Whether you’re looking to get them active with some cool outdoor toys, or you’re looking to cure the indoor boredom blues that the winter months bring, there are tons of cool new toys for them to play with. Here is our expert guide to the best gifts for 10-year-old boys available right now.
This thing is insane. Obviously style-wise this thing rocks, but as a parent, style is less important than what it can do.
On the power side of things, the Razor Power Core boasts an impressive 85-watt, high-torque hub motor that’s capable of reaching speeds of up to 10MPH. That may not sound like much, but when you’re that close to the ground, and don’t have the shell of a car to stabilize you, it feels excitingly fast.
What’s great about this scooter is it comes with a 12V sealed lead-acid battery that can last for around 80 minutes per charge.
I’ve covered a lot of electric scooters in my time and 80 minutes is an age in this world, and high above the industry standard of 40 to 60 minutes.
If you’re after something they’re going to get a lot of usage out of, you really won’t go wrong with the Razor Power Core for a gift.
It can reach speeds of 12MPH, which is fast while still being safe. It also boasts variable-speed, chain-driven motor, thumb-trigger acceleration control, and a hand-operated rear brake.
It’s designed for ages eight and up, but it’s worth also factoring the weight capacity, which clocks out at 140 pounds. So be sure to weigh your child prior to purchase.
Sometimes it’s the simple sets that work best. This set won’t take you long to build, but as a display piece or something for kids to play with, it just works.
Something else I love, the hut can be opened or snapped shut depending on which you prefer. Cool, right?
On the mini-figure front, there’s Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, a Tusken Raider, and a buildable R2-D2.
On the building front, we’ve got an underground mineshaft to build and explore, a small desert area, and, of course, that giant creeper statue.
What’s cool about this set is the little tricks it’s got hidden away. There’s quite a few boobytraps to build for unsuspecting travelers.
On the figure front, we’ve got Steve, a blacksmith, a husk, a creeper, a cow, and a bat. it’s a great selection that I’m sure is going to lead to many a fun adventure.
This set really does everything you could want. Traps? Check. Fun stuff to build? Check. Cool figure selection? Check. What’s not to love?
This machine is made by Arcade1Up – a company that’s made its name for itself by making the best home arcade machines out there.
The screen quality is crisp, the way the game runs is near flawless, and best of all, they’re really easy to put together. If you’ve ever built a bookshelf, it’s easier than that.
What else I love, Turtles in Time is a four-player co-op game, so you can totally get the whole family involved.
Lastly, Arcade1Up machines are designed to be used with bar stools so you can sit down. That said, this one comes with a riser for if you want an old-school, stand up and play machine.
If your child already has a home gaming console, you might want to consider getting him a standalone VR headset. The Oculus Quest is an entirely wireless solution that will allow him to play some super cool virtual reality games like Beat Saber, Job Simulator, Racket: NX, and more!
One of the biggest benefits of virtual reality games will be immediately felt after just an hour of playing: many of them require tons of movement and, wait for it, EXERCISE! That’s right, games like Beat Saber and Racket: NX are highly active games that will get your 10-year-old moving around while having fun in virtual worlds. There are boxing games that actually place you in a boxing match, exercise apps, and more to get your 10 year old active while gaming.
But on top of games, the Oculus Quest is also great for watching movies and TV through all of your favorite apps like Netflix, Hulu, and FandangoNow, displaying these apps on a big virtual screen in their own big virtual living room. It’s ridiculously cool, and it essentially gives you the equivalent of a big screen TV to watch your movies on.
But wait, it gets even cooler. There’s also an app called BigScreen VR that has a partnership with Paramount Pictures to show their 3D movies in an actual movie theater setting. That means your son can buy a virtual movie ticket to watch some cool 3D movies right in his room.
Gaming is a common hobby for many ten-year-old boys. The Ozobot is a tech toy which helps kids explore their passion for gaming kicked up a notch by allowing them to easily design, create, and program their own games, mazes, and other coded DIY activities.
The toy allows kids to draw their own coded mazes using paper and marker as well as code their own games using a website that links to the toy. The Ozobot provides kids with hours of creative entertainment while also helping prepare them for life in a technologically-savvy world by advancing their coding and computer science skills. It’s one of the best gifts for boys who show an interest in technology and tinkering.
The SpyGear Ultimate Night Vision is a great gift for any ten year old boy who is a fan of spy books or movies or is an aspiring spy or secret agent himself.
This night vision tool uses infrared technology to create an invisible beam that extends out from the eyepiece in order to allow kids to see objects up to fifty feet away even in one hundred percent darkness. The night vision scope can be attached around a child’s head to be used completely hands-free or detached for use with hands.
