It is hard in our digital world to find great gifts for boys that don’t involve a computer or iSomething screen, but we have discovered some incredible finds over the past few years that I would love to share! Our newest finds are listed first, and items from years past below by category. The starred items have been our very favorites and have lasted year after year. If you have something your boys have loved, please leave it in the comments below to help the rest of us this year! (Look forward to my favorite gifts for younger boys, a bunch of stocking stuffers, and a list of games your family will love in the next few days!)
Looking for my top 10 List? Click HERE!
ALL ITEMS LINKED!
NEW IDEAS:
Hover Board: In the words of my children, these are “so sick,” but they are also sickly expensive. If you are the type that loves a big surprise or maybe an awesome family gift, this just might knock their socks off ($300).
Trick/Pro Scooters: These scooters are pretty amazing, like a razor but a million times stronger. My boys first saw them at a skate park where people were using them for jumps and tricks and they were sold (from $40-$160).
Leather Craft Set: If your little guy loves crafting, perhaps this leather set would be a fun surprise! ($27)
Penny Style Skate Board: I am constantly amazed by the balance so many kids exhibit on these toy style skateboards. These are small but big fun ($57).
LEGO mat: If your little guy wishes every surface was a LEGO table, this mat can make his dreams come true. This silicone mat creates a great foundation for any LEGO or DUPLO builder, then can be rolled up and stored time and again ($36)
Head Lamp: This would make an awesome stocking stuffer. Perfect for dark tag, camping, or even reading at night. You will be surprised at how excited boys get about a head lamp. ($13)
Magformers: Kids can spend hours putting these cool magnetic pieces together. Everyone loves them! ($26)
OUTDOORS
Pocket Knife $10 and up
If you have a son interested in scouting there is nothing cooler than his first pocket knife. Sure to be a hit.
Sleds $20 and up
Rock Polisher $50 and up
My friend bought one of these for her son last year and it is still one of his favorite things. Be aware that it can be loud and takes patience but the results are worth it!
*Portable Soccer Goals or Full Size Soccer Goals $50 and up
If your boys love soccer these will get used and re-used. The little ones are easy to carry and store and can be anchored to the ground on windy days or for rougher play. The big ones provide hours of outdoor entertainment. A great investment.
Sports Equipment $5 and up
If your son loves sports, getting a new football, golf club, tennis racket, soccer ball or basketball is always a fun gift…especially if it is the one he has been hoping for.
Kids Sports Illustrated The Top Ten of Everything $15
If you have a boy who loves sports, I promise he will love this book…even if he hates reading! What is cooler than a really well done book full of top ten lists? Nothing! We got this book and I found my boys reading it at breakfast and quizzing their brothers and dad on stats at every turn. My husband even enjoyed looking through it. A great book for boys!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5 Book Set $22
I have yet to meet a boy who did not LOVE this series! It is definitely worth having in your home (3rd grade and up).
The Michael Vey Series $38
This series is amazing. Best for boys 5th grade an up.
Recommended Books for Boys covering all Ages and Reading Levels
I wrote a post a few months ago detailing all the books my boys have loved from Kindergarten on up. There are lots of great choices (over 60) for great Christmas book gifts here! It has been recently updated with a few of our new favorites. If you have something to add, let me know!
Magazine Subscriptions $15 and up
Ranger Rick, Sports Illustrated for Kids, National Geographic for Kids or Zoobooks are gifts that keep on giving.
Probably the most classic toy in many boy homes. They can be pricey and rarely go on sale, but if you have boys who like to build, there is not a better toy. Find out what your boy is really into and surely they have a set to match any interest. One hint if you are just starting…if you can keep the Legos in sets and keep the instructions, you will get a lot more play out of them.
*Tool Sets $20
A few years ago we got a tool set for each boy, and they have used and loved them. They felt so grown up with their own set of tools, and I must admit that we enjoyed having a few extra hammers and screwdrivers around the house. A great present for a kid who loves building or helping dad around the house. This is a really simple but useful set. If you have a son who is really interested in building or car mechanics, you can get much more intricate tools for him too.
