Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Please tell me what your 17 year old sons like.

45 replies

HokeyCokeyPigInAPokey · 10/09/2012 21:41

DSS will be joining us for his first christmas in a very, very long time.

What do they like, what's cool?

I thought a ticketmaster gift card and a Cinema gift card but what else?

Please tell me what you will by buying yours, i need inspiration!

OP posts:
claraschu · 10/09/2012 21:52

A few ideas: cool t-shirts (mine likes fairly tight fitting plain ones and hippy / slightly funky ones), new hoodie, belt, new mat to work out on, bike lights, books (mine's a bookworm, and I know what he might like), driving lessons, socks, cool underwear (TK Maxx is good for this), wallet, something to last a lifetime (great edition of great book, antique chess board, aerial photo of home / special place), original newspaper from day of birth, wine from birth year, classy poster.

MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay · 10/09/2012 21:53

Depends on what he is into really?

my DS1 is 19, not into gaming so no Xbox type stuff.
This year I am getting him a pop up tent for festivals as he goes regularly (and borrows tents), I will get him some new clothes.. nice shirts/chinos, and usually a vile Adidas sweatshirt as he likes them.

Smellies, sweets, socks novelty boxers and DVDs for his stocking (yes I still do them)

I also always but something daft.. from firebox or Iwantoneofthose.com
The airzooker was very very popular last year.. cheap and amazingly fun. Though I did have to stop him blasting ornaments off the shelves....

Maat · 10/09/2012 21:56

DS2 is 17 (18 in December).

He would love your ideas. He is mainly into films, gaming and music.

Amazon gift vouchers are great because he can buy pretty much anything on there.

Also, a magazine subscription for something like Empire or a gaming mag.

Tuttutitlookslikerain · 10/09/2012 22:00

Mine likes music but he likes the Cd to play on his stereo and then he puts it on his laptop to his iPod rather than iTunes vouchers.

He is very into fashion, but at Christmas likes bits from Ben Sherman, Pretty Green and Fred Perry.

Aftershave.

He has mentioned an umbrella, gloves and brogues, but not which ones and will be very particular.

He wants a nice fountain pen.

PS3 games.

He wants a watch for his 18th.

HokeyCokeyPigInAPokey · 10/09/2012 22:05

Thank you, i knew you would help me!

Dss is really into gaming but seems to get the latest games all the time and completes them really quickly so can't buy games really.

Lots of good ideas, hoodie, wallet, belt, smellies, magazine subscription - maybe for his football team..

Will look on firefox and IWOOT

Thanks for you all

OP posts:
Milliways · 10/09/2012 22:18

Mine may want some more Driving Lessons (just started learning!) If your DSS is a learner a voucher for a Theory Test or Actual Test?

My DS is very much into his music & DJ stuff (has bought massive speakers & equipment from his own earnings) and often wants a bit of gadgetry but has to choose it himself. Headphones etc - doesn't have to cost a fortune.

He LOVES his small android tablet, was about £200 - but again he saved up for that - but help towards a new phone or similar is usually popular.

HokeyCokeyPigInAPokey · 10/09/2012 22:27

DSS doesn't want to learn to drive yet, unusual i know!

Trouble with gadgets is that his mum buys those and i don't want there to be any issues with presents that might make him feel bad/awkward so i want to stay away from those type of presents.

That's why i thought i'd go down the voucher route and then little presents, this thread has helped loads!

OP posts:
Milliways · 10/09/2012 22:39

Vouchers are great. Your suggestions were good and DS also likes Republic & Amazon.

Oh, and chocolate! Grin

bruffin · 10/09/2012 22:43

My Ds is 17 on Thursday
He is getting a nice compact camera
A Quicksilver wallet
Billabong belt
Hotel chocolet eton mess.

His wish list includes books, and expensive aftershave.

The gift cards are a good idea

HokeyCokeyPigInAPokey · 10/09/2012 22:45

I was thinking about aftershave but don't want to get an old man one like i'd buy for dh!

What aftershaves do your sons like?

