Research-backed
Image: MomJunction Design Team
At the age of twelve years, children are on the verge of childhood and adolescence, making it a challenge to get gifts for this age group. When purchasing a gift for a 12-year-old, you need to consider several things. Thus, we have picked the best gifts for 12-year-old boys for you to choose from.
Some boys may want toys, while others may ask for productive gadgets at this age. And a few may want to get clothes or jewelry. Every young man is different. Our list has some thoughtful and exquisite options to cater to children with different interests, offering you unique gift ideas for young boys. Check them out to buy the right gift for your son, grandson, nephew, or friend.
Top Picks
25 Best Gifts For 12-year-old Boys
1. Best For Learning Physics:Thames & Kosmos Ultralight Airplanes STEM Experiment Kit
Image: Thames & Kosmos You can design five ultralight airplane models in various ways with this kit. The exceptional set comes with 44 pieces allowing different wing configurations, a manual book to guide you through the concepts of aerodynamics, and a cardboard glider stand that will prepare for a launch. The parts are made of lightweight plastic and bamboo, allowing the gliders to fly high with the wind assistance without any electronic battery requirements. You can explore various wing positions and angles to determine how the flight design affects its performance. With so many exciting features, it makes one of the best educational gifts for preteens.
Did You Know?2. Best Engineering Set:Lego Technic 42072 Building Kit
Image: Image: Lego 
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 5,059 reviews on Amazon indicate that this product has a loyal following.
Does your kid love Legos? This building kit from Lego has 135 pieces to create a stunt car. It comes with a powerful pull-back motor, spoiler, bumper, and wide rim tires with amazing power and acceleration. The pull-back toy motor and a brand-new toy engine pop-out function of the toy race car activates on impact and moves ahead in speed. It makes a cool gift for teenagers who love cars. Check out this honest review video to learn more about the product.
Quick fact3. Best For Critical-Thinking Skills:Ravensburger Gravitrax Starter Set Marble Run & STEM Toy
Image: Ravensburger An innovative marble run and STEM toy, this comes with 122 pieces so that you can design your own action-packed track systems. It helps your kid learn about the laws of physics on the track. Plus, you can experiment using different angles and heights to even control the speed of the ball. The toy also helps develop critical skills like spatial reasoning and planning skills in kids, making it one of the best gifts for growing boys. Take a look at this review cum testing video to know more about this toy that provides an educational experience.
Quick tip4. Best For Learning New Words:Scrabble Game By Hasbro Gaming
Image: Hasbro Gaming Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 17,547 buyers on Amazon have said the product lives up to the hype.
This fun game of words from Hasbro Gaming helps your kids learn new words and build words. It is an old-school classic game that can keep your kids and family busy on family game nights. It can be played by anyone, from young children to the old, and makes for an excellent family game. The time-tested game comes with a drawstring bag to store the tiles.
5. Best Portable:Flipside
Flipslide is a fast-paced puzzle game that can be super addictive for a 12-year-old. It is all about mastering the moves to beat the blocks by matching colors, and it is super hard to put it down. Plus, your child has four different game modes to choose from, i.e., Multiplayer Mode, Speed Mode, Memory Mode, and Level Mode. The game board is portable and can be carried anywhere, anytime, and is a great gift for kids.
6. Best Lego Set:Lego Architecture Chicago 21033 Skyline Building Blocks Set
Image: Lego Store Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It's no wonder that this quality product has earned over 1,062 positive reviews on Amazon.
This Chicago skyline building blocks set by the trusted brand Lego help recreate the city’s blend of modern and historical architecture. It has been developed to suit a child’s interests, such as travel, culture, history, architecture, and design. This building block set features important architectural landmarks of the city, such as Cloud Gate, Willis Tower, DuSable Bridge, John Hancock Center, etc.
7. Best For Awakening Curiosity:Chuchik Toys Best Binoculars for Kids
This toy binoculars by Chuchik is unlike other binoculars as it is made up of high-quality BAK-7 lenses that help you see even far spaces crisp and clear. The tried-and-tested binoculars are small and lightweight, just the right size for small hands to carry it around. It will encourage and inspire your kid’s curiosity to explore nature and step outside.
8. Best For Developing Creativity:Crayola Colored Pencils
Image: Crayola Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 37,715 positive reviews on Amazon are proof that this product meets customers' expectations.
The pre-sharpened colored pencils from Crayola help your kids discover the soothing activity of coloring. This tried-and-tested set includes 50 different color shades to add vibrancy to your kid’s coloring books or even original masterpieces. It will also evoke creativity and imagination in your kids and can be easily carried around wherever they go, making it a suitable gift for kids.
9. Best For Developing Planning Skills:ThinkFun Circuit Maze Electric Current Brain Game
Image: Think Fun Store Circuit Maze from ThinkFun is a logic game that teaches your kids basic principles of circuitry and comes with 60 challenges of increasing difficulty. It is made up of high-quality components and comes with a clear and easy-to-understand instruction manual. The Circuit Maze helps to develop your kid’s critical thinking skills along with their planning skills, logical reasoning, and spatial reasoning all through fun gameplay.
