Gifts for 12 Year Old Boys
10 Things to Consider When Buying Gifts for a 12-Year-Old Boys
1. Make sure it is age-appropriate
And that goes for both directions! 12 years old is certainly tricky, you don’t want to get a gift that is too young for him or something that is too mature.
Make sure you do some research and check that it’s perfect for someone who is 12.
2. Encourage physical activity
It used to be that kids would run around constantly, but now thanks to technology, that has totally changed!
We recommend trying to find a gift that will encourage the 12-year-old to move around and stay active - it can still be totally fun, but it will also be good for both his physical and mental health!
3. Try to stay away from technology
Similar to our previous tip, try not to rely on technology too much when planning your gifts for 12-year-old boys.
While technology is great, and there are certainly plenty of cool gifts to consider, age 12 is still fairly young and you should want to try and hold off on the use of tons of technology for as long as you possibly can.
If you do go with a tech gift, make sure it is one where they are at least moving around and active, or is challenging them to think and explore.
4. Engage his brain
The thought of an educational gift may sound like a terrible idea (especially if you were to ask the 12-year-old), but in truth, there are plenty of great exciting gift ideas out there that are more educational in nature without sacrificing any fun!
Your son or grandson can enjoy learning about science or math or technology or medicine (just to name a few) but he’ll just think he’s playing a game!
5. Consult first with his parents
This applies if you are not in fact the parent!
It is always a good idea to run a gift idea by the parents, just to make sure that it is something that they are okay with their child having, and to of course make sure that you aren’t buying him something that he already has.
Better safe than sorry!
6. Encourage his hobby
What does he like to do after school or on weekends? Is he really active? Is he interested in science?Does he like a TV show such as Games of Thrones or Stranger Things?
Use what he is already interested in as inspiration for your gift to encourage him to keep at it!
7. Think group activities
It is easy to become anti-social thanks to social media (yes, it is very ironic that something called social media is causing antisocial behavior!).
In any case, the age of 12 is an interesting one where kids are starting to spend more and more time online, and it can cause issues with forming face to face relationships.
Encourage social interactions by getting him a gift that he can use with his friends to give him the perfect excuse/opportunity to meet up with them and spend time together!
8. Think humorous
Of course, you need to stay appropriate, but 12-year-old boys love to laugh, and getting them a funny gift is a great gift idea.
From a t-shirt with a funny saying to a joke book, there are plenty of options that will have him laughing, and the gift of laughter is never a bad idea!
9. Push him out of his comfort zone
Consider forcing him to try something new by getting him a totally unexpected gift!
You don’t have to go too ‘crazy’ but consider this a great opportunity to start teaching him that trying new things is a good thing and can result in new friends, new interests, and so much more.
From tickets for a concert to taking him to science museums or a camping trip related gift, there is sure something that will catch his attention!
10. Give the gift of an experience
You can’t go wrong with getting him tickets to a sporting event or to go play at his favorite arcade or theme park, for example.
Best of all, you can go with him and use the experience gift as an excuse to spend time together and bond!
