Older Kid Christmas

[hermione]

Less than 100 days to go so keep your it's too soon nonsense at bay (haha). This is the first year I have no ideas for C. She's 11. I can't find any event or show she would want tickets to, toys aren't really a thing anymore, she's not into fashion or beauty products yet, she has everything she needs or wants for her sports. What are you getting older tweens/young teens?

[jinkies]

I have kept a google sheet to track Christmas presents for years. My daughter will be 13 this Christmas, but here are some ideas from the past two years (age 11 and 12):

1. Roller Blades
2. Thermal sticker printer (this was a surprisingly big hit-- buy a couple extra rolls of paper). I got this one-- if the link doesn't work, it's called Phomemo Sticker Printer- Mini Printer M02: a.co/d/1hmhBon
3. Overnight bag bc she was starting to do more sleepovers
4. Bath and body works shower soaps
5. Tattoo pens (basically washable sharpies that come with tattoo templates)
6. Room decor

[gerberdaisy]

I'm in the same boat with DD who is 10. She just had a birthday and received/loved:

new scooter
pogo stick - her brother got a smaller one and she wanted to try
diamond painting kit
henna tattoo kit (guess it was really big at summer camp, more so than the tattoo pens)
Summer I Turned Pretty Books (age appropriateness is debatable)
lululemon sweatshirt

[InBetweenDays]

I too have a Google spreadsheet tracking Christmas presents over the years. When DD and DS were around that age we got them a Polaroid camera, knitting kit, games, new lacrosse stick, robe, wallet, Bluetooth speaker, ski goggles, hover board, Amazon echo for their room.

[sdlaura]

I really need to get on Christmas gifts. We're going on an international trip for Christmas, so I want to have a couple small items for each kid to open that day, and more waiting at home for them for when we get back.

My DD just turned 12 and has a "Giftful" account where she adds things she wants. She is into skincare/haircare stuff. She also has some clothes on there (mostly comfy sweat type clothes/athletic wear), a pura vida bracelet, personalized neon LED sign for room decor, a new belt bag, some jewelry, a pretty pencil pouch, and socks.

[ssmjlm]

Mine is getting into the beauty/skin care stuff, so so far:

-Laneige holiday set
-eye patches
-headband and wrist bands for face washing
-Sol de janiero stuff


The big thing she wants is an ipad. I am letting my parents give her that because it's an easy one and done. We will likely buy her the pen. She wants to use it for drawing.


ETA: I asked her about uggs because I hear that is an IT gift in middle and she was an adamant no on the slip on ones. So maybe the mini's? She's more of a sneaker or crocs kid at the moment.

[hermione]

Sept 18, 2024 11:31:04 GMT -5 jinkies said:

I have kept a google sheet to track Christmas presents for years. My daughter will be 13 this Christmas, but here are some ideas from the past two years (age 11 and 12):

1. Roller Blades
2. Thermal sticker printer (this was a surprisingly big hit-- buy a couple extra rolls of paper). I got this one-- if the link doesn't work, it's called Phomemo Sticker Printer- Mini Printer M02: a.co/d/1hmhBon
3. Overnight bag bc she was starting to do more sleepovers
4. Bath and body works shower soaps
5. Tattoo pens (basically washable sharpies that come with tattoo templates)
6. Room decor

This is really cool. So if I am understanding this, she could turn her drawings into stickers? 

[hermione]

Sept 18, 2024 11:51:43 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Mine is getting into the beauty/skin care stuff, so so far:

-Laneige holiday set
-eye patches
-headband and wrist bands for face washing
-Sol de janiero stuff


The big thing she wants is an ipad. I am letting my parents give her that because it's an easy one and done. We will likely buy her the pen. She wants to use it for drawing.


ETA: I asked her about uggs because I hear that is an IT gift in middle and she was an adamant no on the slip on ones. So maybe the mini's? She's more of a sneaker or crocs kid at the moment.

Cass draws on hers all.the.time. Mine is a no on Uggs too. It's Converse and Nike or bust for her.