If you want to skateboard professionally, 10 years of age is the right time to get into it. But as skateboarding can be tricky to master, it’s best to start with something like the Retrospec Zed Bamboo Longboard.
Longboards are easier to control than skateboards due to their length. Plus they turn faster, making them perfect for newcomers.
This bamboo and maple hybrid longboard features lightweight aluminum trucks and is super durable.
This electronic project lab is the perfect gift for ten-year-old boys who are science-savvy or interested in scientific projects and education. The lab provides kids with plenty of entertainment while also helping them advance their skills and knowledge in physics, magnetism, and the properties of electricity.
The toy uses the simple spring/wire construction method to help kids easily design, build, and troubleshoot real projects, including a water level meter, sound level meter, motion LED, logic tester, and more, using only the included materials.
RampShot Backyard Game is an all-inclusive outdoor game kit that allows kids to play together in groups of three or four to compete against each other and score points by tossing and catching balls while interacting with the included ramp.
The RampShot game is one hundred percent American-made and is designed to be durable under harsh weather conditions. This game is the perfect gift for any ten-year-old boy because it provides them with fun as well as advances their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills and encourages much-needed physical activity and outdoor time.
If you’re looking for something to get your kid outside more, 10 year olds LOVE trampolines. It’s why trampoline parks like SkyZone are all the rage among middle schoolers. The good news is that you can get a backyard trampoline that includes a basketball hoop attached to it for under $300 on Amazon.
The trampoline shown here is from Skywalker Trampolines which has one of the top-selling trampolines for kids. This one is a 12-foot trampoline that comes with an enclosure for safety, and it’s a great gift for kids who just like to be outside in the summer.
If you’re looking for something not much more expensive than most toy drones, check out Holy Stone’s UFO. It measures in at 15.4 x 15.4 x 3.5 inches, and weighs 1.3 pounds. The Holy Stone UFO is made out of high shock resistance material and has a high quality 6 axis gyro for increased stability.
It has an average flying time of 8 minutes indoor, and 12 minutes outdoor with the standard (included) 7.4V 500mAh battery. The battery takes 100 minutes to charge fully. The Holy Stone UFO is able to do full flips, and its ability to keep stable is second to none.
The camera isn’t the best quality, but the fact that it is included is a plus (since the Nano QX does not include one). It also has a removable protective cover to shed some weight to add some agility to the quadcopter for easier control.
Includes: 1 x quadcopter 1 x 2.4G Remote Controller (does not include 1.5v AA batteries) 1 x charger 4 x Rotating blade 1 x Screwdriver 1 x 2GB memory card 1 x camera
This thing is sturdy, built to last, and easy to put together. The handlebars and seat are fully adjustable, too.
The only issue I have is just how much of a pain working out ages is. Instead of saying “this bike is suitable for this age group,” we instead have sizes of the wheel. I know, why is this even a thing?
So, what do you need to know? 20-inch wheels are suitable for seven years and up.
I tell you what, one of the best things about being 10 is all the new Lego toys you now have access to.
The Lego Technic Porsche is one hell of a challenge. This ain’t no city townhouse you can wing by looking at pictures. With this, you’ll need to follow the instructions to a T.
That’s because there’s more going on here than you’d think. Everything has subtle details and pieces you don’t see often.
All that said, while this is a challenge, it’s a super fun challenge kids of that age group are going to love sinking their teeth into.
Despite having a highly-detailed outside, if you spin this beast around each of the different rooms are all fully-furnished. There’s also an evil teddy bear. I don’t know why you need to know this, but it seems important.
If you get the chance, check out the old-school TV. Seeing it in Lego form really makes you appreciate just how talented the folks at Lego are.
This set also comes with a host of mini-figures so once it’s built, the potential for endless adventures as they explore this haunted school are totally there.
The Lego Star Wars Darth Vader’s Castle is an absolute beast of a set. If you’ve got a Star Wars fan in the house, you’ve just found their new favorite toy.
This thing is such a crazy build. Normally with Lego you’re either building left to right, up and down, or a variation of. Slanted angles? That’s unheard of, and yet here we are.
It’s a unique build that really stands out in a collection. Also, I love that the rear side features Vader’s throne room and his bacta tank.
There’s also a buildable TIE Advanced Fighter and on the mini-figure front, we’ve got Darth Vader, two guard figures, and an Imperial transport pilot. That’s a great selection if you’re looking to build your own fleet of Star Wars bad guys.
Who says Lego sets need to be expensive to offer great value?
Ever since the Infinity War movies, kids now love Thanos. He’s like this generation’s Darth Vader.
