Raising Kids Gear and Products The 22 Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys of 2021 Gifts tween boys will love By Christine Luff twitter linkedin Christine Many Luff is a personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, and Road Runners Club of America Certified Coach. Learn about our editorial process Christine Luff Fact checked by Fact checked by Emily Swaim on October 15, 2020 linkedin Emily is a fact checker, editor, and writer who has expertise in psychology, health and lifestyle content. Learn about our editorial process Emily Swaim on October 15, 2020 Print Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Our Top Picks Nintendo Switch Lite at Walmart "Similar to the larger and more expensive Nintendo Switch, this Lite version is perfect for gaming on the go." Vineyard Vines Vintage Whale Graphic Long Sleeve T-Shirt at nordstrom.com "These Vineyard Vines long-sleeve whale tees are popular among tween boys who love comfortable yet stylish clothes." LEGO Architecture New York City at Amazon "Tweens will simultaneously build their knowledge of iconic New York architecture and be entertained for hours." Vans Ward Low Kids' Skate Shoes at kohls.com "These sneakers exude the signature skater style and provide support with their padded footbed." Echo Spot at Amazon "Multiple functionalities are neatly packed into the Echo Spot, from weather and traffic updates to video chat and messaging." L.L. Bean Personal Organizer at llbean.com "As water resistant as it is organizational, this bag can easily be toted from the bathroom to the gym to vacations." GoPro HERO8 Black Live Streaming Action Camera at Best Buy "This Action Camera captures all the memorable moments in action while also providing stabilization and live streaming." Herschel Pop Quiz Backpack at Amazon "The backpack has adjustable padded straps for comfort and plenty of room for him to stash his books and laptop." Anki Cozmo Robot at Amazon "Using the most recent AI technology, the robot can express hundreds of emotions, learn to recognize people, and interact with pets." Under Armour Kids’ Ignite V Slides at Amazon "Versatile enough to wear outdoors or indoors and custom enough to mold to its wearer’s foot shape." It’s no secret that 12-year-old boys are difficult to buy for. No longer a kid and on the cusp of teenagehood, 12-year-olds may still like to be active and play games, but they’re also interested in the latest trends in clothes and technology. Here are the best gifts for 12-year-old boys with any interest. Nintendo Switch Lite Courtesy of Best Buy Buy on Walmart Buy on Best Buy Similar to the larger and more expensive Nintendo Switch, this Lite version is perfect for gaming on the go. It’s compatible with popular Switch games such as Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros, and any others that work in handheld mode. If kids don’t feel like playing alone, they can link up to eight Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite systems together to play multiplayer games anywhere. The 7 Best Wii Games for Kids of 2020 Vineyard Vines Vintage Whale Graphic Long Sleeve T-Shirt Courtesy of Zappos Buy on Nordstrom Buy on Zappos These Vineyard Vines long-sleeve whale tees are popular among tween boys who love comfortable yet stylish clothes. Made of super-soft cotton, they’re breathable, cool, and feature a relaxed fit for everyday wear. LEGO Architecture New York City Buy on Amazon Buy on Lego.com Since many kids don’t outgrow their love of LEGOs, the Architecture series is designed specifically for older kids. Designed for kids 12 and up, this 598-piece set lets them construct New York City’s skyline—including the Flatiron Building, Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, Chrysler Building, and the Statue of Liberty. Once it’s built, the set makes a fantastic display piece and can be combined with other LEGO sets. The 4 Best Lego Subscription Boxes of 2021 Vans Ward Low Kids' Skate Shoes Courtesy of Kohl's Buy on Dsw.com Buy on Kohls.com Some 12-year-olds are ready to start expressing their individual style, and these cool, retro-looking shoes make a great statement. With a rubber outsole and padded footbed, they’re comfortable and perfect for everyday wear. The 25 Best Gifts for 10-Year-Old Boys In 2021 Echo Spot Buy on Amazon Buy on Kohls.com If you could combine the Echo Dot and the Echo Show, you’d get the Echo Spot, a compact gadget that tweens will love to have in their room. They can use it to play music, control smart devices, video chat, watch videos, news, and more. L.L. Bean Personal Organizer Courtesy of L.L. Bean Buy on L.L.Bean This compact hanging toiletry bag is perfect for helping your tween stay organized when he’s traveling. The main compartment has multiple soft mesh pockets and a removable shower caddy, while external zippered compartments on the sides allow for quick access to essentials. GoPro HERO8 Black Live Streaming Action Camera Courtesy of Best Buy Buy on Best Buy Another splurge-worthy gift, the versatile GoPro HERO8 lets kids record themselves snowboarding down a mountain, catching air on their bike, or doing tricks on their skateboard. The new streamlined, smaller design makes it easy to carry, and the image stabilization and cool slo-mo option allows for some amazing videos of their adventures. Herschel Pop Quiz Backpack Buy on Amazon Buy on Nordstrom This extremely popular backpack features a minimalist design that’s just right for a 12-year-old boy. It has adjustable padded straps for comfort and plenty of room for him to stash his books and laptop. A zippered front pocket allows for convenient access