Oh, man. William has been invited to a birthday party this weekend. Furthermore, he got the invitation yesterday, which means there is not much time to think. And William is the sort of child who, if you ask him what his BEST FRIEND SINCE FIRST GRADE’s favorite color is, will say “……Humm. Maybe….blue?” And if you say, “Well, what does she like to do? Does she have any hobbies?,” will say “…..Humm. Uh….” So on the topic of this weekend’s birthday child, a classmate he has known only since school started this year, I feel very lucky that he happened to know whether the child was a boy or a girl.
And eleven is a tricky age to buy for. I don’t even know what to get my OWN children in that age range. Well, there is nothing for it but to dig up some candidates, which is something I had to do before Christmas anyway.
Crafting With Cat Hair (photo from Amazon.com). I realize this is odd. I realize this is the sort of item that may need some further explanation, or perhaps would have been better suited to the unusual miscellany list from last week. But this item is actually IN MY GIFT CUPBOARD RIGHT THIS MINUTE, because we have bought it for William for Christmas (he has already been experimenting on his own with making short pieces of yarn out of cat hair) (I know, but I don’t know whose genes to blame/credit), so I could have him give it to his friend and then buy him a new copy.
Talking Hands Animal Tattoos (photo from Amazon.com). These are on my gift-idea list for William. It seems like the sort of thing he might love, and so maybe his friend would also love them, and at $10 they’re right in my birthday-party-gift range. Plus, they’re fun but then they get used up and don’t create clutter.
AirZooka. I gave Paul one of these a few years ago and it was SO WEIRD. You “shoot” it at someone, and a second goes by and then they get PUFFED in the face with a surprising wallop of air. Like a SPHERE of AIR. Or if you aim it at a curtain, it looks like someone threw a beach ball at the curtain except the beach ball was invisible. Freaky.
Balloon-Powered Vehicle Kit (photo from Amazon.com). Considering how endlessly funny the children seem to find it to blow up a balloon and then release it and watch it splutter around the room, it seems like a pointless waste of money to pay more to get a little car and a little propeller. But…that’s exactly the kind of money that turns something into A Gift To Bring To A Party.
Magnetic Sculpture (photo from Amazon.com). The only tip William has been able to give us so far is that his friend “likes to fiddle around with stuff, like paperclips.” (In fact, William suggested a box of paperclips would be a good gift.) This is fiddly! But is it the kind of fiddly that ends up leaving tiny little pieces all over the house? We once received as a gift the kind with thin flat pieces (moon and stars) as a gift, and those sharp little suckers broke a vacuum cleaner. These shapes seem less dangerous.
Disc Shooters (photo from Amazon.com). William wants these himself. But I feel a little uneasy giving a gun-related toy when so many families have a policy about such things.
I also consulted my OWN POSTS on gifts for a 10-year-old (figuring not much has changed since then) and gifts for 9-12-year-old boys, and now I’m also considering the Create Anything With Clay book, the Hexbug Nano starter kit, a Rubik’s Twist, or the Crystal Mining Kit.
I have little experience of buying for turning-11 boys (the only one I know still likes Lego, so I always get that and he’s always delighted…), but would think that for turning-11 girls (which will be my headache as of January when my daughter’s class all start turning 11) anything “pretty” would be good - pretty writing paper sets, simple jewellery, pretty bags, hair accessories, cookery sets, that kind of thing…
Kirsty | November 16th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
We have had an AirZooka. Wicked fun. And I love the balloon cars.
I am freaking amazed that there is a book about crafting with cat hair. Just. Amazed. That has to be the weirdest thing I have ever seen. Super Duper Quality Points for uniqueness.
Misty | November 16th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
DON”T DO THE CAT HAIR. Unless you know that they have cats and love cats.
I don’t have cats. I don’t love cats. I’m very, very allergic to cats. God love you but that book FREAKS ME OUT.
That air puffer thing is very cool though. And i love when you do these gifty lists, so helpful.
I really do love you! But yeah, no cat hair unless you have more info.
Anonymous | November 16th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
Anonymous- Ha ha! Of COURSE I’m not going to buy it for him unless they have cats! Otherwise they’d have to use carpet fiber or something, and that’s not going to work at ALL!
swistle | November 16th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
I love so very much that William suggested a box of paper clips as a present.
Now I am imaging a child eagerly unwrapping a present and finding a box of paperclips inside and being totally delighted instead of perplexed, which is how I’d feel if I were to receive a box of paperclips as a gift.
Life of a Doctor's Wife | November 16th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Perler beads continue to be a big hit in our neighborhood, as does anything crafty. Latchhook is another good one.
Nowheymama | November 16th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
I love that William thought a box of paperclips would be a great present. My son thinks that we should get everyone seeds for their garden.
Seriously, though, thank you for this post. The Animal Hands has ended my quest of what to get my nephew for a gift. I notice they also have Robot Hands & Dragon Hands & Monster Hands. I might get him the whole set!
Carmen | November 16th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Oh my goodness, I would have been thrilled to receive a spindle as an eleven year old. I’ve asked for another spindle this year, actually. Maybe not for the friend, but an inexpensive drop spindle might interest William.
Cayt | November 16th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Okay, so one of the best presents that I got EVER was a bunch of notebooks, construction paper, graph paper and office supplies (rubbers bands, stamp pads, binder clips, etc) when I was 10. The child knew I loved that stuff, and told her mom, who got it all, most likely thinking she was going to be giving the worst present ever, but I loved it! So no matter what gift you do give this person, please please please also give the box of paper clips. It could end up being the favorite!
twisterfish | November 16th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Several things:
When my eldest was younger, she LOVED peanut butter. One of her friends gave her (in addition to something else) a jar of peanut butter. She loved it. I still think it was just adorable.
The Hand Tattoos: I have this on my Pinterest board to give both my almost ten year old and my just-turned-13 year old. I think they are pretty badass!
Shooting Things: Boys this age love stuff like that. The disc shooter would be fun or Nerf guns of various types.
I too love your gift lists but then again, I pretty much love everything you write!
Leeann | November 17th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
My eight year old daughter and 11 year old son love The Body Crayon Book by Klutz with comes with 6 body crayons. http://www.klutz.com/face-paint/Body-Crayon-Book
They pull it out every few weeks and pop out with colored faces, hands, legs. It really entertains them for several hours and washes off easily and because it is not a paint and paintbrush, much less worry about mess.
Ale | November 22nd, 2011 at 4:54 pm
what about girls???? those are awful toys!!!
me | December 4th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
me- I was shopping for a boy in this case, though I don’t consider these boy toys. For a girl of a similar age, see Birthday gift ideas for a 10-year-old girl.
Swistle | December 4th, 2011 at 9:58 pm