EZ Fort: If your kids love building forts or you are looking for a great indoor play option this Christmas, EZ Fort is your best bet! This cool kit allows kids to build forts, tents, play houses, obstacle courses, soccer goals, or anything their imagination can reach for! Let them create to their their hearts’ content without ruining your new couch and chairs in the process. Such a cool concept for our house full of boys! ($39.99)
Snap Circuits $130
My friend has boys who are really interested in building and engineering and they love Snap Circuits which allow you to do in depth explorations of electronic circuits. A great gift for a scientific mind!
Model Cars or Model Airplanes $15 and up
If you have a builder on your hands, he might love a model car or airplane. There are so many cool options to choose from and they make an awesome father/son or mother/son project!
LEARNING
Young Scientist Club: My mother-in-law got this for my 8 year old and all of my boys absolutely love it! There are 3 main kits in each box with a total of 9 experiments. You have 12 different themes to choose from, each allowing your child to explore the world of science. The experiments are simple enough for my kids (11, 9, 8) to figure out on their own with a little help from me every now and then. Younger kids would be able use the kit with adult assistance. Everything you need is included in the kit except a few basic household items. Great, hands-on fun for winter break. We are so excited about this new discovery! ($26.99)
Tinker Crates: Tinker Crates are another fantastic, new way to explore science and engineering! Each month, your child receives a crate with all the necessary items to build things like trebuchets, electric currents and more! There is a perfect, monthly pick for ages 4-16 and it is a gift that keeps on giving, though you can cancel at any time. ($20 per month). Use the link above to receive $10 off your first crate!
Air Hockey Table $300 and up
Ping Pong Table $300 and up
Double Shot $100 and up
ART
*How To Draw Books $5.
We love these at our house! They make drawing everything so simple!
Spin Art $13
Such a great go-to gift for any young boy who loves art.
Spirograph $23
I remember these from my childhood! We spend hours creating spiral art!
Rainbow Loom Bracelets $18
They are easy to make and addictive, so fun to make for all your friends, teachers, grandparents, cousins, etc.
Origami Fun Kit for Beginners $14
My boys can get really into Origami and it was a quiet present that kept their hands busy and minds occupied for quite awhile. Most of the directions were easy enough for my kids to figure out on their own.
Snow Cone Machine $72
This might seem like a funny gift, but my son got this for his birthday and he LOVES it. I was shocked at how easy it is to use…you use your own ice from your freezer and because it is basically all water, there is no mess. My 7 and 8 year old can operate it all on their own it is so easy. The cones come out softer and easier to eat than the ones that come from a carnival, though not as soft as the “real” snow cone huts. We love it.
Frog Aquarium $50
We have not tried these yet, but a few friends have had them and loved them! You get an aquarium with 2 frogs and a snail in their own self-cleaning eco-system. You feed the frogs twice a week and clean the aquarium twice a year. Talk about an easy pet!
Lately I feel like I can’t loose by buying my kids athletic type clothing. They love a good track suit or some Under Armor wear.
Hats are also a big hit…especially in their favorite brand or team.
EXPERIENCES
Think about giving an experience to your son:
Tickets to a college or professional sporting event
Tickets to a concert
Tickets to a play
Season pass for skiing or a water park
Season pass to a museum
A gym membership
Lessons in something they really enjoy (art, music, sports, etc.)
A night out together with dinner and movie tickets
An airplane ticket to see grandma and grandpa
Gift Certificates to favorite restaurants or fun zones
*I am part of the Amazon Affliliate program. If you like these suggestions, I would love it if you purchased them from my links to help support my writing!
This is such great info Brooke! I will book mark it for when I have bigger boys, but I did find some great tips I can also use for my girls. Your such an amazing Mom!
Thanks Janel! You are the greatest. I cannot wait to see you with another boy. They will definitely love some of these ideas sooner rather than later ;).
what amazing gifts these would make!! Thanks so much to create recommendations to, you're so creative! I'll be trying this out at some aspect 🙂
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Great list! Some of my favorite gift ideas are the ones that are practical, for example Captain America shield backpack http://www.gift-ideas-finder.com/top-10-non-tech-gifts-kids/
Bought the mini basketball hoop for my kids and they’re loving it! And easily put in my door. Thanks again for the list and happy holidays! 🙂
So glad you guys love it and thanks for the feedback! We are still using ours daily after 4 years. Hope your holidays were wonderful!
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