Best Gift Ideas for 10 to 12 Year Old Boys: Revised for 2011
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If you have one or two in your home, you know that 10 to 12 year old boys are difficult to buy for. Except for the jersey of a favorite sports team, they certainly don't want clothing for gifts. Yet having entered that awkward "tween" stage, they have left most toys long behind. The most appreciated gifts cater to their obsessions--video games, sports and the Internet (mostly laughing over silly YouTube videos)--as well as their growing interest in music.
Top of the Charts
At the top of our boys' "I Want . . . " list this year are the have-to-have video games of the year: Uncharted 3, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, and Assassin's Creed Revelations, as well as Bluetooth headphone sets for playing online with their friends.
Next on their list is a "dream-on," price-tag heavy remote control helicopter that they found in their father's Hammacher Schlemmer catalog. Remote control cars, planes, space ships . . . boys (and men) of all ages appreciate the science and technology in the latest remote controlled vehicle. Also popular are high-end robots and the kits to build them. Unfortunately, these toys are pretty expensive, so be sure your guy will appreciate the gift.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3
Gaming Accessories
PlayStation Move/ Xbox Konnect: For Konnect, your body is your own controller. For PlayStation 3, Move is like a Wii controller for your PlayStation. Some of Sony's games have PlayStation Move compatability and Konnect has special games now available. PlayStation Move accessories are at the top of our 12-year-old son's list this year.
Nerf Fun
Luckily, unlike their female counterparts, there is still some fun-loving puppy left in them. Boys this age still romp and play imaginative games with their friends--most often "Army" and "War." "Cowboys and Indians" are lost to this generation, but laser tag, variations of space wars and other boy-created wars are still popular.
Nerf, having progressed past the footballs and basketballs, now offers incredibly popular Nerf guns for this age group. Used as WWII machine guns, space guns and other imaginative weapons, these brightly colored, affordable toys offer hours of entertainment for this age group.
iPods
Ten to twelve year old boys are also starting to get into music. Depending his level of responsibility, an iPod could be a great "big gift" idea. And not only does the iPod make a good gift, but its accessories offer further gift giving opportunities.
Some boys like classic rock, some even like heavy metal--and even more like hip hop, rap and alternative rock. The iTunes gift card is always a welcome present for anyone with an iPod and is usually the best way to go when giving the gift of music to this age group, unless you know a specific album your guy really wants.
For the Musician
As one 12-year-old reader reminded me, this is a great age for starting the guitar--or any other instrument. From electric guitars, acoustic guitars and portable keyboards to drum pads, full drum sets and recording software, many options exist for encouraging a future rocker. If your son is already playing in a school concert band or orchestra and has been renting his instrument, 6th grade is an ideal time to evaluate if he is planning to continue through middle school and purchase a new or used instrument of his own.
At our house, my husband is a serious home recording artist and plays a variety of guitars, basses, and keyboards. He records with Sony Acid software and recommends the following resources for good deals on instruments:
Sweetwater Sound
www.sweetwater.com
Not only has he bought some recording equipment from this Ft. Wayne, Indiana, based company, but we also purchased a beautiful acoustic guitar for our daughter from here for 8th grade graduation. Wonderful service and good prices!
Musicians' Friends
www.musiciansfriend.com
This is a great resource for rockers of any age or experience. My husband has bought from this catalog for at least 20 years. Two years ago for Christmas, we bought our three children guitars from Musicians' Friends: 1 child-sized acoustic, 1 child-sized electric and a mid-priced electric from the daughter. All good quality at reasonable prices. This catalog/webstore also offers deals on concert band/orchestra instruments for all levels of performers. We purchased a well-priced, solid performance clarinet for our daughter back in her concert band days as well as a couple of different mouth pieces for our son's trumpet.
For the Athlete & Sports Fan
Sports enthusiasts might have all the equipment they want or need--but they usually love getting jerseys, posters, sweatshirts and hats that support their favorite teams. Giving team sweatshirts and long-sleeve t-shirts is also a great method for giving boys clothes without them realizing that you are giving them clothing.
Additional ideas for the football, soccer and baseball loving guy are video games. Wii games get your guys off the couch and moving, but the high-quality games for PS3 and XBox are coveted by boys of all ages (and often their fathers as well).
Other Ideas
Many boys this age often enjoy browsing non-fiction books, almanacs and books lists that match their personal interests, from history and science to sports and nature. It is harder for boys, their parents and even their teachers to find fiction titles that interest this age group. For fiction, feel to read my hub:
CommentsLoading...
These are okay
I am 12 years old, and i was just wandering. What is something a 12 year old would want? I cant think of anything. I got IPod Touch 4th generation and thats it. if you have anything plz tell me. Thanks
It's fine but there is not a lot of stuff that my parents would get me
HiKevinRox & Dude:
I'd love to use some of your input in my list (which definitely needs updating). Kevin: what do you really like to do? Play football? Baseball? Video games? Dude: Why do you feel your parents wouldn't get you stuff from the list? Is it a cost issue? Or an anti-violence stance?
Both of you, please let me know so I can make this list the best it can be!
Thanks!
Caroline
im 12 yrs old and have to say that no-one my age likes to read books a good idea is to by a cheap instrument like a ukelele or a starter bundle electric guitar
Danny: You are right about the uke or starter guitar. That is a great idea. As soon as I have a chance to update, I will include! Thanks--those are great ideas! As far as reading, I should probably change that to "have to" read--which I'm sure you have to do for your LA/Lit or English class.
Stephen Robinson 15 months ago
Well I am a 12 year old boy and you were dead-on so this is a very good source for parents