Top Gifts for Boys Age 9 to 12

Buying gifts for your children (or any children for that matter) gets easier with age in the sense that they can finally tell you what they really want and make better decisions about toys. It's still nice to surprise them with something they love that they didn't ask for though. It also helps for people who don't have a lot of contact with the child they are buying for to know what the hot toys for the year are. Well here are the top toys for boys age 9 to 12 for 2006.

First up is the Speed Stacks Set (any color, but blue and yellow are hot right now) by Play Along. Speed stacking is another one of the crazes right now and every child has to have one. Speed stacking has become so popular that over 10,000 schools have introduced it into their P.E. classes. The Speed Stacks Set includes everything your boy needs to get in on the action; 12 competition-grade cups, instructional DVD, StackMat, electronic timer, and a sport carrying bag are all included. Your boy can stack against the clock and try and improve his time or compete against friends. The recommended age for the Speed Stacks Set is 4 years and up (definitely appropriate for older children), it retails for $39.99, and can be found online and in most major retail stores.

Next on the list is the Fisher-Price: ESPN Fast Action Football by Fisher Price. Although it rings in at a pricey $229.99, it is well worth the price and if you're lucky you might be able to talk others into sharing the cost and making it a joint gift. The Fisher-Price: ESPN Fast Action Football turns playing football indoors from a major no-no into a great time for the whole family. It is the first of its kind to combine a digital electronic display with real head-to-head football battle. It includes a footpad, joystick, multi-colored light-up field display, three modes of game play, electronic commentating, realistic football sounds, and automatic scoring. The ESPN Fast Action Football is recommended for ages 6 to 12 years and is available online and at most major retail stores.

Orange Air Hogs R/C Storm Launcher Hydro Foam - 27.195 MHz by Spin Master Toys is the next up. The name sound extremely complicated but if you ask a sales associate to help you or copy and paste it into a search site it won't be too bad (I promise!). The Storm Launcher (for short) completes remarkable stunts, wild jumps, loops, upside down flying, banks, and goes airborne from the land or water, all while maintaining astonishing speeds. With all this amazing actions comes a hefty price though, The Storm Launcher retails for $79.99. It is recommended for ages 10 and up, and can be found online and at most major retail stores.

Fourth on the list is the Pirates of the Caribbean 2: 200-Piece Flying Dutchman Playset by Mega Brands America Inc. This play-set is incredibly realistic and includes everything needed for an authentic pirate adventure on the high seas. Not only are four figures included, but you also get accessories such as real fabric sails, extraordinary detailing, launching cannons, and a collapsing mast to name just a few! All of this comes together to make it as authentic as possible to the Flying Dutchman's ship from the movie. The Pirates of the Caribbean 2: 200-Piece Flying Dutchman Playset retails for $59.99, is recommended for ages 8 to 12 years, and can be found online and at most major retail stores.

Last on the list is the Mini Yo Stick with Lights (any color) by Playmates Toy, Inc. I can not really say this toy does amazing things that will astound you but its priced nicely at $7.99 and it seems to be a hit with the boys. From what I can gather it is basically like a yo-yo, but it's a mini stick. I guess sometimes putting a new spin on an old toy works (there are also full size ones available for $9.99, but the minis are in right now). The Mini Yo Stick is recommended for ages 8 to 12 years and can be found online and at most major retail stores.

Now that you know you can surprise you boy with a great gift that he didn't even have to ask for, go shopping and be glad you read this article first!