Gift ideas for athletic 13 year old who is staying home due to covid?

[Drama Llama]

I have a million ideas for Christmas gifts for my 10 year old, but none for my 13 year old.  He's a kid who likes sports, music and video games, but he has a lot of things related to those.  We aren't leaving the property much, so ideas he can use at home, or in the yard would be great. 

Does anyone have any creative gifts for this age group?  

[happi duck]

Do you already have weight type stuff?    There's a thing called Gorilla Bow that looks interesting!

https://www.gorillabow.com/

[J-rap]

Hmmm..  One of my dd's was into slacklining for awhile (like a thick rubber tightrope that you can tie between two trees).  She had so much fun with that.

Another dd was working on climbing, and had a type of climbing mount that you attach to a wall (we had it on a wall in our garage).  Something like this:

https://www.rei.com/product/799439/metolius-project-training-board?CAWELAID=120217890000857488&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=105707227332&CATCI=pla-421033864045&cm_mmc=PLA_Google|21700000001700551_7994390016|92700053252745323|TOF|71700000062011526&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkuP9BRCkARIsAKGLE8X3fDS3_Ws4HuX5-BpaE7SX6WJw1kMi0QcE2z5oNT47yiUEmaZTSNcaAr5VEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Or how about a pull-up bar that you can attach in your bedroom door-frame?

 

[lewelma]

My ds loves his pullup bar.

[Terabith]

Just now, lewelma said:

My ds loves his pullup bar.

We got a pullup bar when my kids were little, and for years they used it all the time.  We actually installed it lower down.  Adults had to duck to go into the room under it, but it enabled them to use it for both pullups and also for a variety of flips.  They tied stuff to it to make swings both for themselves and for stuffed animals.  It got a ton of use for a long time.  

[lewelma]

1 minute ago, Terabith said:

We got a pullup bar when my kids were little, and for years they used it all the time.  We actually installed it lower down.  Adults had to duck to go into the room under it, but it enabled them to use it for both pullups and also for a variety of flips.  They tied stuff to it to make swings both for themselves and for stuffed animals.  It got a ton of use for a long time.  

My son does 20 pullups a day and has for a number of years. He loves it!

[Kareni]

Is your yard large enough that an archery set would be feasible?

Regards,

Kareni

[wintermom]

Can you have this child make a list of things they would really like? 

My ds 13 /14 enjoyed the pull-up bar we had as well. We had to take it down to paint, and he does miss it.  He also loves sports clothing, special food treats (stroopwafels), and money on his computer gaming account. 

[SKL]

I recently bought my kid a couple of inflatable outdoor tumbling mats.  They velcro to each other so she can run and do her skills.  Of course it needs to be dry outside for it to make sense....

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0823XRDX5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

The book or app You Are Your Own Gym is great.  

The app "Zombies, Run!" if he'd like to take up running

Workout programs online from Gold Medal Bodies (dumb name for a great company, but programs are pricey)

 

[saraha]

Archery, slack line, one of those balance board things you stand on to work your core, I saw this hockey thing on Facebook that I really liked, it’s basically little nets that sit on a pad, but hockey sticks are expensive if you have to buy some new ones.

[Alicia64]

Fun topic! My dad is insane about baseball so I buy him really good books on the topic which he loves.

• Questions: does your son have a favorite baseball player? A favorite team? Is he interested in the history of baseball? Or is he into modern baseball? Once you answer these questions, you can do a google search on books on his favorite team, player etc. I wouldn't get old books (that's just me), I'd try to get books from this decade.
• I'm gifting my dad a book called Gods at Play that has received super high reviews.
• Also, you might be able to find a giant stand-up cut-out of his favorite player. We did this for my son once and he LOVED it. (The Flash, not baseball.)
• Do you have a nearby batting cage that you can buy him a membership to?
• Is he into nutrition? Costco sells a protein powder that I love and use daily.
• Check out this cool name done in baseballs: and it's only $10 on Etsy.
• I once saw the coolest wreath made out of baseballs. Cuter than this, but you get the idea.
• Can you give him a gift certificate to a sports store so he can purchase a new glove?
• One more: if you're near to a ballpark -- major or minor -- I bet he'd love tickets to a game.

