By Allan Tompkins
Ornaments and decorations hang on a Christmas tree. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)
As winter break is approaching faster than we realize, one thing that remains on the minds of Columbus students is the joy and family bond brought on the day of Christmas. Waking up to a beautiful Christmas tree in the living room accompanied by a bunch of nicely wrapped presents is a feeling that's hard to beat. On top of this, being able to receive, as well as give gifts to family members is a worthwhile tradition that has given this time of year that happy and stress-free feeling of simply putting a smile on someone else's face.
Now, as this time of year approaches, there is one question that family members from all over always ask that can many times prove to be very hard to answer: "What do you want for Christmas?"
Fortunately, many Columbus students are lucky enough to feel like they don’t need much more than what they already have. However, that doesn’t mean the season can’t be made more memorable with creative gift ideas that add fun, convenience, or just a little extra joy to our lives. Therefore, to help you and many others answer this daunting question, here is a top 10 list of the perfect set of gift ideas for high school boys.
Codenames $20
Codenames is a strategic, fun board game that can be played with family and/or friends. It effectively captures what it's like to be a spy and requires lots of teamwork in order to win. Essentially, there are two teams, each led by what is known as a codemaster. In front of the teams is a 5 x 5 grid of cards that all have different words on them. On the other side of the table, the codemasters are assigned certain cards within that grid that they have to try and get their team to guess. The catch is, they're only allowed to give one word clues per turn and those words can't be anywhere on the grid. In a stressful yet exhilirating situation, the codemasters aim to find one word that can work for 2 or more of their assigned words, all while trying to prevent giving clues that might get their team to guess the opposing team's cards or even worse, the assassin, which instantly ends the game.
This game perfectly blends aspects of strategy and thinking with excitement and fun that prove to be a very effective combo. The best part about it is that it is very easy to learn and get used to the more it's played. On top of this, games are relatively short, giving family and friends quick instances of entertainment that can bring everyone together. This board game is definitely worth checking out and potentially adding to your list this year.
LEGO Architecture $39.99-$299.99
One thing that will never be outgrown from childhood is Legos. Who knew that placing plastic bricks on top of each other could be so entertaining. Yet, the process of building a lego isn't near as incentivizing as wanting to see the finished product. That's why Lego: Architecture is such a great gift idea this Christmas. While price ranges vary greatly, products such as the Lego cities of New York and London are not only affordable options, but also great decorative accessories for your room.
Whether it be Lego: Architecture or any Lego in general, they act as the perfect form of calming entertainment for those moments of boredom during the break. The best part about it is that there are hundreds of options for legos and therefore, the best thing to do is simply hop on the website and look for something you like. Who knows, it might show up under the Christmas tree this year.
Car Wash Kit $40
Image of Chemical Guys Professional Wash & Shine Car Cleaning Kit (7 Essential Products) found on walmart.com
A very anticipated part of high school is practicing and eventually passing your driver's test. If you're fortunate enough, you might even receive a car from your family which is a feeling of independence like no other. However, if you are one of those people who has a car, it's especially important to keep it in good condition which includes cleaning it regularly. Car wash kits are perfect beginner guides to washing your car. Including 7 essential products that are fit for the exterior as well as the interior, this kit has everything you need for a good car wash.
For those who might not have a car yet, this kit can also be viewed as an asset to a potential side hustle over the break. Going door-to-door in your neighborhood and offering car washes for an affordable cost can not only give you something to do in those less exciting parts of the day, but also earn you some nice spending cash for other items you might want.
Replica is the fragrance line of Maison Margiela which was originally designed to encapsulate life experiences into scents. With names such as Beach Walk, Autumn Vibes, By the Fireplace, and Under the Lemon Tree, this sampler set allows for you to have scents year round for almost any event or activity you partake in. While buying an entire fragrance bottle isn't a terrible idea, being able to diversify your fragrance collection with 10, 2 mL sample sprays, allows for you to never feel like the guy who's wearing a heavy cinnamon scent in the summertime.
Totaling just under $40, this sampler set is an affordable, last-minute gift idea that can be found on the Maison Margiela website as well as inside many malls and stores such as Sephora or Macy's.
Bellroy Wallet $90
As high school continues, one thing that Christopher Columbus High School famously says during freshman orientation is how everyone is "walking in as boys and walking out as men." Now while this gift will certainly not transform you into a fully matured man, it certainly can help you look more professional in any opportunites you might find yourself in. Made of real leather and holding over 12 cards, this small, underestimated wallet, can prove to be much more than that. Despite it being able to hold a lot of bills and cards, it doesn't bulk up like other wallets and remains slim and easy to fit in your pocket.
Now what really grabbed my attention about this wallet though, was its hidden coin pouch that can be put to great use at Columbus with all the spare change the vending machines usually return. Rather than coins jingling in your pocket, now they can find a space in your wallet and not be lost as easily. Overall, while the price of the wallet might be a bit out of many people's budget, a nice, professional looking wallet in general is something that should definitely be considered for this Christmas.