The Lego Marvel Avengers Thanos Mech comes with a Thanos mini-figure with a buildable mech, complete with an over-sized infinity gauntlet, and is just all kinds of awesomeness. Just look at it! Who wouldn’t enjoy building and playing with this thing?
This thing packs in a lot of style. The red, gray, and black really make it stand out in a collection.
You also get three mini-figures in the First Order TIE Pilot, Knight of Ren and Finn, and there’s a rather handy display base. It’s almost like Lego knew it was going to be shown off!
The Guidecraft Powerclix Magnetic Building Set allows kids to design and construct their own magnetic creation using more than one hundred colorful plastic non-repelling magnetic shapes that are modeled after shapes found in the natural world. Kids can form unique magnetic creations using the simple connect and click magnetic system and inspiration from the included Creativity Guide.
By designing and creating their own unique magnetic shapes, kids can advance their knowledge of magnetism and develop their fine motor skills and spatial thinking patterns as well as an extended appreciation for the beauty of nature.
With a shot range of 90 feet, this blaster can be fully customized. Everything included in this pack reads as: Blaster, targeting scope, drop grip, dual-rail barrel, storage stock, banana clip, 10 darts, and instructions explaining how to take it all apart and put it back together.
FYI: There are around 30 different combinations of this blaster, so kids can truly design their own toy.
There’s a rise in the popularity of Nerf guns. What could have been seen as a dormant toy market even 10 or so years ago has been revamped by incredibly cool new toy guns. One of their coolest, in my expert opinion, is the Nerf Zombie Strike Crossfire Bow Trigger gun, which allows users to role-play as Daryl Dixon. If a crossbow isn’t their style, take a look at our list of the best Nerf Guns for sale for other cool toys.
What’s the most over-the-top Nerf blaster right now? That’d be the Nerf Elite Titan CS-50. It’s a freaking Gatling gun!
This thing is fully motorized, too, so there’s no need to lock and load. Just hold the trigger and blast anything/one that moves.
As if sensing how many darts will be sent flying by this thing, Nerf wasn’t Scrooge-like with the included darts. There are a whopping 50 in this set.
This blaster also features a spinning barrel, just like the real thing, and a shoulder strap.
It sadly doesn’t come with a leather jacket and black sunglasses though, so if you’re planning on dressing up as Arnie in The Terminator, you’ll need to get the extra stuff separately.
It’s based on when Peter Parker’s spider-powers grow out of control and he grows extra arms. Why go with the boring two arms when you can have six!
Although this Marvel Legends figure loses the ab-crunch articulation due to the extra arms, having the extra limbs to play with leads to some really cool posing options.
Marvel Legends are my personal pick when it comes to Marvel toys, so if you’re ever unsure which Marvel line to go with, the answer is always Marvel Legends.
Kids always like monster toys. And they love big toys. That’s why the Marvel Legends The Thing Figure is a safe bet for a gift.
Although this figure is on the six-inch scale, it’s a really meaty figure, and that lends itself to feeling like a more premium figure to kids.
The Thing also comes with some extra, non-Thing heads. If you end up buying the entire wave to get all of the Fantastic Four figures, all the pieces you get with them build an entire extra figure. Neat, right?
This figure is actually a build-a-figure rerelease, meaning originally you needed to buy the entire wave and use pieces from each figure to build it. Guess how I got my version of this figure?
This version also features a much nicer paint job than the version I own.
It’s a super top-heavy figure, but the sheer size and monstrosity make this figure better than it has any right to be.
So yeah, while I am gutted I had to pick up the entire wave to get a worse version, it’s really great to see Hasbro rerelease this figure, with the nicer paintwork, for people who missed it the first, more expensive time round.
The OWI 14-in-1 solar robot is a kit which allows kids to hone their creativity, engineering, and construction skills while also having fun. It includes a colorful robot which can be transformed into fourteen different robot modes, allowing kids to get creative by easily creating their own robot from the standard model included.
The robot modes include two levels of building skills so that kids who are just starting out with building an still participate well as continue to be challenged as their skills advance. Plus, the robot is one hundred percent solar-powered, so there is no need to purchase or replace batteries at any time.
It wasn’t that long ago Cozmo was one of the most highly-anticipated toys around.
Cozmo is one of the most interactive toys out there. You can code it to do different activities, literally challenge it to a game, or if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a robot (all kids have wondered this at some point), with the use of a mobile device you can see life through its eyes.
One thing I do need to point out with this must-have toy of 2018, Anki has ceased manufacturing Cozmo, so any time you see this little bot for sale, it’s more than likely the few leftovers from the year before.
If you’re considering picking it up as a gift, act fast before it sells out completely.
