Gift for first day at boarding school

[missoa]

Hello! Can anyone recommend any gift ideas for a nephew starting at boarding school (Harrow) this year, on his 14th birthday?

[WeAllHaveWings]

a tie and paperweight for a 14 year olds birthday 🤣🤣🤣

those are presents for a mid aged man who works in an office

[Sunrise85]

Oh fgs don’t get him a paperweight, tie or cuff links!

What an absolutely SHIT idea. He’s 14!

Even back in the 60s my Dad got better presents than this!

All the other ideas are pretty decent though gadgets, comfortable stuff and a Chilly’s bottle

[motherstongue]

DS was a fairly recent Harrovian. Boys are not allowed off the hill (no popping to Nando’s etc) but at weekends they nearly always ordered in pizza to be delivered (mainly from Domino’s) so it might be worthwhile getting a voucher for there. The Hill Shop where they buy tuck etc normally have an account for each boy that has a limit set by parents so extra cash for extra treats might go down well.
I suspect his parent will have got him a decent phone for starting school, a laptop too so he will probably have earphones already but would agree he would benefit from having decent(noise cancelling) earphones.
Don’t get him cuff links or a tie (Gawd, even I scoffed at that idea) he won’t appreciate it or indeed need it. A suit and tie are on the clothing list and were in truth rarely used by DS.
A chilly bottle is an excellent idea. DD asked for one after a few weeks at her boarding school (as everyone had one!!!!). They can be personalised so they don’t go walk about.
An Amazon voucher would be useful too as he can get what he wants and get it delivered straight to his house.
DS lived in his trackies outwith his uniform so extra Canterbury’s would be well used.

[pallisers]

@Bishybarnybee

lovely paperweight, cuff links and a nice tie

For a 14 year old.

It's a different world.

seriously!

I'd actually worry about a 14 year old who welcomed a tie, paperweight or cuff links as a gift.

[SeaToSki]

A stash of snacks that he can break out when dinner is particularly awful.

[thebellsofsaintclements]

@GarlicMcAtackney

’a lovely paperweight, cuff links and a nice tie’
😂😂😂 I think even an adult toff would be hugely disinterested in such crap gifts, never mind a 14 year old child.

PSML - This thread is comedy gold! I have a 14 year old nephew too - would love to see the look on his face if he got that as a present....

[GreyBow]

@ilovemydogandMrObama

DD1 is a Flexi boarder and she likes instant noodles which seems most of the girls live on .

What about a Chilly's bottle?

Christ's Hospital has banned all pot noodles and frozen food this term citing Covid . I told my DC (at different schools) and they are heartily hoping this is a one off and they will still be allowed them!!!

[LesLavandes]

Your nephew will already have an alarm clock and torch. It is on the school 'list'. However he will definitely lose them 😊

[GarlicMcAtackney]

’a lovely paperweight, cuff links and a nice tie’
😂😂😂 I think even an adult toff would be hugely disinterested in such crap gifts, never mind a 14 year old child.

[RemyHadley]

Ok I’m not keen on boarding schools personally, but FFS the OP is asking for advice on a present for her NEPHEW, she’s presumably not in any way involved in the decision. And he’s 14, not 4.

[ilovemydogandMrObama]

DD1 is a Flexi boarder and she likes instant noodles which seems most of the girls live on .

What about a Chilly's bottle?

[ChequerBoard]

LOL at the comments about 'sending children away'. Since both DD17 and DS13 chose to be weekly boarders so they could go to their school, this has given them quite a laugh this morning!

They are both looking forward to going back next week and seeing their friends from all over the world.

[GreyBow]

Harrow were restrictive anyway from what my friend has always said about her son, but yes Covid means even more restrictions - for everyone.

They are also unfortunately targets. Harrow in particularly because of geographical location for terrorism, but in a more "lighthearted" way, by some in the local communities. My eldest frequently has had cars veer into puddles next to the curb just to deliberately soak her rather distinctive and unusual uniform when she's been walking between school buildings on the street. She also had a car almost knock her over driving too close to her to deliberately scare her.

Best not scare the boys in the first few weeks of their first year by letting them roam free to Nandos. They've got five years of wearing that hat to have it all thrown at them 😁

[AppleKatie]

They do, but not in first year generally and I would imagine that Covid risk assessments will prevent more than usual this year.

Tech- headphones/speaker/projector are good ideas. As is food- doesn’t matter how amazing school food is, boarders love sweets and junk. Does he have/need a tick box?

[eurochick]

I'm really surprised the borders aren't allowed into town sometimes. I thought most boarding schools allowed the kids out sometimes.

[Bishybarnybee]

lovely paperweight, cuff links and a nice tie

For a 14 year old.

It's a different world.

[user1471539385]

@custardbear good parenting means doing what is right for each individual child, not crowd pleasing. Boarding can really enrich a child’s life, and your archaic idea of ‘what goes on behind closed doors’ shows a lack of knowledge and a tendency to work on stereotypes. There are unpleasant incidents in some boarding schools. There are also unpleasant incidents in private day schools, state comprehensive schools and everything in between. None of these are acceptable, and none of them are limited to a specific type of setting. In all circumstances, good parenting means an open and constant dialogue with your child, and this is something we have maintained with DD before AND during her time at boarding school.

[LesLavandes]

Orchidflower - grow up!

Speak to matron about a cake or even better cupcakes. The boys will be very busy first day. There is a teashop on hill which makes lots of cakes for boys' birthdays. 'The Doll's House. They will deliver to house.

No. They are not allowed into Harrow. So no Nando's and I very much doubt they are allowed in any shops due to Covid restrictions at school.

If he doesn't have one already , I would buy him a Bluetooth speaker. That will go sown a treat

[GreyBow]

My 17 year old just glanced over this and rolled her eyes. She especially loves the thought she could secretly be badly treated behind closed doors for years

She'd like everyone to know she feels she is very well parented, by her actual parents. Boarding only adds to her life, and doesn't take anything away. Phew, because I'd be really worried otherwise!

She also says projector idea would be fab.

[reefedsail]

This thread has really brought out the tinfoil hat wearers.

[custardbear]

@user1471539385 - I think you'll find that those who board their children have no idea about what actually happens behind closed doors, where you can't see, where you have no control, even if you were bothered about your children

[user1471539385]

Headphones are great for FaceTime, as it can be difficult to hear conversations otherwise.... the phone projector that pp mentioned is a great idea. DD and her friends spend the evenings watching Netflix on a phone, so a projector would be a game changer! (Adds to Christmas list..)
Good tuck, especially shareable things, is a great idea as it helps with new friendships, and make sure parents take a cake for him to share in house (plus an allergy-friendly alternative... allergy kids get left out on birthdays!)
Boarding is amazing! DD is absolutely thriving. There will always be people who judge, but they tend to have no idea!

[ChequerBoard]

My DS13 is a weekly boarder and the one thing (bedsides his phone) he couldn't be without at school are his headphones. He doesn't like AirPods (finds them too uncomfortable) so we bought him a good set of Beats wireless headphones instead.

[Hotwaterbottlelove]

I think one of thoes portable projectors would be a good option.

[custardbear]

Perhaps a photograph of his family ... I really don't get people who send their kids to boarding school - flame me all you like, but they're kids, sent away to school isn't parenting