to his wallet, phone, and keys. The 10 Best Backpacks for Kids of 2021 Anki Cozmo Robot Buy on Amazon If your 12-year-old is into robotics or coding, he’ll go crazy for the new Cozmo robot. Using the most recent AI technology, it can express hundreds of emotions, learn to recognize people, and interact with pets. Kids can connect Cozmo to their iOS or Android phone or tablet and use the free app to unlock games and use all the cool features. Under Armour Kids’ Ignite V Slides Buy on Amazon Buy on Dick's Perfect for slipping on after sports practice or just chilling at home, these slides from Under Armour are comfortable, stylish, and extremely durable. They’re suitable for indoor or outdoor use, and they feature Velcro that can be adjusted for the right fit. Glow City Light Up Basketball Buy on Amazon Kids don’t have to stop playing basketball once it gets dark out. This super cool glow-in-the-dark ball illuminates from the inside when they’re playing with it and then shuts off automatically when not in use. The 10 Best Outdoor Games of 2021 Light-up Bluetooth Speaker Buy on Amazon Your 12-year-old will love to use this Bluetooth speaker to listen to music, but the device is so much more than that. It’s a light that can change colors—including blue, red, purple, or green—and has a lamp setting that’s ideal for reading or doing homework. The battery life is 18 hours on the medium brightness setting, so it also works well as a light and speaker for outdoor use. Jaws Board Game Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Shark lovers and movie buffs will love this thrilling board game inspired by the classic film. Tweens will enjoy planning strategic moves as they hunt and try to avoid getting eaten by a great white shark. Recommended for ages 12 and up. The 16 Best Family Board Games of 2021 Big Joe Milano Bean Bag Chair Courtesy of Walmart Buy on Walmart Perfect for playing video games, movie watching, reading, or just relaxing, this comfy and durable bean bag chair is filled with Megahh Beans that conform to you, not the other way around. It’s also made with SmartMax fabric that’s stain resistant, water resistant, and can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth. Choose from a variety of colors to coordinate with your tween’s room decor. Franklin Sports Table Tennis to Go Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Table tennis fans can still get their game on without a full-sized table. This convenient and affordable to-go set lets your 12-year-old convert any table into a table tennis table. Codenames Game Buy on Amazon This simple yet challenging game makes teammates work together to guess codenames of their secret agents while trying to avoid choosing the assassin and their opponent’s codenames. Ideal for a group of friends or family members, the game is fun, addictive, and rewards creative thinking. Activities for Kids LEGO Ideas Ship in a Bottle Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Another LEGO set that 12-year-olds will enjoy, this Ship in a Bottle is fun to build and looks really cool displayed on a shelf. It even comes with its own display stand as well as a buildable cork and a wax seal element for an authentic touch. The 10 Best Building Toys and Blocks of 2021 4M Tin Can Robot Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart For kids who like to build and tinker, this kit lets them turn an aluminum soda can into a cool motorized robot that can move around. It’s suitable for ages 8 and up, so 12-year-olds should be able to do it on their own without any parental help. The 10 Best Construction and Building Blocks Sets for Gifted Children of 2021 Spikeball Buy on Amazon Similar to volleyball but played with a smaller ball, Spikeball is a nonstop fun game that’s popular among tweens and teens. They have to slam, spin, and spike the ball into a net while trying to get their opponents to miss it. The set comes with three balls and a net that collapses so you can easily store it in the included carrying bag. The 23 Best Gifts for Teens of 2021 K'NEX Thrill Rides 3-in-1 Classic Amusement Park Building Set Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Ideal for kids who love to build, this K’NEX set comes with 744 pieces that they can use to create three different amusement park rides. The battery-powered motor makes each ride spin or rotate, just like a real Ferris wheel, boom ride, or swing ride. Recommended for ages 9 and up. The 10 Best Building Toys and Blocks of 2021 The Northwest Company Officially Licensed NFL Plush Throw Blanket Buy on Amazon Featuring more than 30 NFL teams, these plush, comfy blankets make a great gift for football lovers. Made of a soft polyester, these oversized, machine-washable blankets are ideal for watching games on the couch. Adidas Alliance II Sackpack Buy on Amazon Buy on Adidas.com Twelve-year-olds on the go sometimes need a place to stash their phone, money, keys, and water bottle, but they don’t want to carry a large backpack. Streamlined yet big enough for the basics, this Adidas bag is the perfect solution. It’s also convenient for carrying sports gear to and from practice or games. Why Trust Verywell Family Christine Luff is a freelance writer who covers fitness, health, parenting, and other topics. She’s also mom to a 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son, as well as aunt to 11 teen and tween nieces and nephews. When shopping for tweens and teens, she sometimes opts for gift cards but prefers to research and seek out the perfect presents. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? 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