9 year old boy has no idea what he wants!

[SaidItFromMyCoffin]

I’ve a 13 year old girl who has sent me a Christmas list of about 50 items! And my 9 year old boy who says he doesn’t know, he likes surprises.

He doesn’t really play with toys now. He plays the X-Box sometimes but only one game, loves being out on his bike or scooter but doesn’t need anything new. Likes running and playing football but has several and lots of sports clothing. He’ll mess around on his iPad but has one with good headphones.

He doesn’t like showers/bath so wouldn’t be keen on toiletries - we force him in! Doesn’t like reading - takes a bit of coercion. Doesn’t like sweets or chocolate - still has a massive Halloween stash. Isn’t into clothes brands and has all he needs. He does like Lego so I’ve got him a set he wanted but it was only a small one.

Any ideas?

A headset with speakers for the Xbox
a calendar with vouchers for each month? Xbox, Amazon, local sports shop, driving range etc?

an indoor over the door frame basketball set (very annoying but my son loves his!)

Exercise equipment or a new sports bag or football boot bag type thing

boot buddy

ikea have an indoor goal/ ball storage net which ds probably got around age 9…

What Xbox game is it? Is it a game that has an annual?
a rechargeable battery pack for his Xbox batteries
headset
lights to put on scooter wheels
air hockey table
Chess set
new Xbox controller
new game for his Xbox if he has a disk one or an Xbox voucher
instax camera
apple pen

urm I’m not sure what else I find boys harder than girls!!

3D printer
science kit
skateboard
ski lessons
sports tickets
headphone stand
dragon mountain books - my 10 year old also not a big reader loved these last year. Also wimpy kid for reluctant readers.

If he likes animals there's a cool lego set out that's a red fox, squirrel and owl. A 3 in 1.

Skateboard
Roller-skates
Go cart
Multi-game table football. DC and their friends played on theirs for ages at that age
A musical instrument - electric guitar or keyboards

An activity.
We did birds of prey, helicopter ride etc

Another vote for a skateboard and safety kit
A really good kite, or a small drone

A really cool Lego set will keep him busy.
Paint pens.
A frisbee.

I was looking at a kids go pro which looks really fun for putting on bikes etc when out. Waterproof etc. (One of mine also never knows what he wants and only wants suprises!) also puzzle balls/ maze balls are big hits here.

Some good ideas thanks although with a recent birthday he has quite a few of these like a skateboard and the indoor basketball hoop which he loves and was a huge success.

Boys are definitely a lot harder than girls!

I think get more Lego. Is he into Harry Potter? The Harry Potter Lego is gorgeous and you can add to it.
Eg https://amzn.to/4io0Sed

My son has just turned 11 but has been difficult to buy for since about 9! We have got him so far -

Basketball hoop and a really cool proper basketball (this is the only thing he actually asked for this year)
Samsung ear bud things for his phone
Headphones for his ps5 as his recently broke
Nike Tech fleece
A couple of Lego sets - he’s much more into Lego now than when he was younger!
Onesie
selection box
Few smellies
Limitless win board game (the ant and dec programme - he loves it 😂)
Jibbitz for his crocs
A few books including the new Match annual
Calligraphy pens and quality paper
More posca pens

My grandson is 8 and spends a fair bit of time at my house, so similar situation - he has everything he needs here and I'm always having to think of new ideas.

He recently rediscovered in the back of a cupboard a remote controlled boat I got him when he was about 5, he wanted to go to the park to use it, and it was a bit battered so I've got him a more grown-up version of that.

He's not a particular fan of reading fiction but does enjoy quiz type books that he can do 'with' me - for instance a 'true or false' book where we ask each other questions, that sort of thing ...

Am going to investigate the kids go-pro that someone mentioned earlier 👍

How about remote control car? That can go outside.
FTX truck

My 8yo is after football strip and football rebounder.
Both my boys are getting Lego. And that's been the main thing for Christmas in this house for my older boy for years.

If you are going for Harry Potter Hogwarts lego then go for the latest stuff the Whopping Willow above is discontinued. Lego over the last 5 or 6 years have released 3 modular type Hogwarts. Which don't go together that easily.

I agree with Lego. My 9/11yos love it and my DH hasn’t grown out of it either!

Nerf gun or laser tag set? I know you said he's not a reader, but might he find something like Guinness book of records interesting to flick through? If he likes lego maybe he'd enjoy a build your own robot kit or raspberry pi.

Science set - mine love the gross science ones!
Beyblade arena set? Both my 9 & 12 year olds love this!
Ripleys Believe it or Not or Guinness Book of Records - I know you say he's not a reading fan, but these are more dip in and out and pretty cool.
board game? Catan, Ticket to Ride, Exploding Kittens, A Game of Cat & Mouth - all very popular here.

A half size pool table folding one that the whole family can enjoy

There is a really good (and long, but worth looking through) ideas list here. It’s a bit American, but you can find all items in the UK too by searching online. Some really good ideas there.

my 10yo is similar to yours. He’s also a reluctant reader but loves the Adam Kay books - much prefers a factual book than a fiction story. This year he is also into WWII so we’ve picked a couple of suitable books. He also loves Commando comics - you can get some compilation books online.

Golf lessons - they offer bundles at driving ranges
Fishing lessons - look at Angling Trust, they offer beginner lessons and their events are really good.
I have also yet to meet a boy of that age that doesn’t like a Lynx box set!