Editors Note: There are many research-based articles on the pros and cons of gender-specific toys, a topic that many parents are passionate about. In our toy series with our partner Wicked Uncle, we will be highlighting a specific age and gender. Our sister sites in other parts of the country will be doing the same, with a collective goal to provide a comprehensive list of quality toy choices based on developmental milestones. You will find as you look through the lists that our top choices are great for any gender. We encourage play and imagination at any age!
We’re in a weird phase in life. Children can’t really go play outside and if they do, they aren’t allowed to have too many friends around. This pandemic has forced children to get creative and look to toys that will occupy them and beat boredom. Our 12-year-old boys need additional entertainment other than their devices. This list is for the parents that need to occupy their children, during shelter-in-place and beyond.
Here are our top picks for the 19 best toys and gifts for 12-year-old boys:
- Flashing LED Baseball Cap
- World’s Smallest Blower
- Pindaloo Ball Game
- Jellyfish Lamp
- Twister Light
- Ionosphere
- Magno Darts
- Interactive Glow T-Shirt
- Build-a-Drone
- Metal Detector
- Fifty Amazing Magic Tricks
- Giant Brain
- Mini Arcade Machine
- Party2Go
- LED Light Up Glasses
- Artie 3000
- Wicked Pranks & Jokes
- Wall Climbing Car
- Smartcore 6
This list was brought to you by a 12-year-old and his cousins. While our mom experts have the final say, our perspective is clearly not relevant here. We decided to engage the experts and they made excellent choices. The direction given to the boys was to select the toys they would want someone to give them and they didn’t stop with just one selection. This is right in line with their increasing hormones.
1. Flashing LED Baseball Cap
This is a hat 12-year-old boys would show off to their friends. The LED lights inserted into the lining makes it a cool hat to wear. Kids will stand out wearing it at night.
2. World’s Smallest Blower
With online learning, this would help keep keyboards and desk areas clean. It’s difficult to get boys to clean their rooms. This toy makes cleaning fun.
3. Pindaloo Ball Game
With some extracurricular sports being canceled, this can help with boys staying active. This is a fun game that can also help improve hand-eye coordination since it causes you to focus really hard on getting the ball in from one side of the loop to the other.
4. Jellyfish Lamp
The colors on this lamp will illuminate any room and make you feel relaxed. Boys can replace their nightlights with this cool lamp and they won’t lose “cool points” with their friends.
5. Twister Light
Another cool replacement for a nightlight is the twister light. The difference with this one is that you can also sit and watch the tornado change colors all day and not be bored. It’s a great accessory for a boys desk.
6. Ionosphere – Control the Lightning
Honestly anything with lights will mesmerize a 12-year-old. Add a little spark to it every time they touch it and you have them hooked and laughing at themselves and their friends who play with it.
7. Magno Darts
A perfect toy for competition with friends and according to my son, this is a perfect game against his cousins. Quarantine with our immediate family has my son and his cousins always figuring out different ways to entertain themselves. This is perfect for being stuck inside with family.
8. Interactive Glow T-Shirt
A great replacement for both boys and girls versus the fabric markers on t-shirts that are permanent. From drawing on the walls with crayons to drawing on clothes, the need for kids to doodle everywhere never ends. Luckily this erases and they can start again without making a mess.
9. Build-a-Drone
Drone’s are a trendy adult toy so I can see why my son chose this toy. He also has a love for Lego’s and this toy combines two items that he enjoys. Safe and easy to put together, you can’t go wrong with this as a gift.
10. Metal Detector
I have always wanted one of these as a child. My children have asked for one so they can go treasure hunting. We all have had a point in our childhood where we imagine finding money through a metal detector. Perfect toy for the treasure hunters.
11. Fifty Amazing Magic Tricks
My son has currently chosen being a magician as the career he wants when he grows up. Watching our faces light up when he does a magic trick, makes his face light up. A great gift for future magicians.
12. Giant Brain
According to my son, online distance learning is stressful. He would see this as a useful item for the days when schoolwork is too much for him. It’s a great option to use while on zoom calls with classmates without being distracting.
13. Mini Arcade Machine
240 games in one?! Say no more! That is more than enough to keep my child busy and entertained.
14. Party2Go
In my family, the adults tend to hog the Karaoke machine. This is a great mini version for kids to use and sing just as out of key as adults. They have a chance to play rockstar with the gold mic and even set a concert mood with the disco ball.
15. LED Light Up Glasses
My son is a fan of anything with LED lights, hence the many toy items on the list with LED lights. These glasses make any boy stand out in a crowd and at a family party. Being able to change it to different colors is an added bonus.
16. Artie 3000
Artie is such a cool toy! Learning how to code and watching the code come to life is exciting. The drag and drop is so simple and yet makes my child feel like he’s a coding genius. For the kids that love to code or want to code, this is a great toy.
17. Wicked Pranks & Jokes
I feel like every young boy loves to play pranks on everyone in their family. My son has done this to me and his sister more than once. They especially love to torment their siblings with pranks. This is the perfect ammo for them to have at their hands for a prank war with their siblings.
18. Wall Climbing Car
I used to watch my son run his miniature toy cars up the wall and watch them fall or leave marks. I’m not at all surprised he chose this toy. A bigger version of the miniature toys that go up a wall without falling is a great replacement.
19. Smartcore 6
My son loves to build. He loves watching his work come to life even more so. This is a great activity for him and his cousins to do together. The various options keep them entertained and they can trade-off. The hovercraft toy in this selection is my son’s favorite.