OP posts:
bruffin · 10/09/2012 23:21

Ds likes Armani attitude. He got a miniature in a selection box.

marriedinwhite · 10/09/2012 23:28

Mine is 18 on Xmas Day. He has asked for some really high quality head phones and apart from that just wants money to buy clothes. He's incredibly into his image Shock. Too bogged down in sport and 6th form at the moment to show much interest in driving plus we live in zone 2 London so it isn't esssential I guess.

HokeyCokeyPigInAPokey · 11/09/2012 09:42

Sounds like dss married he's all football and 6th form.

bruffin that is a great idea, i'll get him a miniature box so he can see what he likes.

OP posts:
slartybartfast · 11/09/2012 09:44

money , or top shop vouchers. costa voucher, aftershave, fcuk

iknowwho · 11/09/2012 09:46

Mine likes anything to do with Ice Hockey, clothes by DC and restoring his kit car!

Skivvytomany · 11/09/2012 09:50

If he's into gaming what about Xbox points cards or Xbox live card for going online, play.com gift voucher, it's so hard when hard when they are teenagers isn't it.

MadBusLady · 11/09/2012 09:50

Double recommend for Firebox. It's bloody brilliant, do about 1/3 of all my Christmas shopping there every year.

FIFIBEBE · 11/09/2012 09:50

Mine needs to be smart for 6th form so starting on the man stuff - belt hanger thing, tie hanger thing, cuff links, decent belt, ties plus all the boy things mentioned. Uniqlo good for t'shirts.

Skivvytomany · 11/09/2012 09:54

Oh just noticed its a ps3 he's into, ignore the Xbox stuff then. What about voucher for game store or amazon?

Theas18 · 11/09/2012 10:05

does no one else do a silly stocking of bits for their teens? I know they prefer money/vouchers but we always have some things to unwrap too

eg pants/ socks, smellies, a book, chocolates (mine are still big kids and a couple of big boxes from poundland go in the stocking and a small but "posher" item of confectionary in the main pressie pile) something daft from hawkins bazzar (flying monkey was hillarious) etc

DS will get driving lessons etc as "main" prsesie" as he's 17 in January

HokeyCokeyPigInAPokey · 11/09/2012 10:10

I will go for a few vouchers but i will put them in boxes so they have to be unwrapped.

It's had as dss has not been back in our lives for very long and although he is wonderful he is not always forthcoming with information - i assume like most 17 year old can be!

I also think stuff like pants ect will probably be brought by his mum and i don't want to cause any problems by duplicating presents.

OP posts:
GoldandOrangeAnnunziata · 11/09/2012 12:05

I'm getting all my boys a package to see Celtic play in the Champions League for Christmas. If he likes football clubs sometimes do half season tickets cheap? Or any ticket for a big game.

Mine normally get aftershave like Acqua di Gio, Polo or the Hollister/Abercrombie ones if he's into that. Lynx (I know, I know) is eternally popular. Adidas have some nice ones as well- DS4 likes the one in the black and green bottle. Jack Wills/ Calvin Klein boxers are good. They like any sort of food! And they're all very gamey too but like toy cars, helicopters and trains still.

YouveCatToBeKittenMe · 11/09/2012 12:11

DS is 17, he would like everything everyone else has said!

However he has an itunes voucher and says he won't use it as he gets his music from 'elsewhere'. Hmm
You can now get gaming vouchers. DS would love those as he often downloads games rather than buy the disk.

SecretSquirrels · 11/09/2012 13:50

Is he geeky?
My DS would love a subscription to a science magazine - Scientific American or New Scientist? Big Bang Theory memorabilia for jokey presents (loads on Amazon).

OatyBeatie · 11/09/2012 13:54

Ack. Mine is terrible to buy presents for. Whenever I ask him what he wants the answer is always "Jussmunny."
It seems so sad not to be able to choose him a luvverly proper present. Sometimes I do choose something of course, but my success rate isn't brilliantly high, and money is definitely a safer bet.

Swipe left for the next trending thread