Awesome gift ideas for my favorite almost nine year old?
February 10, 2013 11:26 AM Subscribe
My cousin, who also happens to be my favorite little dude on the planet, is turning nine in a couple weeks. For most of his life, I've lived on the other side of the country so he really only knows me through infrequent holiday visits, but for the next few months we're going to be in the same city and I'm super excited for us to get to know each other better during this time. Because I've been a deadbeat cousin, I don't know specifically what he's into (although he likes typical high energy 8 year old stuff like wrestling his friends, reading books, video games, and exploding coke bottles with mentos) but I'd like to get him something completely awesome anyway.
Any ideas? I asked him, but he's so obsessed with an upcoming trip to Lego Land that it's all he can talk about, and his mom is just going to tell me a gift isn't necessary although I'm positive she won't mind if I get him something.
I know for sure I don't want to get him books or video games because our other aunts will have that covered, and bonus points if the gift is some kind of cool thing we can go out and do together. Double bonus points if it can include his two best friends that he is so attached to they refer to themselves as brothers.
Budget is flexible, around $100. Also, we're in Miami, FL.
Any ideas? I asked him, but he's so obsessed with an upcoming trip to Lego Land that it's all he can talk about, and his mom is just going to tell me a gift isn't necessary although I'm positive she won't mind if I get him something.
I know for sure I don't want to get him books or video games because our other aunts will have that covered, and bonus points if the gift is some kind of cool thing we can go out and do together. Double bonus points if it can include his two best friends that he is so attached to they refer to themselves as brothers.
Budget is flexible, around $100. Also, we're in Miami, FL.
Well, the obvious seems to be a really cool Lego kit. Otherwise, some other kit or project you can work on together to build something really cool. Maybe a rocket, or robot?
posted by catatethebird at 11:34 AM on February 10, 2013
posted by catatethebird at 11:34 AM on February 10, 2013
Rockets! You'll need to supervise, but you can all have fun setting them off.
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:39 AM on February 10, 2013
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:39 AM on February 10, 2013
Working steam engine kit. I loved building this when I was nine. If it's possible get the one that requires a propane torch since melting metal with a torch is awesome.
posted by steinwald at 11:49 AM on February 10, 2013
posted by steinwald at 11:49 AM on February 10, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks for the great suggestions so far!
I just want to quickly add that we are not a family gifted in building things, although he does enjoy some basic lego stuff. I am certain that anything needing "adult help" from me to build will end up in frustration and malfunctioning.
Suggestions for things to launch or explode that don't need too much assembly are right on though, please keep them coming!
posted by justjess at 11:52 AM on February 10, 2013
I just want to quickly add that we are not a family gifted in building things, although he does enjoy some basic lego stuff. I am certain that anything needing "adult help" from me to build will end up in frustration and malfunctioning.
Suggestions for things to launch or explode that don't need too much assembly are right on though, please keep them coming!
posted by justjess at 11:52 AM on February 10, 2013
Membership to a technology type museum so you can take him all the time. (Or the zoo...or that kind of thing.)
posted by taff at 11:59 AM on February 10, 2013
posted by taff at 11:59 AM on February 10, 2013
Best answer: I've got to vote for: Your Time & Attention. Take him out somewhere --- the zoo, a museum, even a movie --- just the two of you, and include lunch at a real restuarant (not so much McD's, at least an Applebee's sort of place). Try a local park, especially when they're having some sort of nature day for kids (one of my nieces still speaks fondly of the day we checked out a freshly-gnawed-on-by-beavers tree stump --- the little things do count).
posted by easily confused at 12:07 PM on February 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by easily confused at 12:07 PM on February 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
How about a giant kite you can fly together over the summer?
posted by steinwald at 12:21 PM on February 10, 2013
posted by steinwald at 12:21 PM on February 10, 2013
Best answer: I know you said no video games, but all the 9-year-olds I know are obsessed with Minecraft, and it's possible to set up a private server so the two of you plus his friends can play together.
Otherwise... is he sciency? Do you have a planetarium nearby? Field trip with the friends + going out for lunch/snack afterwards might be fun.
