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!

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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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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: 

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:

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 

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

Light up tracing pad:

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: 

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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

Mini cupcake/donut maker:

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.