If you want anymore suggestions, just ask. I wish one of my boys was into baseball!! I know more about it then video games!! 🙃

Wendy

 

Edited November 22, 2020 by Alicia64
spelling

[jen3kids]

Speed rope and weighted jump rope are both really good workouts and the CrossRope app is pretty good.  You don't need to buy the expensive CrossRopes; you can find inexpensive speed ropes and weighted ropes at Amazon.  

[Drama Llama]

10 hours ago, wintermom said:

Can you have this child make a list of things they would really like? 

 

in the past, yes.  All I'm getting this year is "whatever" or "I don't need anything".  

[Alicia64]

13 hours ago, happi duck said:

Do you already have weight type stuff?    There's a thing called Gorilla Bow that looks interesting!

https://www.gorillabow.com/

Thank you! This looks cool for my two!!

W.

[Drama Llama]

13 hours ago, happi duck said:

Do you already have weight type stuff?    There's a thing called Gorilla Bow that looks interesting!

https://www.gorillabow.com/

We have weights in the basement, but his Dad feels that he shouldn't use them unsupervised.  Something he could use upstairs whenever he wanted might be fun. 

[Alicia64]

3 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

in the past, yes.  All I'm getting this year is "whatever" or "I don't need anything".  

Hey! I know that list!! 🙄

 

[wintermom]

3 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

in the past, yes.  All I'm getting this year is "whatever" or "I don't need anything".  

Yes, it really depends on the kid, doesn't it. My ds 14 has a long, detailed list of gifts he would like, but my dd never has anything. She is impossible to shop for! 😉

[Drama Llama]

13 hours ago, J-rap said:

Hmmm..  One of my dd's was into slacklining for awhile (like a thick rubber tightrope that you can tie between two trees).  She had so much fun with that.

Another dd was working on climbing, and had a type of climbing mount that you attach to a wall (we had it on a wall in our garage).  Something like this:

https://www.rei.com/product/799439/metolius-project-training-board?CAWELAID=120217890000857488&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=105707227332&CATCI=pla-421033864045&cm_mmc=PLA_Google|21700000001700551_7994390016|92700053252745323|TOF|71700000062011526&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkuP9BRCkARIsAKGLE8X3fDS3_Ws4HuX5-BpaE7SX6WJw1kMi0QcE2z5oNT47yiUEmaZTSNcaAr5VEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Or how about a pull-up bar that you can attach in your bedroom door-frame?

 

I don't think we have trees that would work for slacklining.  

We do have a pull-up bar.  We took it down, but maybe we should put it back up, since the reason we took it down no longer applies.  

[Drama Llama]

11 hours ago, Kareni said:

Is your yard large enough that an archery set would be feasible?

Regards,

Kareni

I don't think so.  Definitely not ours, maybe his grandfather's yard but there are three little kids, plus his own younger brother when we're there, which would worry me. 

[Drama Llama]

7 hours ago, SKL said:

I recently bought my kid a couple of inflatable outdoor tumbling mats.  They velcro to each other so she can run and do her skills.  Of course it needs to be dry outside for it to make sense....

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0823XRDX5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ooooh, I'm not sure how much he'd like that, but it might be the perfect gift for the three little cousins.  

 

[Drama Llama]

1 hour ago, Monica_in_Switzerland said:

The book or app You Are Your Own Gym is great.  

The app "Zombies, Run!" if he'd like to take up running

Workout programs online from Gold Medal Bodies (dumb name for a great company, but programs are pricey)

 

I will check those out.  Thank you!

[Drama Llama]

25 minutes ago, saraha said:

Archery, slack line, one of those balance board things you stand on to work your core, I saw this hockey thing on Facebook that I really liked, it’s basically little nets that sit on a pad, but hockey sticks are expensive if you have to buy some new ones.

His brother is the hockey player, although he'll join in for a game of roller or street hockey.  

[Drama Llama]

22 minutes ago, Alicia64 said:

Fun topic! My dad is insane about baseball so I buy him really good books on the topic which he loves.

