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Cool Gifts For 8-12 Year Old BOYS – (Miranda’s Top Picks)

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I usually find shopping for girls, probably because I am a girl and I can think back to my childhood and what I loved. But we have to buy for several boys in the 8-12 year old range this holiday season. So because I was struggling, I decided to get some advice from the boys in my life and share this gift guide with you all in hopes of saving you the battle of buying the perfect gift for this hard age to shop for.

Cool Gifts For 8-12 Year Old BOYS - (Miranda's Top Picks).

Best Gifts For 8-12 Year Old BOYS

Since I struggle when it comes to shopping for any boy past the toddler stage, I had to do some research. Of course, there’s the general categories to consider:

  • Legos
  • Pokemon Cards
  • Video Games / Gaming Systems
  • Board Games
  • Sports Equipment
  • Tech Gear
  • Outdoor Activity Equipment
  • Experience Gifts
  • If the child you’re shopping for has a special or unique interest, such as puzzles or collecting something; definitely consider those options too.
Cool Gifts For 8-12 Year Old BOYS - (Miranda's Top Picks).

Top Cool And Unusual Gifts For The Tween Boys

I’ve rounded up a variety of gift ideas, from necessities to fun. And if you are choosing to do the ‘something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read’ route, we’ve got you covered there too. This list was curated by my own boys, ages 12 and 14 along with some input on a couple younger boy cousins in the 8-10 year old range.

Specific Gifts For 8-12 Year Old BOYS

Funwares 

Kids playing darts. 
 Funwares Giant 36" Dart Board.

Giant 36″ Dart Board

Sometimes size does matter! This Giant Dart Board is 25% larger than other “large” dartboards and a whopping 275% bigger than “standard” dartboards, ensuring it’s the centerpiece of indoor fun and outdoor fun. We all know boys can get rowdy but rest assured there is no metal and no sharp points with this set so it won’t hurt kids or pets OR put holes in your walls like traditional dart boards! The balls have a hook-and-loop material that sticks to the lightweight, soft fabric. This board can be hung anywhere inside or outside your home or dorm. It’s the giant, safe dartboard, that never gets old.

Funwares Ring Strike Archery Bow and Arrow Set.

Ring Strike Archery Bow and Arrow Set

Not only does this foam launcher set go far, the darts WHISTLE! This is the best brand for high quality and durability and the power and velocity this set delivers is pretty amazing. Easy to use and accurate, it’s a great choice for outdoor (and indoor) fun.

NEX Playground

Nex Playground Game System Review_ Family Friendly Gaming You'll Love!

Playground Gaming System

Move on over, there’s a new gaming system in town! The NEX Playground is so cool! No controllers to plug in or charge and no couch sitting. Instead, you are IN the game! The AI smart camera catches your movements and puts you front and center. There are five games built in and over 20 additional games you can gain access to with their Play Subscription. Check out my full NEX Playground review here.

woom Bikes

woom EXPLORE 6.

woom EXPLORE 6

The premium kids’ bike brand we all know and love, woom, has recently launched their new woom EXPLORE collection, perfect for Christmas gift giving. With the same child-specific ergonomics as the classic woom ORIGINALs, the EXPLORE bikes offer several upgraded features for the woom 4, 5, and 6-sized bikes (ages 6-14). This includes: upgraded frame geometry, improved saddles, a 7-speed shifter and it comes in newer, muted colors for your “grown up” kid.

Lego Star Wars

LEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian Keychain Light.

The Mandalorian Keychain Light

It’ll always be easy to find your bounty with the LEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian Keychain Light. Measuring approximately 3 inches tall, this key light is a 175% scale replica of the LEGO minifigure. Powered by 2 included batteries, simply hold the on/off button in the chest to activate the LED light in each foot. The metal key ring is easy to attach to your keys or backpack or wear on a lanyard for quick access.

Honorable Mentions: Great Gifts For 8-12 Year Old BOYS

Pokémon

POKEMON TCG: Paradox Clash TIN: Iron Leaves EX OR Walking Wake EX.

Pokémon Trading Cards

I know some kids strictly collect but our boys LOVE playing Pokémon too. They’ve been pretty avid players and collectors for several years now and haven’t shown any signs of slowing down. For every birthday and Christmas, new Pokémon cards are always on their lists.

