CHECKING IT TWICE: I realize that there's something a little more "receivey" than "givey" in posting here just to ask for offspring-gift-selection advice, but I strongly suspect that many would benefit from some ideas for what to buy the ThingThrowers of the future. So my own question follows, and I appreciate any and all ideas, but please do feel free to use the comments to seek and/or dispense wisdom on Festive Winter Holiday gifts more generally.* (Yes, yes, I know, Thanksgivukkah is sweeping the nation, but it's just too forced. Except for Gobble Tov. Which is awesome.)
My quandary: Cosmo Girl (age 10) will be receiving an electronic gift with a high wow factor for Christmas. (Hint: it starts with an i and is a phone.) Cosmo Boy (age 7) will not be receiving a similar high-wow-factor-possessing electronic gift and will no doubt be bummed about it. I need suggestions for amazing gifts for boys in the 7-10 age range, so that Cosmo Boy's lack of fabulous electronica this Christmas will not unduly sadden him. Any ideas?
* I suggest not using the comments to solicit gift ideas for your significant other if said significant other is a Thrower of Things, because that would be dumb.
Ah, this is very apt. Little Earthling is certainly responsible enough to have an iPod touch, which he very much wants. This would cause an enormous amount of strife with the Wee Earthling.
ReplyDeleteThat said, and with due consideration to your space requirements, have you looked at Rokenbok? http://www.rokenbok.com/ They've changed the interface from the stuff we have to something a bit more modern, but the toy is durable as hell and great fun. If you feel as though you want to look further, let me know. I know the system pretty well (all too well, really).
For CosmoBoy, what about a Nintendo 3DS or 2DS with appropriate game selections? There's a massive library with a lot of options, and it's still enough of a new product that there's a wow factor. (Alternatively, an iPod touch--all the cool stuff of an iPhone without the phone.)
ReplyDeleteI was actually going to suggest iPod touch. Our 9 y.o. has been caring for my old 1st gen touch for about 18 months now and it's no worse for the wear.
ReplyDeleteHow about some solid book suggestions for the 3- to 4-year-old set? I recently birthday gifted my nephew "The Dark" (Lemony Snicket, illo: Jon Klassen) and the old standby "Where the Wild Things Are," but would love some recommendations from our learned ThingThrowers for funny, newish, age-appropriate books I could send for Hanukkah. He's 3, loves the Pixies, and his recent favorite toys are a whoopie cushiona and a drum set.
When I read "whoopie cushion," I immediately thought of "Walter the Farting Dog." I have gifted it many times, and it has delighted parents, too.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm on a huge subscription box kick. Loot Crate might be fun -- it's a subscription box w/ geeky, gamer stuff. Quarterly Co. just launched a Bill Nye box.
ReplyDeleteMo Willems, everything.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing to add except that I hadn't heard Gobble Tov before and it my new favorite thing.
ReplyDeleteIf you liked "the Dark" i'd suggest his other book "the composer is dead", which is awesome and includes an audio book cd of him reading it and including music.
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested in subscription box suggestions that are either (1) suitable for my parents or (2) that are offered in the UK.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 7, a friend of mine got the only true high-wow-factor-possessing gift I've ever seen. He called me up to come over and see it. He turned it on and my eyes got wide and my jaw dropped. Apparently you can download it now: http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/5oMtHuB3aOHoawfC6brZ6myQYnE4flQ_
ReplyDeleteDoes he already have a subscription to Le Monde?
ReplyDeleteHe has a 3DS. That was last year's gift. :)
ReplyDeleteI think Loot Crate skews a little old. But through Quarterly Co. and some clicking thereafter, I just found some fun subscription box ideas: http://boxes.mysubscriptionaddiction.com/subscription_boxes_for/kids
ReplyDeleteMatt, go to that link i just posted - there are non-kid categories.
ReplyDeleteTake a look at the Syma indoor/outdoor RC quadcopter. $32 at Amazon.
