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Christmas fun for kids holidays parenting tips tips

The 20 BEST Christmas gifts for boys!

In today’s post: Find 20 fantastic Christmas gifts for boys!

Have you started Christmas shopping yet? I always ask my kids for lists super early, thinking I’ll get all my shopping done by Thanksgiving, but sometimes their lists are full of things I don’t want to get them. Let me explain: I’m tired of stuffed animals or action figures that don’t get played with, junky toys that get broken two hours out of the package and end up as the clutter that never goes away, and video games that encourage them to spend more time plugged in and less time using their imaginations. Only a small percentage of the gifts they have received over the years have been real keepers – things that really provide hours of fun, don’t make unbelievable messes, and encourage them to use their imaginations… So I’ve decided to share 20 of the best Christmas gifts for boys today. These are tried and true gifts your kids are going to love!

These are the 20 best Christmas gifts for boys! Tons of great ideas here.

Copyright Mamuka Gotsiridze | Dreamstime.com

A note before we start: I know this post is called “Christmas gifts for boys”, but that doesn’t mean these gifts ONLY work for boys – these gifts would be great for girls too! I also have a post called “Christmas gifts for girls” that happens to be full of gift ideas boys would also enjoy. The only reason I’ve split them up into two different posts is that people tend to search “gifts for girls” or “gifts for boys”, but it’s worth checking out both posts for ideas for your kids.

Best Christmas gifts for boys

Please note all links are affiliate links to Amazon, which means if you click through and purchase I will receive a small commission, but it does not change your price. These gift ideas are great for kids up to about age 12. For gifts for older kids please visit these posts: Best Christmas gifts for teens, Best Christmas gifts for 13 year old boys

Design & drill:

20 Christmas gift ideas for boys.

A few years ago my youngest spent a week in the hospital with RSV and came home on oxygen. I knew we wouldn’t be going much of anywhere for a few weeks and I needed something that would keep my 2.5 year old boy busy – and this activity board was perfect! It comes with a power drill, tons of screws, and a board you can drill the screws into. Just reverse the drill to pull them back out. There’s also a screwdriver, so two can play at once. My son spent hours screwing in all the red screws, then all the green, then making patterns with the different colors. His friends still beg to play with it when they come over almost three years later.

Stomp rockets:

20 Christmas gift ideas for boys.

Ok, this might be the best Christmas gift for boys (or girls) that I’ve found in all my years as a mom. Stomp rockets are SO MUCH FUN. Just slide a rocket onto the launcher and jump – and your rocket will go flying into the air. These puppies go really high! We bought a set years ago and used it over and over and over…and recently finally replaced it. We took them with us to the park once and every single child at the park ended up in line to take a turn. These are great for all ages – even small children can figure it out and big kids love competing to see who can send the rockets the furthest. Note: it’s worth investing in replacement rockets from the get go so you always have plenty.

Extreme dot to dot books:

20 great gifts for boys. Using this to start my Christmas shopping!

These extreme dot-to-dot books are completely awesome! Each page has 500-1000 dots, resulting in an intricate, super cool design once completed. Needless to say, they require an attention span, but the finished drawing is well worth the time spent. The books come in a variety of fun themes. Our kids bring them to church and work quietly during the talks/sermon.

365 Things to do with Legos book:

20 great gifts for boys. Using this to start my Christmas shopping!

Want to breathe new life into the collection of legos your kids already have? This book has a huge range of fun things kids can build with legos, and each building idea comes with a “play” idea as well. For example, one idea shows you how to put on a lego magic show, complete with a disappearing minifig trick. This would be a really fun Christmas gift for boys or girls.

Snap circuits:

20 great Christmas gifts for kids.

Snap circuits are pretty darn cool – each set comes with a variety of components that can be snapped together in different combinations to build electronic projects. A guide book shows kids how to create a dual speed fan, flashing laser light, photo sensor police siren, electronic games, and more. I can’t tell you how excited my kids were when they put together a working FM radio. The set I’ve linked shows kids how to build 300 different projects by using different combinations of pieces, and if they love it (mine did) you can purchase larger sets or add-on sets.

Guinness World Records 2019:

Best list of gift ideas for kids.

Any school librarian will tell you the Guinness World Records books are always the most popular book in the library! There’s often a waiting list for kids to get their turn, so giving your child his very own copy is a great Christmas gift idea.

