Xmas present for an 11 year old boy

[chattykathy]

This year I'm joining in with my sister's workplace scheme of giving a present to a child in care. I've been allocated an 11 year old boy. They haven't given any background or an inkling as to his interests etc so any ideas will be welcome. I'm a bit out of touch as my little boy is 25!
We're only supposed to spend about £6 but I'm prepared to spend more than that obviously.

[Voulez-vous]

I love the idea of a watch! It will be "his" and no-one else's!
In my day, waterproof was important in a watch, deep sea diving type thing!
An 11 yr old would love a watch, but make it have bells and whistles (like waterproof to millions of feet undersea). If there is a watch that still has a light, can tell the time in other country's etc, then you cannot go wrong!

[annie0000]

lol, you want a lot for £6 voulez vous!!

The breo ones are waterproof but don't do anything more than tell the time. the advantage is though that you don't have to take it off at all - the rubber strap is designed to be comfy, which means that there is less chance of it being nicked. It's also better to steer clear of gifts that need a lot of batteries, cos sometimes I think those can be hard to come by and the gift quickly becomes useless.

[chattykathy]

Very true, annie! I think the watch is a crackin' idea! Getting excited about Xmas myself now! :-)

[sherrardk]

I've seen a very similar watch in Primark - might be able to get that and something else too for £6.

[annie0000]

we've had some of the cheaper ones too sher, unfortunately they don't tend to work properly and the back bits fell off. :o(

[roger]

Packet of fags did me back then (1952) but I suppose it's not PC

[thercgeek]

Ok you can't go wrong with a remote control helicopter. Young kids love them....

You would want to go with a ready-to-fly one that doesn't require construction..


Example
http://www.bigdoghobb...roduct-p/eflh2200.htm

Cheers.

[boxtops]

How did what-the do that, putting up a recommendation rather than a link?

[Ellipsis]

I think it's a bit like posting a Youtube video, boxtops - links to Amazon are now converted into "User Recommendations".

[rozia]

gift voucher for a sports shop.

[maggiebee]

My daughter did a similar thing last year - she bought an MP3 player and downloaded a selection of the latest music on to it.

[arieswoman]

I, like many, love the idea of a watch. Was thinking though that you need to be careful what you spend - cos if £6 is the allocated amount - other children might be jealous if they got a very small toy and another child got an expensive watch! Some other ideas: a warm pair of pyjamas (nice but not expensive from Primark) and maybe a hot water bottle <which is comforting to cuddle whatever age you are> - or a blow up globe (can be bought on ebay or amazon for around £5); a science experiment kit or a nice kids' history book such as 'The Hutchinson Book of Kings and Queens by Tony Robinson' which can be found on Amazon today for £5.93. Any way whatever you decide to buy I'm sure will be very well received by the child and will also give you pleasure in the 'giving' - I'm partial to sending goats to Africans! x

[chattykathy]

Yes, I think they say around £6 so some people don't go mad. Argos have some lovely boys' watches for about £8 so not too much over. MP3 player is a good idea, maggiebee! Perhaps for next year. I've bought a few goats and bogs in the past, arieswoman :-)