Your 12-year-old boy is definitely in a transition phase: he’s no longer a little kid, but he’s only just entering the teenage years. Choosing the best toys and gifts for 12 year old boys can be particularly tricky. He’s likely going through immense physical changes as he experiences puberty which in turn lead to emotional mood swings and feelings of self-consciousness. He’s struggling to find his place in the world as he begins to desire more independence from his parents and a separate sense of self.
His friends become increasingly important to him as he develops personal values and interests. In other words, he’s facing a ton of challenges, and though he may look more grown-up, he needs the love, support and guidance of his parents and other trusted adults more than ever. A gift can be a great way to show him that you care while also supporting his development. It may seem difficult to buy for this in-between age, but there are a lot of great options available.
Tips for Choosing Toys And Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys
- Encourage a healthy lifestyle and challenge his growing muscles with a variety of sports equipment. He may be particularly interested in trying a new sport.
- Consider his interests, and give him something that will help him take his hobby to the next level. Whether he’s into art, music, sports or something else, he’ll appreciate that you notice and support his interests.
- Look for games or activities that can be done with a group as social interaction becomes more important.
- Give him a challenge! Twelve-year-olds are longing to prove themselves, and giving them something that invites mastery is a great way to build confidence.
The Ten Best Toys And Gifts For 12 Year Old Boys
WowWee Robotic Enhanced Vehicles
Your 12-year-old boy will love the challenge of this ground-to-air combat game. It comes with a drone and a car that players control by smartphone or tablet. Track your opponent’s vehicle and be the first to hit them one of the various virtual weapons to win the game. You can play against a friend or choose an A.I. driver of varying skill levels to battle if you are flying solo. With advanced sensors and tracking technology, this high-speed game is sure to get your heart pumping! The car is well-designed and easily maneuvers over obstacles, but it is recommended for indoor use only. To get started, simply download the R.E.V Air app onto your device, insert the included lithium polymer battery into the quadcopter and power up the car with four AA batteries.
ThinkFun Adams Cube
Challenge your mind and think outside the box with the ThinkFun Adams Cube! This one see-through cube includes six different mind-bending puzzles. Each side presents a new challenge, some suitable for the beginner while others are more advanced. Your 12-year-old can benefit from brain teasers like this one in a variety of ways: it can build confidence and sharpen your problem solving and critical thinking skills. It’s also just a fun way to pass the time! The convenient design allows all of the pieces including the instruction booklet to be stored inside of the cube. Whether you solve it together or give him the satisfaction of figuring it out himself, this is a great toy to stretch your brain.
Guitar for Dummies Acoustic Guitar Starter Pack
Your 12-year-old boy is ready to take on real challenges and work towards more mature goals. Many boys this age are attracted to music and learn surprisingly quickly. Give him all the tools he needs to learn a lifelong skill with this acoustic guitar set! It includes a Kona Deluxe Acoustic Guitar, a black carrying case, a digital tuner, three picks and the Guitar Basics for Dummies book. The guitar has a rich sound and features steel strings, a linden back and sides, a spruce top and a limited 10-year warranty from the manufacturer.
The easy to follow instruction book packs tons of tips and techniques into its 110 pages, and it comes with an audio CD as well. You’ll be sure to get the right sound with the clip-on digital tuner that boasts a built-in microphone and LCD readout. No matter what skill level your 12-year-old boy achieves, learning to play guitar can be a great pastime and creative outlet.
Snap Circuits Extreme SC-750 Electronics Discovery Kit
Snap Circuits offer a wide variety of kits suitable for many ages, but this one is just the thing for your 12-year-old boy. With 80 parts, including a photoresistor, a power amplifier, a variable capacitor, an analog meter, a solar cell, a computer interface and more, he’ll be able to build over 750 experiments. The kit comes with full-color manuals that will guide him seamlessly through each set-up so whether your child is building an AM radio, a lie detector or a sound activated switch, he’ll be learning about electronics while enjoying a fun challenge.
With so many projects to choose from in a variety of levels of difficulty, your 12-year-old will be sure to find one that both challenges and interests him. This kit even includes an option to connect to a computer to allow users to view waveforms and frequencies for a hands-on science lesson. All that’s needed to turn on the fun is 4AA batteries.
