Good xmas gifts for 12 year olds

From the latest electronics, games, and toys to clothes, shoes, and books, there are plenty of fun gift options when shopping for 12-year-olds. You can't go wrong if you stick to the tween’s hobbies and interests, such as books, movies, television, music, video games, or a favorite sport or team.

Typically, 12-year-olds are picky and likely more aware than you think about what is trendy and cool amongst their group of friends. Our guides will help you find something that will engage them and be practical enough to use often. We carefully considered age recommendations, safety, design, ease of use, ease of assembly, material, sizing, and value when reviewing products.

Here are the best gifts for 12-year-old boys.

Over-ear headphones are popular for kids of any age. These stand out because they are comfortable and noise-blocking and good for movies, music, and video games. The Pampas headphones are Bluetooth, so it will be easy for your tween to connect them to any of their devices. They collapse into a small size, so they are easily transportable from home to school or to a friend's house. Plus, they are perfect for all-day use with 30-hour battery life. Best of all these are sleek with a cool black matte finish and premium fabric on the band, so they'll last a long time in terms of durability and style.

Perfect for Harry Potter fans, this strategy board game brings home the characters and stories from Hogwarts. It can be played as a stand-alone game but can also be mixed with other Funkoverse games. It includes 2 playable maps and 4 exclusive Harry Potter characters.

Fly this hover toy with just the power of your hands! The Air Hog Gravitor can do stunts and tricks and is easy to take with you and play anytime. They will love to try new moves, impress their friends, and defy gravity, all in an afternoon.

As seen on Shark Tank, The Comfy is the original wearable blanket that keeps you warm wherever you go. It truly is a great gift for anybody, but a 12-year-old boy will love playing video games, watching TV, out at a sporting event or camping, and just lounging at home in the warm sherpa fleece.

What Our Editors Say

"As soon as the temps drop below 50 degrees, my son is ready to break out his Comfy. During virtual learning, this was his go-to cozy blanket." -Latifah Miles, Verywell Family Commerce Editor

This version takes the classic game of Monopoly and elevates it with an interactive banking unit where the iconic Mr. Monopoly top hat shows off his personality and handles all of the transactions. Just as competitive as the original, this version is more engaging and everyone will love using credit cards to complete transactions.

Equip your 12-year-old with a Nerf N-Strike Elite Disruptor. It has a ​​6-dart rotating drum, fires fast and far, and is perfect for neighborhood Nerf battles and trick shots.

This simple canvas wallet is a great first wallet for younger kids who might only have a few cards or cash to hold for school lunches and allowance. The wallet has multiple card slots for things like a school ID, debit card, or library card that are RFID blocking to prevent theft.

If there’s a clothing brand that will make any 12-year-old happy to receive as a gift, it’s Vans. These shoes are a classic style with the Vans signature pattern, are easy to slip on, and are comfortable for everyday use.

This 162-piece art set has everything young artists could need, whether avid painters or those just starting out. Tweens can explore new mediums including watercolors, oil pastels, crayons and more.

The great thing about this set is it all packs up in a sturdy wood box perfect for bringing to school, friends' houses, or in the car. Also, the sheer amount of materials makes this an amazing set to share with friends and family members, fostering creativity and collaboration.

Recreate viral video and tricks from the Dude Perfect team in your own backyard with this football and target set. Kids will love the Dude Perfect branding, and appreciate the inspiration to make videos of their own. The set includes ​​a ball and two targets plus a target holder and hook.

Chances are LEGO has been a big part of a 12-year-old's life and they may be ready for some of the harder building challenges. This premium Star Wars set comes with 1,336 pieces to build out the Imperial Light Cruiser and 5 Minifigures to set the stage for epic battle scenes. It comes with detailed instructions so any level of builder can build with confidence.

A kids-specific fitness tracker is a fun way to encourage a healthy lifestyle. It allows your child to see their steps, fitness, and sleep performance and compete with themselves to make improvements each day. The Fitbit is high-performing and will work just as well for young athletes as it does for beginners to track fitness.

Start by giving the first book of the global phenomenon of Harry Potter that has been loved by every new generation. This is a great age to dive into the story of an orphaned boy, the son of two powerful wizards that finds out he has unique powers of his own.

They will be ready to dive into the whole series after getting a taste of the first book!

Finding a balance between screen time and other activities can be tough, but a new video game is a great gift for any kid. Watch as they build their community from scratch on a deserted island and customize their character, home, decorations, and the surrounding landscape.