If your 10-year-old is into video games (and, let’s be honest, most 10-year-olds are), one of the absolute best gifts you can get him is an Xbox One X. It’s the most powerful game console currently available, performing even better than the PS4 Pro. That means that video games will run better and smoother on the Xbox One X and will allow 4K gaming.
There are hundreds of games available on the Xbox One X, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, NBA 2K20, Fortnite, and so much more.
On top of that, it’s not an eyesore – so if you’re thinking about putting it in your living room, it’ll blend in nicely with the rest of your home theater electronics.
If you’re buying a gaming headset for a 10-year-old, you don’t want to go with the $200 headsets. The more expensive headsets will be better, sure, but if they break it, it’ll sting.
That said, you also don’t want to go with something super cheap. Because cheap headsets will break, and the quality is, generally, awful.
That’s why I’d recommend going with the Razer Kraken Gaming Headset. This headset is an excellent middle-ground, mixing audio clarity with brilliant build quality.
This headset works on PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. If you’re after a gaming headset for Xbox One, I’d go with the Steel Series Arctis 1.
My kids despise writing, making home learning a chore. That was, until I brought tech in.
Once I got them on my Acer Chromebook 14, teaching them became much easier.
That’s why I’d recommend getting your kids a laptop if you’re trying to help them with learning.
All that said, I couldn’t justify getting my kids a Windows laptop, simply because they’re so darn expensive. What 10-year-old needs a $500 laptop?
That’s where the Acer Chromebook 14 comes in. I own this Chromebook and it does everything I need (I’m literally writing these words on the thing!).
If you’re curious about what you need to know about the differences between Windows laptops and the more affordable Chromebooks, I recently answered all that and more in my guide to the Best Chromebooks for Kids.
There are 15 pieces to this set, and although the image shows one way to slot them all together, the choice is yours. You can really get creative with them.
If you happen to own Amazon Alexa, you can sync the lights up and you’ll be able to use voice commands to turn them on and off.
Not only that, the panels react to music in the most vibrant way. It’s like a mini rave!
Not only is it great for role-playing, there’s plenty of space for dart clips and darts, meaning you’ll be stocked on ammo for longer before needing to sweep the room.
The vest has adjustable straps, too, making it great for kids of different sizes. Neat!
Inside and on the outer rim you’ll find catapults, secret passages, and the set includes all the knights you could need as well as an armored horse. Because horses in armor are even more formidable and stylish.
Yes, even my eldest who’s nearly an adult had a blast building it.
Part of the joy of Playmobil is the construction. It’s much more straightforward than Lego, and that’s perfect for younger kids who don’t have the patience to sit for hours at a time following instructions.
This whole pack comes with Fred, Daphne, and Velma figures as well as a map, flashlight, spyglass, and a few other accessories kids will get a kick out of.
Whether you’ve grabbed the Playmobil Mystery Machine or not (it does go really well with this pack!), the Scooby-DOO! Scooby & Shaggy with Ghost Pack is well worth picking up.
Although my kids love the Shaggy and Scooby figures, Scooby especially, I couldn’t help but get a kick out of the ghost toy.
It’s a typical Scooby-Doo villain, so when kids have solved the mystery, they can pull the ghost sheet off to reveal the curly-mustached culprit underneath. And he’d have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for those meddling kids!
The full list of everything in this pack reads as: Scooby, Shaggy, the ghost (with a villain figure underneath), Scooby snacks, hamburger, and a few other accessories.
Normally when I get sent stuff for review, I give it to my kids after. That wasn’t the case with the Playmobil Back to The Future Delorean. It’s so good I’m keeping it!
Building this thing is a joy. It’s all straightforward and doesn’t need a NASA-level IQ to put together. The tires are a little tricky to get on, but other than that it’s all pretty easy.
The Delorean looks great once it’s built, and I’m a huge fan of the fact Playmobil included a function to pivot the wheels to the underside. Nice!
Elsewhere, the Doc and Marty figures capture the character’s likenesses with ease, and the inclusion of Einstein the dog is sure to lead to some wacky adventures.
All in all, this is one great set that’s sure to impress both parents who love Back to the Future and kids yet to see it.
When a boat can reach speeds of over 20MPH, you know you’re onto a winner.
The GizmoVine RC Boat is as stylish as they come. Not only that, it’s packed full of clever design choices.
It operates on a 2.4Ghz frequency, so the signal is strong. In another great move, the hull features a self-righting design, meaning should it capsize, it’ll work with you to get back to a driveable state. Neat!
Both the controller, which boasts an LCD display screen, and the boat are rechargeable, so there’s no need to worry about buying millions of batteries to keep this thing going.
Kids want their own Battle Bus. It is, after all, the most important thing in the Fortnite universe. How else could you get into battle without a bus to drop you off?