• Questions: does your son have a favorite baseball player? A favorite team? Is he interested in the history of baseball? Or is he into modern baseball? Once you answer these questions, you can do a google search on books on his favorite team, player etc. I wouldn't get old books (that's just me), I'd try to get books from this decade.
• I'm gifting my dad a book called Gods at Play that has received super high reviews.
• Also, you might be able to find a giant stand-up cut-out of his favorite player. We did this for my son once and he LOVED it. (The Flash, not baseball.)
• Do you have a nearby batting cage that you can buy him a membership to?
• Is he into nutrition? Costco sells a protein powder that I love and use daily.
• Check out this cool name done in baseballs: and it's only $10 on Etsy.
• I once saw the coolest wreath made out of baseballs. Cuter than this, but you get the idea.
• Can you give him a gift certificate to a sports store so he can purchase a new glove?
• One more: if you're near to a ballpark -- major or minor -- I bet he'd love tickets to a game.

If you want anymore suggestions, just ask. I wish one of my boys was into baseball!! I know more about it then video games!! 🙃

Wendy

 

Thanks!  We aren't going places like a ballpark or a batting cage right now.  Our numbers are rising, and we spend time every day with a 90 year old, so we are super cautious. 

I'd love more baseball ideas.  A new glove is an interesting idea.  He was really in to baseball before the pandemic, but it's been a hard interest to keep up.  I was more worried about my hockey player at the beginning, but baseball has turned out to be harder to keep up.  

He's not a "stuff" kid.  He likes things that he can use, more than things he can look at, if that makes sense. I will check out books.

[J-rap]

Would something like a rowing machine or cross country skiing machine be something he'd like?

Or -- and this is really random and would also depend on your weather.  (If you get cold and snowy winters he wouldn't be able to use it till spring.)  But when my brother and I were about that age, my dad built us a high-jump pit in our backyard.  We'd spend hours and hours there, constantly trying to compete against our best.  (We both eventually competed on track teams in high school and college.)  You need a crossbar and a large mat.  You can buy them.  (Or if someone is handy, they can build them.  My dad built the cross bar himself out of wood, and put together a large mat filled with sawdust.)

[Drama Llama]

13 minutes ago, wintermom said:

Yes, it really depends on the kid, doesn't it. My ds 14 has a long, detailed list of gifts he would like, but my dd never has anything. She is impossible to shop for! 😉

Yeah, his ten year old brother makes multiple drafts of his Christmas list every year.

Part of my issue is that in a non-pandemic year, we'd probably be doing a lot of activity gifts.  His 12th birthday gift, for example, was to be able to play a more expensive/intense level of baseball.  One of his Christmas gifts last year was tickets to a hockey game, another was a gift card to the batting cages.  But we aren't doing any of that stuff now.  

[J-rap]

A ping pong table?  

[Drama Llama]

2 minutes ago, J-rap said:

Would something like a rowing machine or cross country skiing machine be something he'd like?

Or -- and this is really random and would also depend on your weather.  (If you get cold and snowy winters he wouldn't be able to use it till spring.)  But when my brother and I were about that age, my dad built us a high-jump pit in our backyard.  We'd spend hours and hours there, constantly trying to compete against our best.  (We both eventually competed on track teams in high school and college.)  You need a crossbar and a large mat.  You can buy them.  (Or if someone is handy, they can build them.  My dad built the cross bar himself out of wood, and put together a large mat filled with sawdust.)

He's probably enjoy the high jump thing, but outdoor space is pretty tight.  We do have a basketball hoop that stays out, but otherwise, I'd need things that I could move in and out of the garage.  

[J-rap]

Or a bumper pool table?  Or miniature pool table?  Those are small so don't take up a lot of room.  (You can probably find them used.)

 

[Alicia64]

3 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

Yeah, his ten year old brother makes multiple drafts of his Christmas list every year.

😅😅😅

[wintermom]

3 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

Yeah, his ten year old brother makes multiple drafts of his Christmas list every year.