Spikeball: 

Best list of gift ideas for kids.

This game is so much fun! It’s a twist on volleyball that involves bouncing the ball back and forth on a circular net. It’s fun to play and fun to watch and a great way to get kids off electronics and doing something active. Spikeball is the original brand; you can also find cheaper versions under alternate brand names.

Hookey ring toss game:

20 great Christmas gifts for kids.

This fun game from Australia is a safe alternative to darts. Throw the rubber rings at the board, trying to hang them on the hooks. Add in some math skills practice by trying to score exactly 21 points. Easy enough for kids 5+ and fun enough that the teenagers and adults will want to join in. Plus it’s so nice looking you won’t need to hide it in the basement.

Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for kids book 

Best list of gift ideas for kids.

126 pages of cute jokes appropriate for kids. What’s not to love?

Light up tracing pad:

20 Christmas gift ideas for boys.

This pad lights up so kid can easily trace and embellish images to create beautiful drawings. It comes with over 100 traceable designs, 12 colored pencils, and 10 tracing sheets. Reviewers say that once the tracing sheets run out the light is bright enough to trace using just normal copy paper.

Drawing stencils: 

20 great gifts for boys. Using this to start my Christmas shopping!

My kids love these stencils! These are wonderful for kids who aren’t very confident in their ability to draw – they can use the stencils to get the basic shapes “right” and then embellish from there. Perfect for times when you want kids occupied quietly for a while – we take ours to church regularly.

More Christmas gift ideas for boys

Over door basketball hoop:

20 great Christmas gifts for kids.

This is another of the best Christmas gifts we’ve ever given our boys. The durable hoop fits over any standard door with no need for screws or hardware, and is padded to ensure it won’t scratch the door. Unlike other cheaper over the door hoops, this version is built sturdy enough to stand up to lots of indoor play, and is very realistic looking. Great way to keep kids active when it’s too cold or wet to play outside.

Power poppers:

20 great Christmas gifts for kids.

If there was ever a gift that appealed to all ages, this is it! You pump the guns to shoot soft foam balls and they make a super satisfying “pop” as you do so. Little kids love these and the balls are soft enough that they don’t hurt, and I’ve even had teenagers running through my basement laughing their heads off playing with these. I’m pretty sure I know a few adults who would love them as well. So. Much. Fun. Note: I’ve linked to them on Amazon but I’ve seen them cheaper at Costco!

Disney Classic Me Reader:

20 great Christmas gifts for kids.

The Me Reader is a genius product! It comes with 8 books, each based on a classic Disney film, and an electronic “reader.” Every page in each book has a symbol corresponding to the buttons on the reader, so all kids have to do is push the button that matches the page they’re on to hear that page read aloud to them. A little like a book on CD, but much easier for kids to follow along with since they control when the next page is read. It’s simple enough that my daughter was able to use it on her own when she was barely 3 years old, but fun enough that my 6 year old who can read to himself still enjoys using these (they like to sit at bed in night and “read” these books on their own). Look for other other Me Reader varieties, such as Disney princesses, Thomas the Train, and Dora.

Spot it:

Best list of gift ideas for kids.

The premise of this game is super simple: you lay down two cards and try to be the first one to spot the matching symbols. But it’s harder than you’d think, which makes it lots of fun. It’s fast paced – each game only takes about 10 minutes – and there are lots of variations to keep it interesting. The cards fit in a small metal case, making it easy to take along just about anywhere. This is a great inexpensive Christmas gift for boys or girls.

Play kitchen:

20 great Christmas gifts for kids.

I know, play kitchens have traditionally been marketed for girls, but they make great gifts for boys as well! My older three boys all wanted a play kitchen and I never got one because we couldn’t afford it back then, but I wish I’d found one at a garage sale or something. So last year when my younger boy asked for a kitchen I decided we’d finally go for it, and it was a great decision. He LOVES pretending to be a chef. He walks around taking orders from everyone in the house then heads to his kitchen to put the food together. NOTE: the kitchen I’ve linked was one of the only ones I found that wasn’t obviously girly, and I did find it cheaper at target.com last year. Just be aware that play kitchens sell out before Christmas, so shop early if you’re interested.

Tin can robot:

20 great Christmas gifts for kids.

