What do 5 & 9 year old boys like these days?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

My friend Aaron who lives in Shanghai and got us the Mr. Cen woks has two boys, 5 and 9. I have a new friend who lives here in Boston and also lives in Shanghai. She is going back for a month on Monday. We thought it would be fun if she emailed him (Aaron doesn't know that I know her) that she has something from me for him, or just show up at his factory with gifts.

I first thought about something uniquely American for him as he's given me plenty of uniquely Chinese gifts to say nothing of getting the woks, but am drawing a blank. So I thought I'd get something for his kids.

Any thoughts on what 5 & 9 year old boys like to play with these days?

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

My friend Aaron who lives in Shanghai and got us the Mr. Cen woks has two boys, 5 and 9. I have a new friend who lives here in Boston and also lives in Shanghai. She is going back for a month on Monday. We thought it would be fun if she emailed him (Aaron doesn't know that I know her) that she has something from me for him, or just show up at his factory with gifts.

I first thought about something uniquely American for him as he's given me plenty of uniquely Chinese gifts to say nothing of getting the woks, but am drawing a blank. So I thought I'd get something for his kids.

Any thoughts on what 5 & 9 year old boys like to play with these days?

Video games; Minecraft, zombies. Toy guns...
Maybe a skate board? Not one of this cheap Wal-Mart ones either...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Legos, knex, etc. (not “uniquely American”, but still great fun and things that don’t involve video screens!)

Razor scooters!

And butt / fart jokes (at least at age 8). Ask me how I know...

[cabmandone]

Those little drones. You can buy them cheap and kids love to play with them. My son had one that you could press two buttons on the remote and it would do tricks like flip.

[billybek]

Lego is always a popular choice.
I like the skateboard idea.
Thinking of things that travel easily.
Ball gloves and a few baseballs?

[wdfifteen]

My 9 and 11 year old grandsons were over for Thanksgiving. I keep one of these around to give them a reason to put their phones down, get out of the house, and spend some time with grandpa.



I had about a dozen onions that were getting a little soft, so we launched them over the shed and into the woods - about 100 yards. All three of us had a great time!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Water-Balloon-Sling-Shot/29132331

[URY914]

Lawn Darts.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I have a 7 year old and 13 year old son. The teenager is cell phone and PlayStation, not really relevant here. My 7 year old is all boy and likes the usual stuff - hot wheels, Legos, sports, scooter, bike, Nerf guns, board games, R/C cars and helicopters, and video games. His friends are basically the same. 7 and 9 are young enough that they still like toys, so just stick with the usual boy stuff and you’ll be fine.

[72doug2,2S]

Toothpick crossbows

[NutmegCarrera]

Nerf guns all the way.
My 11 year old has been obsessed with them as long as I can remember.
There is a type that shoots round discs. Magazine fed and lots of fun.

[Tobra]

Uniquely American? How about some board games?

Baseballs and gloves is good.

5-9 was chess and basketball, in my experience. Folding chess set, with back gammon on the inside would be my vote. Be a pain to tote a basketball to Asia.

[wildthing]

Does he have a back yard?

[cabmandone]

I guess I missed the uniquely American part. That's tough!
Wiffle ball?

[72doug2,2S]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Uniquely American? How about some board games?

Baseballs and gloves is good.

5-9 was chess and basketball, in my experience. Folding chess set, with back gammon on the inside would be my vote. Be a pain to tote a basketball to Asia.

Can't they be deflated?
My fox terrier used to flatten ours all the time.

[craigster59]

That's a tough one. We had a woman from China that helped us with coordinating orders and taking care of customs and shipping on a show. She came to visit so I took her around for a tour of the various studios.

We were at Warner bros where they have a studio store. I asked her if she wanted to buy any souvenirs to take back with her. She looked at me and said "All of this is made in China, I can buy it at home for 1/10th of the price". I felt like an idiot.

Bottom line is find something American made, they can buy Nerf guns and games all day long for a lot cheaper over there.

[flatbutt]

My grandsons love the Hess trucks I get for them every year.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by craigster59

That's a tough one. We had a woman from China that helped us with coordinating orders and taking care of customs and shipping on a show. She came to visit so I took her around for a tour of the various studios.

We were at Warner bros where they have a studio store. I asked her if she wanted to buy any souvenirs to take back with her. She looked at me and said "All of this is made in China, I can buy it at home for 1/10th of the price". I felt like an idiot.

Bottom line is find something American made, they can buy Nerf guns and games all day long for a lot cheaper over there.

Yep. It would be kind of silly to buy them something made in their town on the other side of the world and ship it back to them.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Excellent suggestions, thanks all. Yeah, can't be made in China and should be uniquely American though I think sending DVDs of bad sitcoms is probably in poor taste. I'm definitely going with a baseball and a mitt for the 9 yo and maybe some Matchbox Porsches for the 5 yo. I know they are made in China but Aaron loves the work I do so there's that connection.

Skateboard would be fun but too big and Aaron used to manufacture my t-shirts so he's got plenty of cool ones and she is leaving on Monday morning so have to get shopping tomorrow.

[herr_oberst]

Skate swag might be a great idea. T shirts, Vans, music. Whatever the local heroes at the skate part are doing.

[WPOZZZ]

A drum set.