This is a game the whole family can get involved with.

Outfit your child’s bedroom or play area with a high-tech gaming chair like this one from X Rocker. It rocks, reclines, and folds to store and has a comfortable headrest with mounted speakers that provide an immersive experience for any gaming fan.

It connects to most gaming systems and its leather looks nice with any kind of decor.

This 4-person game will get the competitive juices flowing. Each team of 2 has up to 3 hits to return or spike the ball on the small, circular net. This game will have everyone’s hearts pumping and can be taken to the beach, the park, or grandma’s backyard.

Get your tween outside and moving with this fun frisbee game perfect to play together. Invite their friends over for collaborative play, or challenge the whole family with this fun four-player backyard staple. The goal of this fast-paced game is to get your frisbee in the other person's "kan" through tapping, hitting, or slamming the disc inside.

This kit has everything you need for hours of fun, exciting, and often exhausting play, including the portable can-shaped goals, labels, frisbees, and an instruction guide. Add this backyard staple to entertain your pre-teen on any summer day or bring it to the beach for an added touch of outdoor fun!

This drone is for beginners and is a great introduction to flying. The 2 cell battery will give about 8 minutes of flying per charge. The 120-degree wide-angle lens captures stunning pictures and videos. Its foldable design makes it small enough to take anywhere with you.

Skateboarding is a great outlet for boys with boundless energy who are looking for something to do with their friends. Spend hours perfecting new tricks or ride to school with the Magneto skateboard. The deck is hard maple with a double kick tail and requires no assembly. It's the perfect gift because it is specifically designed for kids and teens looking for their first board.

Middle school is a good time to upgrade from a kid’s style backpack to one that can be used for school, travel, and hanging out with friends. Herschel backpacks are popular for boys and girls of all ages because they are durable, comfortable, and stylish.

With 30 patterns and colors to choose from, Herschel’s original backpack has water bottle pockets, a laptop sleeve, and extra storage to fit everything your 12-year-old can think of.

For under $10, the Monopoly Deal card game is great for on-the-go and family fun. It’s a simple twist on the classic Monopoly game for 2 to 6 players that’s easy to learn, quick to play, and competitive.

If your 12-year-old has an iPhone, protecting it might not be their top priority. To keep it safe, gift them with an OtterBox Defender Series case. The case has three layers of protection, port covers, and a built-in holster. Plus, the case has screen protection that doesn’t affect the display but will prevent cracks.

Bring all the fun of laser tag to your own backyard with this set from ArmoGear. Up to four teams can play together, making for the best birthday parties or summer nights when you need an easy way to entertain a gaggle of pre-teen boys.

Twelve-year-olds will love the various features of this set including target vests, invisibility mode, night vision flashlights, voice guided directions, and four unique powers of the laser shooters. All you need is batteries for hours of outdoor fun that will guarantee your 12-year-old burns off some energy and bonds with his friends or family members.

Gskyer crafts this telescope specifically for beginners. It’s affordable, easy to set up, easy to use and, even though it doesn’t have the strength and sophistication of a telescope worth thousands of dollars, it can magnify up to an astounding 40x to can explore the wondrous night sky in stunning detail.

One of this product’s most unique features is its Bluetooth Control: With a smartphone in hand, you can see exactly what the kid-friendly telescope sees and snap Insta-worthy pictures. The AZ70400 also comes with an adjustable tripod and two different eyepieces, a 25 millimeter for 16x magnification and a 10 millimeter for 40x magnification.

For an affordable gift option that your pre-teen is guaranteed to get tons of use out of, look to this phone stand that attaches to their bed. The flexible material makes it easy to adjust where their precious smartphone will lay as they binge their favorite shows. However, it may be difficult to pull them away from the screen at bedtime.

Luckily, this can transfer to any couch or desk for hands-off watching, gaming, or reading. Take this on-the-go for entertaining them on long road trips or plane rides as just another way for your 12-year-old to enjoy their favorite gadgets.

The objective is simple—walk across a suspended rope, one end to the other—but slacklining is a never-ending test of strength, concentration, and balance. It’s popular everywhere from college campuses to corporate team-building retreats, and it also makes a unique and enjoyable outdoor activity for 12-year-olds. They can string the line up in the backyard and challenge themselves until it’s too dark outside to see their feet, or they can compete with friends and family to see who has ninja-like agility.