Snap Circuits are a lot of fun, easy to learn, and there is a rover kit that you can program to do all kinds of things.
posted by Flannery Culp at 12:45 PM on February 10, 2013
Otherwise... is he sciency? Do you have a planetarium nearby? Field trip with the friends + going out for lunch/snack afterwards might be fun.
Snap Circuits are a lot of fun, easy to learn, and there is a rover kit that you can program to do all kinds of things.
posted by Flannery Culp at 12:45 PM on February 10, 2013
Response by poster: Holy crap that robot is awesome! Ordered, and it looks like that website has me covered for about the next ten years of his life.
And I will totally be maximizing Special Hangout Time while I'm around, but I love the idea of going to a real restaurant together...he's still in his "beige" food phase (chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, peanut butter) but I bet I can find us a cool diner or something.
Thanks everyone!
posted by justjess at 12:46 PM on February 10, 2013
And I will totally be maximizing Special Hangout Time while I'm around, but I love the idea of going to a real restaurant together...he's still in his "beige" food phase (chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, peanut butter) but I bet I can find us a cool diner or something.
Thanks everyone!
posted by justjess at 12:46 PM on February 10, 2013
At that age (and older) my 5 nephews really liked bed sheets with a theme -- something they were into. A movie, sports, a video game, etc. You'd think a kid wouldn't care much about home decor, but they all have answer ready when I ask what bedding they want next. (The older ones are 16 and they still like it.)
Cooking -- something sweet, of course. Mixes are okay!
Also, if you want to be the greatest grown-up relative ever, take a look at the book How to talk so kids will listen (and listen so kids will talk). It'll show you how to let him be himself around you, and feel comfortable talking about himself. The skills are really good for ordinary conversations, even though the page I linked to talks about more serious feelings and problems.
As you might guess, my own interests include decorating, cooking, and communication -- maybe take an inventory of your own interests, and go from there.
posted by wryly at 1:14 PM on February 10, 2013
Cooking -- something sweet, of course. Mixes are okay!
Also, if you want to be the greatest grown-up relative ever, take a look at the book How to talk so kids will listen (and listen so kids will talk). It'll show you how to let him be himself around you, and feel comfortable talking about himself. The skills are really good for ordinary conversations, even though the page I linked to talks about more serious feelings and problems.
As you might guess, my own interests include decorating, cooking, and communication -- maybe take an inventory of your own interests, and go from there.
posted by wryly at 1:14 PM on February 10, 2013
My nine year old niece and 5 year old nephew are big into kites, card games like Uno, going on hikes (so I've bought them windbreakers, little Sigg bottles to bring water, etc). Also music players...they both have hand-me-down ipods from my husband & I that they are very attached to. One of which has a broken 'next' button, which they could care less about & the other gets maybe 2 hours of battery life per charge, but they are happy to play with them anyway.
What else- boxes of foam airplanes! And earmuff headphones for the above mentioned ancient ipods.
posted by lyra4 at 2:22 PM on February 10, 2013
What else- boxes of foam airplanes! And earmuff headphones for the above mentioned ancient ipods.
posted by lyra4 at 2:22 PM on February 10, 2013
My just-turned-ten year old pesters me for this every time she sees it. Cheap and fun! And unlike us, you don't have to wait until summer.
I Santa got her this telescope for Christmas and she was thrilled. I got it for under $100, so if you don't need it right away, maybe wait to see if the price drops. It's big and sturdy and super impressive looking. And this book as a guide, though that takes you quite a bit over-budget. I got the recommendation from this page; he has others listed for even less.
posted by looli at 6:26 PM on February 10, 2013
posted by looli at 6:26 PM on February 10, 2013
When I was turned 9, my dad got me a hatchet. Best birthday present I ever got.
Does he have a bike?
When I was that age, I would have LOVED to have had a skateboard.
I find the best presents for kids that age are things they can use by themselves outside.
posted by dunkadunc at 6:38 PM on February 10, 2013
Does he have a bike?
When I was that age, I would have LOVED to have had a skateboard.
I find the best presents for kids that age are things they can use by themselves outside.
posted by dunkadunc at 6:38 PM on February 10, 2013
« Older Jobs/professions separated by taste, and income... | How can I rebuild my college social life? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bq at 11:34 AM on February 10, 2013