Ideas for an 8 year old who doesn’t play with toys anymore

[Zaz95]

My 8 year old stepson doesn’t play with toys anymore and with Christmas coming up, we are really struggling to think of presents to get him. He has asked for vr headset and gaming computer but we can’t afford it. He is into Fortnite, Xbox, Nintendo switch but already has quite a few games on here.

Any suggestions welcome!

Would he be interested in the science museum kit type of things?

Tickets for experiences outside the home?

Is he neurodivergent though? If so may need to take predictability and sensory issues into account with that.

Smart watch
Digital camera
Theme park tickets
It's tricky!!

Could you get one second hand if other relatives clubbed in with you?

I would do anything that stops him getting on screens at that age as it seems so young to ditch all toys. Gravitrax? Something arty?

How about a gaming beanbag chair?

My older DC who's into gaming is getting one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Game-Over-Controllers-Ergonomic-Dedicated/dp/B07KFK6MHB/ref=pd_aw_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_0?pd_rd_w=rN6Xe&content-id=amzn1.sym.6466ed1c-11ca-4b0b-9aca-60e7ab0b0c4d%3Aamzn1.symc.acfafb1d-071f-4fdf-beff-aca206a47be9&pf_rd_p=6466ed1c-11ca-4b0b-9aca-60e7ab0b0c4d&pf_rd_r=64STSB40T37RGD04M8H0&pd_rd_wg=rHKOn&pd_rd_r=763e1509-6b4b-470f-a3fd-09d098345d79&pd_rd_i=B07KFK6MHB

I don’t think is dad on board with him having a VR headset at his age

Scooter, bike, skateboard?

Does he like to read?

Alternatively, how about a guitar, and even a few lessons if you can find a guitar teacher. Or he could teach himself a bit online.

How about a bedroom re-vamp? Duvet cover, led lights, floor rug. What about a desk, if he doesn't have one? Could get a lamp for it, stationery etc.

Don't feel guilty about gaming computer/VR headset. He's doing well at 8 to have a switch and Xbox already.

Smart watch as per earlier post is a good call. Fitbit kids £50 but lots of cheaper ones around too.

Alexa for his bedroom? Popular here a couple of years ago and used daily.

Kitchen gadget? Snowcone machine with load of slush puppy flavours bought for 7 year old Xmas 2020 and still used.

My son is the same age and very similar in his interests. He's asked for an AirUp bottle

intl.air-up.com/pages/not-your-regular-water-bottle-1?bottle=bottle-set-hot-pink&step=start

This

Lego?

Metal detector
Rock tumbler
Lock picking kit
Drone
NERF gun
Mini claw machine with gifts/sweets
Hoverboard
Oodie

Lego mindstorm, teaches them to code!

Nerf blasters
Lego
Cinema gift card
Experience gifts
Day out to a theme park, Harry Potter, theatre tickets etc
Camera
Books

Camera drone

Does he like music? Would he like some kind of mixing deck?

To all those saying "anything to get him off screens so get him gravitrax", Mumsnet loves gravitrax a lot more than 8 year olds do, and a lot of money gets spent on gravitrax sets that are half played with once, then never touched again.

Best to get him something that will reflect his actual interests.

We got my son a gaming chair, gaming headset and gaming mouse. All together it came to less than £150.

You need to be 13 to use a VR headset so I would keep that in mind for the future.

Have a look at National Geographic dig kits, they do all sorts - fossils, bugs, shark teeth etc.
A large nonfiction book - plenty of kids ones out there about different topics.

Does he play any instruments? Maybe a guitar or some other instrument where there’s lots of YouTube tutorials available if you can’t afford a tutor. Or if he’s renting an instrument from somewhere - maybe his very own?
Board games? Books? Nice artist quality set of pencils? I think I’ve seen artist quality felt tip pens too if he prefers pens. Camera? Smiggle do some cool stationary sets too.
Letter writing set maybe so he can write to grandparents.
Lego. I think there’s Minecraft Lego sets.
Maybe he’d find a hoody with Minecraft or Xbox logo on exciting (if you don’t usually buy stuff like that!)
Roller skates?
What about air dry clay?
Does he like Harry Potter? Seems very popular at that age, so much merchandise available. And maybe the book set if he’s only watched the films!

3d puzzles have been a great success here

"Amazon.co.uk : 3d puzzles" https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=3d+puzzles&crid=RLNH60JP6ZDU&sprefix=3d%2Caps%2C244&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_4_2