This comprehensive kit from flybold is especially great for pre-teens and beginners because it includes two training lines and several arm trainers that help with technique and balance. With this kit, you’ll also get a 49-foot main slackline, tree protectors, ratchet protectors and a convenient carrying case—everything your 12-year-old needs for hours of fun. 

To your tween's delight, they can build their very own robot with everything included in this educational kit. It includes 635 pieces of building blocks—but don't panic. The instructions are detailed and come equipped with impressive visuals to aid you from the beginning of the building process to the end. It's a great way to introduce coding to your 12-year old and inspire creative thinking.

Once the robot is completely assembled, he can control it with a phone via Bluetooth. The robot's head, shoulders, arms, tracks, and even eyebrows can move thanks to remote or voice control.

The Kailua 4 String Soprano is one of the most highly reviewed ukuleles online, with the vast majority of customers awarding it five stars. It’s made of gorgeous mahogany wood, and the nylon strings provide a rich sound on every note. The custom etchings and design give it a simple, intimate aesthetic. And the best thing you’ll hear from this instrument might be the price, as Kailua is much more affordable than competitors.

Ukuleles are also one of the easiest string instruments to learn—a great foundation for guitar and the ideal gift for the 12-year-old who is just finding a love of music.

An iconic sneaker design that can stick a landing, Vans’ skateboarding shoes are so universally loved that your first purchase likely won’t be your last. The brand’s Old Skool Core Classics are a versatile pair of kicks, perfect for the picky tween—and no wheels required.

Old Skools feature an all-black aesthetic, complimentary white stitching and Vans’ simple but iconic lined logo. Due to their timeless design and extreme comfort, these sneakers have been around for generations, letting your tween feel old-school cool when slipping them on.

Your tween has to trek from school to practice to home wearing a backpack crammed with hefty textbooks, but the Hayward’s padded shoulder straps, padded back panel, and ergonomic design will give his back a breather. Measuring 18 x 15 x 7 inches, the interior is spacious enough to fit other essentials like lunch boxes, notebooks, sports jerseys, and laptops. Keep in mind, however, that this backpack does not come with a specific compartment for laptops.

The Hayward Futura also comes in five sleek colorways, guaranteed to match your pre-teen’s style. And while the name brand might tack on a few extra dollars, this stylish backpack is popular enough to find at various retailers, meaning you can go coupon hunting or hold out for a discount, especially around back-to-school season.

When your tween was younger, he had glow-in-the-dark stars on his ceiling and always had a night light. Now, a few years older, trade the stars for Hyodream’s moon lamp—a fantastic gift for science lovers, tech lovers, and pre-teens who want their bedroom to be more mature.

With mind-blowing detail, this lamp perfectly resembles the shades and textures of the moon, and the simple touch of a remote control allows users to change the lamp to their desired color, from white to yellow to a reddish blood moon. Your purchase will also include a stylish wooden stand and a handy USB cable to give the lamp 12 hours of glow time. 

If he has grown tired of losing the Battle Royale in “Fortnite” or completed every campaign in “Call of Duty,” the Meta Quest 2 will give them a gaming experience unlike any other. They can experience the action firsthand with 3D graphics, a wide-view field of vision and unparalleled audio effects.

The Meta Quest 2 is lightweight, comfortable, and comes at a mid-level price for virtual reality headsets. Once the video games are finished, kids can also watch their favorite movies on the Quest’s 180” screen or choose from over 1,000 VR experiences, like puzzles, board games, and brain teasers.  

Recycling has never been so much fun. This kit helps kids turn any old tin can into a super cool little robot who they can send waddling about their room. It comes with almost everything they need to get the robot up and running. You will need to supply the can (any soda can will do), one AA battery, and a small Phillips head screwdriver to get the work done.

Available for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, 2K has butter-smooth gameplay, unparalleled graphics, and a myriad of game options. Your 12-year-old can spend 20 minutes playing head-to-head against his friends or create a player who likes exactly like him—well, maybe slightly taller—and play from the rookie season to the Hall of Fame.

Over the past few years, 2K has also made classic NBA players like Jordan, Magic, and Shaq available, and they have added intricate game options like The Neighborhood, which allows users to connect online in an open universe—i.e. “The Neighborhood.”

Thanks to independent creator MyPersonalMemories on Etsy, tweens can have a wallet completely customized for them. Choose from seven different colors to find the one that best matches his taste and style. Then, pick the perfect font and add their name for a personalized touch.

