When it comes time to shop for holiday gifts for kids, boys can be something of a mystery. That’s why we put together testing notes from the Good Housekeeping Institute‘s Parenting Lab tests, checked bestsellers on Amazon, rounded up the editors’ picks and came up with a list of the best gifts for boys, no matter where his interests lie.
Here’s what to look for when shopping for gifts for boys.
When the Parenting Lab evaluates toys for its annual Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards, it looks for items that are safe to use and well constructed. It also looks for toys that offer some kind of developmental value, be it through fostering imaginative play, helping with fine or gross motor coordination, teaching things like STEM concepts or inspiring creativity. Then, there’s the all-important fun factor, since no toy is worth the money if kids won’t want to play with it.
What are some of the trends for gifts for boys this year?
Looking over the hottest toys coming out this year, STEM and STEM-related toys still are a huge winner, as are sensory toys and fidget toys that give kids with busy hands something to do. Families are still gathering around the table for family game night, so board games and other party games are a trend. And toys that help kids unlock their creativity — especially when it comes to TikTok — are on the rise.
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Best Overall Gift for Boys
Air Hogs
Zero Gravity Laser Race Car
2022 Good Housekeeping Kids’ Book Award Winner
Millbrook Press
Washed Ashore: Making Art from Ocean Plastic
Fun for Pranks
HEXBUG
Real Bugs Nanos
Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winner
Spin Master
Rubik’s Phantom
Best Gift for Gamers
Treasure X
Treasure X Minecraft
Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winner
John Deere
John Deere Build-a-Buddy Johnny Tractor
Best Small LEGO Set
LEGO
Jurassic World Dominion Atrociraptor Dinosaur Bike Chase
Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winner
First Act
Roll-Up Drum Pad
Inexpensive Gift for Boys
Spokester
Bicycle Noise Maker
Cool Stocking Stuffer
Shasibo
Shape Shifting Box
Cool Virtual-Reality Gift
Abacus Brands
Dino Dig VR
Best Gift for ‘Star Wars’ Fans
Star Wars
L0-LA59 (Lola) Animatronic Edition
Cool STEM Toy for Boys
Thames u0026 Kosmos
My Robotic Pet – Tumbling Hedgehog
Gift for Nintendo Fans
Paladone
Super Mario Bros. Mushroom Light
Best Interactive Toy for Boys
WowWee
Untamed Raptor by Fingerlings
For Marvel Fans
Marvel
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Action Figures
Great for Indoor Play
Crazy Forts
Crazy Forts
Best Just-a-Little-Something
Sky Castle
DoodleJamz JellyPics
Best Indoor RC
Air Hogs
Stunt Shot Indoor Remote Control Vehicle
Nostalgic Fave
DIGIMON
Digimon X
Best Drone for Boys
DoDoeleph
Mini Helicopter Drone
Best Solo Board Game for Boys
Think Fun
Gravity Maze
Great Tub Toy for Toddlers
Boon
Building Bath Pipes
Unique Gift for Boys
CreateSpace
Draw Your Own Comics
Klutz
LEGO Chain Reactions
Abacus Brands
Bill Nye’s VR Science Kit
Chooseco
Choose Your Own Adventure Boxed Set
Best Way to Learn a Strategy Card Game
The Pokémon Company
Pokémon Battle Academy
Hearst Home Kids
Good Housekeeping Amazing Science
Best Gift for Teenage Boys
MINGER
LED Strip Lights
Hanna Andersson
Pokémon Long John Pajamas
Fun Backyard Toy for Kids
Stomp Rocket
Stomp Rocket Ultra Rocket LED
Best Gift for Tweens
Franklin Sports
Table Tennis to Go
LEGO
Boost Creative Toolbox
Chronicle Books
Sleuth & Solve: 20+ Mind-Twisting Mysteries
Hot Wheels
Monster Truck Downhill Race & Go Track Set
Fun Educational Toy
Educational Insights
GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope
B Small Publishing
Make and Colour Paper Planes
Fun Family Game
Wilder Games
MasterChef Family Cooking Game
HABA
Terra Kids Connectors
Kano
Harry Potter Coding Kit
Cooperative Family Game
Peaceable Kingdom
Stories of The Three Coins
Fun STEM Gift for Kids
Sterling Children’s Books
How to Code: A Step-By-Step Guide to Computer Coding
Studio Roof
T-Rex 3-D Puzzle
Mattel
Buzz Lightyear Figure
LEGO
Super Mario Adventures Starter Course
Best Tablet for Kids
Amazon
Fire HD 10 Kids Tablet
Imaginext
DC Super Friends Transforming Batmobile
Franklin Sports
Soccer Goal
Cooperative Board Game
Hasbro
Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins
STEM Toy for Elementary Schoolers
Crayola
Color Chemistry Set
Unique Building Set
SNAP SHIPS
SNAP SHIPS Forge Maul FT-12 Assault Mech
Zuru
Robo Alive Roaring Ice Dragon
Upbounders
Splash Park Puzzle
Screen-Free STEM Toy for Young Kids
Learning Resources
Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set
Ryan’s World
Galaxy Explorer Play Set Mystery Adventure
How we choose the best toys and gifts
For toys, the Good Housekeeping Institute does year-long toy testing to evaluate for safety, durability, and ease of use, then hands the toys over to real kids to make sure they have the all-important fun factor. While non-toy gifts are not evaluated in the Lab, editors still look for gifts put out by trusted brands, gifts with great reviews from purchasers, best-sellers and editors’ favorites. The list is then vetted by Good Housekeeping editors, who, after years of curating gift guides and keeping track of trends, tries to match the items with what is popular now and what Good Housekeeping readers and families have loved in the past.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
For decades, the Good Housekeeping Institute has provided expert reviews and advice on everything parents and children love, including STEM toys, educational toys, sensory toys, board games and outdoor toys. While not all of the selects on this list have been specifically vetted by our experts, Marisa LaScala, Good Housekeeping‘s senior parenting and relationships editor, has scoured the internet and spoke with tweens and teens for the other top-picks. Marisa has covered all aspects of the world of parenting, from the postpartum years through the empty nests, since 2015, and she’s pitched in with Good Housekeeping‘s toy coverage since 2018. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter, who are both avid toy collectors.
Shop more toys and gifts for kids
Looking for more great gifts for kids? Let the experts do all the hard work for you! The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Parenting Lab has expert-tested, kid-approved picks for the best toys and gifts for kids of every age, including:
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