[jinkies]

hermione, yes, she would just need to take a picture of the drawing.

DD uses it for photos of her friends that she sticks on her mirror. She actually also used it for a school project where she needed to include example images from the internet-- she printed them as stickers and just stuck them on the page. It was pretty cool.

[thebreakfastclub]

My 11yo asked for money last year and will get the same this year.

We don't do gift exchanges in my house for adults so this is perfect for me.

[glitzy07]

Lucky (?) for us, my 11yo boy plays an expensive ass sport with all sorts of gear and training tools. So probably some kind of hockey training tool or new stick or something. lol

[meanie]

I have endless ideas for 11 year old DD and only a few ideas for 9 year old DS.

DD:
Bubble skincare
Face masks
Pink Palm Puff hoodie
Sol De Janeiro spray
Makeup brush set
Vanity mirror with lights
Rotating jewelry box
Clothes - sweatsuit, Uggs, waffle knit PJ set
Skincare, Jade roller
Room decor
Heishi Surfer Bracelet Set
Oil diffuser for her room
Starbucks GC


DS
Baseball trophy and ball display case
Snow cone machine
Sunglasses for baseball
Cirkul bottle and refills
3D pen

[plutosmoon]

DD just turned 12, she likes to ask for room decor, she sends me Amazon links to stuff she likes all the time. She enjoys crafts like diamond painting, jewelry making, and latch kits, but she's got a bunch of unused craft stuff right now. She got an iPad over the summer as an early birthday present, but I got her a few small items to open on her birthday, room decor items, colorful sharpies and origami paper.

I think this Christmas I'll get a couple of her room decor items, maybe some robux, and cash. We can go shopping together after Christmas and have a fun day.

[abs]

I sort of hate Christmas now for this reason. It has been a struggle for a few years. DD is more of an experiences girl than anything else but yet those aren’t satisfying to unwrap on Christmas. It’s hard! We just do a trip in lieu of gifts for her birthday but Christmas is harder. I keep a running list on my phone and add to it whenever she mentions something. So far these are my ideas:

Black high top converse
Curling iron
Sol de Janeiro spray set
Bon Jovi record
Baking supplies from Willams Sonoma
Basgiath War College tee (yes I let my 8th grader read Fourth Wing. She’s obsessed.)
Upgraded softball bat (if she sticks with softball)

For family I’ll suggest zoo membership and gift cards to Disney/Starbucks/Barnes and Noble

ETA: the last few years the biggest hits have been flavored syrups for making drinks, a ninja personal blender, Apple Watch, and Castetify phone case.

[shaynaatl]

Items our 10 year old has loved recently:

- 3D printing pen
- temporary tattoo pens/kits
- games for her iPad
- lululemon small bag

She still loves toys, so as of now, she has been easy to shop for.

[sent]

I said this in the other holiday thread - a Loungefly bag. I'll get DD something Disney, but they have lots of other characters and variety besides Disney. I was in Box Lunch today to pick up something and there seemed to be a lot of fun stuff that an 11 year old would probably be into.

ETA - I see others mentioning black high top Converse sneakers. DD asked to buy shoes while on vacation in Paris so I said sure because I figured she had seem something unique.  It turned out she was shopping for exactly these Converse shoes. Both of us parents thought it was really strange she wanted Converse sneakers but after reading this thread, I guess it's a thing for this age group. 

[countthestars]

Sept 18, 2024 12:08:50 GMT -5 meanie said:

I have endless ideas for 11 year old DD and only a few ideas for 9 year old DS.

DD:
Bubble skincare
Face masks
Pink Palm Puff hoodie
Sol De Janeiro spray
Makeup brush set
Vanity mirror with lights
Rotating jewelry box
Clothes - sweatsuit, Uggs, waffle knit PJ set
Skincare, Jade roller
Room decor
Heishi Surfer Bracelet Set
Oil diffuser for her room
Starbucks GC


DS
Baseball trophy and ball display case
Snow cone machine
Sunglasses for baseball
Cirkul bottle and refills
3D pen

My kids are the same age as yours and are hoping for similar things! 