Part of my issue is that in a non-pandemic year, we'd probably be doing a lot of activity gifts.  His 12th birthday gift, for example, was to be able to play a more expensive/intense level of baseball.  One of his Christmas gifts last year was tickets to a hockey game, another was a gift card to the batting cages.  But we aren't doing any of that stuff now.  

Can you ask his sibling for ideas? Sometimes kids know what other siblings would like (or at least what the younger brother would like in the house as a nice addition). 😉

[Drama Llama]

3 minutes ago, wintermom said:

Can you ask his sibling for ideas? Sometimes kids know what other siblings would like (or at least what the younger brother would like in the house as a nice addition). 😉

That's a good idea.  I can also ask his 20 year old cousin.  We're in the same quarantine Pod and the two of them really enjoy each other's company.  

[Drama Llama]

9 minutes ago, J-rap said:

A ping pong table?  

Unfortunately, out house is tiny.  

 

[Drama Llama]

I'm wondering about new sports.

Last Christmas, spike ball was a huge hit, and it's gotten a ton of play all year. If anyone else is reading this looking for a gift for their athletic kid, I highly recommend spike ball. 

He's also gotten really into golf over the past couple months.  That and biking are the two things we've been doing off the properties.   Are there golf things he could do in the backyard?  

[Alicia64]

4 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

Thanks!  We aren't going places like a ballpark or a batting cage right now.  Our numbers are rising, and we spend time every day with a 90 year old, so we are super cautious. 

I'd love more baseball ideas.  A new glove is an interesting idea.  He was really in to baseball before the pandemic, but it's been a hard interest to keep up.  I was more worried about my hockey player at the beginning, but baseball has turned out to be harder to keep up.  

He's not a "stuff" kid.  He likes things that he can use, more than things he can look at, if that makes sense. I will check out books.

Oh, I'm so sorry. Yes, with a 90 year old, you can't be too careful. I was thinking of these things being good once spring arrives.

I love that someone suggested the Gorilla gym. I think my kids would love it.

W.

 

[J-rap]

30 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

Unfortunately, out house is tiny.  

 

When I was growing up (in California, so nice weather year-round) we kept our table outside in the backyard.

[Drama Llama]

1 minute ago, J-rap said:

When I was growing up (in California, so nice weather year-round) we kept our table outside in the backyard.

My kids are happy to bundle up and play outside all year, we don't get snow for more than a few days, but our backyard is sized to match the house.  

[Drama Llama]

Oooh, maybe we need this;

https://www.hammacher.com/product/worlds-largest-putting-pool-table?cm_cat=ProductSEM&cm_pla=AdWordsPLA&source=PRODSEM&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces-across-google&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces-across-google&gclid=CjwKCAiAtej9BRAvEiwA0UAWXo2GP_xdx6nPngrGKPK_ujvh1X_yuqpQdiKGpMJ5zjPvH7451lyInhoCKPAQAvD_BwE

 

It folds up so it wouldn't take up floor space like a regular pool table. 

Anyone have any experience?

[wathe]

1 hour ago, J-rap said:

A ping pong table?  

 

1 hour ago, BaseballandHockey said:

Unfortunately, out house is tiny.  

 

We have a net that clamps onto any table.    The kids can set it up themselves on the kitchen table.  They have a lot of fun with it!

[ScoutTN]

Do you have room in the yard for one of those bounce-back nets? Good for multiple sports/balls and has a fairly small footprint. 

We have one that Ds uses for accuracy practice for football, but neighbors throw baseballs at theirs. 

[Drama Llama]

49 minutes ago, ScoutTN said:

Do you have room in the yard for one of those bounce-back nets? Good for multiple sports/balls and has a fairly small footprint. 

We have one that Ds uses for accuracy practice for football, but neighbors throw baseballs at theirs. 

Oooh that does does look good. I could put that in and out of the garage right?  We have the one with a pocket that you can pitch it bat off a tee into, but not the bounceback one. 

How much space do think you’d need for this?  He could drag it into and out of the garage right? 

[Drama Llama]

1 hour ago, wathe said:

 

We have a net that clamps onto any table.    The kids can set it up themselves on the kitchen table.  They have a lot of fun with it!