Sphero Mini Blue : The App-Controlled Robot Ball
You might remember your child’s first ball from many years ago. High-tech and full of fun, Sphero mini will put that ball to shame! You can drive Sphero around in a variety of ways through the Sphero mini app: using the app’s joystick, tilting your smartphone, Slingshot mode or even using the expressions of your face! Sphero races around at your command, reaching top speeds of one meter per second. Sphero mini can also be used as a video controller for three included games as well as a way to practice coding. Customize your fun with interchange color shells and get creative with Sphero mini’s playful props: six mini bowling pins and three mini traffic cones. Your 12-year-old will enjoy exploring the many creative capabilities of this deceptively simple looking ball!
Spikeball Game Set
Technology is awesome, but the drawback to the growing amount of time kids spend on devices is that they are spending less time outside being active. This popular game, seen on Shark Tank, is sure to get your 12-year-old boy moving! It’s a fast-paced game for four players that has rules somewhat similar to volleyball. It’s easy to learn and can be played in a variety of places: at a park, on the beach, in an open basement or at a gym. The set includes a playing net, three balls, a drawstring bag and a rule book. The solid design holds up to rough play, and the legs fold for easy storage. You can even download the Spikeball app to find players or pick-up games near you. Boys of this age generally love a competitive game with friends, and this one will help keep them fit and active.
Nintendo Switch
While there are many gifts that would make a 12-year-old boy happy, the one that will probably most delight him is a gaming system. The Nintendo Switch provides a ton of awesome features. The most unique of all of these is the ability to either connect the Switch to your home monitor or choose the handheld mode and take it to go! The console, dock, AC adapter, HDMI cable, Joy-Con left and right, grip and strap are all included. There are multi-player or single player options, and the Joy-Con controller allows for several different options.
Use the red and blue Joy-Con pieces in the grip for a more traditional gamer feel, remove them and hold one in each hand for freestyle play or give one to each player to play with a friend. More controllers can be purchased separately for added fun. Choose from many top-rated games available for the Nintendo Switch including The Legend of Zelda, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Odyssey for a great gift for your 12-year-old boy.
Sport Squad FX40 Foosball Table
If your 12-year-old boy is more of a retro gamer, he might enjoy this foosball table from Sport Squad. At 40 inches by 20 inches, it’s smaller than a regulation table so you can store it out of the way when not in use, but it still delivers all of the exciting fun of a foosball game. These classic games can be a great way to spend time with anyone in your 12-year-old’s life, whether it be a younger sibling, a friend who has come over to hang out or even an older family member.
Creating opportunities for your child to spend time with a variety of positive role models can help them develop core values, make healthy choices and feel supported when he encounters struggles. This table features ergonomic rubber handles, chrome-plated steel rods and durable legs to ensure that this set provides fun competitions for many years to come. A scoring system is also included on each end of the game for fair play, and the goal securely keeps and returns the ball so you can keep the game going rather than spend time chasing after the ball.
Mpow Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones
Chances are that your 12-year-old boy is exploring various musical preferences. Let’s just say that his taste might be a little (or a lot!) different than yours, and you may not care to hear his music at full blast during all of your waking hours. Enter these headphones! They provide an immersive sound experience that your child will love, and the insulation ensures that they will be the only ones “enjoying” the music.
The only downside is that he won’t be able to hear you calling for dinner! They come in seven different colors so he can pick one that is just his style, and the headband and ear cushion are designed to deliver a perfect combination of comfort and durability. These headphones can be used in either wired or wireless bluetooth mode depending on your home set-up, and they can also be used to make calls as they include a built-in mic. With only four hours of charging time, you’ll receive up to twenty hours of play. The headphones also fold away and store in an included bag when not in use. Whether your 12-year-old is talking to friends, watching TV or listening to his favorite band, these reliable headphones will help keep both him and you happy.
The Lord of the Rings Boxed Set
As your child becomes more able to follow complex storylines, he may become interested in reading this great fantasy series. This literary classic has withstood the test of time and has become even more popular after the release of the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. The thrilling story of friendship, perseverance and change touches on many of the themes that your child is experiencing in his own life. Sharing a book that meets kids where they are at may give them the courage to work through difficult experiences. Additionally, encouraging a love of reading can help keep your child’s mind active and expand his vocabulary and attention. This beautiful set will look great on his bookshelf and includes The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
