Shelydon Posted March 23, 2022 Share Posted March 23, 2022 My youngest turns 13 soon and I have no idea what to get him as a gift. He doesn't want a party of any sort, not even taking his friends to a movie or something fun. He like building things -- we gave him the Mark Rober course for Christmas. We don't do video games. I am out of ideas and he is no help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopmom Posted March 23, 2022 Share Posted March 23, 2022 Lego Mindstorms set (robotics) kayak tent and camping gear Backyard firepit poi juggling sticks Can jam set 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyroo Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 My oldest is turning 13 this weekend. He is getting hiking boots and a pocket knife, a Fluxx card game, a stupid Lego set that he asked for that but will mostly likely get bored with after an hour, the Dungeons and Dragons monster book because he is going to a D&D summer camp, and Journal 29: Interactive Book Game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 A good pocket knife or multi tool Tools (some of his own even if 'household' tools are available) Random building materials A Gift in Holding (I did this a few times when my kids had no ideas; when you want something throughout the year, you have a gift waiting for you - - more fun than all money! and they found it easier to claim a gift than to spend money they already had, lol) [and I wrapped it] My kids loved a ticket for lunch out; more effective if they don't get to eat out often already (also wrapped) Fun snacks that he likes, like the giant carton of Goldfish or imported candy from World Market Weird soda "Get out of chores free" card, if he has regular chores Juggling set or hackysack or anything semi active he can do on his own Fun lights for his room or around his basketball hoop, etc Earbuds Bluetooth speaker Power bank Fun water bottle 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 Tool set,Ike a socket set. A good quality one. 13 is exactly the right age to start a lifelong collection of tools I agree with everyone else about a good quality pocket knife 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skctgbrlis Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 Ultrastar frisbee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathmarm Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 Look and see what classes will be offered over the spring/summer -- our rec centers offer a wide variety of classes for kids. Pottery, Computer Classes, Knitting, Gaming Classes, Karate, etc... Do you have a Nerf War group in your area? If so, maybe he'd like to attend a a Nerf War or a LARPing event in your area. A Make: Electronics set? A painting set or drawing kit Frisbee / Kite / Drone A gift card to a home improvement store for building supplies or tools A tool box Sports equipment A pocket knife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelydon Posted March 24, 2022 Author Share Posted March 24, 2022 3 hours ago, Hilltopmom said: Lego Mindstorms set (robotics) kayak tent and camping gear Backyard firepit poi juggling sticks Can jam set I am sure he'd love Lego Mindstorm. I'll have to look and see if there are some in decent price range. I had forgotten about these. 2 hours ago, wendyroo said: My oldest is turning 13 this weekend. He is getting hiking boots and a pocket knife, a Fluxx card game, a stupid Lego set that he asked for that but will mostly likely get bored with after an hour, the Dungeons and Dragons monster book because he is going to a D&D summer camp, and Journal 29: Interactive Book Game. I am thinking he'd like Fluxx, thanks! 2 hours ago, katilac said: A good pocket knife or multi tool Tools (some of his own even if 'household' tools are available) Random building materials A Gift in Holding (I did this a few times when my kids had no ideas; when you want something throughout the year, you have a gift waiting for you - - more fun than all money! and they found it easier to claim a gift than to spend money they already had, lol) [and I wrapped it] My kids loved a ticket for lunch out; more effective if they don't get to eat out often already (also wrapped) Fun snacks that he likes, like the giant carton of Goldfish or imported candy from World Market Weird soda "Get out of chores free" card, if he has regular chores Juggling set or hackysack or anything semi active he can do on his own Fun lights for his room or around his basketball hoop, etc Earbuds Bluetooth speaker Power bank Fun water bottle I like the Gift in Holding idea! Very clever! 1 hour ago, Melissa in Australia said: Tool set,Ike a socket set. A good quality one. 13 is exactly the right age to start a lifelong collection of tools I agree with everyone else about a good quality pocket knife He has tools and a pocket knife, he does a ton of home repair and car repair with dad. 59 minutes ago, skctgbrlis said: Ultrastar frisbee He does like frisbee, I'll look this up! 38 minutes ago, mathmarm said: Look and see what classes will be offered over the spring/summer -- our rec centers offer a wide variety of classes for kids. Pottery, Computer Classes, Knitting, Gaming Classes, Karate, etc... Do you have a Nerf War group in your area? If so, maybe he'd like to attend a a Nerf War or a LARPing event in your area. A Make: Electronics set? A painting set or drawing kit Frisbee / Kite / Drone A gift card to a home improvement store for building supplies or tools A tool box Sports equipment A pocket knife Ideally, I'd love to get him an activity, but other than basketball that we already do, he doesn't want to try anything. Thanks everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirstenhill Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 My newly-15 year old is saving up for a kit to build a drone. https://store.flitetest.com/ft-vcr-quad-value-bundle-kit/ Other small ideas: Food/snacks - at Christmas I did a Rubbermaid tub full of random snacks for DS15. For his birthday he told me a few specific more expensive treats he wanted (stroopwafels, fancy dark chocolate, mochi ice cream). He also told me he wanted "interesting fruits" 😁 He has also liked interesting decks of playing cards, nice mechanical pencils, funny t-shirts, and dice (for role playing games). We also almost always give a book for each birthday/Christmas, or an audiobook credit if they prefer. DS15 got "Humble Pi" by Matt Parker, about math mistakes in the real world for his bday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porridge Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 laser cut wood puzzles, like this one: https://smile.amazon.com/Hands-Craft-Airship-Wooden-Puzzle/dp/B08GWV2NGQ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3AJX9HMJTOF4P&keywords=laser%2Bcut%2Btoy&qid=1648100965&sprefix=laser%2Bcut%2Btoy%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-5&th=1 they can be quite difficult, though, so if your child has a low frustration tolerance, maybe choose a less complex puzzle. Other games -- Hive Pandemic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 Lego (it's amazing what sets they have. 1dd once expressed interest in a Kenworth truck model because of it's complexity. 2ds has been forking out $$$ for sets for himself. I now have a collection of LARGE star wars models on all the flat surfaces in my theater . . . Um, you know the snack bar is supposed to be for FOOD!!!!! - not a Millenium Falcon that even on it's side - because I bought him a stand for it - still takes up 15" x 36" of counter space!) robotics a roll of duct tape (not joking, I gave my sons duct tape one year so they'd leave ours alone. it was very successful.) electric circuits chemistry set Tools I've seen some pretty cool wood "puzzles". clocks, boxes, marble mazes, etc. They build it, and have something when they're done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmasc Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 Nice, over-the-door basketball hoop Lego set—for the older crowd. My oldest ds likes the technical, education, Star Wars, and recently The Stranger Things one. does he collect any kind of trading cards? My ds recently needed a new (larger) binder and more sleeves. (He has Pokémon, football, and Fortnite cards) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janeway Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 Don’t forget books. My son got a couple books he loves recently. One is on physics and another on computer programming. Both came from Costco. I also usually buy something from home science tools each year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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