ReplyDeleteI've had success with "Those Darn Squirrels" and "Dragons Love Tacos" by Adam Rubin.
ReplyDelete"Monkey With a Tool Belt" is fun and silly.
ReplyDelete"Z is for Moose"
Not newish, but I love "The Bravest Ever Bear" so much for kids who like funny, smart books. A bear doesn't like the way his story is being told and takes it over.
"The Goldilocks Variations" - new by the same author as "The Bravest Ever Bear", Allan Ahlberg. Six silly variations of The Three Bears, including a spaceship version.
There are two books in the Russell the Sheep "series" that I know of - both are excellent, though the first is better. They seems to not be as well known as some other series, and thus make good gifts. Also "Iggy Peck, Architect." I'm sure there are more - I'll think of them.
ReplyDeleteMore excellently silly books:
ReplyDelete"Mary Had a Little Lamp"
"Dinosaur vs. Bedtime"
Does he already have Snap Circuits? http://snapcircuits.net/ I think 7 is pretty much the floor for really being able to get into it. It is, quite literally, fun for my whole family. I play with it when the kids aren't around. (I recommend the biggest kit you're willing to spring for. Much cooler parts. We have the 300 set, and I covet the bigger ones.)
ReplyDeleteOkay, I need gift help that is not for a child. It's for the guy I've been dating for about four months (but pretty seriously). He's getting a new bike and I thought of getting something bike-related and have been asking around about that, suggestions welcome. He's also a huge video gamer but I'm afraid anything I get him he'll already have… The biggest issue is how much do you spend on someone you're serious with but haven't known for THAT long? (with the corollary fear that one of us will spend big bucks and the other will be like "here's a 10 dollar gag gift"…) Advice? Many thanks.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a gift certificate for a couple of tuneups at the local bike shop? Three might be enough for a riding season, unless he does a lot of century rides or is a bike courier or something.
ReplyDeleteI'm handing out Raspberry Pis to my more technically-savvy relatives (specifically my uncle and brother-in-law), and am hoping to receive at least as many as I give. I have plans. Oh yes, I have plans.
ReplyDeleteThere's one thing that most men want. It's a little bit embarrassing to talk about, and many women find it distasteful. But it's the season for giving, and you're still in that early stage of the relationship, so I'm just going to put it out there: For the holidays, you should pretend to understand why he likes Blade Runner.
ReplyDeletenew bike -- what kind and what style of riding? mountain, road, commuting; hardcore weight weenie, fedora wearing fixie, or just likes tooling around the neighborhood? Bike accessory wants can be very particular and individual. I think a Brooks saddle is the best thing you can add for a more comfortable ride, but not everyone want a leather saddle.
ReplyDeleteTuneups are a good idea. Everyone always needs spare tubes. Does he do any of his own repairs? Basic tool kit is smart. Maybe repair lessons if the local shop offers them. Two sites with high quality and eclectic merchandise: Rivendell and Wallingford. Reading -- Velovision is interesting.
For the winter months, a wind/mag trainer could be nice.
I got very excited to see this comment. Adam Rubin was my childhood friend. He is a very clever guy and it's so exciting to see his humor pleasing kiddos.
ReplyDeleteTuneups are good. Spare tubes are always needed. If he's new to cycling -- maybe a course in basic bike repairs and a tool kit.
ReplyDeleteI'll always recommend a Brooks saddle. Otherwise, without knowing the style of bike, intended usage, or what kind of rider he is, cycling is too personal for random recommendations. Oh, it's winter, how about a wind/mag trainer?
For eclectic and high quality parts and accessories, check out Wallingford Bicycle Parts and Rivendell Bicycle Works.
Any idea as to a good minimum age for those? I've been spying them, but don't want to frustrate my kids by giving it to them before they can handle it.
