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.

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.

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 

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.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

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.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

NEX Playground

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.

• Buy It: Amazon.com or Shop NexPlayground.com through my link to get free merch with your order!

woom Bikes

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.

• Buy It: woom.com

Lego Star Wars

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.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

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

Pokémon

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.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

Erin Hunter Books

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.

• Buy It: Erin Huter Books On Amazon.com and Warriors The Complete First Season On Amazon

Crossman

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.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

Lego

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.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

Bandai Namco Digimon

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.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

Under Armour

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.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

ROXENDA

Speed Cubes

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

• Buy It: Amazon.com

Customization Mill Store

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.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

3Doodler

Start+ Essentials (2024) 3D Pen Set for Kids

Get creating! Designed with no hot parts, it’s completely safe for kids. Cut back on children’s screen time with 3Doodler Start+ and let them enjoy hours of play and learning as they make real-world connections to a variety of STEM concepts in a matter of seconds.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

Retevis

RT628 Walkie Talkies for Kids

This Kids 2 way radio set features 22 channels with individual CTCSS codes to avoid hearing other people’s voices. Just set the same channel and sub-audio to connect with other walkie-talkies. Easy to use and loads of fun.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

Ninja Blast

Rechargeable Game Activity Cube

Get ready for some epic galactic fun – a thrilling out-of-this-world space race with high-adrenaline challenges! Play solo or with friends! It offers a collection of one- and two-player games, complete with buzzing, beeping, exciting music, and voice-guided instructions and feedback from Mission Control. Includes the option to adjust the volume or mute it altogether.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

National Geographic

Magic Chemistry Set.

These 10 science experiments are mind-blowing! Girls and boys LOVE this set. Get ready to make a coin float, change the color of water, have snow magically appear, and much more! You won’t find experiments like these anywhere else.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

Stlloys Laser Tag

Laser Tag Set

Stlloys laser tag guns set of 4 pack set allows you to play lazer tag game with family or friends. The infrared laser tag set will bring hours of fun. It is the ideal laser tag gift for kids age 8 to 12.

• Buy It: Amazon.com

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.