This toy nails the aesthetic, and best of all, it comes with two, two-inch figures in Burnout and Funk Ops.
Another toy I love from the Fortnite 6-inch Legendary Series is the Wild Card Figure.
It’s got the likeness down, which is important, and best of all it comes with interchangeable heads just like the in-game version does! That’s such a cool design decision to include.
This pack also comes with a rocket launcher, crowbar pickaxe, hand cannon, and the briefcase backpack.
The Fortnite Squad Mode Core Figure 4 Figure Pack features four, four-inch figures in Rox, Bunker Jonesy, Sentinal, and Dream. That’s four much-loved characters that are sure to impress.
Not only that, you also get a weapon and backpack for each character as well as display bases. Nice!
With how popular Fortnite is, there’s no question toys like this Fortnite Quadcrasher Playset are going to top many a wish-list.
It’s a really cool set as well. The figure is highly-detailed, as is the quadcrasher vehicle.
I especially love the damage on the front of it. It’s like it’s just went flying off of Polar Peaks and crashed into a tree. It’s just like the real thing, then.
Okay, okay. This isn’t a toy, but just look at how freaking cool the Avengers Toybox is! Any Marvel-loving child is almost certain to love this.
Specifications first: This is a 30-inch (length) by 15-inches (width) by 15-inches (height) that somehow only weighs five pounds.
In terms of size, this is perfect for almost anything. Your child may even be able to hide inside it!
I don’t know about you, but getting my kids to tidy after themselves was always a chore. But with a toybox, they know exactly where everything needs to be before I need to tell them to tidy.
You’ll still need to remind them, of course, but at least with a fun toybox tidying will be less of a chore for them.
I lost many an hour playing with wrestling toys when I was younger. Because kids always get new ideas from the recurring TV show, they’ll always be able to keep going back to their toys to recreate what they’re watching.
Not only does it come with a ring, it also comes with scaffolding to hoist up the sought-after money in the bank briefcase high above the ring for the wrestlers to battle over.
Plus it comes with three excellent figures in Braun Strowman, The Miz, and Finn Balor.
A great starter drone for the man in your life. Or, if he’s already a drone guy, this can be his indoor drone. It works indoors or outdoors and it does have an HD camera that takes still photos or takes video. It operates for seven minutes of flight time after a 100 minute charge. It has 6-axis gyro stabilization to ensure maximum stability. It’ll even perform flips with the press of a button. Why is this one of the best gifts for him in 2019? Because it’s a drone and guys like drones and you got it for him so all of that together equals = love.
We’ve covered affordable drones already, but if you can stretch a little bit further, I can’t recommend the SNAPTAIN S5C WiFi FPV Drone enough.
This thing is packed with style and is a much more premium offering.
The user-friendly tech is easy to fly, thanks in part to the voice control. Just call this thing back and it’ll return. You can’t get easier than that.
In a similar vein, the onboard G-sensor allows control via your smartphone. Just tilt the phone in different directions and the drone will follow.
Elsewhere you’ve got a 720pHD camera, wide-angle viewing, and one-key take-off and landing.
I would say Imaginext is hugely popular with younger kids, and it is, but older kids still really like it as well.
This set comes with a fun pirate ship, cage, massive canon, and two really neat Imaginext figures, one of which is a bipedal shark. A bipedal shark! How cool is that?
It’s a simple set, but a simple set done well is vastly superior to a contrived expensive set.
The classics never go out of fashion, so if you’re after a way to play the games of yesteryear, the RG350 is one of the Best Retro Handheld Consoles around.
Aside from the super-crisp 3.5-inch screen, this pocket-sized beast plays ROM versions of games from the NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1, GameBoy, GameBoy Advance, and many more.
Plus it’s got a battery life of six hours, which is really great given how powerful this thing is, and comes with 2500 games pre-loaded on the console.
While most will opt for a Chromebook over the Apple iPad, if the cost isn’t an issue, it really is one of the best gifts for 10-year-old boys around.
This thing is super-powered. It boasts a 10.2-inch retina display backed by the powerful A10 Fusion chip. It even has a fingerprint scanner!
If it’s home learning you’re thinking about, there’s plenty of apps on the Apple App Store to get kids learning. There’s even add-ons like Osmo to make learning more fun.
The Snap Circuits electronic discovery kit allows kids to explore the world of electric construction and learn about electricity, design, and engineering while also having fun. The kit includes sixty versatile parts that kids can easily snap together to design and construct more than three hundred real projects.
These projects include a burglar alarm, a doorbell, and even a radio. The kit also includes a comprehensive and detailed instruction manual to aid kids and their parents in the design and construction process. All parts are safe for kids to handle and no tools are required.