Erin Hunter Books

Warriors Box Set: Volumes 1 to 6: The Complete First Series (Warriors: The Prophecies Begin).

Warriors Series

Epic adventures. Fierce warrior cats. A thrilling fantasy world. It all begins here. This set of the very first books in the series will be a welcome gift for readers new to the series.

For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their ancestors. But now ThunderClan is in grave danger. Rival ShadowClan is growing stronger, a traitor may be hiding in their midst, and rising tensions threaten every cat in the forest. In the dark days ahead, ThunderClan’s fate will rest in the paws of an unexpected hero: an ordinary house cat named Rusty…who may yet turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all.

Crossman

Crosman 760P Pump Master .177-Caliber Pellet/BB Air Rifle.

760P Pump Master .177-Caliber Pellet/BB Air Rifle

My husband loves doing target practice down in the field with our boys and having an affordable pewpew for them to learn with is great. And I love that it’s a great bonding time for them! The quality and accuracy of this rifle are both impressive for this price point.

Lego

LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee Action Figure.

Icons Transformers Bumblebee Action Figure

Legos are the iconic type of toy, so much so, that you’ll even find adults still playing with them! So if you’re completely stumped on a gift idea; they are usually a safe bet. There are so many kits and themes to choose from that options are almost endless. One fun choice is this new Transformers robot action figure building set. – This collectible LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee set makes a fun building project for sci-fi movie enthusiasts.

Bandai Namco Digimon

Bandai Namco - Digmon Device Virtual Pet Monster.

Digimon Device Virtual Pet Monster

It’s so neat seeing kids play with toys that are a blast from the past and Digimon are just that. My boys have had theirs for years and still go in streaks where they dig them out and play around with them. Raise, feed, and train your Digimon. Its future depends on how well you prepare it for battle! Your Digimon alerts you when it needs care.

Under Armour

Under Armour Boys Tech Big Logo Printed Short-Sleeve T-Shirt.

Tech Big Logo Printed Short-Sleeve T-Shirt

Name brand t-shirts that look cool are ALWAYS a hit. The design on this Under Armour top is unique, fun, and will definitely stand out.

ROXENDA

ROXENDA Speed Cube Set, Magic Cube Set of 2x2x2 3x3x3 Pyramid Cube Smooth Puzzle Cube.

Speed Cubes

Solving these puzzles is getting extremely popular now that kids can actually solve them, thanks to YouTube tutorials. This set looks awesome!

Customization Mill Store

Gifts for Men, Personalized Engraved Oak Wood Pocket Knife - 36 Icons, 20 Stylish Font - Custom Pocket Knives.

Personalized Engraved Oak Wood Pocket Knife

All three of our boys have their own pocket knifes and they love them! Our 12 year old carries his around and it has come in handy so many times. It’s a great, useful gift idea and I love how this one can be customized.

Video Games That Make Great Gifts For 8-12 Year Old BOYS

  • Super Mario Bros.™ Wonder – Nintendo Switch — On Amazon
  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch — On Amazon
  • The Oregon Trail Nintendo Switch — On Amazon
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Nintendo Switch — On Amazon
  • Monster Jam Steel Titans – Xbox One — On Amazon
  • LEGO DC Super-Villains – Xbox One — On Amazon
  • NERF Legends (Xbox Series X/) — On Amazon
  • Hasbro Family Fun Pack – Xbox One Standard Edition — On Amazon
  • LEGO Jurassic World – Xbox One Standard Edition — On Amazon

Tell me, do you have any fun traditions your family does for Christmas? We always have a scavenger hunt for our stockings and, even though it would be hard to get an admission, even our teens look forward to it every year! (Their smiles and laughter can’t hide the truth!)

Related Posts:

We have lots of gift guides to help you find the perfect gift for everyone in your family so be sure to check them out! Whether it’s your baby’s first Christmas, you’re empty nesters with adult children, or somewhere in between; we have rounded up the best gifts for all.

Angela D

Tuesday 8th of October 2024

Love these ideas!

Lauryn R

Sunday 29th of September 2024

These are fantastic gift ideas for 8-12 year old boys! Legos are always a good idea; I don't know very many that don't enjoy building with Legos. My son would love the Giant 36″ Dart Board.

Maria Egan

Saturday 28th of September 2024

My grandson is 9 and I can see him enjoying so many items on this list.

Emily

Friday 20th of September 2024

Great options! Thanks for sharing.