Grab this kit and an empty soda can and kids can build their very own robot which they can send rolling across the floor. Great for kids who are interested in robotics. Reviewers say the detailed instructions mean most kids 8 and up can build it on their own.

Funny t-shirt:

20 Christmas gift ideas for boys.

Funny shirts make great Christmas gifts for boys or girls! Click here for 20 more funny t-shirt ideas.

Mini cupcake/donut maker:

Best Christmas gifts for boys.

If your kids are old enough to handle something that heats up without burning themselves, they will LOVE making mini treats in this little appliance. My boys make mini donuts all the time to share with friends (mini donut recipe here). This version makes mini cupcakes or cake pops as well!

 

And finally: BOOKS! Christmas is a great time to introduce kids to new books, especially classic series you may have read as a kid. Try Encyclopedia Brown, The Great Brain series, or anything by John Bellairs. Find even more great books for kids here: 25 fantastic books for kids 8-12, 13 best picture books, 30 fantastic series for kids.

These are the 20 best Christmas gifts for boys! Tons of great ideas here.

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41 Comments

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Comments

  1. Shirley says

    November 8, 2013 at 10:12 pm

    These are awesome!! I will probably be getting a few for the boys for Christmas. A few we already have, and love. Great list!!!

    Reply
  2. Alexis says

    November 9, 2013 at 10:49 am

    Ooh, some great ideas here! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  3. Liz says

    November 9, 2013 at 3:57 pm

    Awesome list! I have two young sons and I feel the same way about toys. These look like fun for the adults too

    Reply
  4. Mary Ann Dunn says

    November 10, 2013 at 9:50 am

    These are great. My 6 grandsons will definitely be grateful for this post. It always helps to know which toys last and are played with

    Reply
  5. Julie t says

    November 10, 2013 at 6:03 pm

    Best boy gift lost ever.

    Reply
  6. Megan says

    November 11, 2013 at 7:14 pm

    I almost didn’t look at this list because I figured it would be the same stuff I see every year. However, I was pleasantly surprised! This is a great list of ideas!

    Reply
  7. Gloria // Simply Gloria says

    November 13, 2013 at 4:58 pm

    I love how you put a kitchen on this list! My boys always requested one when each of them were little. It was so hard to find to find one that was not pink. One of my boys wanted an Easy Bake Oven (12 yrs ago) and I was more than excited when I found a grey and blue one. Thank you for sharing this great list!

    Reply
  8. Karen says

    November 13, 2013 at 5:38 pm

    Great list, good for boys and girls.
    It’s a shame assumptions are made on toys. Boys and girls often play with the same. I made a kitchen out of cardboard boxes when I couldn’t afford one. It got a lot of play, lasted and was fun to make. Thank you. I want a helicopter now! 🙂

    Reply
    • Susan says

      November 30, 2013 at 9:25 am

      I was coming here to say the same thing-these are good toys for CHILDREN, period-we need to stop gender bias and stereotyping in the toy aisle. It’s a great list, and good for ALL kids!

      Reply
      • autumn says

        November 30, 2013 at 12:56 pm

        You’re exactly right, Susan – thanks for visiting!

        Reply
  9. Jennifer says

    November 13, 2013 at 8:19 pm

    Great ideas! I also love that you put a kitchen. My son has had one since 2 & now at 6 wants an easy bake oven. One great toy I would recommend are Magna Tiles. A bit pricey but we have gotten hours upon hours of use from ours.

    Reply
    • autumn says

      November 14, 2013 at 6:43 am

      Thanks so much for the suggestion, Jennifer – Magnatiles are actually on my best gifts for girls list which comes out tomorrow! Obviously they are great for both genders – lots of things on each list will actually work for both boys and girls. Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  10. kim says

    November 14, 2013 at 6:01 am

    Best list I’ve seen in a while! I have a son who will be so excited that you came across the starfall learn to read packet – we’ve been playing the games and he’ll be just thrilled to know there are books too! thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  11. heather says

    November 14, 2013 at 7:10 am

    Awesome list! My 8 yr old is so hard to buy for. I think I’ll be buying 3 or 4 things off this list.

    Reply
    • autumn says

      November 14, 2013 at 10:35 am

      Wonderful! Thanks for letting me know it was helpful!

