids OP!!

What about a cake pop maker?

OP what about a donut maker for your DS who likes cooking? I found the following "donut making kit" but it's in America. It's all the stuff to make galaxy style donuts.

If you can't get one like that over here, you could DIY something similar maybe? Recipe book and lots of decorations, food colouring etc?

There's also a "food laboratory" which Debenhams and others sell. I have no idea on age appropriateness tho!

😊

My DS is really interested in cooking too. He's a bit younger at 9 but we've managed to find him a kids cooking class in our local city. They do group classes (what we've chosen) or one to one although those were rather pricey! They did xmas special classes too where they made xmas themed foods/desserts. If you're anywhere near Edinburgh I can PM the details

Forgot to attach this one 😊

Nothing wrong with quirky children. Get the desk if it's what he's asked for! My dd1 is getting an art desk, where the top raises as a drawing board. She keeps checking I know about it, in a cute asking/not asking way. She will be 16 right after the new year.

I'm also thinking cake pop maker for dd2 (I already have 2 waffle makers and a waffle cone machine ). She loves baking and regularly gets baking stuff pressies. (12.5yo) She really appreciates a good cook book, Mary Berry always a hit. Kids cook books can be a bit babyish.

Other than lego, mine have never really 'done' toys. It does make present buying more challenging.