Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys

What's Covered

12-year-old boys are wonderful. They have many crazy ideas and are very innovative. They are adventurous and brave! Also, 12-year-old boys love discovery and they love to try new things.

Things to Consider When Buying Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys

Here are the things (called milestones) you need to consider when buying gifts for 12-year-old boys in order to make your chosen gift worthy:

Physical Milestones

  • Gifts that help in muscular development in order to support puberty
  • Gifts that may interest them in sports
  • Gifts that enhances growth
  • Gifts that help in proper sexual development with respect to puberty

Emotional Milestones

  • Gifts that can help them cope up with stress and anxiety
  • Gifts that can increase mood
  • Gifts that can draw them more to their family

Social Milestones

  • Gifts that can enhance social skills
  • Gifts that can increase confidence

Cognitive Milestones

  • Gifts that can increase cognitive skills in order to understand what is right from wrong
  • Gifts that can make them understand life and their role in life
  • Gifts that can enhance problem-solving abilities

Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys for Enhancing Social Skills

Wireless Charging Station

Some 12-year-old boys have their own mobile phones and gadgets and it is normal for boys to be messy on their stuff, it is important to teach them how to be organized. Luckily, this gift is a great tool for that lesson!

Skateboard

Skating is a great sport for 12-year-old boys and if your son is a starter of this sport, they can try this starter’s skateboard. According to a study, skateboarding enhances a child’s social skills.[1]

Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys for Boosting Confidence

Galaxy Pullover Hoodie

My 12-year-old boy cousin loves it when he stands out of the crowd. I bought a t-shirt of the same style because, in our country, it is hot. So, for those snowy places, you can consider this gift.

HyperX QuadCast S Microphone

Personally, I find this as a classic, clear microphone. It delivers a high-quality sound and if your 12-year-old boys are into singing and recording, this is a great gift for them. Also, I find this gift very useful for those boys who do vlogging.

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HyperX QuadCast
This gift will enhance your 12-year-old’s confidence and it will encourage them to do better at singing or performing.

Nike Men’s Benassi Solarsoft Slide Athletic Sandal

Now that your 12-year-old boys are no longer little kids, it is about time to remove those cartoon and Disney shoes! Get this sandal as a gift for them and they will become more stylish!

Nike Men's Benassi Solarsoft Slide Athletic Sandal
This gift can increase your 12-year-old boy’s confidence. Also, giving them branded clothing like this will make them feel that they are special and they will learn how to take care of their things.

Adidas Backpack

I gave this gift to my 12-year-old boy cousin and he truly appreciated it! My cousin loves paper arts and origami and wherever we go, he brings his stuff so I decided to get one for him. Eventually, it became so convenient for him to bring all of his papers and he also learned how to be organized.

Adidas Stadium II Backpack
This bag can teach your 12-year-old boys how to be organized and having this bag will make everything convenient for them.

eYotto Kids Sports Watch Waterproof Boys

The reason why I put this item on this list because 12-year-olds are really adventurous and their adventures include swimming and hiking. Doing these activities make them exposed to water and sweat and I personally think that a regular watch cannot handle these activities. Another thing I like about this item is that it is durable and it has an alarm clock which is necessary to remind your son about time.

Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys that Can Enhance Family Time

Bye, Felicia! Game

Some 12-year-old boys love family time and if you want your son to appreciate your gift, you can get this for them

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Bye, Felicia!
Having this gift will make your family time more memorable and this memory will be remembered by your son especially when they know that you are sharing your time with them.

Mini Arcade Machine

Who wouldn’t love arcade machines? No one! Try this gift for your 12-year-old boys and you will surely see their excitement! This gift can last for years and no one will ever be bored again in your home!

Mini Arcade Game Machine
This gift will actually encourage communication and interaction between you and your 12-year-olds. Surely, your bond will be memorable and sentimental for your son.

Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys that for Improving Mood

Aisuo Night Light

The thing I like about this item is that it has everything a 12-year-old boy needs: clock, alarm, light, speaker, and music player. Buying this gift is surely worth the money!

Aisuo Night Light
This gift can relax your 12-year-old boys while they are inside their rooms. They will have better sleep hours and they will surely be refreshed when they wake up.