The Lumi-Niter by FlitebyNite is a simple idea that works really well: basically, you’re putting glow sticks (included) into a frisbee. It illuminates the frisbee at night, as well as underwater (which is something that you can’t do with similar LED products). It’s one of the best gifts for 10 year olds who frequent the outdoors past dark.
Although I’ve highlighted Spider-Man, Iron Man, and The Hulk, there’s actually a huge range spanning hundreds of different characters to choose from. If they’ve got a favourite, chances are, there’s a Funko Pop of them to collect.
As with Marvel Funko Pops, there’s also a huge range of Star Wars Funko Pops to choose from.
Yoda, The Child, Vader, Luke – they’re all there. If your child has a favorite, there’s almost certain to be a Funko Pop version.
And the best thing? Funko Pops are super affordable so long as you’re not after one that’s fallen out of circulation. They’re perfect for allowance money!
Kids love video games and kids love toys. That’s why Video Game Funko Pops are a surefire win.
Although the breadth of video game characters isn’t as deep as, say, with the Star Wars Funko Pops, there’s still plenty to choose from.
Pokemon, Sonic, Overwatch, Fortnite, Apex Legends – there is a lot of choice for kids when it comes to building a Funko collection that really shows off the things they love.
This helmet has some detail to it. It’s not one of those cheap $20 offerings that break after a week. It’s full of intricacy, like the battle damage around the eyes.
As this is an electronic helmet, flipping down the viewfinder (that sticking out rod thing) activates two red LEDs that flash. In the dark, this feature really comes to life.
So yeah, it’s pricey, sure, but c’mon. This is legit one of the best Star Wars toys out there. It’s perfect for collectors and kids who can’t get enough of Star Wars.
They get to put the whole thing together and set it up, all the while learning without knowing they are. What’s not to love? Stealth education is the best!
The full list of things included reads as: the terrarium jar, light-up lid, Micro-USB cable, instructions, soil, blue sand, river rocks, wheatgrass, chia seeds, min statues, stickers, spray bottle, and a wooden for planting the seeds.
If you’ve got an Optimus Prime toy, the rules state you must also grab a Megatron Action Figure so they can battle one another. Sorry, them’s the rules!
But why this Megatron figure? That’s because it’s from the Transformers Generations War for Cybertron line of toys the Optimus is from, meaning they’ll both scale together correctly and one isn’t a different design to the other (which kids HATE).
Megatron comes with his gun, a sword, and transforms into tank mode in just 17 steps.
If you’re after an affordable solution to the tinny speakers of mobile devices, the Braven BRV-Mini is the way to go.
Mobile phones and tablets, broadly speaking, have awful speakers. If your child loves their music, getting a decent set of speakers is well worth considering.
The Braven BRV-Mini is great, and best of all, it’s IPX7Waterproof, which basically means it can survive one meter underwater for around 30 minutes. That sounds like a much better option to having music on while in the bath than taking a smartphone in there!
The Ravensburger Gravitrax Starter Set is hugely popular right now. Seriously, what child wouldn’t want to design their own marble rollercoaster?
This starter set comes with 122 pieces, and let me tell you, the image doesn’t do the scale of this thing justice. It’s freaking huge!
And the best part? It takes a good amount of thought to get this thing up and running. Kids will be constantly thinking about how can they rebuild this to make it steeper or faster. It’s stealth learning at its best.
Plus, parents can totally get involved. It’s fun for the whole family!
Included are cards which act as a kind of course setup. The goal here is to get the marble through the course and to the endpoint.
Sounds easy, right? Nope. Some sides have openings for the marble to pass through, some don’t, so it’s up to the player to work out which pieces go where.
It’s fun, challenging, and has a ton replay value.
The Noble Collection of Harry Potter Wands are the best out there. Mixing affordability with expert craftsmanship, this is one gift Potter fans will never forget.
This 1:1 scale exact replica even comes in an Ollivander wand box, which again is just super realistic.
There’s a whole range of Noble Wands to browse, so if Harry isn’t the wand you’re looking for, chances are they’ll have the wand of your favorite character.
Kids don’t play chess as much as they used to. That said, the moment you pull out a chessboard, they’ll come a running.
This Harry Potter Wizard Chess Set is exquisite. It’s not little Potter characters (so King Harry and Queen Ginny), it’s actually based on a chess set from the wizarding world. Neat!
Plus let’s face it, this thing looks absolutely awesome. The design work on each of the pieces is jaw-dropping.
Getting kids to read is becoming more and more difficult. That’s why you HAVE to go with something suitable for their age group that’s easy to read while still remaining compelling.