Your pre-teen will love storing their money in a piece designed just for them, and you can feel good about the purchase supporting small businesses. Just be sure to factor in longer shipping times when ordering outside of large retailers.

Bring escape rooms to your own living room with this party game perfect for pre-teens. Players must solve riddles and puzzles to escape the sinister abandoned cabin while time is running out. This thrilling game is perfect for a family game night or for 12-year-olds to work together to escape.

While this game can only be played once, Thames & Kosmos has multiple different versions of Exit: The Game featuring creepy locations that players will want to race to escape from including a cursed labyrinth, haunted rollercoaster, and more. They vary in difficulty, so tweens can gradually improve their escape skills as they race against the clock.

Foster your pre-teen's love of cooking or introduce them to international cuisines with this global adventure cooking kit. Perfect for family fun and spending quality time with a parent or grandparent, this kit takes 12-year-olds on a culinary journey through different continents all without leaving their kitchen.

The included instructions are easy to follow and include shopping lists and cooking directions for various meals to prepare and enjoy together. The kit also includes interesting facts and puzzles about each country represented, providing an educational experience while still having fun.

Plan the perfect movie night with this inflatable movie screen perfect for the living room or the backyard. Pre-teens can watch movies with the family, play video games with friends, or watch the game on Sunday's in a fun and innovative way, sure to spice up any gathering.

Your pre-teen may need help setting up this outdoor movie screen, but easy-to-follow instructions are included along with a storage bang for bringing to friends' houses or on vacation. All you need is a projector, a speaker, and popcorn for the best movie theater experience at home.

Spruce up your pre-teen's bedroom or any game room with this magnetic dartboard from Sparky Marky. No need to worry about sharp darts damaging walls, furniture, and even family members because all of the darts included are magnetic.

Twelve-year-olds can hang this dartboard themselves, providing hours of fun as they practice their aim and master their skills to play against siblings or friends. This functional room decor is perfect to keep tweens entertained without screens.

There is no one way to play Gravity Maze; in fact, the game comes with 60 levels that become increasingly difficult as you work your way up. The game includes a marble run, logic game, and STEM toy all in one. It comes with a game grid, 10 towers, three stainless steel marbles, and a target piece to navigate through the maze.

Though it might seem intimidating at first, this super engaging maze game comes with clear instructions, making it easy to learn. While it helps improve strategic thinking, Gravity Maze also aids in building spatial reasoning and encourages thinking like an engineer.

Lego sets are a perfect gift for any age. You just have to find the right difficulty for your recipient. Twelve-year-olds will love this challenging architectural set that creates the New York City skyline. With 598 pieces, this kit (like all Lego kits) promote STEM concepts in an exciting way that results in a beautiful build to display or take apart and start again.

Due to the level of difficulty, this might be a great opportunity for tweens to bond with any adults in their life for those particularly challenging pieces. But, the included instructions are clear and easy to follow for the impressive outcome.

For the reader or the adventurer in your life, all pre-teens will love this guide to survival. Tweens will learn how to get themselves out of any imaginable inconvenience from sinking into quicksand to confronting a tiger to getting lost in a desert. Available as a hardcover or e-book, The Boys' Book of Survival is a great way to get any 12-year-old back into reading or learning, despite how outlandish the scenarios are.

Help your pre-teen learn a new hobby with this easy magic set. This budget-friendly set will teach 12-year-olds 50 card tricks, guaranteeing hours of learning, practice, and showing off to friends and family. Keep them occupied in the house or on-the-go with a convenient case including everything tweens need to master a new skill (or 50).

This set is perfect for beginners or those interested in magic looking to learn more about card tricks specifically. Users are sure to learn at least one new party trick guaranteed to get people asking "how did they do that?"

This kit designed for two players imitates the high-energy game of laser tag with interactive audio and visual features that bring the arcade right to your home. Unlike other Nerf products, there are no rubber bullets to worry about breaking furniture or getting lost behind couches, making this toy suitable for indoor play as well.

The sturdy taggers are loaded with cool features, according to users, making them perfect for all ages so even adults can get in on the fun. You can adjust how you play by picking the number of lives allotted to each player.

This giant Jenga set takes all the nail-biting fun of the traditional game to huge new heights. When it’s all stacked up, it stands more than 3 feet tall, and it's perfect for the backyard.

There are 54 blocks in all, and your tower could reach over three feet tall during play. Players take turns trying to remove one block without sending the whole thing toppling. Each move provides a mesmerizing mix of panic and precision, hopefully followed by a sigh of relief as each one is successfully removed.

