nine year old

[bednobs]

hi, my nine year old nephew is coming over here for christmas from america, After what happened to us this year, i really REALLY don't want to be going round toy/childrens shops, because every time i think about it it feels like i should be getting my daughter her first xmas presents, or i'm reminded of the time we had to find a teddy to go in her coffin.
Anyway, what do nine year old boys like? i want to spend about 20-30 quid. my theory is that if i know what i'm getting, i can either just order it on line or go in and out of the shop. i can't ask my sister because unfortunately we still ahven't really made it up.
Ta :)

[Mosaic]

My theory is, he'll be keen to be viewed as 'not a kid', so why not take the buddy approach and involve him in some decisions - along the lines of 'which DVD will be buy / order from Blockbusters?'
At that age, and if you don't know him well, chances are you'll make the wrong decsion.
Unless...as a stocking filler, some really daft gizmos like fart putty or other obviously silly stuff: http://www.purplepuff...-c-100093_100094.html

[mxyzptlk]

If he likes soccer, how about a football shirt

[bednobs]

thanks, but i can't ask him cause then i'll have to ring her

[redcrx]

lego seems to still be popular with many kids of that age. Its also time consuming and can keep them occupied for hours.

[zzxxee]

remote control car try ebay x

[annie0000]

Things my 9 and 10 year old boys have put on list to Santa are:;
Lego, lego and more lego!
Air Bladez remote helicopter - they have these on offer at The Entertainer
Video games - but if you don't know what he has, difficult to buy
Guiness book of records
science sets (richard hammond ones)
microscope
ninja hamsters
pokemon stuff

most 9 year old boys like things that are rude/funny - toilet humour type and fact type books like "Ripleys believe it or not" type of thing.

[milly143]

Hi Bednobs,

You've probably got this sorted by now but I was going to suggest the same as mxyzptlk. My nephews love having 'odd' football shirts, which it would be if he is from the USA and I remember we did when we were kids too. You could get him a shirt of whatever your local team is and I bet he start to follow them (unless he already has a UK team).

[Answerprancer]

Dr Who stuff/DVDs - and it has a following in the US.

[milly143]

Be careful when buying DVD's, if he lives in the states he will need a region 1 DVD. Any DVD's you buy in this country are region 2 and they won't work on an American DVD player.

You can get other DVD regions easily on the internet.