11 year old DS

[BeaLola]

Really stuck for DS - not helped by fact that birthday is just before Christmas and I end up buying on behalf of both sets of elderly grandparents and Uncle.

All he really wants are AirPods and Apple Watch - obviously these are expensive but not outside budget for collective gift but I am not willing to buy these 2 things .

He does rugby , loves football & has FIFA 20 which he saved pocket money for and now in year 7 has a phone.

Help pls

[nowlook]

I remember the Apple watch and AirPod demands a couple of years ago from DS1. He didn't get the watch (banned at school) but did get the pods. Utter waste of money. Always getting lost or running out of charge. He sticks to his Beats headphones now.

Anyway, these are the things typically on his list (he's 13 in Jan):
Football kit
Cricket stuff
Clothes (likes the hoodies in All Saints; would like Off-White but not a chance)
A phone case by Supreme or Off-White (or a snide copy from eBay)
Trainers (Yeezys or Off-White: again, not a chance)
Gaming chair
Gaming monitors/ keyboard/ mouse
Console skins
Rechargeable batteries
Cash (he wants one of these money guns too https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B076PYFFDF/ref=dpprsubss_3
Guinness Book of Records
Portable Bluetooth speaker (uses it in the changing rooms on match days). The UE Boom is good
American sweets

[BeaLola]

Thank you all for very helpful replies & suggestions - definitely taking up lots of them and will post back for others who will be there next year !

Apologies as cannot PM at moment but hoping that Notname may see and reply or anyone else with any experience ref the Bear Grylls at NEC. Definitely going to book as part of Christmas present but was wondering whether it was exhaustingly busy - thinking archery and skydiving or will that not. E enough to do . DS Would be on his own . Did you go on a weekend or school holiday - we live outskirts of London so a long day out for us but happy to do it - is anytime of day better in your opinion - can we see a thing of the skydiving or do we just sit and drink coffee all day ?

Apologies for all the questions but a bit like Harry Potter World what to make the most of visit in an enjoyable way. TIA

[Curious2468]

3D printer. Google ender 3 and see the kinds of things it can make. We bought one recently and loving it

[Notname]

**Apologies as cannot PM at moment but hoping that Notname may see and reply or anyone else with any experience ref the Bear Grylls at NEC. Definitely going to book as part of Christmas present but was wondering whether it was exhaustingly busy - thinking archery and skydiving or will that not. E enough to do . DS Would be on his own . Did you go on a weekend or school holiday - we live outskirts of London so a long day out for us but happy to do it - is anytime of day better in your opinion - can we see a thing of the skydiving or do we just sit and drink coffee all day ?

Sorry only just saw this (i’m used to just killing threads so never check back 😂)

Ds went with Dh and I booked four activities (archery, rock climbing, high ropes and sky dive) plus there’s an assault course that’s free. I left 30-60 mins between each activity and a bit longer at lunch time, so they were there 10-5ish. It cost about £140 in total (£70 each) as prices were half the advertised cost - not sure if this is a perma offer or we were just lucky.

They went at half term and we stayed in the premier inn nearby the night before as we live a couple of hits away, and we did Cadbury world and shopping in Birmingham the day before (dd and I shopped while they did bear Grylls on the second day too).

There is a cafe there but think it’s a bit bog standard. Dh and ds went to nearby pizza express for lunch. Dd and I went back to meet them before the sky dive and we were able to watch and video. Dd then had a free go on the assault course before we left.

They loved it, especially the sky dive (and paid a bit extra for another go). The high ropes course was much better than expected- ds has been to go ape a couple of times and thought this might be a bit tame, but it was really high and quite challenging.

I’d def recommend it, but it sounds like it’s a long way to go for just a couple of activities. If you can stretch to doing a bit more it makes it more worthwhile I guess.

[Notname]

@BeaLola sorry forgot to tag you in my reply 😊🙄