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Christmas

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Original poster

A gift for teens to 'do' on Christmas

79 replies

Downthestais · 12/12/2022 13:12

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?

OP posts:
HelenHywater · 12/12/2022 19:48

My teens are happy to play games on Christmas day - they start very early! Can you not buy some games? We always have a selection of silly ones and a couple of more serious ones that we do later in the day.

Otherwise they like decorating mugs -I usually do that with the younger dc and the older ones join in (the ones that you fire in the oven after decorating them) - we don't do this on Christmas Day though. (Likewise we had a gingerbread house bake off last year, but again not on Christmas Day).

I've just ordered a boxbollen set for my ds though on the strength of this thread!

(only my 10 yo would like lego - the teens aren't interested).

hennybeans · 12/12/2022 20:05

I've ordered a boxbollen set for my sons after reading this. I hope it's good!

nicky2512 · 12/12/2022 20:46

Just looked at boxbollen! Ds would so love that … but he has glasses with very expensive lenses! Is it a no?

fruitpastille · 12/12/2022 20:48

I enjoy building Lego and my kids have done loads over the years. However ultimately it ends up gathering dust or being a scrap yard of broken bits. The kits these days are so specific that they can't easily be repurposed. I can't stand spending money on small bits of plastic any more.

I don't buy anything special but uno is always popular and I can sometimes persuade them to play charades. We also go for a walk and watch a movie. Otherwise they can please themselves.

FunctionalSkills · 12/12/2022 20:52

@Needmorelego er yes. They have 100s of pounds worth of lego they could (and used to) rebuild. One more kit would be a drop in the ocean and wouldn't make any tangible difference to the mountain that's there. So no the only novel value would be in the few hours it takes to build.

I do get for enthusiasts a new kit is exciting (as it was for my girls for many years of Harry potter/friends/creator/sets) but we're past that now!

Needmorelego · 12/12/2022 21:10

@FunctionalSkills that's cool. Not everyone grows up to be a Lego obsessive 🙂

Bairnsmum05 · 12/12/2022 21:20

Lock picking kit!!

NamelessTemptress01 · 12/12/2022 21:42

If they have a Nintendo Switch, you can get building kits to go with it, it’s called Labo

Shouldbeworkingnotreadingtalk · 12/12/2022 22:21

Bairnsmum05 · 12/12/2022 21:20

Lock picking kit!!

Thank you for this - I've just ordered one as a gift for 19yo who wants cash, but this will do nicely as a gift from "Santa"

ScreamInBlue · 13/12/2022 00:07

Verbena17 · 12/12/2022 19:14

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.

Was that the 'Ultimate Alphabet'? I remember it too, late 80s/early 90s.

Verbena17 · 13/12/2022 00:18

ScreamInBlue · 13/12/2022 00:07

Was that the 'Ultimate Alphabet'? I remember it too, late 80s/early 90s.

Show quote history

😲😲😲 that’s it!!!!
I’m 99% sure…..runs to check

Verbena17 · 13/12/2022 00:22

Verbena17 · 13/12/2022 00:18

😲😲😲 that’s it!!!!
I’m 99% sure…..runs to check

Show quote history

Oh wow - yes!!!
have purchased 2 copies - one for me and one for my sisters’ boys!
Thanks so much!

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 13/12/2022 07:17

You can also get Ultimate Alphabet jigsaws. I got my first name initial one for my birthday and I love it.

Spanielmadlady · 13/12/2022 11:27

Those of you recommending Origami, can you suggest any particular kits etc that have worked well for older teens please?

33goingon64 · 13/12/2022 12:23

I've just ordered an escape room game to play on Xmas Day evening as a family.

ScreamInBlue · 13/12/2022 13:20

Verbena hope it's as good as we remember 😀

Verbena17 · 19/12/2022 12:37

ScreamInBlue · 13/12/2022 13:20

Verbena hope it's as good as we remember 😀

Bought two - used but almost perfect condition.
All wrapped and ready to give to my sister’s kids and the other is wrapped for my kids. Thanks for helping me remember them!

A gift for teens to 'do' on Christmas
A gift for teens to 'do' on Christmas
Alici · 19/12/2022 13:45

@rollerblind , @HelenHywater, @hennybeans have any of your boxbollens arrived yet? I have ordered a few days ago and happy to wait but seeing lots of scam stuff about it online and wondered if any of yours had arrived.

rollerblind · 19/12/2022 17:45

@Alici
No! I think I've been had. Hadn't even dispatched yet, despite the 48hr Royal Mail promise. Get a generic reply from their customer service 😞

Alici · 28/12/2022 17:10

@rollerblind im sorry about that, mine just arrived now. Any luck on yours?

FunctionalSkills · 28/12/2022 17:27

I'd love to hear what worked/teens loved. And maybe what didn't too! (Birthday coming up soon...)

MissBattleaxe · 28/12/2022 17:46

My teens liked hot chocolate spoons, Cristiano Ronaldo underwear from TK Maxx, Davidoff Cool Water aftershave and the surprise hit from one of my friends was a burrito blanket. Big circular fluffy blanket that makes them look like a burrito.

MissBattleaxe · 28/12/2022 17:48

And all under 20 quid. Also white air pods that aren't Apple and we're also under 20 quid in TK Maxx.