What are your 8 year old boys having? Or ideas please

[Lovedecorations]

Really stuck for ideas for our 8yo ds.

He doesn't know what he wants. He's at that slightly awkward age where he's not massively into playing with toys anymore. Of course he still plays but he's already got a good selection of board games, action figures, nerf guns, a bike, scooter, remote control car. He's not that into Lego and still has unopened sets plus all his brothers old Lego. He's got a Nintendo switch and has plenty of games for that.

Hoping to get some ideas. Thanks in advance.

My daughter is about the same age and likes the same things. She mostly wants more pokemon cards, the new minecraft switch game, the online switch membership, bubble tea and nike clothes/trainers. I'll be doing a few presents and some money this year.

I have an 8 and 10 year old (DDs but not especially girly). On their wish lists are an oodie, echo dot, drum pad and stand, mini waffle/pancake maker, personalised football kit, hair straighteners and bubble tea kit.

My 8 year old ds wants the following:

A replicia Lewis Chess set with red pieces rather than black
A hard-wearing RC car capable of off roading/getting wet and going fast
A limited edition Papo Spinosaurus model
More gravitrax bits
More K'nex
Japanese sweets

My son is 8 just after Xmas.. he's into Lego tho so is getting Lego sets and a ps5 (to share with his brother).

A new bike for his birthday.

Roller blades
Basketball hoop
Light tracing box
Simon Air
Rush hour game
Air hockey table
Science kit

Here’s the list I’ve been keeping on my phone for 8yo DS. Some is from his grandparents, it’s not all from us. He’s also saving up for a Mario Kart Rainbow Road track so some family are giving money for that and we’ll have it set up on Xmas morning ready for him to play with. He think he needs to wait until he’s saved all the money and order it after Christmas so having it in Xmas morning should be a nice surprise.

England kit (football)
Jellycat Axolotl
PJs
Hot wheels cars
Scorbunny plush (Pokémon)
Fall guys stuff duvet cover & plush
Squishmallow (Pokémon)
Super Mario Hot Wheels
Minecraft books
Gel pens

are there any Switch games he’s a particular fan of that you could get some merch? Such as Fall Guys, Minecraft etc?

Dd is 8 a week before Xmas.
his two main presents are a stunt scooter and a proper football goal.
he will also be getting more bits for his gravitrax, kinetic sand, and some treasure x sets.

Ooh @Forgottenmyphone has just reminded me with her post, I’ve also got him a mini basketball hoop & balls that has suction cups so you can use as a bath toy, he loves a good bath 😆 so that’ll go in his stocking with some Minecraft blind bags.

Air Jordan clothes/shoes
Prime drinks, Taki's crisps, Reece's chocolates
Starbucks merch
Robux
A computer
A drum kit

That's what he wants, he won't be getting all of it. He'll also get books, games, puzzles and sports equipment because it's good for him.

It's a really tricky stage! My ds has just turned 9. He is getting a Playstation portal as his main gift.
He hasn't asked for anything and I am loathed to buy a load of stuff he won't use. Might get a few experience vouchers, climbing, karting etc.

What about an experience?
instead of filling your home with plastic tat you’ve already said your DS isn’t that into?

a ski lesson? Go carting? Tour of a sports stadium? Concert?

you can still wrap it if you want to with a voucher/note.
do something memorable rather than spend money on something that you’ll be ready to put in FB marketplace in 6 months but have to have kicking around a bit longer in hope he plays with it because you spent so much money on it!!

this is speaking from experience!!

Metal detector

What about a kiwi box subscription or similar? Would he enjoy making things or maybe a science type one? There’s a subscription box for everything. Or how about tickets to do something like a theme park or Harry Potter studios if he’s into that.

Mine is 8 too. I expect he will be after games for his switch and some football related bits. I’ll prob get him some books and clothes too. He’s the youngest son and tends to get hand me down clothes a lot so at Christmas/birthdays I like to buy him new stuff

Nothing to add as there’s lots of good ideas here already.

Believe it or not I still have the same problem with my 21 year old DD although I don’t get her that much anymore as she has most things anyway.

I really miss the days when you could hand them the Argos catalogue and tell them to draw a ring around the things they want, and if they were lucky then Father Christmas would bring it, depending upon how good they were throughout the year.

Last year we started doing something you want, something you need, something to read, something to wear, something to do. We get them two of each at the moment. DS is about to be 7 and what I have for him are;

Want; switch game and a playmobil set he wants

need: Wellies and a box with a Lego board on the top and drawer for some Lego so he can take it places and keep it all together

wear; a Mario t shirt, Mario joggers and Mario hoody & a Minecraft t shirt and joggers

read; working on this

do; a vtech marble rush set and tickets to see Bluey live show (got the same for his sister as they like gong to the theatre)

He’ll get pjs and slippers in his Xmas Eve box and a small Minecraft Lego set and a stocking with some chocolate bits and small bits and pieces (got him Minecraft Uno to go on there). We find small card games are good for when we are out for meals etc. I see the clothes and ‘need’ items more as stuff I’d have to buy anyway but it gives them more stuff to open.

Exactly! If he’s already got toys he doesn’t use (Lego) then why buy more? We don’t need to buy tonnes of stuff just because it’s Christmas - why not give him chocolates, 1-2 things he needs and then experiences - cinema tickets, a day out, day out to a football game etc.

Thank you so much for posting this OP, I’m having the same problem with present ideas for my 8yo son.

Started stocking shopping today:
Fluffy socks for slobbing around at home
Big bar of his fave chocolate
Top Trumps cards
Hot chocolate and marshmallow kit
Stationary bits that he always needs (pritstick, fun postits, highlighters etc)

Will update each time I get more ideas.

My same age DS has asked for a
Squishmallow, prob get a Pokémon one
AirUp bottle

Doesn't want a game for his switch...
I might suggest some Nike clothes

Stress ball
Lockable diary
Expansion packs for exploding kittens
Posca pens
Japanese sweets
Boba plushie
Sour sweets
Posters

Posca marker pens

DS2 (8 in the spring) from us and from family:

• cricket bag as he now needs all the gear at training
• new add on for Ticket to Ride (he’s board game obsessed)
• Switch game (DH is in charge of this so I don’t know which one)
• personalised swimming bag as his is falling apart

Skateboard
technical drawing pencils
mushroom growing kit

A good rule I stick to is:

Something to wear.
Something to eat.
Something to read.
Something they want.
Something they need.

I do this for my little one and my husband. An example of this is: pyjamas, a chocolate orange, a book on a topic that interests them or a series they've been following, a toy or game they really want and a new bag or pencil case for school.

An experience day out! Something like feeding meerkats