The Top 10 Gift Ideas for Boys Aged 8-13

Being a father of two boys, aged 16 and three-years-old, respectively - and something of a big kid still if you ask my wife - I figured, out of all the people who would know what an active boy in the 8-13-year-old age range would like, it would be myself.

Having said that, here are the top 10 gift ideas for boys aged 8-13.

Nintendo DS
Show me a boy in this age group that doesn't want a video game and I'll literally have a cardiac arrest. I know for a fact that the video game industry is producing both, systems - and games - at an all-time high rate.

Although I don't believe in letting a child sit around and play games all day (especially since I'm a health nut and still somewhat of an athlete) I do think a video game system has some advantages believe it or not (like peace and quiet).

Now I know most kids already have a gaming system - and the new ones that are being released this year in time for Christmas, (The Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii) are pocket busters with their high prices, but I will say that the Nintendo DS is an excellent gift for boys in this age group - and one that will provide thousands of hours of silence both at home and on the road.

Athletic Items
This is the age when boys really start to get interested in sports and start to form their opinions on who their favorite teams are as well as their favorite sports. I suggest purchasing a basketball and possibly an outdoor portable basketball court, which, these days, are quite inexpensive.

Another oldie but goodie, is America's favorite pastime - baseball. A baseball glove and bat are almost necessities at this age as is a quality youth football. None of these items are very expensive and it could pay huge dividends at some point in the near future.

Deegan's Heavy Hitters Anti-Gravity race track
My three-year-old son goes bonkers every time he sees the commercial for this racetrack on television - and so do I okay. Anyway, the track is perfect for a boy in this age group and features some cool effects like the ability to hang onto the track while upside down with its "anti-gravity" ability and the glow-in the-dark feature that appears when the lights are turned off. This gift will be an unadulterated with your son although it does costs about $70.

Clothing/ Sweat Suits/Athletic Wear
All boys in this age group need one thing - sweat suits. The cotton ones keep boys on the east coast warm throughout the winter and the nylon type are great for both, the spring and fall.

If you're son's a sports fan, you can even pick up some athletic wear with his team's logo it, although it will be a little more costly. However, various sweat suits can be brought in a wide price range that begins at about $11. Higher quality sweat suits can run upwards of $50 or $60 dollars, however, I'm not spending over $50 on any sweat suit, not even one for myself.

Nintendo Wii
Point blank, if your kid is bother you for a new system, you'd better pick up the Wii instead of the Playstation. The Wii costs somewhere in the $250 price range while the Playstation 3 runs between $450 and $600 at the least. Enough said.

Books: Chicken Soup For the Preteen Sould
Without getting into religion too much, I think any book that helps your child grow spiritually and broadens their horizon, is always a good idea. I personally think the Chicken Soup books are an excellent way to help your child continue their growth , both mentally and spiritually, through reading, while simultaneously improving your child's reading - and comprehension. Being a huge advocate of getting a good education, I think books make a wonderful gift for children - even kids that run from reading like the Bubonic Plague.

Moon Shoes
These "anti-gravity" shoes have caught on in a hurry and have boys in this age group all over the country striving to "be like Mike." These mini-trampolines also help kids develop balance and coordination. Just make sure your son takes his outside.

Disney Personal DVD Player
This 3.5 personal DVD player is a parent's dream - especially on road trips or even flights. Children are amazingly quiet when they're watching one of their favorite shows. This item which sells for right around $140, is sturdy has great resolution and is great for kids or adults. It has built-in speakers and a built-in rechargeable battery that makes it easy to watch all your favorite movies or listen to CDs without having to continue to pay for batteries.

Remote Controlled Car
Boys in this age range also love remote controlled cars. You can find a fairly good quality car for about $20 these days and it will provide your boy (and husband) with countless hours of fun - not to mention several hours of peace and quiet when you ladies send them both out to play.

Cube World
Radica USA has come up with an ingenious way to combine small LCD cubes and have them interact as though they are one unit when connected. You can play with one, cube or stick them together and watch the stick characters play, interact, and visit each other's cubes.