Help with X-mas Gift for 8Yr Old boy...other than Video Games!

He's young to already be so "in to" video. If you get him the WII at least he can get the exercise he needs to develope and challenge himself in a little different direction. There are exercise things for 5 year olds also i.e. jumping up and down at the same time a cartoon little girl is jumping on a small trampoline. Tennis and all sorts of sports to keep them active and tire them out so mom and dad get "qauality time" also. Cut him back on the space games and the videos that lead to more hard core distraction from reality. Merry Christmas and good luck mommy.

it's a tad pricey, but we just ordered a table top air hockey game from Land of Nod. $79 and free shipping. I liked that it was not as bulky as a full air hockey table, so we could store it under a bed or in a closet when it's not in use. Good luck!

Check out this site called Fat Brain Toys http://fatbraintoys.com/

I've bought gifts for my nephew from there for years. I am always able to find something new, fun and educational. And you can shop by gender and age. Check it out!

My 8-year old's wish list includes:
Lego Power Miners
Hoodies (no zippers)
Professional Football jerseys (he lists the names of the players he likes)
Guiness Book of World Records
Skate board (to replace his that was stolen this summer)
Nerf bullets (he has the guns already)

Depending on his grandparents & me, he may get most of the stuff on the list. He will also get a family membership to the Shedd Aquarium. Last year we were members of the Museum of Science and Industry. I rotate our memberships to the museums each year. in 2011 it will be the Art Institute.

Good luck!

My nephew is 9, he likes
ANYTHING star wars- toys, clothes, books
legos
the wimpy kid books
harry potter books
captain underpants books

This year I bought him the Dangerous book for boys and the corresponding board game.
Since his bday is one week before Christmas, instead of just buying him extra stuff, we also try to do something special with him. Last year it was an indoor waterpark, this year we are thinking medieval times.
I really like this, because I hate just buying them more junk, and it's really nice to be able to spend some time with him. Ask your son, there may be something like that that he'd really like to do, esp if you leave out his sister? (and do something special with just her another day?)

Go to amazon.com and search on citiblocs. They are amazing. The owner of Gepetto's Toy Box (mentioned in another response) introduced me to these at the Chicago Toy and Game Fair held last weekend at Navy Pier. They are awesome, and kids of all ages (even teenagers and adults)love them. You can build really intricate structures with them, including bridges. My girls, ages 6 and 8 couldn't stop building, and have asked for them for Christmas. They're much cheaper on Amazon.com than elsewhere, and they also qualify for free shipping. Get at least 200 pieces.

bike, scooter, roller blades, skateboard, mitt, bat, sports lessons,...anything to keep moving.

I also suggest 'events'...like coupons for bowling, tickets to a live performance of some kind: circus, play, musical. The Chicago Symphony does a great family/kids oriented Christmas program, Welcome Yule. A boy classmate of our high school freshman daughter told her he has never been to show of any kind. Hard to believe.

Good luck.

I have 12 and 11 year old boys and they still like to get Legos. They also like Nerf products. It gets harder and harder to avoid the electonics but those are a couple of options that don't get old.

I have an 8 yr old grandson and I asked my daughter what he would like for Christmas...She said, he would like the game Mouse Trap...I hope that adds something to your gift list...Have a joyous Christmas with your family. Love Jo

Legos! They come with instructions for the kits, but kids can get creative and make there own inventions!

check out k-nex. they are great. when my boys were younger, they played for hours with this stuff. the instruction booklet really worked out well and we ended up buying lots of sets so that we could build bigger stuff!

Legos, nerf guns, maybe a cheap video camera (iflip)or digital camera. Does he have an ipod, or cool speakers for an ipod? These are things that my 10 yr old son still likes (besides video games, which are also his favorite)

Guiness World Records book or Ripley's Believe it or not book

My daughter who is sitting next to me suggests Schleich action figures- they come in knights,warriors, Native Americans and cowboys. Those are great for imaginative play.

Legos are HUGE here. You can even start with a small set or two, then hit garage sales in the summer to build up the collection gradually.

A Plasma Car costs a bit more, usually $65, but my kids love theirs and race around the neighborhood.

MagnaTiles- very cool, and again you can start with the single set and build from there.

Sorry! -the game, they love it.

Arts and crafts materials.

A game called "Suitcase Detective". We also love a game called "Quarto"!

We shop a lot at Geppetto's Toy Box in Oak Park. I know that is a hike from Round Lake Beach, but if you are ever in the Oak Park area, they have really good alternatives to electronic games. The staff will help you select the perfect gift.

(Oh, my daughter just suggested, "Put the video games in a safe and hide it in the basement and try to go a week without videogames, because then he will love his new toys even more!)

k'nex, legos or Playmobil will all be a hit

Does he like to build stuff or pretend? I found some cool stuff online for my nephew when I was looking like pulleys and stuff. There are trucks that run through mud, tree-house and fort stuff, etc for outdoors.

A cool sled?
Stilts?
Skates/skateboard?
Musical instrument like guitar or cool keyboard?

How about a microscope, or a science experiment kit?

My 8 year old is just getting into tech deck and looking at the site trying to complete the tricks they teach.
Also loves the gam jr. rush hour
hope this helps

If you are looking for sturdy toys that will really last, I suggest the Knights and horses from Schleich. They are a little expensive, but pretty indestructible and good for hours and hours of playing. My son will be 10 in a few weeks and he loves playing with these knights and castle. He is also loving playing with the Star Wars Clone Wars spaceships and action figures too. I suggest looking at card games, board games, books. But the knights are one of our super favorites!

My son (10) and nephews (12 and 13)love Legos and have for years. Even when buying kits, they take the pieces and build even more stuff. And there really is no age when they outgrow them. My son got a K-nex kit last year but doesn't really play with it so each boy is different. They also have Erector sets again. And my son loved when he got his sled for Christmas when he was 7.