So you’re thinking about Christmas now. And you’re wondering … what on earth am I getting for my 12 year-old? Another Minecraft t-shirt?
Ah, no.
You’re better than that. You’re being purposeful, remember?
How about some of these ideas to get your wheels spinning …
Lego books I know that you know that I know that you know that we’re both giving our middle school-aged children Legos for Christmas. It’s a foregone conclusion, right? Well, what if you shook things up just the tiniest bit? What if, let’s just say, that rather than adding to the plastic pieces, you gave a gift that inspired a little outside-the-box thinking. Your child already does that, you say? Well, mine does, too. But that doesn’t stop him from loving to peruse a slew of “how to” and inspiration guides that get the creative juices flowing. Some favorites here are: The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide, Cool Cars and Trucks, Build Your Own Lego Vehicles, Build Your Own City, Brick City: Global Icons to Make from LEGO Bricks, Brick Wonders, and LEGO Architecture, the Visual Guide.
Activity kits My middle kiddos have always been big in the hands-on, and Christmas offers up a perfect chance to expand some horizons or capitalize on an interest. Whether it’s all the materials (and instructions) to felt a cute animal, a robotics adventure in a box, or an archaeological dig, things to do rate high in this age group.
Board games This is the perfect age for breaking into the “bigger kids” world of advanced play and keeping your child from retreating into a video-game induced haze. Risk, Settlers of Cataan, Dominion, Diplomacy, and 7 Wonders are all games that require the interaction of others, are fun for a whole family, and have longer play times that satisfy the older set.
An instrument This isn’t a fly-by-night purchase, but if your child has ever shown an interest in music, and you’ve hesitated, now’s the time. The middle years can be a perfect season for igniting a love of something bigger than play … but still plenty playful! Take the leap and invest in something bigger than a mere “present.”