That’s why I’ll always recommend the Harry Potter books. They delve deeper into the characters than the movies ever could. Not only that, once you get through one book you’re hooked.
This Harry Potter Paperback Box Set is, with question, the best way to get the entire series in a pack that’s sure to impress. What kid isn’t going to wow at something as massive as this box set?
Percy Jackson is slightly more complex than Potter, I’d say. It isn’t super hard or anything like that, but if you’re thinking about improving their reading, Percy Jackson is the perfect next step up
Super Mario Party is the ultimate family game. It’s both a video game and a board game!
But before we jump in, Super Mario Party uses the Switch’s motion-controls, meaning it won’t work on the Switch Lite.
Moving on, this is a simple, fun game, where even people who’ve never held a controller can jump in and play.
Players take turns moving around the board either as a team or against others, then play different mini-games to decide who advances.
While I wouldn’t recommend this for an only child unless they have friends round often or their parents are willing to play, for warring siblings, it’s perfect!
You can never go wrong with a good tennis game, and Mario Tennis Aces is just that.
But tennis is kind of dull for kids, so how do we spice it up a bit? Add in massively over-power charge up attacks!
While at its core this is a tennis game and plays out mostly like one. But when you add in a colorful cast of recognizable Mario characters, suddenly the game transforms into something much more enjoyable.
Personally I couldn’t justify paying full-price for a tennis game, but when they’re as enjoyable as Mario Tennis Aces it’s hard to say no to. Drop in a meaty 30 percent off and this one of those Nintendo Black Friday deals that are too good to pass up.
Arms is a really great fighting game that makes excellent use of the Nintendo Switch’s motion controls.
Before we move on, if you’re buying this for Nintendo Switch Lite, don’t. As the Lite sacrifices motion controls, it won’t work. You can see a full list of other titles that only work on the original Nintendo Switch over at GameSpot.
Moving swiftly on, what even is this game? Two players enter a ring, then use the joy-con controls to smack their opponent in their virtual face. Swipe down with a joy-con to punch, hammer the left bumper to dash, or use ZR to rush forward.
It’s all surprisingly intuitive, which given it’s a motion-controlled game, is a really pleasant surprise.
If your child has a sibling, this is the perfect family battle game.
I love my Nintendo Switch, but man, the battery isn’t great. That’s why gifts like this Nintendo Switch Portable Battery are a must if you like to play in handheld mode.
I’m really impressed by how smart the design of this portable battery is, too. There are legs on the back to make it stand up, a cutout section for the game card, heat vents, and in an excellent design twist, space for cartridges up top.
It only weighs 8.6 ounces as well, meaning this thing won’t weigh your Switch down.
In terms of power, this battery aims to offer two times additional game time. If you’ve ever played Breath of the Wild or Fortnite, you’ll know how important battery life is and how fast online or GPU-heavy games drain the battery.
Admittedly not everyone will need this, but if you’re a massive gamer, accessories like this are well worth the investment in the long run.
Blade’s Nano QX BNF is the yellow jacket of quadcopters — it’s small, but it has a zip to it! It’s possibly the most fun you’ll have using an RC quadcopter. It measures at just 7.2 x 6.3 x 2.5 inches and weighs in at just 8 ounces. It’s high quality, featuring exclusive SAFE technology with stability and agility modes for ultimate control.
Despite its size and price point, it’s important to note that this isn’t a quadcopter for beginners. It’s fast, and the controls are sensitive, so there’s a steep learning curve when it comes to this little bad boy. The Nano QX BNF comes with a 3.7V 150mAh 25C Li-Po battery that comes with a USB battery charger. Unfortunately, the radio isn’t included, so you’ll need to pick-up a DSM2/DSMX transmitter along with it, unless you already have one lying around. It comes with two different colors with just one purchase (there’s an extra set of green/black props and a canopy). It has a short flight time of 6 minutes, but the extra batteries are less than $10/each, so you can have others charged and ready to go.
This Intro to Chemistry Set is a great gift for kids who are aspiring chemists or show a particular interest in science or experiments. The chemistry set is an extensively-stocked kit which includes a plethora of basic chemistry substances, tools, and safety materials.
With the items included within the kit, kids can enjoy hours of educational fun as they perform unlimited experiments. While the chemistry set does include real chemistry substances and tools and relevant safety precautions are recommended, all materials are safe for a ten-year-old to use and experiment with.
Robots you control with your voice? This has fun written all over it!
The Really RAD Robots toy does come with a remote control, but when you can bark orders like “dance,” “spin,” or “explore,” who needs a remote.
When Turbo the Robot whizzes round the room, it’ll try to avoid obstacles. But should it hit anything, it’s got a database full of phrases to fall back on.
