<p>Maybe I am just in denial that my youngest son is turning 18, but my brain just turns to mush when it comes to thinking of a birthday present for him. I’m hoping CC will come to the rescue.</p>
<p>He is a senior in high school. He will likely get a computer for next year when he starts college. He has access to a car, but I don’t want to give him the car. He buys his clothes at used clothing stores. He is very much into football, and has a general passion for sports. He has the usual techie accoutrement - ipod, cell phone, xbox.</p>
<p>Any suggestions are appreciated.</p>
<p>(I meant to post this in Parent Cafe. apologies for starting it in the wrong section. If the moderator can move it, that would be great)</p>
<p>I suggest gifts that work for high school and college:</p>
<p>As Fitz said, cash.
Gift cards for iTunes and XBOX games.
A quality leather wallet
An iPod docking station alarm clock.
If you plan to get a laptop computer for college and know what brand you want, a docking station for the laptop.
A Slingbox so he can watch your home TV/satellite/cable at college.</p>
<p>A jersey and/or tickets to an NFL game might be fun. I also agree with Patsmom about the digital camera. Both of my college kids use theirs alot.</p>
<p>Autographed football or jersey from his favorite team or player with a nice case to store it.</p>
<p>If you don’t get the extra sports package on your cable, add that. Now that my son is of age he spend every Saturday and Sunday at sports bars watching the games he can’t get at home.</p>
<p>A new, high tech cell phone-my kids want the newest phone every time they come out; of course they don’t get them!</p>
<p>If he already has a cell digital camera, how about a photo printer? My daughter has a little portable one and loves it, but you could always go with a regular printer that does photos.</p>
<p>How about a kayak? or a canoe? not sure what the budget is, but I really like the idea of something that has longevity…encourages physical activity and time with nature…golf clubs, great skis, wind surfer, surf board…</p>
<p>Digital camera, although it’s a gift that can backfire.</p>
<p>When my son came home from college for a weekend during the fall of freshman year, I nagged him about his need of a haircut (his hair was so long and ragged that it looked awful). He went back to school, got his head shaved completely, took his picture with the digital camera, and e-mailed it to me with the message, “So, are you satisfied?”</p>
<p>It looked good, actually. ;)</p>
<p>My daughter, who is now a senior in high school, requested a digital camera for her birthday. I do not think she is likely to get her head shaved, though.</p>
S. is an athlete and sports freak who’s currently playing college football. I worked for months to score two tickets to last year’s Super Bowl. Son’s 18th was the Saturday before Super Bowl Sunday. We presented him with the tickets as a surprise on his birthday. He was in a state of shock. He actually was going to the Super Bowl the very next day!! H. took him and they had an amazing time…a very memorable dad/son experience. His friends called him non-stop while he was there, wanting to know every detail. He definitely won’t be forgetting that birthday any time soon!</p>
<p>a generous/significant contribution to a savings account in his name exclusively for the future purchase of a car or else buy him a CD as the nest egg that you tell him you are intending for his account for a solid car that is safe and decent for him when a car is required (I realize every family has a different line of reasoning here). </p>
<p>My S was really thrilled with this gift and lets face it few of our kids need stuff or gadgets. College alone requires hot cell phones and laptops. We don’t buy video games or video systems ever and he can play them in any room in his dorm 24/7 and probably does sometimes. Same with a TV. We don’t provide. But there are tons of ways to watch.</p>
<p>in our case…Our son lives on a campus with a great quality of life and therefore no car given to our college sophomore who really doesn’t need one currently / we can’t afford to insure and pay the parking fees for a car barely used…but no doubt he will legitmately need a car soon when he is internship worthy and thinking of graduating. Our S puts all his earnings in this acct and now feels it is “his” money and will feel some ownership when he can buy a car. (Oddly, he seems to think he is going to buy a macho sized SUV and we are letting him “swing” and figure out what his real options are in smaller car purchase when he has an actual budget from a summer intern job or post graduation life or lives as humble grad student.) We want him to have to shop for a car that is entry level and calculate and put down the money he saved. His education alone is a huge gift. </p>
<p>I have a purchase for a desk that I recommend for now and you can then take it to college… a Full spectrum lamp for the desk which some research even suggests helps ADD kids focus but really lifts my son’s mood when reading and studying. Sharper image has great ones…I bought reconditioned and they are such great light. much better than the cute lamps at target and pier one.</p>
<p>a two inch mattress pad from a good company…the cheap ones do not hold up…we are talking about the temperpedic kind…they cost some bucks. But make sleep much better and sleep deprivation is a huge issue at college today with everyone wired up and chatting all night.</p>
<p>I like ‘maineparent’s’ idea about the sports equipment. It’s far better than a TV/DVD/Video game. Luggage is a good idea too if he doesn’t already have it. You might want to make sure you save some appropriate gift (luggage, laptop) for when he goes to college though or you’ll have the same dilemma a year from now. I’d refrain from purchasing furniture at this time since depending on where he goes to college, he may not be able to use it.</p>
<p>^ The boys in the dorm room next to my son’s have a full size recliner in the middle of their small room. They are the envy of the entire floor. It’s hilarious actually.</p>
<p>But I just bought one for my son’s room at home and he loves it. I took out a small desk that he doesn’t use anymore. He watches TV up there and uses his laptop and has friends are often hanging around up there, so it’s a useful addition (if not exactly a Pottery Barn look…).</p>
<p>I had to laugh about the recliner. My son had a very, (stress the very!) tiny private room at school last year, but he went out and bought a recliner for it. He mentioned that it was quite a challenge getting it back to school in the back of a small Saturn! This year he is sharing an apartment and the recliner that I thought incredibly impractical last year has come in quite handy!</p>
<p>I’m leaning towards the following ideas:
$$ (if sizeable, in a CD for savings with the $$ to go for travel)
ipod alarm clock (emphasis on the alarm clock part)
football tix (we are going to the CAL game for his birthday, but some hot pro game would be good)
sports equipment upgrade (for him it would be lacrosse, but I’m considering the bowling ball idea)</p>
<p>He already has a digital camera, access to a car, xbox, etc. For his present last year, he was given use of his brother’s old bedroom, so he has a bedroom and a lounge. And yes, I’ve bought a recliner (expect it to be delivered in the next few weeks) that will go in the ‘lounge’. Note that when he leaves for college, the recliner stays here.</p>
<p>Ideas that almost work:
I like the jewelry idea too, but so far he hasn’t worn jewelry. How do boys/men get started with jewelry?
Cannoe and kayak. These are great, but we have no place to store them</p>
<p>My H enjoyed his kayak as a teen. Actually he bought a kit with a friend, and the 2 of them spent one summer building their kayak. My suggestion, if anyone buys a kayak, canoe etc., make sure that if they put it on top of the car that it is secure. Make sure that they don’t get the bright idea to take the kayak into frigid water that has partially frozen. In other words, it needs to always be used safely!! I am talking from my husband’s experience. He is fortunate enough to have survived some of his risky behavior, so that he is around to tell us about his adventures! I am surprised that the news channels do not have footage of some his teen escapades.</p>