[dillpickle1983]

I live with a soon to be 12yr old and I am determined to buy him a gift for his birthday because his parent's can't afford one. I have straight up asked him what he wants, and i get no response or "I don't know." Well I'm stuck. I need help. His parent's have no understanding of my intent and plan to keep it that way. Any ideas? He's into football (first season this year on a recreation league) Any idea's will be helpful to me.

thanks

um, movies, a football, movie tickets, i dunno...gift card to a store?

[kindachaotic]

does he like video games, CD's, books?
any big events coming up in your area, like concerts, college or pro games?
some kids, even guys like to go to the mall, they usually have an arcade.
he might have a certain t-shirt he's been wanting or needs a pair of jeans for school or a pair of shoes. just grabbin' at straws here.

wish you the best on this one.

[dillpickle1983]

I know he is into video games, I was thinking about getting an xbox for him and I to play on.. I don't know lol

[shezbut]

Hi chandlerT660,

I would advise a more interactive gift for your soon to be 12 yr-old boy. Maybe joining team together? One that gets both of you out of the house, interacting with others, with a game that you both enjoy could be really very special. Joining you with others to play games would be a lot more special than playing with a TV set, IMHO.

A gift like this could get both of you leaps and bounds together! (((hugs)))

[whenwillitend]

Do you have something like a big boy "Chuck'E'Cheeses" there? My kids LOVE it there. You could take him there. Ours is called "It'z". I know it's just games and stuff, but it's a blast for kids, and might make for a fun afternoon together. Of course it's just a temporary gift, an xbox lasts longer, but it's more active and interactive too.

Oh, I know! Get him a puppy!! (I'm just kidding!!!)

I agree with tickets to an event like a football game or something. Football shaped barbecue grill? (Again, kidding.)
If he likes the NFL, you could go to the NFL shop website, they have some really cool stuff, and order something from there. I'm a girl, and I could spend a small fortune there if I had it.

I would stay away from things like clothes. Even if he needs shoes, that's just not special enough for a birthday. If he needs shoes badly, maybe, if you can swing it, get him some on the side?

I was just thinking about the "It'z" thing, they do birthday parties too, my son went to two, they're really fun. Maybe you could throw him a surprises party? And maybe get the parents involved too, so they don't feel left out, or feel bad that they couldn't do that for their son.

I don't know, just throwing things out there.

i'd go with the gift card, then at least he can get what he wants andn ot feel ashamed if you got him something that he never wanted.

[whenwillitend]

Maybe it's a German thing, but back home giftcards were generally frowned upon as not being personal enough, you know, like the easy way out that doesn't require any thinking. (I hope that didn't offend anyone, wasn't supposed to!) But maybe that's different over here, I don't know.

If a giftcard is acceptable over here, then that's definitely a good option. Does he have an iPod? Then maybe an iTunes card would be great. And here, Lowe's has a HUGE selection of giftcards, for absolutley everything. They have an entire wall dedicated to gift cards. (Hm, that makes me think that it's probably fine here to give a gift card.)

I'd get him the court of owls which is a collection of the first seven issues of the new batman comic by scott snyder - he'll be reading and using his imagination so if he likes superheros and stuff its a win win: http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-me...x=1&isremote=0