Holiday Gift Guide For Tweens & Teens: Boys’ Edition 2012
Since this site is called Sarah & Sons, this Holiday 2012 Gift Guide for Tweens & Teens contains ideas best suited for Boys. Of course it doesn’t mean there won’t be a few Girls who like these items, too, but if you’re looking for Girl Stuff, you’ll need to keep looking…
Let’s dive in!
Tween Boy Gift Ideas
Tween Boys have got one foot still in the kid world while they dip a toe into the Teen world as well. Consequently, my list covers a broad spectrum of age-appropriate gift items. Take your pick!
Wonderbook: Book of Spells
The Wonderbook, from Sony Playstation for the Move, is the kind of breakthrough technology that truly blows my mind. It makes use of Augmented Reality (AR) to create a virtual book out of otherwise meaningless markings on a page. This is the first of many more to come, and they’ve teamed up with JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, making for a truly engaging story experience. Highly recommend! My Review here. ($39.99; $79.99 for bundle pack) Buy Here!
Skylanders Giants
Skylanders Giants is a video game that comes with a toy. It’s this multi-level way of playing that Tweens really get into. You place the toy on a platform that essentially scans it in to the video game, and then you can play as that character. Bonus: if your friend has the game, too, you can take your toy over to his or her house, scan it in and still play as your favorite character. Skylanders Giants is made for all video game platforms – and mobile just launched. Extra characters are sold separately. (Starter Pack $49.99 – $79.99) Buy Here!
Air Hogs Hover Assault Vehicle
Nothing beats a remote control car – except a remote control car that also flys! There’s a whole lot of fun to be had right here for $39.99. Buy Here!
Wings of Fire #1: The Dragonet Prophecy
This is the first book in a fantasy adventure series for Tweens by Tui T. Sutherland and it’s awesome! It’s the story of a dragon kingdom and the dragonets (dragon babies) who must save it. There are great friendships and scary battle scenes spanning an epic time period. The second book in the series comes out in January, so it’s perfect timing. ($11 – $16) Buy Here!
Percy Jackson And the Olympians Series
Rick Riordan really knows how to write for kids, both Tweens and Teens. He’s got a couple of series we like, and Percy Jackson is a great one for Tweens to start with. Greek myths are woven into this coming-of-age saga of Percy Jackson, who turns out to be a Demi-god, must fight to save his friends and his mother, all because he is caught in the middle of a War between the Gods. The whole set is fun to read. ($20 – $80 for the set) Buy Here!
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Teen Boys have different ideas of what makes a good gift, and they’ve developed a tiny bit rougher edge to them. Most Teens will be happy with pretty grown-up types of toys, like the ones that follow.
Teen Boy Gift Ideas
Video Games. There are three hot titles out this season I recommend for a Teen Boy Gamer – bearing on mind they are all three Rated M for Mature.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
This first-person shooter game is multi-player and quite violent, albeit in a virtual, video game way. Victims are faceless and essentially nameless, since play moves so fast. ($59.99) Buy Here!
Halo 4
More nameless victims to shoot since everyone’s in a space suit. For Halo fans, it’s more to love. Master Chief rules. ($59.99) Buy Here!
Assassin’s Creed 3
Like the Assassin’s Creed games that came before this, there is killing set against the backdrop of a richly drawn tableau. Previous games were set in the Italian Renaissance and the Ottoman Empire, and this one is set in the American Revolution. The attention to detail is quite amazing. ($59.99) Buy Here!
Game Stop Gift Card
When in doubt about what games they already have or which ones they would like, you can never go wrong buying a Game Stop Gift Card. (any $ amount) Buy Here!
Books
The Kane Chronicles
This series from Rick Riordan weaves Egyptian mythology into a story kids love. ($29-$39 full set) Buy Here!
The Inheritance Cycle
This series, written by Christopher Paolini, tells the story of an epic battle between Good and Evil, set in a fantasy world of dragon riders. ($33 – $40 full set) Buy Here!
Clothing – these two brands are foolproof places to shop for Teen Boys.
Tony Hawk
Skateboard culture is alive and well, and Tony Hawk’s street cred is very high. The collection, mostly t-shirts, ranks as very cool among most Teen boys and there is almost no wrong choice. (prices vary) Buy Here!
Vans
Vans started with shoes and now have an empire of Teen Boy clothing. Again, almost anything you choose here will be a winner. (prices vary) Buy Here!
Dec 11, 2012 @ 11:58:09
I’ve got to get my son this series – Percy Jackson And the Olympians Series. I’ve heard such great things about it.
Dec 11, 2012 @ 16:37:48
I read them, too and really enjoyed them!