Best Gift Ideas for Tween Boys on Valentine's Day

Shopping for tweens can be a very difficult task to do, especially if you are trying to find a Valentine's Day gift for a boy that age (10 to 12 year's old.) You have to remind yourself that whether you are a secret admirer, friend, or relative of the tween, most tween boys do not like the lovey-dovey Valentine's Day gifts that girls would typically appreciate.

The Sport Fan - Many tween boys are very in to some type of sport; so whether their interest is in football, basketball, golf, hockey, baseball, etc., why not get them some piece of sporting memorabilia or clothing that you know they will enjoy? I highly suggest EBay for any type of sporting goods; there are thousands of sellers that have great prices on items for any team.

You can always find something autographed, or go a little off the beaten path and get something a bit more fun and different. You can always go to www.Ebay.com and search for items like "New York Giant's IPOD cover;" if you can imagine it, someone out there probably makes it. I have seen everything from a Santa statue wearing a team jersey to horribly tacky (yet, probably amusing to tween boys) sneakers decked out in a sporting team's logo and colors.

If you want to stick to something safe, many sellers have great deals on official hats, t-shirts, jackets, etc. You can also find a local Yellow Pages to look up stores in your area that carry sporting collectibles and clothing, but most local stores charge a lot more for an item than you would pay on EBay. I have purchased Christmas ornaments, t-shirts, hats, and loads of collectible materials (cards, posters, etc.) all for $20.00 or less on EBay; all you have to do is track the items carefully, and do not let yourself get overcharged on shipping.

Just make sure if you use EBay for a Valentine's Day gift that you give yourself plenty of time to find an item to bid on, that you check the seller's feedback ratings, and that you give yourself ample time for the auction to end and to receive your item in the mail.

The Sweet Tooth - Candy is always a popular and affordable Valentine's Day gift for anyone, and also one that most tween boys would enjoy, too. Of course, you may not want to buy the huge pink heart shaped candy box, though. Instead, head to your local super market or grocery store and pick up a simple box of Whitman's chocolate (typically, under $15.00). Or, if you have a mall near you that has a Godiva chocolate store, they always have fun shapes of chocolate (in various flavors) and containers for Valentine's Day. Godiva will cost you more than more affordable brands (like Whitman or Hershey's), so keep that in mind. Most tween boys would probably not be too picky where their chocolate comes from so as long as there is plenty to last them a while. This is a great gift if you still want to make it seem like a typical Valentine's Day gift, but want to avoid the awkward embarrassment of handing that tween boy a pink box of chocolates.

The Hard to Buy For - Gift cards are always a safe bet for any tween boy, especially since their tastes are always changing. For Valentine's Day, stick with something the boy can actually go buy - not a gift card to a restaurant. Let him have some fun going shopping and picking something out for himself; this is a much better option than that white teddy bear holding a pink heart that says "I Love You" that you find in the Valentine's Day section at Walmart. Popular shopping choices with most tween boys are stores like Best Buy or Circuit City; they can pick out any type of DVD, CD, or game (for a gaming system.) Of course, this is just a Valentine's Day gift and not Christmas, so the amount does not have to be high; you can do something as low as $10.00. Or, most malls offer mall-wide gift cards now; you can get one gift card that is good for any store in the mall and let him go pick out something from the numerous stores in the local mall.

The Social Butterfly - If the tween boy in your life loves to hang out with friends, give him a gift card to do something with his friends (laser tag, bowling, batting cages, etc.), or take him and his friends out to do something on Valentine's Day. Since many tween boys do not have much interest in girls, make it a guy's night for him and his friends. This is great if you're a parent or family member looking for something to do for a tween boy; get a couple of his friends together and take them out for dinner and to do something they enjoy doing.

The Romantic -This type of tween boy can be pretty rare, but there are a few that would appreciate a typical Valentine's Day gift. If you have a romantic in your life, stick with something that still looks like a male gift. Find a stuffed dog or neutral bear (dark brown, black, etc.) that still looks like a boy's stuffed animal; definitely do not get that white bear covered in red lipstick kisses. You can always add an inexpensive box of chocolates (again, Whitman's or Hershey's is great for this option) and a card telling him how much he means to you. This is a great gift if you are a mother that is very close with your son.

Valentine's Day gifts are not necessarily extravagant for tween boys, so just shop around and get him something you know he will enjoy whether it is actually Valentine's Day memorabilia or not.