I am needing a gift idea for my parents to give my DS - she spends about $100. She hates that we let him play video games (even though he only does it during his tv time each day - she thinks that watching tv is more educational...blah blah blah) so she will not buy anything electronic. He has pretty much only been into Star Wars and video games for the last year, so he has plenty of both. He reads a lot, but has a stack of books he hasn't made it through yet. He got a new bike for Christmas.

He seems to be at an age where he obsessed with just a few things and wants for nothing else. I know that there are bigger problems in the world, but do you have any ideas? I've never been around a boy this age - no brothers, so I have no idea.

My ds will be 8 in September and in the last year he has gotten way into legos. He never really liked them before, but now that he can do the elaborate sets by himself he loves them. He will put them together the way the instructions say to do it, admire them for a few days, then throw the pieces into the mix and make up his own stuff. He spends hours in his room (hiding from his little brother) and making lego stuff. There are lots of big sets that are pretty darn expensive but that would go over really well at my house. He also builds with his k'nex a lot. My ds also wants a skateboard for this next birthday. We gave him a zipline for the yard for Christmas and that was a big hit. I also let my parents give him stuff like art classes or skating lessons or something that he can do. Oh and a couple of times they have actually taken him to the toy store and let him have a shopping spree. He couldn't believe his good fortune those times! Good luck, it is getting to be a hard age I know! Thank goodness all of our grandparents will buy him stuff for the wii!

Oh I totally forgot my ds also wants an mp3 player. That could be a good gift if your ds likes music, or a digital camera or something like that.

Is there an activity he wants to do (soccer etc) maybe they can pay for that one time
I k now this Christmas I am suggesting everone to just donate the money to put towards there gymnastics and dance. its starting to cost more and they are not into toys so I figure this will let hem have the things they want but help us out too

another idea could be maybe a new comforter for his bed or something to redo his room since he is getting older (not sure what he has inthere now etc btu an idea)

__________________
http://tickers.bump-and-beyond.com/34/3431/343117.png

My kids wanna join the PBS kids club so for Christmas, that's what we're gonna suggest to their grandma to give them for a present.

As for a birthday, how about a magazine subscription? Something age appropriate that fits his interests.

My dd turns 6 tommorow and my grandmother has bought her all the things she needs to have a Hanna Montana room, so I think that would be a good idea. Also, you could always show him a few starwars sites or toystores online and make a list of what he likes.

How about giving him a savings bond or check for his savings account for $50 and spending $50 on a gift.

I have a few ideas but don't know if they'd go well for your son. How about Knex (like Maggie mentioned) or Imaginext. The pirate ship is really cool!

How about putting the money towards lessons or an activity he's interested in or maybe a year's pass to a favorite area attraction?

__________________
You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.

LEGOS. My almost 8 year old has loved them for a couple years now. They have Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

__________________
Jodie....Wife to Andrew (1995)
Mommy to Riley (2000) and Wyatt (2003)

My almost 8 year old is really into Bionicles. Like Lego's you can putthem togetehr. Like legos, they also have big sets. He also Likes the Magnetix. i think the idea of the Knex is good too.

__________________

I’ve been SWAK’d!
aranch/archangel0001.jpg[/IMG]