Tween and teen girls are easy when it comes to shopping and gifts. All the Lululemon, Uggs, Summer Friday lip gloss, Sephora EVERYTHING. But the boys prove a bit trickier. They were so easy to shop for when they were itty bitties. Action figures, nerf guns, magna tiles, slime, pokemon... they were so easy to please. But when they hit that tween era (research tells me tweens are 8 - 12) you get into a gray area. Some are still way into the toys, some are trying so hard to be cool and want hoodies and $7,000 Nikes. It's all so confusing and baffling that a tween boy can want both pokemon cards and the newest AirPods. Given the preferences and desires of all tween boys everywhere, we have pulled together a guide that will hopefully be of use to you and you can find at least one or many ideas that will be a hit with the tween you're giving to!
Sports
We have this and have given this as a gift for many birthday parties. Especially great in the winter when they want to play but the nights are dark.
Buy on Amazon: Light Up Basketball
Same as the above! A huge it and great for nighttime play.
Buy on Amazon: Basketball Hoop Lights
My son's gift when he turned 8 was a skateboard. He's been at it ever since! A good add-on to a skateboard is a gift certificate for lessons at their local skatepark/skateshop.
Buy on Amazon: Skateboard with Flashing Wheels
Have a budding lacrosse player? This is will gauruntee to make their day! My nephews will practice for hours with theirs.
Buy on Amazon: Rebounder
I don't know if roller skating and roller blading is quickly coming back into fashion but this seems to be on everyone's list.
Buy on Amazon: Light Up Roller Blades
Why actually use your legs for exercise? Lol. Seems to be a hit amoungst the middle school crowd.
Buy on Amazon: Electric Scooter
What boy doesn't love to fish and catch frogs? Perfect for the tween water bug.
Buy on Amazon: Fishing Pole
Style
Nike, Nike, Nike. Hoodies, Hoodies, Hoodies. This is all I see the tween boys walking around in. If it's not Nike, then Addidas or GOAT USA.
Buy on Amazon: Nike Hoodie
Graphic Tees
I'm told that if you're not in a hoodie, then you're in a graphic tee for both tween AND teen boys. Here are a few my nephew pointed out that are cool:
Buy at Abercrombie: Sriracha Graphic Tee
Buy at PacSun: Metro Boomin T-Shirt
Buy at PacSun: Riot Society Woody's Fight Club T-Shirt
Admittedly, I am NOT a fan of wearing pajamas in public. Admittedly, I am also clearly not a tween boy. My nephew told me if they aren't in sweatpants, they are in pajama pants. Not my favorite trend, but... boys.
Buy on Amazon: Flannel Pajama Pants
If I had a dollar for everytime one of these random socks was left at my house - well, I'd be able to buy a brand new pack. The socks MUST be white and they MUST be Nike.
Buy on Amazon: Nike Dry Fit Socks
If they are actually going to wear a winter hat (since we know tween and teen boys refuse to wear jackets of any kind in the winter), beanies are where it's at.
Buy at Dicks Sporting Goods: Carhartt Beanie
I've given NBA basketball hats to my tween nephews for the last couple of holidays and birthdays. A very popular gift!
Buy on Amazon: NBA Basketball Hats
My sources tell me that Owala is choice #1, followed by Stanley, Yeti and Cirkul. I never imagined that water bottles had status rankings, lol.
Buy on Amazon: Owala Water Bottle
So the tween boy backpacks apparently have to be plain, simple, unassuming. No extra graphics.
Buy on Amazon: Nike Backpack
Toys
As much as the tweens want the hoodies and baseball hats and the more grown up stuff, they still are kids that want to play. My 11-year old nephew is still very much into "his guys".
Buy on Amazon: Marvel Titan Hero Series Action Figures
Holy cow. Pokemon cards are the bane of my existence, but man, do the boys like them. I may be finding pokemon cards in my house long after my son has gone to college. The elite trainer boxes are great because they include multiple packs.
Buy on Amazon: Pokemon Trainer Box
These are super fun and bring lots of laughs. Also great for encouraging kids to get outside and off tech.
Buy on Amazon: Mini Drone for Older Kids
In my 40's, and I still like to color. So get this for your budding artists or kids that just want to take a break and have a quiet activity.