10. Best For Logical-Reasoning Skills:ThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Brain Game
Image: Thinkfun Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Over 32,000 satisfied customers have left positive reviews about the product on Amazon.
Gravity Maze from ThinkFun is a gravity-powered maze game that sharpens your kid’s mind and helps develop critical skills. This creative toy for young teenagers and tweens also helps children improve their logical reasoning, planning skills, and spatial reasoning with 60 challenges of increasing difficulty. It is super fun to play with your family and can also work as a Christmas or birthday gift for tween boys.
11. Best For Outdoor Activity: Activ Life Kid’s Flying Rings
Image: Activ Life Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Do not miss out on this product that has earned 18,624 positive reviews on Amazon.
The innovative flying rings from Activ Life are 80% lighter than regular flying discs and avoids any form of injury or jammed finger. This time-tested toy will not only help you to reduce the screen time for your kids but also help them indulge in outdoor activities and enjoy hours of catching, tossing flying rings. Plus, this also works as a pool toy for kids as well as adults. It is a suitable option if you are looking for sports-related presents for young boys.
12. Best For Gifting: Copernicus Toys Edible Chemistry Kit
Image: Copernicus As unique as it sounds, children getting introduced to the intricacies of science experiments will love this kit. It features 15 edible experiments, and the kit includes magic color crystals, calcium acetate, sodium alginate, stirrers, plastic bags, a pipet, an instruction book, and more. Children can create color-changing foaming jelly, polymer pudding, and more. Suitable for children aged eight and above, we recommend using this set under adult supervision for safe playing. If you are looking for unique toys for young teens, this set may be the ideal gift.
13. Best For Shockproof: Joyjam Toys
This is a fancy stunt car that tumbles 360°, flips, and spins. It also has four-wheel, heavy-duty, friction and a tri-axial system that can easily work on land, beach, grass, and wetland. It is shockproof and durable; you don’t have to worry about kids being tough on the toy. Plus, this entertaining toy for preteens comes with batteries for the remote and a rechargeable battery for the car.
14. Best Durable: eYotto Kids Sports Waterproof Watch
This is a functional, stylish kids sports watch with 50M waterproof technology and shows the time, date, and week. It also has an alarm, stopwatch, and a dual time feature. The durable PU rubber band helps the watch bend freely, makes it breathable, and is comfortable on the wrist. The high elastic PU protective cover is scratch, drop, and bump resistant. This is a must-have item for boys aged 12 and those living an active lifestyle.
15. Best Lightweight: Marky Sparky Faux Bow
Image: Marky Sparky Faux Bow 3.0 is a popular alternative to the regular bow and arrow. The convenient design holds six extra arrows and a removable launch tube for storing while traveling. The lightweight arrows fly at lightning speed and travel distances for some great backyard fun. The durable lightweight, foam tip arrows offer enough safety to your kids, without compromising on power, distance, and fun!
16. Best For Learning: Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand STEM Experiment Kit
Image: Thames & Kosmos The Mega Cyborg Hand introduces inquisitive minds to the nuances of hydraulic, pneumatic, and robotic systems. It is an exquisite STEM experiment kit where your child can incorporate their learnings and skills to construct a giant wearable hand using air and water pressure. This hand does not require batteries or motors to operate. Instead, the hydraulic pistons make the fingers move, and you can easily grab things as you move your hands. Moreover, the adjustable joints allow precise control and movement. It offers three configurations – left hand, right hand, and claw-like – to fit most hand sizes.
17. Best For Family Fun: Vango The Upside Down Challenge Game
Image: Vango The Upside Down Challenge game by Vango is fun and entertaining, designed for all age groups. Players wear upside-down goggles and complete various challenges while seeing the world upside down. It helps improve coordination and balance as players navigate the challenges while wearing the goggles. The game can also encourage teamwork and effective communication as players try to win.
18. Best For Creativity: M Tabletop Robot
The 4M 5576 Tabletop Robot is a fun kit that challenges your child’s imagination. It is a hands-on science kit that evokes the young scientist in your kid and fosters creativity. It also teaches your kids the basics of robotics as they learn how to build a robot crab. This robot kit offers an opportunity for the kids to learn about assembling a robot and understand how it functions, making it a popular gift for boys aged 12 years.
19. Best Fast-Paced: Educational Insights BrainBolt
Image: Educational Insights Help your 12-year-old work on their memory skills in an engaging and entertaining way by playing the brain teaser game by Educational Insights. This game is designed to help children improve their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. The fast-paced gameplay with solo and two-player modes keeps the game interesting as children try to remember the lighting sequence to win the game. It makes a suitable educational present for young boys, helping improve their mental skills.
20. Best Stress-Free: Baby Mushroom Ultimate Slime Kit
The baby mushroom is an ultimate slime kit that features various fun experiments with polymers and slime to teach your kids about different states of matter. Also, this is a science kit that comes with an instruction booklet that provides easy-to-follow directions for some stress-free fun. It boosts learning and helps your child put down their screens and nosedive into some DIY science fun and experiments. What’s more, this slime also glows in the dark!