Oooh that sounds fun.  It wouldn’t work for our table though. 

[saraha]

This is the hockey thing, no skating, year round, so less like hockey other than using the sticks. More like miniature golf I think. can you tell I want one? 😆

https://www.hockeysaucekit.com/

In case anyone else is interested 

Edited November 22, 2020 by saraha

[Ausmumof3]

Not for a main gift but we did some $2 frisbees with gifts recently and my 14 year olds is getting some serious mileage out of his.  Sometimes simple stuff is great.  They are kind of flexible rubber and fly really smoothly.  Drones can be fun for this age if you haven’t already done that and there’s lots of accessories etc for future presents.  An action camera is fun as well and can be reasonably cheap.

[Drama Llama]

59 minutes ago, saraha said:

This is the hockey thing, no skating, year round, so less like hockey other than using the sticks. More like miniature golf I think. can you tell I want one? 😆

https://www.hockeysaucekit.com/

In case anyone else is interested 

That looks like fun.

My kids play a lot of roller hockey in the driveway at their grandfather's house.  They can't play at ours because the driveway is too steep, but his is flat.  So, they have goals and sticks and stuff.  But otherwise that looks super fun.

Did you see the putting pool thing I linked above?  Does anyone else thinks that looks like fun?

[Drama Llama]

3 minutes ago, Ausmumof3 said:

Not for a main gift but we did some $2 frisbees with gifts recently and my 14 year olds is getting some serious mileage out of his.  Sometimes simple stuff is great.  They are kind of flexible rubber and fly really smoothly.  Drones can be fun for this age if you haven’t already done that and there’s lots of accessories etc for future presents.  An action camera is fun as well and can be reasonably cheap.

Thanks, frisbees are a great idea.   Can you tell me more about the action camera?  I'm not sure I know what you mean.

[Ausmumof3]

23 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

Thanks, frisbees are a great idea.   Can you tell me more about the action camera?  I'm not sure I know what you mean.

Well a friend gave one to my younger ds.  it’s like a little camera that’s designed rugged so it can be clipped onto a bike or strapped onto your head while you go across the ninja line or whatever your current crazy adventure is.  I know she said they weren’t expensive.  We have a shop called Jaycar here that has a lot of these tech type toys.  I’m assuming you could buy them on amazon or eBay or wherever though.   My kids have also been filming themselves playing music etc with it for a bit of fun.  It’s kind of like a generic version of a GoPro.

Edited November 22, 2020 by Ausmumof3

[saraha]

27 minutes ago, BaseballandHockey said:

That looks like fun.

My kids play a lot of roller hockey in the driveway at their grandfather's house.  They can't play at ours because the driveway is too steep, but his is flat.  So, they have goals and sticks and stuff.  But otherwise that looks super fun.

Did you see the putting pool thing I linked above?  Does anyone else thinks that looks like fun?

I did, It does look cool.  I am actually watching your thread very closely because I have a very active 13 yog who doesn't play a sport but likes to "do stuff outside"

[Drama Llama]

Just now, saraha said:

I did, It does look cool.  I am actually watching your thread very closely because I have a very active 13 yog who doesn't play a sport but likes to "do stuff outside"

Definitely check out spike ball if he's got other people to play with.  

 

[FarmingMomma]

On 11/22/2020 at 9:48 AM, BaseballandHockey said:

I'm wondering about new sports.

Last Christmas, spike ball was a huge hit, and it's gotten a ton of play all year. If anyone else is reading this looking for a gift for their athletic kid, I highly recommend spike ball. 

He's also gotten really into golf over the past couple months.  That and biking are the two things we've been doing off the properties.   Are there golf things he could do in the backyard?  

Thanks for mentioning spike ball, I'd never heard of it. A while after reading this someone posted a new spikeball pro set on our local facebook sale page for 30 bucks cheaper than new, and I picked it up today.  It looks fun! They also sell glow-in-the-dark balls for it on Amazon, so I ordered some of those as well. If you don't already have the glow-in-the-dark balls, they'd make a good stocking stuffer!