gift idea?

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:03 pm

What's a good gift idea for a 9 year old boy?

If the person doesn't know the boy and doesn't want to give a gift certificate, that is...the gift is going to a country where there are no KB toys or Toys R Us.

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:15 pm

Here's a source of ideas.
http://www.hawkin.com/

Here's another.

http://www.sciencemuseumstore.com/

I sent one of my nephews a science museum motor-boat powered by an elastic band. It was light and comparatively cheap to send to the U.S. from the U.K. He's eight. I think his Dad managed to make the thing (it was a construction kit, of course). But I'm told it was a great hit.

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:31 pm

What about a good kite?...Depends what their weather is like!!

Cass.

djm · Post by **djm** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:33 pm

A soccer ball is simple, easy, immediately recognized and welcome in just about any part of the world (unless the kid has no arms or legs).

djm

Coffee · Post by **Coffee** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:26 pm

Get the kid a penny whistle.

Aanvil · Post by **Aanvil** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:13 pm

http://www.airhogs.com/

Look for the Havoc Heli.

Flies indoors... cheap. Like 20 bucks.

We fly one around the office.

9 yearold would go nuts for it.

Most hobby/toy stores will have them.

BillChin · Post by **BillChin** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:17 pm

Cofaidh wrote:Get the kid a penny whistle.

Yes, a whistle. I also like the kite idea if the kid lives in a rural area, though shipping can be costly to many countries.

The downside to whistles is that they break easily. If not a whistle perhaps an ocarina, if that seems out of place, I'm sure there are inexpensive musical instruments that may be more accepted in whatever country the kid is in.

Kaliedoscopes, or tops can be fun too.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:36 pm

Thank you everybody for such wonderful (and even practical!) ideas.

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:24 pm

Considering the source I'd say any gift you decide will turn out to be just right.

mutepointe · Post by **mutepointe** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 8:46 am

there is one little kid we know, he likes fireworks and instant lottery tickets. not the dangerous fireworks. he's 12 these days and i swear, the first thing he's going to do when he turns 18 is enter the local head shop where we live. he wants to see what all the fascination is.

missy · Post by **missy** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:10 am

if it was my kids:

Legos

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 12:40 pm

missy wrote:if it was my kids:

Legos

A good idea, although expensive. (In the UK we call it "Lego". Singular and plural.) Playmobil is another reliable standby. If you get a pack that contains, for example, a cannon that shoots cannonballs, that will be pure jam for a nine-year-old boy.

mutepointe · Post by **mutepointe** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 8:58 pm

toy cannons that shoot toy cannonballs would be pure jam for grown men too. i want one.

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 4:05 am

mutepointe wrote:toy cannons that shoot toy cannonballs would be pure jam for grown men too. i want one.

Here ya go!
http://www.stevenstoymaster.co.uk/acatalog/Knights.html
Item 3316, price 4.99 GBP. Say ten dollars american.