      Reply
  12. Emily says

    November 14, 2013 at 10:20 am

    Thank you!! I was in *desperate* need of a gift for a 6 year old boy for his birthday this weekend and this was a tremendous help. I purchased the rocket stomp and I think he’s going to love it!!

    Reply
    • autumn says

      November 14, 2013 at 10:33 am

      The stomp rockets are totally a favorite. We’ve gone through a couple sets over the past 7 years because we use them all the time!

      Reply
  13. Heather Stokes says

    November 14, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    GREAT LIST! Thanks for sharing. We do have some of these and my boys LOVE them. Looking forward to adding a few of your suggestions to my gift list. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  14. Andrew says

    November 15, 2013 at 10:45 am

    Great ideas! I like the Lego Ideas Book.

    Andrew
    http://vividgiftideas.com/

    Reply
  15. VANESSA says

    November 15, 2013 at 9:03 pm

    lovely ideas im definitely thinking about..

    and for big boys i might get my husband the Beer of the month club at

    http://www.giftofthemonthclubs.com.au/beer-of-the-month-club

    Reply
  16. Lindze @ Interior Fun says

    November 18, 2013 at 9:16 pm

    This list is amazing! I’m always looking for educational toys and activities for my two boys. Thanks for sharing. Pinning this now! 🙂

    Reply
  17. Amy says

    December 6, 2013 at 5:02 pm

    Hi! Thank you for all of our gift lists-like a lot of the comments already these are great gifts period, regardless if giving to a boy or girl. On a side note, while I know that I love Amazon-the Monopoly Deal game is just under $6 at Target. I was going to buy it regardless but wanted to pass along the lower price. Thanks again for all the awesome ideas! ~Amy

    Reply
    • autumn says

      December 6, 2013 at 9:30 pm

      Thanks for the heads up on Monopoly Deal – I thought it was crazy that Amazon had increased the price so much. I added a note in the post so people know to check Target – thanks!

      Reply
  18. Nance Greenwell says

    December 16, 2013 at 11:22 pm

    Grandson wanted a bracelet maker for his birthday this past Sunday. I found it at the toy store still reluctant that he wouldn’t like it. It came with a loom and small rubber bands, imagine my surprise when the box recommends it for girls & boys 8yrs. and up! His dad and I also made these bracelets, it was fun family time. Thanks for the suggestions, they will help me get his Christmas shopping.

    Reply
  19. Bettypark says

    September 23, 2016 at 8:32 pm

    Great list,mate.!! For all budgets.These twenty things are really awesome suggestions for Christmas The LEGO Ideas Book is also here.Thanks!

    Reply
  20. Olivia says

    December 8, 2017 at 7:52 am

    Autumn,
    Thanks SO much for these awesome gift ideas. You are so helpful and all your lists are spot on to what our boys would like.

    Reply
  21. Kristie says

    November 1, 2018 at 5:41 am

    We have one of those crayola light up things. They are awesome! And even though the light doesn’t work anymore it gets used all the time. And you are absolutely correct, regular copy paper works great on it.
    Thanks for a great list!

    Reply
  22. Ray says

    November 1, 2018 at 10:17 am

    I can definitely recommend the Stomp Rockets; I’ve enjoyed watching several cycles of grandchildren enjoy them. Why didn’t they have these great toys when I was a boy? Plus, they are also great for grandpas to use.

    Reply
  23. mohammed says

    December 23, 2018 at 11:24 pm

    very very nice i love it

    volgopointonlineshopping

    Reply
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  26. Solution Exist says

    August 23, 2019 at 8:14 pm

    Christmas is the festival that every child loves. thanks you had a great list. I will surely use one of this to give my cousin on this christmas

    Reply
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  28. My Little Einstein says

    October 18, 2019 at 8:27 pm

    Great list of Christmas gift ideas .. Please checkout our list of best Christmas gift ideas for kids and toddlers
    https://mylittleeinstein.com/best-christmas-gifts-ideas-for-2019/

    Reply
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    November 12, 2019 at 11:23 pm

    Magento users have two licensing options. The first and most common option is the Community Edition, which is free and does not charge a monthly fee. It’s ideally suited for small to medium sized businesses.

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I'm Autumn, a mom of five who loves ice cream, Masterpiece Theatre, and clothes that hide the fact that I eat so much ice cream. When I was 18 I got a job at a craft store and told everyone (regularly) how much I hated crafts. Well, things change! Read More…

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