Cinemood Portable Movie Theater

If your 12-year-old boys are into movies, then this one is a great gift for them. This gift is very handy and watching movies will be more fun when it is projected.

CINEMOOD Portable Movie Theater
This gift will make movie time with family more fun and enjoyable. It also saves your money from buying bigger projectors because this one is a small and cheap but quality item. Surely, no movie is boring when this is used!

Nintendo Switch Lite

This Lite version of the Nintendo Switch is the one I consider a perfect gift because of its price. It is less expensive and it is very handy.

Nintendo Switch Lite
This gift will surely be appreciated by your 12-year-olds and it will give a fun gaming experience!

LETSCOM Bluetooth Headphones

The thing I like about this item is that it has a long battery lifespan (15 hours). I find it perfect for homeschooling because I think it can make your son be more focused while he is studying since he will not hear any other noises that may distract him. Another thing is that this item is sweat and waterproof and its design is very ergonomic.

BAORUITENG RG350P Handheld Game Console

This gift is an alternative for GameBoy. If your 12-year-old is into retro games, he can definitely use this gift! Indeed, this gift gives 100% pure gaming entertainment. The thing I like about this item is that it can be projected to a TV or monitor and surely, everyone will enjoy watching!

BAORUITENG RG350P Handheld Game Console
This gift can make bonding with your child memorable and fun. Surely, having this for your 12-year-old will never make him be bored again!

BlissLights Sky Lite Laser Projector

If you want to give your 12-year-olds an entertaining and unique gift, then I recommend this to you. The thing I like about it is that it can be used as his night light.

BlissLights Sky Lite
This gift will make your son’s sleep peaceful and complete. It will also allow your son to be unique in his own space.

LuminAID Bloomio Solar Lantern

This is a great gift for 12-year-olds who like dark rooms. This gift can be controlled through a mobile application and because of this I find it enjoyable and entertaining for 12-year-olds.

Do Not Disturb Gaming Socks

I put this on this list because I find it cute and unique and 12-year-old boy gamers will surely appreciate it. It can be used as a sign that your son does not want to be disturbed by anyone, too!

Do Not Disturb Im Gaming Socks
This gift will give your 12-year-old comfort and privacy.

I Paused My Game to Be Here Shirt

Some 12-year-olds will choose playing over family gathering. I can say this because my cousin is actually like this! So, if your 12-year-old is a gamer, you can try this gift.

I Paused My Game to Be Here
This gift will make your family gathering more fun. It will enhance everybody’s mood when they see it and family time will surely be memorable.

Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys that Can Enhance Creativity

My Cinema Lightbox

For 12-year-olds who are crafty, this is a great! I bought this gift for my cousin because he is into vlogging (guitar sessions) and he uses this item to post the title of the song he plays. Personally, I find this gift very useful that even young entrepreneur can appreciate this gift.

Cinema Light Box
Having this gift will save your 12-year-old’s time and effort in writing and drawing messages and arts. Surely, 12-year-old boys will appreciate it and it will make them more expressive and productive.

Crayola Set

For artistic 12-year-old boys, this may be a perfect gift! It may be a simple gift but artistic boys will surely appreciate it because everything they need is all here!

Crayola Inspiration Art Case
This gift can enhance your child’s creativity and imagination and having it will assure you that no piece will be lost. Additionally, this gift will teach your 12-year-old boys how to be organized.

Build-on Brick Mug

My 12-year-old cousin loves morning cocoa drink and when I was searching for a great gift, I found this! He appreciated it so much and every time I visit him, he always tells me how much he enjoys using it.

BOMENNE Build-on Brick Mug
Having this gift will make your 12-year-old enjoys mealtime. Also, having it will assure you that your son will be safe from toxicity from plastic wares. Additionally, you can also buy one for kids below 12, and for sure, you will never have a hard time making them drink their liquids!

Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys for Improving Physical Development

GoSports Slammo XL Game Set

This is a complete gift package for me and when your 12-year-old plays it with the whole family, it will surely be fun! Additionally, this gift will interest your child in sports.

GoSports Slammo XL Game Set
This gift encourages your 12-year-old to do physical activities and it will enhance his social skills. Additionally, it will make your son understand the meaning of sportsmanship.