Thankfully, it’s not as colorful as when I stub my toe. The age rating would be much higher if that were true.
You may have heard of Cards Against Humanity (WHICH KIDS SHOULD NOT PLAY!), Kids Against Maturity is basically that but designed for a younger age group.
The game is really easy to pick up. One person reads the question cards, then the others draw a card to go with the question. The funniest card combo wins the hand. Simple.
Here’s an example. The question reader draws a card saying “Knock, knock. Who’s there?” The other players then randomly draw cards with silly responses on. Whoever has the funniest answer, wins the round.
It’s hilarious fun that’s suitable for older kids, though feel free to go through the pack beforehand and remove any cards you’re not comfortable with.
Even the most learning-adverse kids love science. Especially if it’s on their own terms.
That’s why the Amscope Beginner Microscope is so great. It doesn’t force kids into learning and lets them learn through play.
Grab some soil from the yard, or a toy, or a bug and jam them under the microscope to get a closer look. That, in turn, will get them thinking about the way things work.
Slime kits are all the rage right now. When it comes to boys, a gross mess always equals fun.
The Ultimate Slime Kit features 10 different recipes for hours of play. There will be giggles, groans, and lots of mess.
The full contents include: PVA solution, borax solution, color-changing Thermochromic powder, glue bottle, glitter, glow powder, a straw, three wooden sticks, scoop, measuring cups, mixing cups, storage containers, and a zip bag.
It’s a simple, smaller sports set that’s suitable for younger kids. It’s great for when the weather’s warm and the kids are moaning about being bored. You know. Those days.
This set comes with two hockey sticks, one hover puck for flat surfaces, and the goal. The puck uses two AAA batteries to operate, which aren’t included (does no one pack in batteries any more? Outrageous!).
Two words: Cupcake soap. Honestly, this is so mad it’s all kinds of brilliant.
The Playz Cupcake Soap & Bubbles DIY Science Kit lets kids make their own cupcake soap, foamy buttercream, soap decorations, macaroons, and other weird and wonderful creations.
As I say, it’s a really out-there set that’s great for when you want a science experiment that’s a little different to the usual.
Back in ye olde days, we had pig-shaped piggy banks to store our allowance money in. Nowadays, it’s all electronic.
This Electronic Piggy Bank absorbs cash like a reverse ATM, has a password with a failsafe feature for when they ultimately forget it, and requires two AA batteries to work, which aren’t included because of course they aren’t! Urgh.
Saying kids have a lot of energy is an understatement. Especially when boys are concerned.
If you’d like to tire them out, or they’re just looking for a way to blow off steam, the ToyVelt Punching Bag For Kids is a great way to burn off excess energy.
The set comes with a set of gloves, punching ball, hand pump, water weighted base, and the height is fully adjustable meaning this thing has legs.
Tell me this doesn’t sound like a wonderful weekend project: Grab an egg, then carefully dust it off with the included brush until the dino can be yoinked out.
This set comes with 12 dino eggs, 12 brushes, 12 instruction guides, and 12 cards so they’re learning as they go.
Stuff like this is great for prize-boards. Maybe if they do all their chores, they could open an egg each day?
Splendor is a board game in which players role-play as merchants from the Renaissance era and compete to buy property, form relationships with members of the nobility class, create the best jewelry, and more. Splendor helps teach kids about basic economic principles, practices, and applications in a simple and fun way that is easy for them to understand without frustration or confusion.
The game can be played with up to ten players and each round takes only approximately thirty minutes to complete in order to prevent kids from getting bored or losing interest in the middle of a game. For more board game ideas, check out our list of the best new board games.
Science experiments are the best way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. Plus they’ll learn something, which is always a nice bonus.
This kit comes with everything you need to get up and running, including the LED light-up display for when they’re finished, micro USB cable, three growing cups, power crystal bags, crystal starters, mixing stick, tweezers, and a detailed instruction manual explaining what to do and how it all works. Nice!
Maybe you’ve got a party coming up or your kid just wants to run around in a cape? Either way, these Kid’s Superhero Costumes are just simple, good fun.
While I don’t for a second think these are officially licensed, they’re still an affordable way to grab something cool for less.
The four cape and mask combos are based on Iron Man, Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Captain America.
After something to keep them busy for an afternoon that won’t break the bank? Maybe something their grandparents can help them with? Go with this Wooden Solar Car Model Kit.
This set is a great way to get them into engineering. Not only will they have an insane amount of fun building the car, getting the motor working is sure to lead to kids feeling like they’ve accomplished something impressive (which, as you know, helps build a child’s self-worth).
For the price, there really are several solid reasons to pick this up.