Christmas Gift Guide: Best Gifts for 12 year old boys in 2022
Christmas is one of the most magical times of the year. While spending time with family and friends is the best part of the season, giving and receiving gifts is also fun. One of the most challenging ages to buy for are tweens.
11-13 year olds often think they’re too old for kid toys and not yet interested in items geared toward teens like expensive electronics or equipment.
However, pre-teen boys are also open to discovering brand-new gadgets, making it a blast to shop for this age.
If you’re searching for gift ideas for a 10-year-old, 11-year-old, or 12-year-old, we’ve got you covered.
Related: The 10 Best Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Teens
From video games to STEM toys and everything in between, we’ve compiled a list of the best 25 Christmas gifts for tween boys in 2022.
How We Chose Our Favorites
To make your Christmas shopping a little easier, we consulted with experts and parents to determine the best gifts for 12-year-old boys in 2022. We also tapped into these experts' advice to find out which of this year’s top Christmas gifts for boys were readily available at Amazon.
Best Electronic Gifts for 12-year-old-Boys
1. Apple AirPods (3rd Generation)
Wireless headphones are a must-have for anyone, but especially a tween boy. These Apple AirPods are water-resistant, have up to 30 hours of battery life, and come with a case that acts as an on-the-go charger.
“I have been in electronics for 23 years home theater installs and electronics restoration and I think these AirPods are awesome. I have very high standards when it comes to any electronics I purchase and I have went through a lot of AirPods and I think these AirPods sound the best.”
2. GoPro HERO8
This GoPro is a great gift for any 12-year-old who wants to document their adventures with friends or the whole family. It’s rugged, waterproof up to 33 feet, and offers three levels of stabilization for smooth videos.
“This is my first time using a GoPro and I am very impressed. I love how small and compact the camera is. It is only a few inches big which makes it so easy and convenient to put in your bag and bring it anywhere you go. I found it to be very user friendly and easy to use. This is a great camera for capturing outdoor activities and then being able to share your experience with your friends and family.”
3. Bose SoundLink Color II Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Tweens and teens love having music playing day and night, so this speaker will get a lot of use for years to come. The battery lasts 8 hours and is rechargeable with a simple USB. It also comes in a few different colors.
“Love this speaker! I've had it for a couple years now and it's the best speaker I've ever owned….I've dropped it, spilled water on it, it fell into a chlorinated pool (TWICE!!!!) and it still works like new and I haven't had any problems with it.”
4. Fire HD 8 Tablet
Whether they want to do homework or watch movies, this tablet makes the perfect gift. It has an all-day battery life and 2x the storage of fire tablets geared toward younger children.
“Love the kid settings so that the kiddos don't get into videos or any other adult content they shouldn't. Great for them to read books on, there are soooo many books! Kid friendly videos and games too if your kids are into that. Mine weren't until they got this and just love to explore all the new things on it for them to do.”
5. Potensic Upgraded A20 Mini Drone
This remote control drone features a landing and auto-hovering function that allows it to take off smoothly or hover at its current height. Additional functions include three adjustable speeds and headless mode, so it never loses direction.
“This thing operates as smoothly and easily as an indoor drone will EVER operate (probably). Our 12 year old & 7 year old grandkids were doing great fun flights after just a few introductory instructions from 73 year old me.”
Best Gaming Gifts for Tween Boys
6. SteelSeries Arctis 7 Lossless Wireless Gaming Headset
Is your son always playing the newest video games? This headset is one of the best mics for gaming, delivering clear, studio-quality voice and background noise cancellation. It’s compatible with PC, Mac, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Mobile.
“Hands down the best thing I've ever had to date. For PC & PS4, this is 110% worth every cent I spent.”
7. Nintendo Switch
Not only is this gaming system one of the coolest gifts for adolescent boys, but it’s also fun for the entire family. Plus, it connects over WiFi for multiplayer gaming with up to eight consoles.
“This switch is so cute and I honestly can’t wait to play animal crossing on this! The design on this switch is so beautiful like Nintendo did a good job on the color scheme and everything!!!”
8. X Rocker Pro Series H3 Black Video Gaming Chair
Any dedicated gamer needs a comfortable chair to stay at the top of their game. This one has a ton of additional features, including a complete media experience with forward-facing speakers and ported power subwoofers inside the chair for total immersion in your game.
“I would absolutely recommend this chair to anyone asking me about gaming chairs - it has turned out to be nicer than we expected and seems to be well made and well designed and we are very happy with it.”
Best Outdoor and Sporting Gifts for Tween Boys
9. Spikeball Standard Kit
From the beach to the backyard, spikeball is the perfect outdoor game for any occasion. It involves up to four people and comes with a convenient carrying bag.
“This is a great game! My son asked for it for his birthday gift and he plays it often with his friends. It is fun for all ages and is easy to put together. My 9-year-old can play and my parents in their late 60's also play!”
10. GlowCity Glow in The Dark Basketball
This light-up basketball will ensure the fun keeps going even after it gets dark. It features two LED lights that last for up to 30 hours before changing the battery.
“This ball is awesome! We purchased for our teenage son for night time ball games & we love it so much that we are about to order 3 more....It is so bright & neat looking! Makes playing outside as a family even more fun and exciting. This is going to be bought as gifts for every kid I know for birthdays and Christmas.”
