What do 9 and 11 year old boys like for their birthdays that a single mom can afford?

Question

Both of my boys have birthdays in October. Twelve days apart. I can't stand the video games. I want something individual for each of them that will get them up off of their fannies. They have bicycles, balls, board games, a dog and a creek to play in. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Toy boats, cars, and such maybe remote control if cheap enough. We got ours a bug collecting kit. Seemed to work for a while but right back to the video games.

Answer 2

I had similar problem with my two daughters, when they were a little older than yours. Got them together, told them about the problem, and how disappointed I felt about them. From now on no more pocket money, and no more summer vacation trips for them, until they discussed how to cooperate in the house chores, gave them two weeks to come out with a plan of their own, and if they didn't meet the deadline, the sanctions would have taken effect. In a couple of days they presented me the plan, we modified it a little, and from that moment on, the cooperation solved practically every problem like those you are complaining about. It doesn't matter how you go about it to gain respect and cooperation, what is important is to let them know that you mean business. Give them an ultimatum, if in that time frame they don't shape up and cooperate all of them, stop being a mother and a spouse. Stay rock firm, and in a day or two, you will see all three of them performing miracles for you. Anyway assign them responsibilities on a daily bases, and if they don't do them, just take way the pocket money or give them some other punishment. Remember to stay firm, or you are waisting your time. As per your husband, I don't need to tell you what the most effective punishment will be.

Answer 3

Some ideas:
* A science kit with a microscope (they can use it to spy microscopic wildlife from the creek, too)
* A telescope and book on stars and planets
* A tent and some camping supplies (plus GORP, s'mores, and trail mix)-- you could even throw them a combined camp-out birthday, or have it exactly between their birthdays or as a connecting event.
* Bury a treasure for each boy and wrap up the first clue-- coins, compasses, small toys, faux jewels, etc.
* Books
* DVD's
* Paintball guns and equipment
* Laser tag game
* Remote-controlled outdoor vehicles (cars, planes, boats)
* Kite Kits
* Easel, paint, brushes, and a book on how to paint
* Cool toys for playing with the dog (frisbee, rawhide, tugs, balls, etc.)
* Software or a kit for making your own newsletter/newspaper
* A book on secret codes, decoders, spy gear, and a spy party
* Digital cameras, maybe with built in camcorder
* Cell phones (try Tracfone)
* Crafting supplies
* Wood-working supplies
* Erector sets
* A detective kit
* Journals and other blank books, pens, markers, etc. (Try encouraging them to collect leaves, rocks, or something like that.)
* Different pets or animal kits-- Triops, fish, hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, ferrets, iguanas, etc.
* Lessons in a sport or other activity
* Seeds and gardening equipment
* Superhero costumes (not cheapy-cheap ones)
* Trikkes www.trikke.com
* Software and information on how to create computer graphics.

Really think of what your boys like and go from there. Try picking a theme around the main present and let smaller presents support the main present. For example, you could give one son a camping sleepover party with a tent or sleeping bag as his main gift and a compass, backpack, and flashlight/lantern as supporting gifts. The other son could have a pirate party and get supporting gifts first: compass, toy sword, pirate costume. Then clues would lead him to his big gift-- a treasure chest in which you hid his main gift, a toy pirate ship covered with spare change from your pockets and fake gemstones. Of course, base the actual parties on what your boys like, unless one likes pirates and the other likes camping, but you get the idea.

Answer 4

Get them fishing poles for the creek, a bb gun, a basketball goal things like that. If they are into cars or anything like that then get them a subscription to a magazine. There are also some great games for the computer that are actually educational for math and science but a lot of fun as well.

Answer 5

How about time with you? It doesn't cost that much to go camping somewhere. If you don't already own a tent, you can borrow one or pick one up at a garage sale or 2nd hand store. Pick somewhere with lots of natural things around it: hiking in the woods or mountains, biking trails, nature walks, swimming, fishing, teach them how to mark paths in unfamiliar areas so they don't get lost (I learned that in 4th grade at camp...it's easy and was fun & memorable for me), have campfires at night, sing songs, roast marshmallows & hotdogs, tell spooky stories with flashlights, collect rocks/shells/leaves, visit nearby museums, there is so much to do.

Answer 6

Sorry, but it's video games. Find an arcade, give them $20 or $30 in tokens and let them go crazy!!!

besides if they have all of that stuff and don't use it to "get up off their fannies" then they don't want to. You can get them a frisbee or a kite or something to play with outside, I guess. But if they don't want to, you don't really want to force them now do you? Besides, if you TAKE them to an arcade, rather than let them sit on their butt at home in front of the TV, at least they'll get some exercise running from machine to machine. and there are a few games that make kids get active. I've seen a boxing game where they have to put these things on their hands and actually move around to avoid "punches" and throw "punches"....Go check out the arcade first...

Answer 7

Find a new outdoor game to keep them active that they would enjoy. Volleyball would suck, because kids that young can't maintain a volley, but those big squirt guns, so they can chase each other around and keep cool.

Answer 8

Depending on where you live...can you get them signed up for some kind of activity that takes kids places outdoors for some hikes or camping? Or you could take them somewhere special yourself.

Answer 9

I would ask them....it is their birthday and you want to get them something they want. Unfortunately it maybe a video game. Or what about a basketball, football, fishing poles....

Answer 10

This might be out of your price range but they have the video game out where you dance on this pad. So if anything, that will make them more active.