21. Best Easy-To-Assemble: Owi Inc Robotics Smartcore
Image: Owi The Owi Inc Robotics Smartcore 6 is an innovative six-in-one robotic construction kit that enables users to create six different robotic vehicles. It includes six pre-programmed motors and a range of other parts, including a main board, tires, screws, and connectors. With this robot kit, you can construct a tank, a rover, a manta, an ostrich, a scorpion, and a beetle. The exciting gift for growing boys is easy to assemble and helps children learn about physics, aerodynamics, and electronics while having fun.
22. Best Adventures: SmartGames Temple Trap
Image: Smart Games If you’re looking for a skill-building game that challenges 12-year-olds while helping them become better problem solvers, the SmartGames temple trap is worth considering. It features 60 different challenges, and the game comes with a portable case, making it easy to take it with you on-the-go. The kit includes the temple — a game board — and eight sliding puzzle pieces and an adventurer. As your children play the game, they are compelled to focus and think flexibly, making it a fun exercise to improve cognitive skills.
23. Best Interactive Puzzle: STEM Solar Car Toys
Image: Smartstoy This model car kit helps your kids learn to build cars with snap circuits and solar panels. The attractive robot building kit puzzle will help your kid exercise their spatial thinking and hand dexterity with hours of fun. This interactive item for preteens is also worthy of display on your bookshelf and desk. It can also work as a great activity for family game nights where everyone indulges in building and innovating together.
24. Best Multiplayer: Starlux Games Glow Battle
Image: Starlux Games The Starlux Games Glow Battle combines the classic strategy of samurai swords with the modern technology of ninja toys, making it a unique and engaging game that can be a fun gift for your teen. With four katana swords, four dojo markers, and ten game options, the game is both entertaining and challenging, as players must use their wits to outsmart their opponents. It involves two to four players, and the katana swords come with batteries with 12-hour light duration.
25. Ravensburger Marvel Villainous: Infinite Power Board Game
Image: Ravensburger The Ravensburger Marvel Villainous: Infinite Power is a strategy board game where players take on the role of famous Marvel supervillains, each with their unique abilities and objectives. The game offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience, as players must balance their actions between advancing their own goals and thwarting their opponents’ plans. Featuring popular Marvel villains such as Thanos, Ultron, and Loki, it makes one of the best gifts for boys and allows them to pretend play their favorite characters.
How To Choose The Right Gift For A 12-Year-Old Boy?
Here are a few things that you should look for while selecting a gift for a 12-year-old boy:
- The ideal gift should match your child’s preference and interest. For example: If they are interested in science, then you should look for a slime kit or a robot kit.
- Pick something not too expensive, as kids tend to lose interest in the toy soon and purchasing too many expensive toys may not be a practical idea for tween boys.
- You should also consider your child’s safety. Look for toys and gadgets for tweens that are free of toxic chemicals, and check the age recommendation before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do 12-year-old boys like soccer balls?
Yes, they do. Soccer balls help in developing their motor and problem-solving skills and enhance communication. You may choose a size four ball for a 12-year-old.
2. Do 12-year-old boys know how to operate a laptop?
Yes, most children of this age can operate a laptop. Even if they don’t, they have the capability to learn how to operate it with your guidance.
3. What makes a good gift for a 12-year-old boy?
Most boys of this age have the ability for complex thought, and therefore, you could get them gifts that tickle their brains. Card games, video games, race cars, outdoor games, and even educational gifts like STEM learning toys and art supplies all make for cool gifts for tween boys.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti Bose, the author of this article, is an experienced reviewer of toys and gifts. She has done extensive research to compile this list of the best gifts for 12-year-old boys. From board games that improve their decision-making and communication skills to colored pencils that bring out your child’s creativity, this thoughtfully curated list has top-rated, best-selling gifts for preteens. Besides the detailed descriptions of each product, she has also included a handy buying guide to help you pick the perfect gift for your loved ones.
The Bottom Line
Toys are not only fun to play with but also aid in the overall development of a child. Since 12-year-olds are neither a child and are yet to step into the teenage phase, choosing a toy that suits them can be challenging. Before buying one, you must understand their tastes and preferences and narrow down on a toy that is skill-centric, safe, and fun to play with. Making sure that the toys you pick also help kindle their passions and encourage them to explore new hobbies can also help. Choose the non-toxic 50-unit Crayola Colored Pencils to boost the child’s creativity, the Scrabble Game by Hasbro Gaming for its educational value and the lightweight Activ Life Kid’s Flying Rings for outdoor fun.
Infographic: Points To Consider When Gifting A 12-Year-Old Boy
Choosing age-appropriate gifts for your pre-teen helps ensure they thoroughly enjoy using them as they align with their needs and wants. So, check out this infographic to learn the interests and needs of a twelve-year-old and consider them while selecting a gift. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
References
- The Art of the Brick
https://www.fi.edu/sites/default/files/PressKit_ArtOfTheBrick_Quirky_LEGO_Facts.pdf
Recommended Articles
- Best Father’s Day Gifts
- Best Toys And Gifts For 10-Month-Old Babies
- Best Birthday Gifts For A Best Friend
- Best Newborn Baby Gifts
- Best Puzzles For Kids