11. WhiteFang Skateboards for Beginners
This skateboard is one of the best toys for tween boys and is ideal for beginners. It’s durable and has a max load of 220 pounds.
“I'm twelve years old and weigh around 90 lbs, and I already had a skateboard, but it was very small and hard to learn. Riding this skateboard is very smooth compared to other skateboards I've tried. In conclusion, it has great grip, a smooth ride, a beautiful design, and is easy to turn. Definitely recommend this board for beginners!”
12. ArmoGear Laser Tag
This laser tag set provides fun for the family or a group of friends. It comes with four vests and guns.
“Got this for my 11 year old twins birthday and it was a hit! I did a lot of research before purchasing and decided on this one based on the features. Best decision!”
Best Indoor Games and Board Games for Middle School Boys
13. Czech Games Codenames
In this spymaster game, each team works together to contact all their agents before the other team! It’s versatile and can accommodate a few players or a group.
“Codenames really is genius in it's simplicity. It's a fantastic party game because it can be taught in under 5 minutes and provides a ton of fun. It has definitely been a hit in my gaming group and with my family over the holidays.”
14. Ravensburger Marvel Villainous: Infinite Power Strategy Board Game
This strategic card game allows everyone to step into the role of villain and face off against beloved superheroes. It’s perfect for families or a group of friends.
“Makes for a great gift for teens!!! My boys are 18, 17, 15 and 14 and all of them love it!! Get it for your kids!”
15. TrueBalance Coordination Game
16. LEGO Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Millennium Falcon Building Kit
Boys who love Star Wars will be excited to rip the wrapping paper off this LEGO Millenium Falcon building kit. It has 1,351 pieces, including minifigures and detailed, moving parts.
“Great Lego set! My 11 year old loved it!”
17. Alesis CompactKit 4-Tabletop Electric Drum Set
Whether they play the drums or just enjoy making music, this electric drum set is the perfect gift. It features 70 electronic and acoustic drum kit voices, 10 effect voices, and 50 play-along songs.
“What a hit this was at Christmas! I bought this for my grandson (at his request and with his mother's blessing) and he loved it.”
Best Educational Gifts for Middle School Boys
18. Harry Potter Paperback Box Set
Books make great presents for tweens, and this box set will keep young boys immersed in a far away land for a while. This set includes the paperback version of book 1-7.
“This is the full set of the original Harry Potter novels in a paperback version. It is much more than just a mass-market paperback, however. The books are just a bit smaller in size than the hardcover versions, and they have the same kind of quality illustrations and look great. They also come in a collector box that you can either store them in on a shelf, or the box can be displayed separately if you are one of those who goes all in decking out a bookshelf.”
19. Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand STEM Experiment Kit
Not only do STEM toys make cool gifts, but they’re also educational! With this kit, boys can build their own mechanical hand that they operate with their own fingers!
“Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand STEM Experiment Kit | Build Your Own Giant Hydraulic Hand. My 10 yr old grandson put this together in 4-5 hours with no help...except his dad helped him oil the cylinders.”
20. U.S. Art Supply 162-Piece Deluxe Art Set
This kit contains everything a young artist needs to create their next masterpiece! It comes with 162 pieces in a sturdy, wooden case, including professional-grade watercolor paint color cakes, mixing trays, oil pastel colors, colored pencils, wax crayons, and more.
“My daughter is homeschooled, going into the 7th grade, and she wanted Art as her extra curricular this year. She’s in love and instantly drew up a picture. She loves the pencils, and can’t wait to try out the rest of it throughout the year. Comes in a gorgeous wooden box, and everything was intact and unbroken!”
21. Think Fun Gravity Maze Falling Marble Run Logic Game
Tweens can play their way through 60 challenges that start at a beginner level and get more difficult. It’s perfect for a variety of ages.
“My 10 year old son is obsessed with this game. He loves figuring out each maze. It makes him use problem solving skills and logic….He chooses this over video games! Now that is saying something.”
Best Accessories & Clothing Christmas Gifts for 12-Year Old Boys
22. Reebok Men's Hi 2 Sneaker
23. Champion Reverse Weave Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt
Comfortable clothing and athleisure is all the rage right now, and this simple hooded sweatshirt is perfect for any growing tween boy. It also comes in a ton of colors.
“All the kids are wearing these Champion hoodies now. They aren't kidding when they say everything comes back in style eventually!”
24. Herschel Classic Backpack
With a variety of colors and designs, anyone will be able to find their ideal style. It’s spacious enough for books or laptops and durable enough to last years.
“This is great for school, and it’s big enough to carry all of my belongings. Love the color and it even holds my 32 oz water bottle.”
25. Hydro Flask Water Bottle
Water bottles are fun stocking stuffers and tweens love decorating them to match their style. This one keeps drinks cold the entire day.
“It keeps water cool for at least a day, even while sitting in a hot car in the middle of a Texas heatwave. It works, even if you drop it multiple times while out and about and dent it.”
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Looking for more gift ideas for tweens and teens in your life? Check out our Top 25 Birthday Gifts for Tweens (Ages 11 - 13)!