For the Uggs, I bought both the Tasmans, which were big last year, and the Goldenstar Clogs, which are predicted to be in this year. I need to decide soon which to give her and which to return and I'm torn. Has your DD mentioned either specifically?? 

[pittpurple]

I have an 11 year old and I'm looking at fun stationary (she likes cute markers and notebooks and such), we always get her a few books, she likes diamond painting so will look for a small set (she really likes the diamond painting stickers as she gets bored of the bigger ones!) and she has an ice hockey team she follows so we will get her tickets to some games coming up (it's a local team so tickets are cheap)

I have actually been looking at the sticker printer thing too so will probably do that as her bigger gift - we have Christmas and Chanukah so we try to spread it out a bit without being ridiculous. She also has a late November birthday so it's a bit much sometimes!

She's not into clothes but is a bit into makeup and nail polish so thinking of getting her a makeup caddy and some fun nail polish and nail care stuff. And then topping up her debit card for whatever fun stuff she wants to do over the break.

My 8 year old son is easier - the answer is lego and comic books. Always.

[turkletsmom]

DS is 11 and loves to write scripts for him, my other DS and DD to act out. I think we're going to get him a camcorder and tripod since he only has an old Ipod Touch right now. He's really into "vintage" nintendo consoles so we will get him video game stuff too.

He also started watching the Simpsons from the beginning earlier this year so I might get him one of those "Simpson yourself" pictures from Etsy. I need to get on that now I guess.

[maudefindlay]

For those with craft lovers, I recently bought DD, age 11, this quilling kit and she loves it, has occupied a bunch of her time and she has made some super cute things and it was something different from other types of art she has been doing.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CY59H8M6/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[nicolewi]

I am loving that thermal sticker printer idea!

I haven't asked the kids much about this upcoming year yet, but I have a 15-year-old girl and 11-year-old who will turn 12 just before Christmas. Things they have wanted lately/last year are mostly what other people said as well. Converse, UGGs, Nike socks, 15-year-old is now into some clothes; decor and/or specialty lights for their rooms, bubble skin care for the 11-year-old, anything from Sephora for both, Bath and body is also still popular. They both still collect vintage American Girl historical collections, so usually I still get them something… But not sure how that will be this year. Stanley or Owala water bottles. Sol de Janeiro. Pura Vida bracelets. Kendra Scott jewelry(this is still really big here. All the girls got a necklace last year and they wear them a lot!!!). Last year it seems like everybody got Lululemon belt bags. Books and games.

Electronics like iPads, phones, accessories for those items like cases. 11-year-old got an iPad last year. I think we are holding off on the phone until next year. Air pods or generic versions.

11-year-old got Lego sets last year, but I don’t think she’s going to ask for them this year.

Random small recommendation… I got my kids a Johanna Basford coloring book and markers on a deal from Amazon. We all love the coloring book! It’s a really nice one with fun pictures.

[meanie]

Sept 18, 2024 21:48:03 GMT -5 countthestars said:

Sept 18, 2024 12:08:50 GMT -5 meanie said:

My kids are the same age as yours and are hoping for similar things! 

For the Uggs, I bought both the Tasmans, which were big last year, and the Goldenstar Clogs, which are predicted to be in this year. I need to decide soon which to give her and which to return and I'm torn. Has your DD mentioned either specifically?? 

I keep seeing Tasmans everywhere online, so I will probably go with those. She hasn't mentioned Uggs at all but she gets a pair every year and probably just assumes I have it covered 

[lessel]

I feel like I'm hitting this with my 9yo DS already. The only thing he's expressed interest in is a 3D printer.

[osulori]

Sept 18, 2024 12:07:28 GMT -5 glitzy07 said:

Lucky (?) for us, my 11yo boy plays an expensive ass sport with all sorts of gear and training tools. So probably some kind of hockey training tool or new stick or something. lol

Girl, SAME.  Except now we're getting hit twice between soccer and baseball.  Which is 100% our own fault, I get it.  But still.  Christmas this year is likely to be a combination of sports equipment.  For example, the sliding mitt that he fully admits he doesn't think he'll really need but most of his teammates have one so he wants one too.  Ugh.