Buy on Amazon: Coloring Book for Older Boys
These are super fun and popular with all kids. If you're going to order this be sure to get extra film as they will fire through a lot of photos!
Buy on Amazon: Instax Camera
This LEGO sports car building set is intricate for advanced lego enthusiasts and also looks cool displayed in the tween's bedroom.
Buy on Amazon: LEGO Sports Car Building Toy
So much fun! Our kids play this for hours in the backyard.
Buy on Amazon: Laser Tag
We have this and when the neighborhood kids come over, it's a blast!
Buy on Amazon: Glow-in-the-Dark Capture the Flag
Night game of football when the sun is setting earlier and earlier? My son gave this as a birthday gift and it kept the kids playing outside for hours!
Buy on Amazon: Light-Up Football
We are way into learning how to play chess in our house. This is a great way to the learn the game if they don't already know how to play.
Buy on Amazon: Chess for Beginners
This is a fun gift that can be enjoyed by both parents and kids. There are also versions of boats too for anyone living near water.
Buy on Amazon: RC Plane
Gaming/Tech
I don't really know why a gaming chair is so important, but they are all saying it's a must. I do think it's supposed to allow them to easily move positions and stay comfortable for gaming.
Buy on Amazon: GTPlayer Gaming Chair
Big screen for big gaming! The curved monitor provides a more immersive, in-depth gaming experience.
Buy on Amazon: KOORUI 24 Inch Curved Monitor
If you're gamer wants a new keyboard, LED is the way to go!
Buy on Amazon: LED PC Gaming Keyboard
My son earns money for chores which he immediately uses for Robux or VBucks. You can't go wrong with gaming gift cards.
Buy on Amazon: Roblox Gift Card
And the Queen Bee of all tech gifts? The Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset. I've even been known to play my son's from time-to-time. It's really really fun and worth the splurge.
Buy on Amazon: Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset
This may be a gift for both you and your tween! Keeping the controllers and headphones nice and organized instead of tucked into every corner of your house? Yes, please! Plus this will reduce the amount of - "Mom! Where is my headset? Where are my controllers?"
Buy on Amazon: Light Up Gaming Headphone and Controller Stand
Books
Percy Jackson and The Olympians Book Series
My nephew said this was one of his favorite book series and is great for readers from 9 - 12 about thrilling adventures with Greek Gods and monsters.
Buy on Amazon: Percy Jackson and The Olympians
Man, do we love these books! Since we live in Michigan, we read a lot of the Michigan Chillers series but the American Chillers series is just as good. They are super affordable and we love how each chapter ends with a cliffhanger.
Buy at: American Chillers
These are a sort-of Raiders of the Lost Ark meets National Treasure with really fun characters. Note: This may skew more toward the younger tween... probably better for 8 - 10 year olds.
Buy on Amazon: City of Ember Boxed Set
These books are SO good. I read these as an adult and loved them. And no doubt, many of you have seen the movies. Get your tween boy bookworm this series and I bet they gladly take a break from tech to read it.
Buy on Amazon: The Hunger Games Box Set
Bedroom Stuff
This is so ridiculous and so fun. It screams tween boy to be wrapped up in a pizza blanket while gaming.
Buy on Amazon: Pizza Blanket
How can a bedroom be cool without LED lights? It can't. Surprise your tween with these and they will be SO happy! Great price point at less than $16.
Buy on Amazon: LED Strip Lights
We have this and I love walking into the room watching my son and his bestie sitting side-by-side in this 3 foot bean bag chair eating popcorn and watching movies. Super comfy.
Buy on Amazon: Beanbag Chair
Is your tween boy a sneakerhead? Get him this shoe organizer so he's more apt to put his stinky shoes in his room than anywhere else in the house. IYKYK.
Buy on Amazon: Shoe Organizer
Don't want to have to look at a giant pizza blanket? Then just get a regular old fuzzy warm comfy blanket that better matches your home decor.
Buy on Amazon: Fuzzy Blanket
Disclaimer: The Betty Edit is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If you purchase something through the links above, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I'm a former digital marketer turned stay-at-home mom looking to make a few extra bucks for coffee runs and new books. I only recommend products I genuinely like, use, or come recommended by trusted friends. Thank you for supporting me!
Comments