what would a 10 year old boy want for xmas?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

i got him an ipod shuffle for his birthday

[Archae]

1. Videogame console

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. A subscription to the New Yorker, a filled walk-in humidor/reading room, and a case of Alambic

Preferably the Select Barrel XO from Germain Robin, http://www.germain-robin.com/html/select_barrel_xo.html

And if you really love the boy, you will get him a 9-liter cask in which to pour all the brandy so that it might continue further aging:

http://www.caddellwilliams.com/catDetail.php?id=1 (and scroll down a bit).

Probably needs a smoking jacket, too.

[Deep13]

3. A machine gun. ...

My advice: don't give him one.

Try a basketball instead.

[Sabriel]

4. Some books, maybe graphic novels.

You can't go wrong with reading material.

The Aunt Who Gives Books

[Generic Brad]

14. Graphic novels? As in "adult entertainment" graphic novels?

Why couldn't you have been my aunt when I was ten?

[ghostsofgiants]

18. As in long, one-off comic books.

[Nevernose]

21. "Manga" is the in-thing reading-wise right now

Go to the bookstore and ask for "Naruto." That's an especially big hit with the ten year olds. ("Manga," by the way, is a Japanese graphic novel/comic book.)

[Generic Brad]

22. I've seen some manga that qualify as adult entertainment

[Nevernose]

24. Well, look through it before you buy it

Also, anything subprinted through Scholastic is usually safe.

[sakabatou]

34. Get him the Kingdom Hearts manga

It's based off the video game and pretty harmless.

[Iggo]

67. Yep. As my sainted Grandpa Mel would say:

"Them ain't comics. Them's nakeds!"

[xmas74]

5. My seven year old at home is getting a Nintendo DS

from Santa this year. It's portable so it's great for long car rides or waiting rooms.

[SPKrazy]

6. my son got one of those

he loves it

first video game he had that wasnt educational in nature

[xmas74]

8. I think she'll love it too.

She really wants MySims, the new Zelda and a Hannah Montana.

[skygazer]

7. That's easy

An official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.

Of course, your duty is to tell him that he'll shoot his eye out if he gets it. :P

[GenDem]

9. The Dangerous Book for Boys

Knots, exploring, tree climbing and loads of other great stuff.

http://www.dangerousbookforboys.com/

[Breeze54]

10. Rockets and Remote controlled trucks and cars !

http://www.futureflyersclub.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=66



My boys loved building and shooting off rockets!

Remote controlled trucks and cars are a big winner at that age too! ;)

[Ahpook]

11. acoustic guitar?

:)

[blondeatlast]

56. I have a 10 year old boy and I would not have thought of that. Good idea--thanks! nt

[grasswire]

12. an Audubon field guide to insects...

...and a magnifying glass and bug keeper.

That's the best present I know to give a boy. Oh, there's also a book called The Backyard Naturalist that will provide lots of ideas for adventures.

[begin_within]

13. Always give toys - never give clothes. The best toys, in my opinion, are

things that they can use to build stuff with, using their own creativity - like Tinkertoy, Lincon Logs, Lego - but not the pre-designed Lego sets where they have to follow a bunch of steps to create a pre-determined figure. Just a supply that they can build things of their own design. Christmas is a time for toys. The parents can buy them clothes later on.

[fortyfeetunder]

15. Lego kits are desired among the 10 YO set

For example, Bionicle, Exo-Force, Star Wars, racers, at all budget levels.
There are books associated with these series. (I've read Bionicle books as bed-time stories...)

[begin_within]

26. OK

but I still think the basic set with no specific "plan" is more likely to develop the kid's ingenuity and creativity. I built entire little amusement rides with my Tinkertoy set, and buildings of my own design with Lego blocks.

[fortyfeetunder]

46. The kits can be used for "outside the box design"

Even though there is a specific character in mind with Bionicle and Exo-Force, the kits can also be used to make "new" creatures, and Lego has regular contests looking for creatures.

At one time Lego sold a 5-gallon pickle size jar full of Bionicle parts, expressly with no plan in mind.

[begin_within]

47. ok

[TommyO]

58. Did you ever build a roller coaster?

I built several working roller coasters with the old lego train tracks that had separate rails that could be turned on their side to make hills. I even built a somewhat successful looping lego coaster that completely self destructed after a few runs.

I also built some interesting monorails using the same track pieces.

[begin_within]

59. All the rides I built were with Tinkertoy pieces. I had a one-hill coaster, that I had to

push the "car" up one side, then let it go down the other side. I also built a Ferris Wheel and several small spinning rides, similar to the "Octopus" ride but which flipped over and over. Most of the rides I built would make you sick to your stomach if they were actual rides.

[mopinko]

23. lego sets

i disagree about the sets with a plan. it is good mental exercise to follow the plan. they take them apart and do other things later. the really, really cool parts only come with the plan sets. they only even make a couple of sets that aren't.

[begin_within]

25. OK

When I was a kid, I had a Lego set and there were no plans for it. I was required to use my imagination and creativity. The kits with plans may develop a child's skills at assembly, but I don't see how they develop his or her creativity.

[mopinko]

27. well, i have spent a small fortune on legos.

the models don't usually stay assembled for more than a few days, if that. they are a great jumping off place for lots of other things. i have never seen the original plan recreated a second time.
in a way it is a marketing con. but it also made for an easy decision at x-mas for my legomaniac for many years. the best days were when he was too little to build from the plans, and dad had to help. they are great toys.

[Locrian]

42. totally agree

My 10 yo son has a ton of legos - the parts are amazing. I had the old blocks and built things, but the things he can come up with using the (zillion) different parts are amazing.