ReplyDeleteAnother good link is www.ramblingsofasuburbanmom.com (just ignore the title). She reviews a lot of boxes and will show a few month's worth, so you get a good sense of what's "typical" in a box. While most of her reviews are for women/kids, she does have some good high end foodie box reviews, which might be nice for parents.
ReplyDeleteI could use gift suggestions for a busy stay-at-home mom of a toddler. She's not into the whole spa day/massage thing, and I live too far away to offer her a respite like free babysitting.
ReplyDeleteThis cracked me up. That said, I love Blade Runner. TEARS IN THE RAIN!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you guys so much - this is great.
ReplyDeletegift card to clothing store that she likes? shutterfly, or the like, gift card, nice purse or bag, kindle...generally with my SAHM SILs I try to give something that has nothing to do with the kid, sort of a recognition that they have an identity and interests outside of their kid.
ReplyDeleteI have no gift advice, but I did want to add that Candace sings a song about Jeremy on the Phineas & Ferb Christmas album that describes this very problem. I may have heard that album a few hundred too many times.
ReplyDeleteI could use some good nonfiction suggestions for older relatives -- interested in history, geography, science, words.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anne! The Shutterfly gift card is perfect for her, and I wouldn't have thought of it.
ReplyDeleteGoing back over my non-fiction reading for the previous year, I realized that I have some odd choices but here goes:
ReplyDelete1. The Best American Science and Nature Writing Series is always a good choice. Not every article is interesting to me but the books as a whole cover a lot of science-related ground.
2. Gulp by Mary Roach. Very good but not for the squeamish. I love all of her books but my favorite might just be Packing for Mars.
3. Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen - fascinating and very well researched and written but may make you want to invest in lots and lots of hand sanitizer and never want to visit the African or Asian wilderness.
4. Argo by Antonio Mendez - the real, non-Hollywoodized version of the Iranian hostages who made it out.
5. Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies and Why by Lawrence Gonzales - fascinating look at who survives in dangerous situations (and it often is not the people you would imagine)
Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. I hope one or more of them is something your relatives will enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI second the Argo recommendation.
ReplyDeleteI'll add: Operation Mincemeat (my husband and both of his parents raved about this true WWII spy story)
This is awesome! Never heard of them, but bookmarking for next year when my nieces will be the right age...
ReplyDeleteDepends on the kid, I suppose, but if I had been born in 2004, I suspect nine-year-old me would want one and have some clue how to use it. If they've never done any programming (or anything on Linux), they might be stuck -- the initial setup is pretty bare bones. But a Rpi and a basic Python class (a couple of community centers around here offer them) might be cool for a kid who's into figuring out how his/her gadgets work instead of just playing with them.
ReplyDeleteIf they haven't read Stefan Fatsis's Wordfreak, highly recommended. Also second the Mary Roach rec; my favorite is Stiff, which is also not for the squeamish. For science, I love The Code Book by Simon Singh.
ReplyDeleteThanks - He hasn't really started down that path, so I think we might wait a year or two.
ReplyDeleteSecond on Wordfreak. Also: either David Foster Wallace essay collection, and given the anniversary year, Robert Dallek's An Unfinished Life, a great JFK bio using his health as a prism for understanding his life.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter got them at age 7 and enjoyed greatly -- several of her classmates have them too. Recommended!
ReplyDeleteHe's not into Scrabble, so I don't see him liking Word Freak (though I liked it very much). But the book I gave him a couple years ago that was very successful, and I recommend to all of you, was Roy Blount Jr's "Alphabet Juice," which I also loved.
ReplyDeleteOperation Mincemeat is perfect! A few years ago I sent him Between Silk and Cyanide, which I also recommend for WWII spy aficionados -- cryptography, as lived and told by the son of the bookshop owner at 84 Charing Cross Road.
Argo and Packing for Mars look great too, and I'll go look at Russ's philosophy book.
Thanks Marsha, I am pretty sure my nephew will be getting this for Christmas from us, and that no one will be happier to play with it than his dad!
ReplyDelete