Fuzion X-3 Pro Scooter

This scooter will surely be appreciated by your 12-year-old boys! This scooter is great for beginners as they practice. This will also aid in the proper balancing and posture of your son.

Yes4All Rotating Pull Up Handles

Before this, I listed a pushup item and if your 12-year-old boys love to do pullups, you can buy this instead (or buy them both!).

Epitome Fitness Vibrating Foam Roller

This gift is perfect for 12-year-olds who are into regular sports. This item can be used by them whenever they want to rest after a tiring game.

Epitome Fitness Vibrating Foam Roller
Having this gift will give your 12-year-old relaxation and relief after a tiring and exhausting game. Surely, after using it, they will be more energized to play another one.

Spalding Over The Door Unit

This is another great sports toy gift for 12-year-old boys because there is an assurance that you will not have to damage your home wall when you want to install this. According to a study, basketball can improve your child’s health.[2]

Franklin Sports Table Tennis to-Go

The thing I like about this gift is that it is very handy and your 12-year-old will surely enjoy bringing it whenever you visit other relatives and friends. According to a study, playing table tennis can enhance a child’s reaction time.[3]

Franklin Sports Table Tennis to-Go
Having this gift will always make a gathering more enjoyable and your 12-year-old will become interested in sports such as table tennis. Surely, when your son is able to practice well, he will be a great player one day when he decides to pursue the sport.

JOYIN 2 Pack Graviton Bow and Arrow Archery

My 12-year-old cousin started with this before being interested in Nerf Guns and I can say that this is a great tool to practice aiming.

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JOYIN 2 Pack Graviton Bow and Arrow Archery
This gift can enhance your 12-year-old’s hand-eye coordination and aiming skills. Surely, a fun experience is what you son will get!

Doinkit Darts Magnetic Dart Board

Even before my cousin turned 12, he already owns a toy like this and I really find this toy safe to use. This gift will interest your child in athletic sports and the best thing I like about it is that it can be placed anywhere without damaging your home!

Doinkit Darts Kid-Safe Indoor Magnetic Dart Board
This gift can enhance your 12-year-old’s hand-eye coordination and social skills. Additionally, you will feel at peace because you get at an assurance that this gift is safe to use.

Nerf N Strike Elite Strongarm Toy Blaster with Rotating Barrel

My 12-year-old cousin is a collector of Nerf guns and my favorite of all his collections is this Nerf N Strike Elite Strongarrm Toy Blaster. This is usually the one I get when we play together. It has a rotating barrel and the darts are being thrown really far.

Nerf N Strike Elite Strongarm
Having this one will save your money from buying guns which are battery-operated. Surely, your son will enjoy playing it!

Vest Kit for Nerf Guns

When playing Nerf Guns, you cannot bring so many Nerf Darts. You can only put some on your pockets and load some on your actual Nerf gun. So, if your kids are into Nerf Guns and they have a lot of Nerf Darts, this is the best gift for them!

Vest Kit for Nerf Guns N-Strike Elite Series
Having this will make it more fun and exciting to play Nerf battles with your family and loved ones. Also, it will teach your 12-year-olds how to be organized and how to properly take care of their belongings.

Perfect Fitness Pushup Elite

Some 12-year-olds are enjoying manly exercise because, at a young age, they want to be fit. If you see your 12-year-old doing such exercises, you can give this item as a gift to them. According to a study, 12-year-old boys who exercise regularly develop a positive attitude.[4]

Perfect Fitness Perfect Pushup Elite
This gift can encourage your 12-year-olds to do muscle exercises. Additionally, you will have a peace of mind that you child is safe and secured when he uses this because this gift protects your child from slipping while doing pushups.

Slackline Kit

This gift is an excellent one to make your child love doing exercises. This one can also improve your child’s motor and balancing skills.

Slackline Kit
This gift encourages your 12-year-olds to be physically fit. Additionally, it helps them improve their balancing skills.

Razor Jetts DLX Heel Wheels

I got one like this back when I was a child and it was a super fun experience. Because my little one is only two, I cannot get one for him. However, I really wanted to share this fun experience with my family so I bought one and gave it to my 12-year-old cousin. Indeed, he was so happy and he enjoyed playing with it!