One thing that many people in our generation are severely lacking in is a stronger connection with nature. While this product is no where near an accurate portrayal of all nature has to offer, it's a very entertaining gift that gives a fun sense of responsibility while furthering your gardening skills. Rather than being forced to garden outside, AeroGarden comes with preplanted pods that only require water and plant food provided in the kit. The rest is done by itself as you watch any type of plant you want to grow grow within a matter of days. It truly is astonishing how fast these plants grow.
The best part about it is that you can grow from a wide array of plants, ranging from vegetables to fruits to even just flowers that bring a new aesthetic to your room. The best feeling is when your able to pick off a couple of basil leaves or rosemary to complement your dinner with your self-grown plant. Ultimately, this fun and creative addition to your room is easy to set up and maintain and is worth checking out.
Creativity meets chemistry in this super fun and boundless kit that allows you to make the perfect hot sauce. With dried peppers, spice blends and your very own scoville unit, this kit gives you the freedom to make that perfect sauce that blends flavors such as the sweetness of the habanero pepper with the spiciness of the chipotle pepper. Especially during the break, this can prove to be an endless form of entertainment as you can continue to mess with new and wild combinations that ultimately lead up to the perfect hot sauce.
The creativity involved with this gift is what makes it so special. What was initially thought to be something done only in factories can now be done within the comfort of your own home all while being done to your likeness. If hot sauce isn't your thing, still make sure to check out DIY Gift Kit's website as they have a series of kits such as lip balm, syrup and even bath bomb making kits.
Topps Card Packs $30
Sports trading cards are items that go back decades and are still very relevant to this day. While some packs can are priced in the thousands, simpler, more entry-level packs such as the one seen above are great opportunities to get into trading cards. The anticipation of opening a pack and having no idea what could be pulled is a thrilling feeling to say the least.
While some people look for the greatest return on their investment, others just hope to get their favorite player. Regardless, sports trading cards are a fun and exciting option for a Christmas gift this year.
SodaStream $100
As we enter the top 2 in the list, one item that is crazy to think about is the SodaStream. Essentially, it is a machine that uses CO2 cylinders to turn regular water into carbonated water. While the original idea seems cool, the fact that sparkling water is all it would produce was initially disappointing. That was until the company released drink mixes that featured popular drinks such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Starry. Along with many other flavors such as watermelon or orange, this machine allows you to make soda on the spot and can end up saving you hundreds of dollars in the long run. By purchasing one of these drink mixes for only 6.99, you're able to produce as many as 24 cans worth of that drink. For an easier visualization, 24 cans of mountain dew is a little over $15 after taxes which means you'd be saving yourself over 7 dollars which doesn't sound a lot on its own, but when its accumulated over time, it's well worth the purchase.
Overall, this product is a great addition to your room or kitchen that can offer you on-the- spot drinks of your favorite beverage in never-before-seen ways.
Glance LED Screen $145
By far the best and most useful Christmas gift this year is the Glance LED Screen. Combining retro vibes with modern technology, this LED screen can be mounted or placed anywhere and features live, 24/7 updates on over 50 topics. Among these topics include live sports tracking, racing, fighting, financial markets, weather, social media, Spotify and yes, even fantasy football. This product allows you to be updated on what you most care about in a cool, creative way. By purchasing it, you are not only able to experience live events 24/7, but are also able to experience it through its forever subscription. This completely free subscription gives you scoring animations, stock quotes, news, weather, trivia and a lot more all in one.
This gift, while expensive, can be forever useful as it adapts to your wants and needs while being so simple in design. Mounting this in your room or on a desk and getting updated on a football game right before you go to sleep, or even waking up to finding out your team won is a great addition to your Christmas list this year.
Whether it be something as simple as a board game or as complex as a soda maker, your Christmas list should hopefully have received a few minor adjustments. While this list is meant to guide you on some last-minute gift ideas for your family members, it's also important to not associate the holiday of Christmas as a strictly materialistic one and realize the importance of gift-giving. More than that though, make sure to realize the importance of family and love.
Everyone's lives are constantly going at 100 miles per hour and many forget to prioritize this love that us humans need and desire. That's why Christmas is viewed as such a special holiday; it's an opportunity for everyone to forget about their stresses and focus on one another, hence the tradition of gift-giving to not only honor the birth of Jesus but also as a form of gratitude towards one another.
This holiday season, make sure to realize the importance of gratitude and humility. Count your blessings as while this list is helpful for many of you, it is only a mere dream for many children throughout the world. Therefore, make sure to not forget the reason why Christmas is celebrated and become too engrossed in the materialism of it all. On that note, there's one more item on the list I think you should consider adding. Under everything you're asking for this Christmas, write a simple: "I love you," to your parents who work hard this time of year to give you a holiday worth remembering. That's a gift I guarantee is worth giving.
I never considered such amazing choices for gifts. Definitely will buy all ten gifts for my relatives. Thanks for helping spread the joy of Christmas.