The "kits" are forever getting torn down, mutated, recycled. Its a ton of fun.

That and we build light sabers out of plumbing parts from Lowes and my leftover electronic junk....

[Beausoir]

31. My 11 year old is a Lego genius. We get him the "plan" sets. He builds the big sets in 30 minutes

and then tears it all down and waits for an inspiration to hit him.

The incredibly complex things he can build are amazing.

Legos are a fantastic toy.

I would definitely recommend a "plan" set. Let him assemble it...then watch him tear it down and really go to town.

[mopinko]

52. i don't think they really even make the old sets any more.

i guess you can get a basic bucket type thing, but you only see one or two like that any more. why build a house when you can build the megacore magnetizer? (showing my age. or his age.)

[MissB]

65. Have you considered the Mindstorm NXT set by Lego?

[MissMillie]

57. legos are almost always a big hit

My 20 year old still likes to build lego sets.

[Beausoir]

32. I agree with you. No Clothes! Get them something they can build.

[datasuspect]

16. socks

[northzax]

43. monogrammed, ideally

everyone loves monogrammed socks!

[TK421]

17. A football n/t

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fortyfeetunder]

20. Experience gifts

Are there local museums, zoos, amusement parks etc. in the area? A GC to one of those might be cool!!

[Lord Wortherington]

28. Nitro glycerin juggling kit and a unicycle.

Some funny circus organ music to go with it.

[sueh]

29. Ralphie's BB gun.

[BulletproofLandshark]

30. "You'll shoot your eye out kid!"

[Beausoir]

33. My 11 year old digs accessories for his Ipod. Itunes gift cards, colored ear-buds, colored cases,

My 11 year old is also big into jewelry. Leather bracelets. Chunky necklaces.

[insanity]

35. I'm still 10 on the inside

and I think that an awesome lego set, video game console (esp. the Wii as it is way fun, has the most age appropriate games, and is by far the cheapest), and that naturey kit were all great suggestions.

The best presents I got when I was 10 were things that I could do both by myself, with friends, and even with family.

[Akoto]

36. When I was ten ... It was books, Legos, Nintendo. n/t

[MilesColtrane]

37. A twelve year old girlfriend. n/t

[Aristus]

38. HA!

:rofl:

That's exactly what I wanted when I was that age!

[Iggo]

68. I think we have a winner. (n/t)

.

[rucky]

39. It's all about the video games.

but since he has a shuffle, an iTunes gift card seems appropriate.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

40. How much do you want to spend?

My 9 year old wants "Creation Station" which looks like a pretty cool gizmo: http://www.amazon.com/Manley-34726-RipRoar-Creation-Station/dp/B000NI2Y76/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1195975402&sr=8-1

Of course there are always video games, which you could give him a gift certificate to buy. Or if he has a Wii system, you can purchase "points" which will allow him to download various "classic" games to his system.

You might also consider paying for him to take skating or tennis lessons, or some class which would interest him at the local rec. center.

Just a few thoughts... :hi:

[leeroysphitz]

41. I have a 10 yr old boy. TRUST me. He'll love the IPOD. nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

54. already got him that

[flvegan]

44. If he doesn't have one, a new bike.

Every kid should have a bike.

Hell, every adult should have a bike.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

48. he has a nice bike.

thanks though

[dropkickpa]

45. Rock Band

My 27 year old brother bought htis for himself and the entire family played it for about 7 hours straight thanksgiving night, from my 6 year old daughter up to my dad. It's a blast!!

[Hotler]

49. Yamaha 80cc dirtbike

they now come with electric start.

[mikeytherat]

55. Naw. Get him a YZ-125!

If that little bike was good enough for me to get into trouble, it's good enough for him (warning - the YZ-125 is a QUICK dirt bike).

mikey_the_rat

[bridgit]

50. a 14 year old gf...

[Arugula Latte]

51. An iPod and some Legos are what my 10-year-old son wants.

:hi:

[barb162]

53. This is my question and something for less than 10 bucks

[MissB]

62. Does he read?

The Golden Compass series is pretty good is and is written to about that level of reading. The movie comes out this next month. If the 10 year old is from a super-religious family, then I'd shove that idea aside.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

60. Corduroy pants.

10 year olds love corduroy pants. You'll never forget the look on their face X-mas morning when they open up their corduroy pants.

[Bake]

61. Socks and underwear.

He'll love it.

Bake

[MissB]

63. Lots of different things.

Is he brainy? Snap Circuits are good for that age. http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-SC-300-Snap-Circuits/dp/B0000683A4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1196115600&sr=8-1 My kids have this set.


Does he like to read? The Golden Compass movie comes out in December. There is a three-series book set. http://www.amazon.com/Materials-Trilogy-Golden-Compass-Spyglass/dp/0440238609/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196115773&sr=8-1 If his family is super religious, you might want to pass on this as it has some strong (very very very very very strong) anti-religion/anti-God themes to it.

Does he like games? Settlers of Catan is a great strategy board game that boys that age seem to love. http://www.amazon.com/Settlers-Catan-New-4th/dp/B000W7JWUA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1196115846&sr=8-4

Feel like spending more? Does he like Legos or robots? How about a Lego Mindstorms NXT kit? This is super duper fun. http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-4494799-Mindstorms-NXT/dp/B000E4FDAE/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1196115908&sr=8-1


Sorry, all of the suggestions I gave are kinda brainy type stuff. If he is a serious athlete, then I probably don't have anything to offer in terms of suggestions. :)

[Drunken Irishman]

64. A Wii?

[Joey Liberal]

66. Playboy Magazine n/t