Tuesday, May 21, 2013

What should I get my 12 year old kid for his 13th birthday?

Q. I don't know what to get my son for his 13th bday. I don't want him to have a cell phone yet, and no laptop because of unsupervised internet access. I know he's going to be a teen, and he wants some expensive gifts. I don't want to disappoint him. He likes basketball, books, and tech. (gadgets) Please help!

A. Basketball? How about some special BB shoes?

Gaming systems? Which ones does he have?

For tech stuff, when I was that age (early 60's) I built a radio receiver from a kit. Is there still stuff around like that? (Yes. See link. But that's not very expensive.)

Toy rockets were fun for me at that age. But he might need mom or dad to supervise. Same for remote controlled planes and boats.

Coin collection kit?

Wait 'til he gets to be 17. Then it gets much tougher.


What do you think about adults living like they are in their teens?
Q. These are people in their 30s, 40s, etc but are still living like as if they are in their teens. They dress in young, hip, ragged fashion, go for the current hype tech gadgets (gaming consoles, latest mobile, hot bikes/autos), value figurines, they go cruising the streets and clubs late nights, they date as in teen relations, basically, they do things normally associate with the teens. Are such lifestyle common and looks immature? Will these people get over this phase?

A. Wow, this question is messed up. Did you grow up in the 1950's? The days when people start families in their early twenties and settle down to a life of raising kids until they're old enough to play bingo and shuffleboard at an AARP social club are long past. People wait longer to have kids or don't have them at all. There are fewer traditional marriages and more separations and unorthodox relationships. These types of social changes enable more free time to people at an older age than previously and the things you describe are not 'teen things', they are simply fun things that you need time & money for.

People in their 30s, 40s and even 50s today grew up playing video games, listening to music their parents hated and dressing how they liked. You think they should reach some arbitrary age and suddenly conform to your idea of what they should be doing? This is not a 'phase', it's a choice, just as it is for teens.

I will agree that some older people wear clothes that are not the best choice for them, but I've seen plenty of size 16 teens stuffing their fat into size 10 pants and the same applies. If you've got cottage cheese thighs you should say no to any lightweight fabrics, regardless of age.

I hope when I'm older I don't stop having fun or start acting like my parents just because the next generation wants me to. You need to re-evaluate your teen associations!


High school kids and their tech gadgets and video games?
Q. What if all the high school kids in the world. . . had all of their tech gadgets and cellphones and video games taken away for one week? What would happen to the world?

A. It's too bad most high school kids have never played a real video game, and don't have any high-tech stuff.





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