When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. If you’re shopping for a 10-year-old boy this holiday, consider one of KiwiCo’s subscription kits, like the STEM-themed Tinker Crate.
KiwiCoAge 10 can be tricky for gift-givers. Ten-year-old boys may begin focusing more on hobbies than toys, but play is still essential. “You want the toy to be 90% child and 10% percent toy,” says child psychologist Roberta Golinkoff, PhD, author of “Becoming Brilliant.
” “Avoid toys that ask kids to fill in the blanks. Toys should release creativity, not determine it. “The best gifts for a 10-year-old boy will encourage age-appropriate development and meet the interests of that individual child.
Because interests extend beyond outdated masculine stereotypes, great gifts include everything from sports to arts. And while the newest trending toys are great, some classic toys and games shouldn’t be overlooked. Below, we’ve rounded up our top picks for the best gifts for 10-year-old boys, including STEM toys, games, and outdoor toys.
Check out all of our gift guides here for more inspiration. A playset for Minecraft fansAmazonMattel Minecraft Transforming Turtle HideoutMinecraft is a video game that’s gained a big following because of the creative worlds that kids (and adults) love to build. The Transforming Turtle Hideout takes that game play off the screen, with a turtle “house” that transforms and a Steve character.
This highly rated gift is both affordable and compact to take with on the go. An active video gameAmazonNintendo Switch SportsNintendo Switch Sports is a video game that gets kids moving. This Nintendo Switch game turns Joy Con controllers into motion sensors similar to the Nintendo Wii for playing soccer, volleyball, bowling and more.
This game requires a Nintendo Switch and additional Joy Con controllers for multiplayer play. A new take on FoursquareAmazonSpikeball Game SetSpikeball is a popular game that mixes the recess- favorite Foursquare with volleyball. Players try to hit the ball into the net in a way that the opposing team can’t bounce back.
Spikeball makes a great gift because it’s fun for both kids and adults, making it a great active family game. A kid-safe electric scooterAmazonRazor Power Core E90 Electric ScooterThe Razor Power Core E90 Electric Scooter is one of the company’s more beginner-friendly electric scooters, with safety features designed for kids. Razer’s Power Core models have newer engines for longer ride times.
While this model is ideal for kids, it’s made for sidewalks and bike trails rather than gravel or off-road. A Pokémon favoriteAmazonPokémon Charizard Deluxe Feature FigureThe classic Pokémon series is seeing a resurgence that earned the brand the License of the Year Award at the 2022 Toy of the Year Awards. The Pokémon Charizard Deluxe is an affordable action figure set that includes two figures for battle play as well as lights, movements, and sounds.
A game that’s different every timeAmazonOutset Media Family Scavenger HuntFamily Scavenger Hunt uses two decks of cards — one for adults and one for kids. That gets families searching in a way that’s still challenging for grown-ups. There’s a set of cards for an outdoor hunt too.
A challenge for Pokemon fansTargetBuffalo Games Pokémon Eevee Evolutions Jigsaw Puzzle (500 pieces)Puzzles are both fun and skill building for this age group. This Pokémon Eevee Evolutions Puzzle is a budget-friendly gift idea for a 10-year-old boy. It features a popular Pokémon character and a rainbow of colors that will offer clues on which piece goes where.
A creative comic book kitTargetMondo Llama Create-Your-Own Superhero Comic Books KitA great way to encourage creativity, this comic book kit has everything kids need to make three books. The set includes three blank books as well as stickers and markers. There are instructions with tips for creating comics as well.
A hard-to-put-down graphic novelAmazon”New Kid” by Jerry CraftFunny graphic novels turned my son from a reluctant reader to an avid reader. “New Kid” by Jerry Craft is a humorous illustrated middle grade novel, yet it tackles some important topics for 10-year-olds. The book follows a seventh-grader in a new prestigious private school, as one of the only students of color.
The book received the Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Award, and Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature. A puzzle that can become anythingAmazonFat Brain Toys Jixels Roving Robots (700-Piece Set)Jixels are mini puzzle pieces that can be used to create an image one pixel at a time. This 700-piece set includes instructions to make two robots.
Jixels is also an open-ended toy and the pieces can fit together to create whatever the child imagines. A card game with actionMattelMattel Uno AttackTen years old is a good age for card games. Uno Attack takes a classic game and kicks it up a notch, spitting out any number of cards at random.
Kids will love pushing the button and the added suspense of waiting to see how many cards fly out. Classic games are a great gift — and 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Uno. A mosaic craft kitWalmartFat Brain Toys Make A Real Mosaic PandaMosaics are like puzzles and crafts in one.
This mosaic kit uses real stone tile. Kids can follow a pattern to turn the blocks into a unicorn — though there are other kits available too, including an owl, tiger, and panda. A building kit with multiple possibilitiesAmazonLEGO Creator 3-in-1 Fire DragonLEGO Creator 3-in-1 kits allow kits to choose the design to build — and, of course, they can still create their own designs.
