20+ Best Gifts for Boys Aged 12
Below, you will find our detailed reviews of over 20 great gifts for tween boys. There is everything ranging from board games to tech and building kits to books. Our reviews are certain to make finding the perfect gift a whole lot easier!
Grandma Smiley’s Baseball Game
This baseball board game is a great gift for boys who love baseball. Even when the weather is too poor to play outdoors, this game is the next best thing to playing for real. There are different ways to play the game: a more simple version for beginner and an advanced version with more rules. This is a great game for dads and sons to enjoy together, however, anyone with a basic understanding of the rules of baseball will love it. The game is extremely well made, with high-quality pieces, and will last for years to come. It is played with two players, or two teams with an unlimited number of players.
ThinkFun Cat Crimes Logic Game
Cat Crimes is a fun board game which requires kids to use their logic skills to solve the puzzles. This is a single-player game, however kids can work together in pairs or groups to solve each challenge. There are 40 challenge cards included, broken down into four different levels of difficulty. The game involves solving a mystery, but at a level which is appropriate for children. Anyone who loves cats is sure to love this game! It’s educational and fun, and small enough to take when traveling.
Activ Flyer Frisbee
These flying discs are a great way to encourage older kids to stay active and enjoy playing outdoors. They are lightweight and are easy to throw and catch. The frisbees fly straight, making it easier to play, even for kids who aren’t too great at catching and throwing! The discs come in a range of colors, including glow in the dark ones – great fun to play at night! They’re also much lighter than standard discs, meaning there’s less chance of getting hurt when playing. This is a great toy to use anywhere – in the back yard, park, on vacation and even in the pool. Kids will have hours of active fun playing with these frisbees!
Googly Eyes Game
The Googly Eyes game is a great party game for kids to enjoy with their friends. The game involves wearing vision-adjusting googles then attempting to draw, whilst other players guess what you have drawn. The rules of the game are simple and can be learned quickly, however mastering the game is much more difficult! Between 4 – 16 players can use this game, so it’s perfect for a family games night or a large birthday party. There are three different lenses included each offering differing levels of difficulty, so player of all ages and abilities have equal chances of winning.
Over the Door Indoor Mini Basketball Hoop
This indoor basketball hoop is a great gift for boys who love playing ball! Even when the weather is poor outside, they will still be able to enjoy a game with this gift set. It hangs easily over the back of a door, meaning there’s no need to drill into the walls. It also means you can easily remove the hoop when not in use, or move it to a different location easily. There is a small ball included, as well as a pump to keep it inflated. The cushioned design means the door won’t get damaged during gameplay.
Infrared Laser Tag Set 4 Guns 4 Vests
This laser tag set is a fantastic gift for tween boys who have everything. The set of four guns are packed with great features which are sure to keep kids entertained time and time again. There are four different types of gun available to choose from, each offering a different number of bullets and number of lives taken per hit. The vests included can fit almost all sizes, even large adults, so anyone can join in the fun! The guns offer fun sound effects and lights, and vibrate to indicate a hit. Playing laser tag is a great way to get your tween active and playing outdoors with others, away from gadgets and screens.
National Geographic – 5,000 Awesome Facts
This facts book is a great gift for boys who love reading and enjoy sharing fascinating facts with their friends and family. The National Geographic book is written to a high standard, and at a level which is ideal for 12 year olds to understand. The book covers a range of topics, from aliens to cars and gravity to wildfires – there is sure to be something to interest your 12 year old! The book is colorful and filled with images, which makes it easy and interesting to read. This is the ideal book for boys with a short attention span, as it doesn’t have to be read from cover to cover in one session.
LEGO Marvel Spider-Man Building Kit
This Spiderman LEGO kit is a great choice for tweens who enjoy building LEGO. There are just over 600 pieces, so it will keep kids entertained for a while. It’s also fun to play with once it’s built, and looks equally great on display. The kit is used to build a Spider Mech and Venom Mech, and also comes with four minifigures, including Spiderman. The Mech features a cockpit for a minifigure to sit inside, and they are fully poseable for hours of interactive play and fun.
RipStik Ripster Caster Board
The RipStik is a great outdoor toy for tween boys. Learning to ride might be a bit of a challenge, but it is one a young boy is sure to enjoy. The toy can be used for performing tricks, and has a slip-resistant deck for better foot control. Users of up to 175 pounds can ride the Razor RipStik, so it is sure to provide years of fun! The castor board can be used to ride up and down the street, as well as for doing tricks at the skate park. It’s the perfect gift for active boys who love being outdoors.
Stomp Rocket The Original Jr. Glow
This Stomp Rocket is another fun toy to use outdoors. This version features glow in the dark rockets, so it can be played with during the day or at night! The rockets are launched simply by jumping on the launch pad – no batteries or wires required. Boys will love taking turn to launch rockets up to 100 feet in the air. The toy can be used anywhere; in the yard, at the park or even on vacation. It is great for providing entertainment and keeping active too.
OWI – Hydraulic Arm Edge Kit
This hydraulic arm building kit is a great introduction to robotics for tweens. No electricity is needed for this robotic arm – it is simply powered by water. There are over 200 parts to assemble, so it offers a good challenge for boys aged 12. Once built, it can be used to lift and move items weighing up to 50g, using vacuum technology. The robotic arm has a good reach in all directions, over 16 inches vertically and 12 inches horizontally. It can also rotate well in all different directions, so boys will love experimenting to discover what it can do!
STEM Explorations – Swing Ride Building Set
This large KNEX set is great for boys who are interested in STEM subjects. It comes with nearly 500 pieces which can be used to built a motorized swing ride. There are two further rides which can be built with the kit, and full instructions are included for each. There is also an experiment guide which challenges kids to use their finished models to learn and explore. Boys will be entertained for hours when building these models, which are also great for working on along with friends or siblings. The pieces are compatible with other KNEX sets, so can be used to build imaginatively and creatively too.