Razor Jetts DLX Heel Wheels
This gift will interest your 12-year-old boys in skating and it will teach them how to do proper balancing and control of the body. Surely, your son will become more confident as he practices using it.

Bright Spokes Premium LED Bike Wheel Lights

If your 12-year-old is a biker, this one is a great gift. It can also be given to starters in order for them to be safe and independent as they start to travel alone.

Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys that Can Enhance Cognitive Skills

Electronic Snap Circuit

Back when I was a kid, I love working on electronics but back then, we do not have enough money to buy the things I like. Now that I am able to buy simple toys like this, I bought one and give it to my 12-year-old boy cousin and even I enjoyed it! If your 12-year-old boy is into electronics, then you may consider this one. According to a study, playing with this toy at a young age enhances a child’s engineering skills.[5]

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Snap Circuits Classic
This gift will surely entertain and educate your 12-year-old boys because they will learn how to be strategic and how to follow instructions. They will also understand how a building works. Surely, in the future, your 12-year-old boy will become a great professional engineer!

Celestron Telescope

My 12-year-old boy cousin is into skies and galaxies and I bought this gift for him because I want him to have a velar view (somehow) of the clouds and skies above us. He really did appreciate this gift and every night, he looks at the moon and says wonderful things about creations.

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Celestron
Having this will make your 12-year-old appreciate the creation of the Lord because using it will make them see how wonderful the world is.

Acer Chromebook Spin 311

Now that online schooling is being implemented, this will be a very great gift for your 12-year-old boy students! The thing I like about this product is that it has 100 gigabytes of Google drive memory. So, all the files of your son will surely be backed up.

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Acer Chromebook Spin 311
This gift will make your 12-year-old boys enjoy studying. Also, because of the features and quality, they will be able to strive harder when it comes to their education. Additionally, they will be able to appreciate your effort in giving their entire needs when it comes to their schooling.

National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit

Personally, I find this gift very creative. It can express your 12-year-old boys’ ideas and it interests them with geology even at a young age.

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Hobby Rock Tumbler
This gift will interest your child with Geology and they might become a great geologist one day.

Digital Microscope

The thing I like about this item is that it is related to science and personally, I find it fun and exciting when I am using a microscope. Any object such as leaves and ants can be clearly viewed and surely, your 12-year-old will enjoy using it.

Digital Microscope
This gift will enhance your child’s optical skills and focus. Also, it will interest them in science-related professions. Surely, when they grow up and it is time for them to use a microscope at school, they will never have a hard time understanding how to properly use it.

National Geographic Kids 5000 Awesome Facts

12-year-olds love sharing their ideas and I can attest to this because my cousin is like this. He loves to tell me random stories about life, science, and history! So, if you want your child to learn more about many awesome things, this one may be considered!

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5,000 Awesome Facts
This gift will encourage your 12-year-olds to explore learning and it will make them want to share more ideas with you as they learn.

Guitar Pick Punch

Even now that I am a parent, I still have this stuff. I am a guitarist and if your 12-year-old loves to play guitar, he will surely appreciate this gift. Guitar picks get lost a lot of times and if your son has this stuff, he will not have to worry anymore when one pick gets lost because he can make another one anytime, anywhere. In the Philippines, uses the hard part of our prepaid sim’s case to make a pick out of it.

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Pick-a-Palooza DIY Guitar Pick Punch
This will save much of your money in buying new guitar picks when one is lost. Also, by having this, your 12-year-olds will enjoy making hisown design!

Altair 818 Hornet Beginner Drone with Camera

If your 12-year-old’s been telling you about these, this is the best one you can give to them. This one is great choice because of its easy controls. Also, when there are parts that are needed to be repaired or replaced, it can be done easily. According to a study, drone toys can help in expressing a child’s ideas.[6]

Altair 818 Hornet Beginner Drone with Camera
This gift can make your 12-year-olds techier and it will interest them with photography. Surely, your son will become creative and may become a professional photographer one day.

Ukulele Concert Size Starter Kit

You can try this as an alternative gift for a guitar. This gift is perfect for beginners because it is app-enabled which makes it easier for learners to learn how to play the ukulele.