Inspire a new hobby or foster musical skills in your tween with a drum set designed for beginners. Less expensive, and much quieter than a traditional kit, the Alesis CompactKit 4 features four electric drum pads with 70 different sounds included for a realistic experience. The drum coach features shows notes and instructions on the LCD screen to learn new beats and skills at any age. Also, parents don't have to worry about noise since your tween can plug in headphones for a quiet drumming practice during late nights or early mornings.

Outdoorsy and adventurous tweens need a fitting bike fitted for any terrain they encounter. The Schwinn High Timber Bike rides smoothly on concrete for chill neighborhood rides or bumpy trails for mountain biking challenges. Suitable for both kids and adults, this bike can grow with your child and suit him for years to come. It supports up to 250 pounds and includes an adjustable seat, perfect for growth spurts. While expensive, the extensive speeds, gears, and other features make this a good investment for active summer months.

This cool craft kit lets kids build their very own catapults to launch to fun new heights. It comes with everything they need to build two catapults, including 20 wooden pieces, glue, rope, stickers, and eight mini bean bags to send soaring through the air. Your tween and their friends can work together to hit targets or wage an all-out war against one another. It’s also a great way to help kids develop engineering and science skills because they can experiment with velocity, distance, and more.

In this strategy board game, your tween takes on the role of one iconic Marvel villain—Thanos, Hela, Ultron, Taskmaster, or Killmonger—to fulfill their sinister schemes. The strategy-element ensures that every game is different with different characters, different goals, and different players. Marvel fans and board game enthusiasts alike love this expansion of Ravensburger's Villainous universe, perfect for 2-12 players. Face off against mighty heroes to see if good or evil prevails.

When it’s time to step away from the screen, the Castle Panic board game makes a good diversion. It can be played by a single player or with up to six players, and the level of difficulty can be adjusted to provide a variety of challenges.

The goal is to defend the castle from monsters. Players work together to strategize and slay the monsters by rolling dice and choosing cards. Winning takes a mix of strategy and luck, and the one who masters both is crowned the Master Slayer.

With the Snaps Circuit Kit, kids grow more comfortable learning about electric switches, fuses, digital circuits, and more with a very hands-on approach. They can create various projects, including an FM radio, a digital voice recorder, and a music alarm.

As your 12-year old progresses through the manual, they will be able to master experiments that become more and more complex. Note that there are other adaptations of this game, like Snap Circuits Jr. or Snap Circuits Light, in which circuits glow in the dark.

Final Verdict

Keep things simple when buying for 12-year-old boys. They are practicing their independence but are still young enough for toys that will keep them busy when spending time alone. Electronics are always a hit, as are video games for whichever console system they may have at home.

The Drocon Ninja Drone is my top choice for a big gift. It’s under $100 and will inspire endless creativity.

How We Selected the Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys

We chose the best gifts for 12-year-old boys by researching reviews from customers and competitors, while studying the design and features of more than 70 products on the market. Additionally, we monitored shopping trends to bring you the best, and most up-to-date, offerings on these picks. We considered toy safety, age recommendations, ease of use, design, size, features, and value when reviewing products. 

What to Look for in Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys

Hobbies and Interests

A great place to start your gift search is to consider the hobbies and interests of the kid at hand. Whether they're into sports, video games, anime, clothing, music, TikTok, travel, or movies, you can find inspiration from their passions. For example, if the tween is a huge basketball fan, consider buying them a ball or a jersey from their favorite team. If gaming is their thing, a pair of headphones or a new video game will likely be very well-received.

Trending Items

Tweens tend to be particularly interested in keeping up with current fads and peer approval. So, they may appreciate a gift that is trending. A quick Google search or check of social media will likely yield a variety of ideas. Another great option is to ask any other 12-year-old boys you know for suggestions. Or ask the tween in question what items they are coveting.

Practicality

Another important component of gift buying is to consider the price, durability, and functionality of the possible present. Some tween gifts are pricy. Having a budget in mind also helps to target your search. If you're interested in getting them a gift that is out of your price range, you could consider going in on it with another friend or relative to make it more affordable.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Deanna McCormack is a freelance writer who focuses on family, kids, and household items. She’s her family’s top gift-giver and has two kids to keep her in the loop on what is trending. She won’t buy anything without reading almost every review on the internet.

More Toys and Gifts for Kids

When it comes to toys and gifts for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top gift and toy picks for every age and stage here:

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