RC Car Building Kit
This is another fantastic building kit which allows kids to design and build their very own remote controlled car. There are over 300 pieces in this kit, which can be put together in two different ways to design different styles of vehicle. Once built, the car can be raced using the included controller. It can drive for up to 25 minutes after being charged fully, which takes around 90 minutes. Not only is building and playing with this car loads of fun, it is also very educational and is sure to help your pre-teen learn and practice some important skills.
ThinkFun Circuit Maze
The Circuit Maze is another fun STEM toy which is ideal to use alone or with friends. The aim of the game is to design a functioning circuit based on the challenge cards. The cards show kids which pieces to put on the board to begin, and which pieces they have to add. However, they will have to experiment by adding the pieces in different places until they find a way which completes the circuit. The challenges range in difficulty so there is something for all abilities, and there are 60 challenges in total. When the beacons light up, you’ll know the circuit has been completed properly!
Brain Twisting Solitaire Game
Kanoodle is a fun puzzle game which is perfect for playing alone. It can be used by all ages and abilities, from 7 years old to adult, so it’s perfect for tweens. The game is ideal for travel as it is compact and lightweight, and all pieces are neatly stored in the carrying case. There are 200 puzzles included, so it is certain to keep kids entertained for a long while. Some of the 12 puzzle pieces must be arranged in different ways as shown on the cards, then the other pieces are added in order to complete the puzzle. Both 2D and 3D puzzles are included, so there is a challenge suitable for all abilities. This is a great gift for boys who love brainteasers and puzzles.
Magnetic Dart Board
The magnetic dart board is perfect for kids who want to play darts but parents are worried about the damage it can cause around the house! These darts won’t leave any marks if they hit walls or doors, and they also won’t cause injury to players. This is the perfect game to change up a family games night, and it can also be played alone or with a friend. There are six darts included in two different colors, and the board has a realistic look. Kids will have hours of fun playing with this set, even as they get older.
Drone with Headless Mode
This beginner’s drone is an excellent gift for tween boys who love technology or RC toys. It’s ideal for those who are new to drones, as it is well-priced and comes with many features which make it easy to fly. The drone can fly for up to 12 minutes on a single charge, and offers wind-resistance for flying outdoors. The quadcopter also comes with a one-touch takeoff and landing feature, making it easy for beginners to get it off the ground. There is also a HD camera on the drone, which can be connected to an iOs or Android device.
Walkie Talkies for kids
These camouflage walkie talkies are ideal for boys who love playing and exploring outdoors. They can be used for playing army or spy games with friends, as well as for keeping in touch when on a hiking or camping trip. There are 22 channels, so the chance of interference is minimal. The two-way radios also feature a 3-mile range, so kids can go off and explore and still be able to keep in touch. Also included in the pack are two survival bracelets and lanyards to carry the radios around the neck.
Digital Watch for Kids
This digital watch is a great gift for boys – it is sure to encourage them to be timely! It’s also waterproof up to 50m, so it can be worn during watersports, swimming and when showering. The watch is packed with useful features including an alarm, stopwatch and LED backlight for easy viewing at night. As well as displaying the time, the watch can also show the day and date. It’s made from stainless steel and rubber, so it’s durable enough to last for many years to come. The size of the watch is perfect for teens and even adults.
Boys Bracelet Making Kit
This bracelet making kit is aimed at boys – it’s perfect because many boys are put off these types of activities as they tend to be aimed towards girls. The colors and styles of these bracelets will appeal more to boys – they will love wearing and showing off their creations! Everything you need is included with the kit including cords, chain and beads. This is a great gift for any occasion. Boys can even make bracelets for their friends and siblings as gifts, or friendship bracelets for their best friends!
Chalk Board T-Shirt
This speech bubble t-shirt is the perfect gift for a boy on his 12th birthday. The shirt comes with a chalk board type marker to customize the shirt with any design. It comes in a variety of sizes, so no matter if your 12 year old is above or below average sized, there will be a shirt to fit. The design can be erased and redrawn over and over again, so the shirt can be used for any occasion. The shirt is made from 100% cotton, so it is comfortable to wear and easy to care for. Also included is a stencil with various designs which can be used for inspiration when designing the shirt.
How to Choose a Birthday Gift for a Boy Aged 12
If your son is having a birthday party, it might be a good idea to buy a party game as a gift. Board games are also ideal if the gathering will be smaller. If his birthday is in the Summer, laser tag or Nerf guns are great as they can be used outdoors and by multiple players.
Any of the gifts we have chosen above would be excellent to give on a birthday, and they are equally ideal for Christmas or graduation. If he will be transitioning to middle school, you might want to get him something practical. This could be a new backpack, a watch to ensure timeliness or a water bottle for example.
Considerations When Buying Gifts for 12 Year Olds Boys
There are many things to think about when searching for the perfect gift for a boy aged 12. The main thing to consider is age-appropriateness. You don’t want to embarrass your near-teen with something which is too babyish. Likewise, don’t choose a toy which is too difficult to use as this will cause frustrations.
You should also keep the boy’s interests in mind. Choose something you know he is into – for example if he collects LEGO then choose a new set for his collection. If he is interested in STEM subjects, there are loads of great toys which would be ideal gifts. Or if he loves reading, choose a fun new book for him to enjoy.
Conclusion
There are loads of great gifts available for tween boys if you know where to look. There is no way to determine the overall best gift for a 12 year old boy, as it is really down to individual taste and preference. He is sure to love any of the items above, no matter what the occasion is.
