30 Best Toys and Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys, Tested and Approved by Real Kids

Marisa LaScala

1

Good Housekeeping Toy Award

Abacus Brands Penn & Teller VR Magic Lab

Credit: Abacus Brands

Kids can learn how to do 28 magic tricks with this immersive kit. It includes VR goggles, step-by-step instructions and 75 pieces. This Good Housekeeping Toy Award winner doesn’t just teach how to do the tricks physically, but also gives tips for performance and self-confidence. “It was very organized, which helped immensely for my son who has ADHD,” a parent tester said. Ages 8+

2

Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award

Vector Stunt Plane

Vector Stunt Plane

Credit: Sky Viper

Most of the drones we tested are only rated for kids 14+, but the Sky Viper Vector Stunt Plane is easy enough for tweens to handle. That’s because of its auto-stabilization feature, which even accounts for wind. In the air, it can fly up to 35 mph, do barrel rolls and make 360-degree loops. Ages 12+

RELATED: The Best Drones for Kids and Beginners

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3

Good Housekeeping Toy Award

Thames & Kosmos Bionic Robotic Arm

Bionic Robotic Arm

Credit: Thames & Kosmos

Kids can tap their inner engineer and build their very own bionic arm with this STEM experiment kit. It teaches how the muscles and tendons work as the robot arm picks objects up from a table. “It helps develop spatial reasoning and engineering skills,” said one of our testers. Ages 10+

4

Fun Fidget Toy

Fidget Pen

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Fidget Pen

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Credit: TYJHAFN

When it’s time to take notes, this is a pen. But, when it’s time to listen to lectures, tweens can take apart, twist and bend and connect the magnetic shaft into different shapes like a fidget toy. Ages 8+

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5

Good Housekeeping Kids’ Book Award

KLUTZ LEGO Gravity Drop Activity Kit

On Sale

LEGO Gravity Drop Activity Kit

Credit: KLUTZ

This booklet and LEGO kit provides well-illustrated and easy-to-follow instructions to build 20+ contraptions. Use the convertible pegboard tower to build a marble maze, gravity labyrinth and more. Ages 8-12

RELATED: 2024 Good Housekeeping’s Kids’ Book Awards

6

Good Housekeeping Toy Award

TCG Toys Spin Flip Puzzle

Spin Flip Puzzle

In order to solve the puzzle, they’ll have to spin, flip, twist and slide it all around. During our tests, families reported using multiple Spin Flips to do head-to-head battles to see who could solve their it first. Ages 8+

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7

Super 3D Pen

Super 3D Pen

Credit: MYNT3D

With this kit, they’ll be able to design, plan and create their own 3D-printed objects by melting filaments in different colors. The kit comes with a pen (users can adjust the flow of the filament through the pen), a DesignPad to help form neat geometric shapes and a FreePad to help trace different patterns.

8

Good Housekeeping Toy Award

Monopoly GO! Board Game

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GO! Board Game

Now 19% Off

Credit: Monopoly

The whole family can have fun with this fast-paced, 15-minute version of Monopoly. Testers old and young were thrilled with the game, with one saying their daughter wanted to “play it over and over again.” The game provides a code to scan so that you can play on the app as well. Ages 8+

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9

Slammo Game Set

Slammo Game Set

Credit: GoSports

Slammo is great for athletic kids who are ready to try a demanding sport. Players work in teams of two, and each team has three hits to return the ball to the circular net (which is harder than it sounds). The set comes with a net, a large ball for beginners, two small balls for experienced players and a carrying case. Ages 12+

10

Frigidaire Retro Mini Fridge

Retro Mini Fridge

Credit: Frigidaire

He’ll be so excited to keep cold drinks in a spot that’s his alone. This mini fridge is just big enough to hold six cans. No age recommendation given

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11

Popular on TikTok

Kanoodle Extreme

Kanoodle Extreme

Credit: Educational Insights

Tweens can show off their intellectual prowess with Kanoodle Extreme, which offers bigger and better challenges. Cards start players off by making a certain shape, and players have to use their wits to see how the rest of the pieces fit in to complete the puzzle. Ages 8+

12

Funko One Piece Luffy Training Funko POP!

One Piece Luffy Training Funko POP!

Credit: Crunchyroll

One Piece fans and Funko POP! collectors will definitely get a kick out of this officially licensed Crunchyroll exclusive. It features a vinyl Luffy and Kung Fu Jugon figurines. Ages 3+

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13

Funky Fidget Toy

Shape-Shifting Box

Shape-Shifting Box

Credit: Shashibo Shape-Shifting Box

He’ll love folding and unfolding this confounding box, revealing all the groovy patterns inside, and then trying to figure out how to get it back into cube form again. According to Shashibo, it can make 70 different configurations (and there’s an app that can help with that), but he might just like the feeling of using it as a fidget toy. Ages 8+

14

Chronicle Books LOL 101: A Kid’s Guide to Writing Jokes

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LOL 101: A Kid's Guide to Writing Jokes

Now 15% Off

Credit: Chronicle Books

This book not only takes kids through the process of joke-writing, it also gives them pointers on timing and delivery, which is good for their self-confidence. Good Housekeeping Institute testers had a lot of laughs with this one. No age recommendation given

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15

Air Hogs Zero Gravity Laser Race Car

Zero Gravity Laser Race Car

Credit: Air Hogs

Tweens can use the included laser to guide this car across the floor, sure, but it gets even cooler than that — it also drives up walls and even onto the ceiling. Good Housekeeping Institute testers said this had a huge “wow” factor. Ages 8+

16

Magical Felt Pens

Magical Felt Pens

Credit: OMY

He can add textures, layers and other details — or just correct some mistake — with these markers, which come with a neat trick: two either erase the color or change the color to something else. There are 16 felt pens in total. No age recommendation given

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17

Inflatable Lounger

Inflatable Lounger

Credit: WEKAPO

He can get those easy-breezy hammock vibes wherever he goes — without the need for trees, clips, ties or air pumps. He just has to simply wave this lounger around to fill it with air, and then it’s ready for lounging. No age recommendation given

18

The Don’t Laugh Challenge: 12 Year Old Edition

The Don't Laugh Challenge: 12 Year Old Edition

Credit: Bacchus Publishing House

This is basically a cross between a game of skill and a joke book: Players take turns reading the jokes to each other, and the opponent has to try not to laugh. They’ll get to work on their ability and comic timing, but really, in the end, everyone breaks! Ages 12+

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19

Gift Under $10

Touchcreen Gloves

Touchcreen Gloves

Credit: Achiou

He’ll never miss a text or social-media post, even in colder weather, when he’s wearing these touchscreen gloves. They’re soft and warm, too — no wonder they’ve received nearly 37,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. No age recommendation given

20

Tribit XSound Go Bluetooth Speaker

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XSound Go Bluetooth Speaker

Now 20% Off

Credit: Tribit

This speaker connects either wirelessly with Bluetooth or through a USB-C, plus it can operate for 24 hours on a full charge. It’s even waterproof, so he can bring it with him to the pool or shower. No age recommendation given

Headshot of Marisa LaScala

Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.

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