What to put in tin

moonpenny

I want to get my grandson 9 one o those tins to put "stuff" in. I'll have his name put on the front but what to put inside?
He is mad on compasses so I will get that and the only other thing I can think of is a small torch.
Years ago a penknive would have been essential but obviously not these days - it's a no no. Just had a thought - a magnifying glass!
Please can anyone think of anything to put in?

DomRavioli

A voucher/cash so he can get what he wants? Without knowing what he likes (apart from compasses) nobody can give accurate suggestions.

Does he have any hobbies, collect anything, or have an interest in a specific subject/field? That would be a starting point.

Otherwise sweets (never known them be rejected and seem to go down well), maybe some lego type minifigures if he likes that - wilko do their own Blocks range which are cheaper and fully compatible with lego, my godson loved (and at 17 still loves) the fire sachets you can buy online, which when put in a fire (by an adult!) change the colour and have "special effects" - little sachets of sugar work too, as well as pine cones with some simple household bits on them.

Maybe football/pokemon cards (its back in vogue again), travel games (noughts and crosses etc, can get from charity shops, online and I think I got the last ones from both home bargains and WH smiths), origami post it notes (if he's creative), small colouring set (poundland have some good ones), "cool" plasters - can get from most shops for cheap, and most kids need them.

The list could be endless, but that's what I would do for someone - deffo try to concentrate on hobbies, if he's into cartography and travel, maybe print off some cool ones and "tea bag" them to make them look old, a simple treasure hunt (with a map, maybe around the local area or even the garden), pocket books on a destination?

moonpenny

Pokemon cards are good and also he treasure map with something at the end of it would be a good idea.
I don't want it to be a gift box as such - more the sort of thing a boy would keep his treasures in. Sounds a bit daft but like you would imagine a boy would have in his pocket that are treasure to him. Maybe marbles and some really old coins etc.
He likes computer games, football, magic . He is intelligent,loves maths ,space but is not create at all.

sheramber

Pencils, sharpener , small ruler

Katiehound

I made a special box for a friend's grandson a couple of years ago. It was actually a very embellished shoebox with his name on the top!
He's now 7 and it is filled with his nature finds, so I think anything of an 'interesting' nature would be great- doesn't have to be expensive.

old or foreign coins- I'm thinking the coins that come with a hole or fancy shapes.
Old postcards of his interests or where he lives. fancy keyring?
fossils- you can buy some fairly cheaply (round here you can find on the beach)
I bet I've got some perfect things in my house!
Photos of members of his family at his age?

small bright torch (mine came from Poundland last year) and a print out of this page: 'hand shadow puppets'
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/galleries/266-hand-shadow-puppetry

stocking fillers from here? I set filter at show prices low to high - they start at 40pence- not sure about p&p!!
http://www.hawkin.com/christmas-ideas-1/stocking-fillers-2-1/sort-by/price/sort-direction/asc

personalised pencils & notebooks- this is one of many sites
https://www.able-labels.co.uk/christmas-notebooks/

metal & wooden puzzles such as these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Retro-Metal-Puzzles-Set-puzzles/dp/B0088FGE5Y

moonpenny

Thanks Katie hound
Some brilliant ideas! The fossil thing is good as he keeps asking for a metal detector but we are not near the coast.
I like the shadow puppet printout and metal puzzles as well
Got quite a few ideas now - if I'm not careful he won't have any room to put his own special stuff . Ha ha!

Katiehound

Other ideas (which are easier to fulfil on a seaside holiday with the souvenir shops!)
a sea bean- these are about the size of squashed conker!- shiny wooden bean- grows on a creeper in W.Africa and washed up on beaches here (but not sure where as I bought mine)

small polished pebbles or semi-precious stones

there used to be little plastic viewers with faceted plastic glass- similar effect to a kaleidoscope

2 small plastic mirrors taped together to make angles and view multi images (again a bit like kaliedoscope)

Set of alphabet stamps and small ink pad- for making messages etc
http://uk.sale730.com/search/?q=Dovecraft%20Stamps&campid=5337771376&gclid=CI-HtpLX59ACFZIaGwodSp8MGA

Oh and you might like to make him a box for next year! Ecco shoeboxes are great. 2 layers of vinyl silk/matt, 2 coats acrylic varnish and they are then quite tough.
I made some great ones using native images- for example the whales here:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=aboriginal+art&biw=1024&bih=621&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjqjZyW2OfQAhWECsAKHc2vCBcQ_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=aboriginal+art+animals+black+and+white-+whale
If you are interested I could e-mail you an image- too difficult to get it up here!!

chanie

Pen -ones that have different coloured ink.

Survival bracelet (it's essentially parachute cord wrapped into a bracelet)

Owain_Moneysaver

if he likes the idea of metal detectoring he might like coins minted in his birthyear. Probably a couple of quid on ebay for a set, or hunt through all your change.

Spendless

I noticed recently that there seems to be a lot more wallets about aimed at a younger generation. I struggled to find these when my son was that age. Maybe that's an idea? Mine also used to like gemstones, like these

http://www.bakerross.co.uk/small-mixed-gemstones?&mkwid=szBDDoRsZ_dc&pcrid=87343010057&kword=&match=&plid=&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=BR+%7C+UK+%7C+Shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=szBDDoRsZ|pcrid|87343010057|pkw||pmt||pdv|c|&gclid=CjwKEAiAj7TCBRCp2Z22ue-zrj4SJACG7SBEAaU6Z9BNu2V2Id5VFmeLs3BppjFBgD4zYyq1XpiabBoCPmPw_wcB

He also had a small bottle of fools gold
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00VYLOFGY/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00BEEAHMC&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=DKNG2Z6JRSHMCGGC831W