Need major help with gifts for 8 & 11 yo boys

[YouAreTheFocus]

My nephews are IMPOSSIBLE to shop for. They are in a family of 3 boys with a lot of disposable income, so over the years have acquired everything a boy could want. Their basement is bigger than our house, and is stocked wall-to-wall with their gadgets & toys. They have laptops & ipods & cameras & handheld game thingys. Their grandma asks what they want, the answer is "I don't know" or "nothing". Others in the family have started buying them collectible sports memorabilia, just to buy something.

I have no clue what boys this age are into. There must be SOME newer products out aimed at this demographic! I'm not a big fan of giftcards, anyone have any other ideas?

[vonfirmath]

If they really have everything, then buying them a thing is not likely to knock their socks off

I'd set up something where you can go do something with just one of the boys, one on one. A visit to a ice cream store? A restaurant? Maybe a concert

[YouAreTheFocus]

Sigh, yeah, you're right. I'm just wishing I could be that aunt that wows them with super-cool gifts :) Unfortunately we are a 4 hr plane ride away. I thought about tickets, but we would have to ask someone else to take them. But I think it is either an "experience" like that or a gift card!

[vonfirmath]

Sigh, yeah, you're right. I'm just wishing I could be that aunt that wows them with super-cool gifts :) Unfortunately we are a 4 hr plane ride away. I thought about tickets, but we would have to ask someone else to take them. But I think it is either an "experience" like that or a gift card!

Could you set up a vacation to see them? Fly in. Take them (all 3 together perhaps) to two days at some amusement park. Then fly out again.

That would make an impression! But be very expensive yes.

Otherwise, give them each 2 movie tickets, maybe with a comment about how you wish you could join them at their favorite movies, but this way they should take a friend in your place. Then they can treat a friend.

[YouAreTheFocus]

So the youngest is 4.5--I didn't inc. him in my OP b/c I thought he'd be easier. We were considering a LeapPad--called to check with MIL. "Oh, he had one of those for a few days--then they gave it away and got another iPad."

I give up.

[justlearning]

What about giving them a heiffer or something like that? (That is, make a donation to a charity like http://www.heifer.org/ in their name.) If they have as many toys as you say they do, perhaps not giving them a toy and instead shifting the focus to charity could be a good thing.

Or how about a family membership to their nearest science museum? Or an itunes gift card so they can buy more apps or music for all their gear? Or if they're into Legos, how about the new Life of George app? Since it was just released, they may not already have that. Another idea which they may already have would be a lazer tag set: http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-92692-Lazertag-System-2PK/dp/B0026J7EIO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323941033&sr=8-1

Or Spy Gear products are popular right now with 8-year-olds, although the reviews on their products generally aren't good and DS wasn't happy with his Spy Gear camera vehicle so that's going back to Costco. For a big gift, Lego Mindstorms may be a hit with them (I bought it at Barnes and Noble with a 40% off coupon for $167)--but again, if they already are into that type of stuff, they could very well already have it.

Returning to my first point, I do think that charity giving can be valuable for a kid even if it doesn't qualify as a "wow" gift. DS chose on his own to give all his 6th birthday money to purchase mosquito nets and it brought him joy to be doing something good with that money instead of adding to our toy clutter.

[vonfirmath]

So the youngest is 4.5--I didn't inc. him in my OP b/c I thought he'd be easier. We were considering a LeapPad--called to check with MIL. "Oh, he had one of those for a few days--then they gave it away and got another iPad."

I give up.

4.5! I know that age better.
Here's some ideas that they may not have thought about because they are "out of the ordinary"

Imaginets:
http://www.amazon.com/MindWare-44204W-Imaginets/dp/B0037Z8DEK/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1323965065&sr=1-1

Wedgits: http://www.amazon.com/WEDGiTS-Deluxe-Set-30-Piece/dp/B000068E3J/ref=pd_sim_t_29

Do they have a marble run? http://www.amazon.com/Original-Classic-Marble-Run-68-pc/dp/B000WBGBDM/ref=pd_sim_t_26

Castle Logix: http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Tangoes-USA-SG-010/dp/B004TGVOOC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323965386&sr=8-1

Haba Animal Upon Animal: http://www.amazon.com/Haba-3678-Animal-Upon/dp/B001IM4CSU/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1323965418&sr=1-1

Ravensburger Enchanted Forest gets good reviews too: http://www.amazon.com/Ravensburger-Enchanted-Forest-Family-Game/dp/B00001OK75/ref=pd_sim_t_15

Haba Animal Yahtzee
Kids of Carcossone

Of course, the games depend on him having someone who will play with him.

[g-mama]

I think you find what movie theater is near them and send them (all 3) movie tickets and maybe some cash for ice cream afterwards.

By the sounds of it it, you won't be able to impress them with a gift, or even get them something they want or don't already have.

[hellokitty]

I think you find what movie theater is near them and send them (all 3) movie tickets and maybe some cash for ice cream afterwards.

By the sounds of it it, you won't be able to impress them with a gift, or even get them something they want or don't already have.

:yeahthat: Or if there is a magic mountain type of place locally to them, give them a GC to that place, so they can spend an afternoon there playing laser tag, video games, etc..