[niq]

3 month membership to AMC or Regal's movie pass thing?

V is into the Pokemon card game, so we can always get him packs of those.

[redheadk]

DD will get some ballet related items, and I'm sure I'll get a list of things she'd like from Lululemon and Sephora/Ulta. She's specifically asked for a pair of mini Uggs. I managed to get her Tasmans last year which she loves and still fit. I feel like she's kind of in a stage where everything she wants is expensive and nor particularly fun to shop for. She also mentioned wanting to redo her room but I'm not sold on that idea. It would be a better summer project.

[nicolewi]

Sept 19, 2024 16:50:59 GMT -5 redheadk said:

DD will get some ballet related items, and I'm sure I'll get a list of things she'd like from Lululemon and Sephora/Ulta. She's specifically asked for a pair of mini Uggs. I managed to get her Tasmans last year which she loves and still fit. I feel like she's kind of in a stage where everything she wants is expensive and nor particularly fun to shop for. She also mentioned wanting to redo her room but I'm not sold on that idea. It would be a better summer project.

We redid my oldest daughter’s room over the summer. I vastly underestimated the amount of time, $$ and effort that it would take! We painted, rearranged, got some different wall art and furniture, and built an IKEA dresser, and spray-painted a headboard from marketplace. It was way more work than I had planned on! It’s beautiful now, and she loves it, but fair warning… It might be harder than you expect. And it would be great if you could tie it into a gift, because my project kept mushrooming, and we spent a lot more than I had anticipated.

[pierogigirl]

Both boys do expensive sports. DS! is also a superfan of 2 teams. So sports gear is always on the list. So far, we got DS1 a nice cornhole set and DS2 more fishing poles.

Things that we've gotten them in the past: bike headlight and taillight if they are riding at dusk; fishing stuff; adult sized sleeping bags; lED strip lights; team hat or jersey; earpods; duffle bag

[meanie]

Sept 19, 2024 18:35:00 GMT -5 nicolewi said:

Sept 19, 2024 16:50:59 GMT -5 redheadk said:

DD will get some ballet related items, and I'm sure I'll get a list of things she'd like from Lululemon and Sephora/Ulta. She's specifically asked for a pair of mini Uggs. I managed to get her Tasmans last year which she loves and still fit. I feel like she's kind of in a stage where everything she wants is expensive and nor particularly fun to shop for. She also mentioned wanting to redo her room but I'm not sold on that idea. It would be a better summer project.

We redid my oldest daughter’s room over the summer. I vastly underestimated the amount of time, $$ and effort that it would take! We painted, rearranged, got some different wall art and furniture, and built an IKEA dresser, and spray-painted a headboard from marketplace. It was way more work than I had planned on! It’s beautiful now, and she loves it, but fair warning… It might be harder than you expect. And it would be great if you could tie it into a gift, because my project kept mushrooming, and we spent a lot more than I had anticipated.

My DD wanted to redo her room, too. I cleared out a lot of the clutter and we sold off/donated some bigger toys so she had a blank slate. She got to use the money to get decorations and I just cut her loose in the store. She did a great job and I think the whole experience was fun for her - shopping on her own and setting it all up by herself. 

We still want to paint and change out a few furniture pieces, but it was a good in between option for now. Maybe task her with the clean out and then get her a gift card to Target.

[midwestmama]

For DD (13.5), I may offer a room re-do. Or look for experiences which she might enjoy. Other than that, maybe an artist's desk and art supplies and gift cards to Sephora/Ulta.

For DS (15), I am leaning towards an experience he might enjoy, like going to an NFL game with DH. Maybe some sports gear?

osulori, ah yes, the "oven mitt" as we've been calling those sliding mitts, ha ha. I'm surprised my DS hasn't asked for one yet, but they were definitely popular last season!