A gift for teens to 'do' on Christmas

[Downthestais]

I always try to get my teens (DD 16 and DS 15) something to keep them busy and to 'do' on Christmas day.
I have got my DD a jewellery making set and a sticker book.
I have zero ideas for my DS!
Does anyone have any good ideas please?

Id go for Lego or a jigsaw

We loved lego but mine have got to the stage where most of the kits that are within price range can be done in a few hours and those that are really good are into the 100s so only really worth it if it is a very much wanted present. It no longer is for mine at 13 and 11. They loved it when younger though.

These are pricey but amazing x

I found boxed 'escape room' type games. 1 to 4 players. One use only (you use / cut up the cards to solve the puzzle).

Now you’re 15 and 16, you're pretty grown up, right?
Peel the potatoes and prep the sprouts then

😈

Gingerbread house kit? Praise their work and then you all get to eat it ☺️

Yep these were my thoughts.

I got an origami kit last year (lots of sheets of paper and a book of instructions) and that kept a few of us from 8 - 80 entertained for a while. Initially, it was just me, MIL and the DC but then more and more got drawn in, usually to help out a DC and get stuck themselves or to show how easy it was then try and prove that. We also introduced a speed round where we all tried to make the same model at the same time and then balanced speed against resemblance to the picture.

This is half price in Waterstones.

I bought this a few years back in a wave of nostalgia, as my great-aunt sent me a pack many years ago for Christmas.

www.bookdepository.com/Authors-U-S-Games-Systems/9781572814455?redirected=true&utm_medium=Google&utm_campaign=Base3&utm_source=UK&utm_content=Authors&selectCurrency=GBP&w=AFC7AU96RTRB4YA8VT0L&gclid=CjwKCAiAv9ucBhBXEiwA6N8nYF13rXBpIoCcn87GGzIOyGcm8oPjFrp4usbmjKQTC0YRCp3jpKjqThoCRgQQAvD_BwE

They lay in a drawer until I found them during lockdown - and they turned out to be a huge hit!

Would they like an escape room game? We like the Exit games.

Or this looks good www.amazon.co.uk/Build-Your-LEGO-Escape-Room/dp/0241542464/ref=asc_df_0241542464/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=606541348776&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=18134426869445096667&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006715&hvtargid=pla-1730532267974&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

The Works has loads of ‘to do’ sets. Also, ‘Was jig’ jigsaw puzzles where you have to work out the final picture.

Me too for the chocolate house! My two are 17 and 21 and they’ll love it. We’re all big kids in this house at Christmas though!!

Laser cut wooden model kit.

(It has to be laser cut though, the ones that aren't laser cut have rough edges making them fiddly and messy and need glueing sandpapering! The laser cut ones just fit together perfectly and satisfyingly without needing to make a huge mess fiddling with glue etc.)

I always feel a failure on these type of threads. My teens just want to stare at their phones, bicker with each other and get me to drive them places. I don't think they will turn into board game/lego/sticker people over Christmas...

The internet is terrible at my parents house, they don't have a TV and we are 300 miles from home . They all ask to go there each year for Christmas though- I think they actually like the break from reality

OMG, thank you!
none of my DC liked Lego!
I feel that to admit that on here is being a real failure!

Also ordered boxbollen ordered for 11 yo nephew. Thanks for suggesting- never heard of it

My teens are totally over any sort of craft, but they are into food, so maybe get them a fancy chocolate cake or cookie baking box. I've even seen make your own ice cream sundae gift sets. Food gets their attention.

Do you remember those beautiful books from the early 90’s I think, where each page had a theme and was absolutely chock full of things to fine.

Not Where’s Wally….far more intricate with teeny tiny things to find amongst a page completely covered in other things.

i think a 16yr old boy would love something like that. Not sure what they were called and if you can still get them. Maybe on eBay.

I’ve just been browsing funny / rudeish cross stitch kits for our 17 year old.

Origami. Hours of fun, we had crackers last year and everyone loved them.

Gingerbread house or escape room/card game type thing would be my suggestions too. I also don't know anyone in real life who would want lego!

@FunctionalSkills you do realise that Lego can be rebuilt into anything and everything.
It's neverending fun so certainly not "done in a few hours" 🙂