Ukulele Concert Size Starter Kit
This gift will interest your child in music and will appreciate arts through music. Having this will enhance your 12-year-old’s hand skills and abilities in playing musical instruments.

WINZZ 3/4 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

For beginners, this is a great bundle you can give to your 12-year-olds. The thing I like about it is that it has online lessons which your son can use to learn how to play guitar. According to a study, when a child plays guitar, his sensory and motor skills synchronize perfectly.[7]

WINZZ 3/4 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
Having this gift will save your money and effort from buying different guitar accessories. It comes in a bundle so you will not have to spend so much time looking for other accessories needed for your 12-year-old’s guitar sessions.

Lefree Digital Counting Money Jar

This one allows you to see how much money you have on the jar. If your 12-year-old is saving money for something, then, I recommend this gift for them! If they have this, they will not have to break their piggy bank because they will know if their money is already enough for them to use.

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Lefree Digital Counting Money Jar
This gift can save your money from buying piggy banks over and over. Also, it teaches your child how to monitor his belongings and how important it is to save money. Surely, when you 12-year-old boys see the money they have already saved, they will be more encourage to do better in saving.

Threeking Smart Robot

This is a very entertaining gift for your 12-year-olds especially for those who are into robots. The thing I like about this one is that its programmable features are fun and you can use it with or without a controller. According to a study, playing robots can enhance neuromuscular development.[8]

Threeking Robots Toys
This gift will interest your child in robotics. Surely, in the future, your child may be able to innovate one!

The Boy’s Book of Survival

Personally, this is the best gift you can give to a 12-year-old boy. I find it a practical and educational one because it teaches your child how to be independent and how to handle unexpected life situations and how to do first aid. The best topic in this book for me is the one about how to survive their education.

The Boys' Book Of Survival
Having this gift will give you a peace of mind that your son will be able to handle all of the possible situations in his life especially when he is out for camping. It teaches them how to be prepared and independent and it encourages them to learn. Surely, your 12-year-old will surpass any problems in life!

Recommendations

Every gift you give is surely appreciated but it is important to consider many things when buying gifts especially for boys. Personally, I buy safe and useful gifts. So, if you have not decided what to buy yet, I recommend the following: , The Boys' Book Of Survival, Digital Microscope, CINEMOOD Portable Movie Theater.


[1] Walker, Adam, et al. “Creating friendship networks, establishing a social identity, developing a sense of belonging, meeting new people, and building connections with the community: The social capital support health benefits to be derived from skateboarding in skate-parks.” International Journal of Child Health and Human Development 7.2 (2014): 135.

[2] Bergeron, Michael F. “Improving health through youth sports: is participation enough?.” New directions for youth development 2007.115 (2007): 27-41.

[3] Bhabhor, Mahesh K., et al. “Short Communication A comparative study of visual reaction time in table tennis players and healthy controls.” Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 57.4 (2013): 439-442.

[4] Kamtsios, Spiridon, and Nikolaos Digelidis. “Physical activity levels, exercise attitudes, self-perceptions and BMI type of 11 to 12-year-old children.” Journal of Child Health Care 12.3 (2008): 232-240.

[5] Resnick, Mitchel, et al. “Programmable bricks: Toys to think with.” IBM Systems journal 35.3.4 (1996): 443-452.

[6] Smith, Kurt W. “Drone technology: Benefits, risks, and legal considerations.” Seattle J. Envtl. L. 5 (2015): i.

[7] Lindenberger, Ulman, et al. “Brains swinging in concert: cortical phase synchronization while playing guitar.” BMC neuroscience 10.1 (2009): 1-12.

[8] Dautenhahn, Kerstin, and Iain Werry. “Towards interactive robots in autism therapy: Background, motivation and challenges.” Pragmatics & Cognition 12.1 (2004): 1-35.

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Author

Diana Lucas

Diana Lucas

Hi, Diana here. Welcome to my blog and hope you like my sharing. I am a mother of 2 boys, 3 years old and a 1 year old. I dedicate my career in child development research and I focus on parenting tips, positive parenting, educational toys for my babies. Your time here means a lot to me! Diana A. Lucas

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