These smaller kits are also easier to put together in a few hours and reasonably priced. LEGO has several options from lions to sharks, but we’re partial to this fire-breathing dragon. A gift that gives backWorld Wildlife FoundationWorld Wildlife Foundation Symbolic Species AdoptionStuffed animals have long been a great gift idea, but the World Wildlife Foundation’s Symbolic Species Adoption is more than just a plush — this program helps fund the WWF’s work to preserve endangered species and their habitats.
In return for a $60 donation, you’ll be able to gift a plush and a few extras. The program includes popular animals like sloths, lions, and elephants, as well as lesser known animals like a blue-footed bobby and a capybara. Turn toys into movie charactersAmazonKlutz LEGO Make Your Own Movie KitThis Klutz LEGO kit encourages kids not to just build and play with mini figures, but to create a story and share that story too.
The kit includes mini figures, backgrounds, and scenery, but kids will need a tablet or smartphone to record the stop motion videos. Golinkhoff says that screen time gifts are okay if there’s a social and nonscreen aspect, like creating these videos and sharing them with friends. “There are some apps that can be enjoyed if there are social interactions around the app and it’s not a shooting game,” she said.
A backyard ropes obstacle courseAmazonSlackers Ninjaline 36′ Intro Kit with ObstaclesInspired by the TV show, this Ninjaline is a suspended obstacle course for kids. The set includes several different types of rings to grab and a slackline to hang it all on. Gifters beware, though, the backyard will need two sturdy trees that are no farther than 36 feet apart.
A book that combines science and cookingAmazon”Science Experiments You Can Eat” by Vicki CobbTen can be a good age to start developing lifelong hobbies, like cooking. This cookbook brings science into the kitchen, making it a perfect gift option both for boys who like science and boys interested in cooking. Reviewers have a lot of good things to say about this gift for older kids, which is an updated version of a book that’s been around for more than 40 years.
A Monopoly city to build and play togetherAmazonHasbro Monopoly Builder”There’s a reason Monopoly has been around as long as it has,” Golinkhoff said. In the latest rendition of the classic Monopoly game, players build skyscrapers as they make their way around the board. The game adds construction tokens and building levels to the basic real estate spaces of the original.
A Mandalorian set for advanced buildersAmazonLEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian The Razer CrestThis large LEGO set allows kids to build and play with “The Mandalorian” characters including The Child — better known as “Baby Yoda” — and The Razer Crest starship. Rated for ages 10 years and up, this is a kit for more advanced builders or for kids and a grownup to work on together. While there are a lot of great LEGO sets, this one earned the TOYA award for building kits this year.
A motorized building toyAmazonK’nex Imagine Power and Play Motorized Building SetAdding a motor adds another level of play to a classic building toy. The K’nex Imagine Power and Play allows kids to motorize their creations, from helicopters to a robot. It comes with a reusable case — a big plus when purchasing anything with lots of little pieces.
A monthly subscription boxKiwiCoKiwiCo Doodle CrateKids tend to love subscription boxes because they love getting mail — I’ve gifted KiwiCo crates before and they were a big hit. Doodle Crate sends monthly craft projects. There are other options that may better suit a 10-year-old with different interests, like a crate for building, cooking, or even geography.
A snow scooter that works on hills and flat groundAirheadAirhead Scoot Snow ScooterUnlike a sled, the Airhead Scoot Snow Scooter works on both hills and flat ground, which means kids without hills around can still play with this toy. A snow scooter is like a snowboard with a handle. It could be considered a stepping stone to help learn snowboarding in the future.
A box full of science experimentsAmazonNational Geographic Earth Science KitMany science kits are one-and-done, but this one from National Geographic has 15 experiments. That’s a lot of rainy days it could fill with a volcano, digs, tornadoes, and crystals. The experiments can be conducted with one child or with friends.
A set of adjustable beginner-friendly rollerbladesAmazonK2 Youth Raider Inline SkatesRollerblading can be a great hobby for older kids. These beginner skates from K2 aren’t flimsy plastic, yet they still offer kid-friendly features like adjustable sizes. Be sure to gift these with safety gear, like a helmet and knee pads.
An arcade they can buildAmazonElenco Snap Circuits Arcade Electronics Exploration KitSnap Circuits allows kids to build their own electric creations — this kit includes the pieces for a few different arcade games. STEM toys like this one are an excellent alternative to a video game. The 30 different circuits just snap together, making it appropriate for this age group.
The set includes a mini LED screen and a controller. A classic game made modernHasbroHasbro Electronic BattleshipThe electronic version of Battleship takes a classic board game and levels up the excitement a notch. Kids can play solo or with a friend to try to sink the opponent’s ships and even an airplane.
Rated for ages 8 and up, it makes a fun but affordable gift for this age group. Read the original article on Insider.
From: insider
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