Top Ten Gifts for Pre-Teen Boys

Top Ten Gifts for Pre-Teen Boys Okay, if you have ever had to find a gift for a pre-teen boy (ages ten to twelve), you may feel confused, hopeless and ready to stuff cash in the nearest envelope. Sure, boys LOVE cash and gift cards, but you can go beyond that and give him something he will be sure to love. Whether you need to buy for a pre-teen son, nephew or grandson, here are some top ten gifts that you will feel good about buying and he will love to receive.

Spy Gear: If you have never seen this handy line of "toys", you might be intrigued the first time you see it. Plus, your pre-teen will love using this stuff to spy on little sisters, unsuspecting parents and their best friends. How about an Eye Link Communicator? These nifty little communicators fit on the head and offers hands-free and silent communication with another "spy". Or, check into the Alarm Kit. Anyone will love the idea of securing his room or secret headquarters will alarms that will go off when anyone gets near. Spy Gear can be purchased at nearly any store that carries toys. Don't forget the batteries.

LEGOS: Boys love LEGOS. It's true, even if he has a room full, he will tell you there is always room for more. This holiday season, there are tons of new Lego kits out that will please any boy. Do you have a Spongebob fan? No problem, there is a whole new line of Spongebob LEGO kits. How about the more advanced Mindstorm LEGOS? You can be sure that your pre-teen boy will get hours of use out of these cool, computerized LEGOS complete with Bluetooth technology and touch and light sensors. Many of the new LEGO sets can be purchased at toy stores, however, more specialized sets will have to be purchased on the LEGO website.

Playstation 3: Want to be the love of your pre-teen's life? How about spending a few hundred dollars and getting the new Playstation 3? The new PS3 is due to come out in November, but be prepared to wait or have to order this new gaming system. It will be one of the hottest items this holiday season for kids and adults!

Gigaball: This is a giant inflatable ball that a kid can actually get inside and roll around! What fun! The gigaball accommodates anyone up to 150 pounds, making it a perfect choice for a pre-teen boy. This ball has a honeycomb shape and see-through windows. A gigaball can be purchased online and in toy catalogs. This fun, outdoor toy is a good way to encourage outdoor play and exercise.

Magic Kit: There is not a boy out there that is not at least a little interested in magic. Spark his curiosity and creativity by purchasing him a complete magic kit this holiday season. There are many magic kits available, but the best kinds are the ones that come with a storage case, instructions for many magic kids and all the necessary pieces (like a disappearing hat).

Electronic Mad Libs: You remember the original Mad Libs. Name one person in the room, a verb and a noun, then you have a hilarious story to read out loud. Well, Mad Libs is keeping up with the times and you can purchase your pre-teen boy an hand-held electronic Mad Libs game. What better way to encourage creative thinking AND a way to learn the parts of speech? Electronic Mad Libs will cost you about $20 and are available at any toy store.

20Q: This small, electronic game will leave you and your pre-teen stunned and amazed! Think of a question and the 20Q will proceed to ask you several yes and no questions. After you have correctly answered the questions, the 20Q will tell you what you were thinking! No minding reading, just cool technology. The small version of this game is available anywhere toys are sold for about $15. You can also purchase a larger version that will run you about $40.

Animal Habitats: You might want to ask the parent of your pre-teen before you buy an animal habitat, but you can be certain that he will love the gift. Not only are animal habitats fun, but there are educational. You can buy an ant farm or even a frog kit. The habitat will come will instructions on how to set the tank up and how to order the animals or bugs that will live inside.

Marshmallow Shooter: While I usually do not advocate violent games and guns, the marshmallow shooter is just too cool not to pass up! Anyone will love this "gun". Load it up with regular sized marshmallows and shoot them in rapid-fire succession across the room or yard at the target. What could be more fun that a giant marshmallow fight? You might just want to buy two or three so others can join in on this fun!

Money Maze Bank: So maybe you still want to give cash or a gift card. At least make it interesting!! When you purchase a money maze bank, you will be given instructions on how to place the money or gift card inside the maze bank. Then, your pre-teen will have THINK to solve the puzzle maze before it will open. The cube-shaped maze is clear, so he can see the prize inside, but it may take him awhile to figure out how to open it. These cool little gifts cost about $13 and are available online and in many toy catalogs.