These Are the Best Toys and Gifts for 11-Year-Old Boys Who Are Tough to Impress
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At 11, he's not yet in teenage mode, but he's no longer a little boy, either. He might be into science and sports but doesn't want you to throw out the toy cars he's had since he was 3. As parents, we know how it goes. So when we recommend the best gifts for tween boys we include a mix of things, from tech and gamer gear to toys, books, and LEGO sets.
Our top picks:
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Best overall gift: Segway Ninebot Kids eKickScooter
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Best STEM toy: Crunch Labs by Mark Rober Egg Drop Challenge
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Unique gift: ZipString Original Rope Launcher
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Best book: Isle of Ever
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Best game: Educational Insights BrainBolt
We spend the whole year following trends and testing toys and gifts ,making sure they're durable, well-made, and safe. Then we solicit feedback from tweens to be sure everything is "cool" for the kids who seem to already have everything. Between the two of us, we have a tween girl and a young adult son, plus their friends, classmates, and our friends' kids, so we feel like we've got a grasp on the best toys and gifts for 11-year-old boys this year.We remain confident that these will impress your tween.
Segway Ninebot eKickScooter C2 Lite
Once kid testers got a taste of this ride, they were obsessed—and parents appreciated that the speed was capped at less than 10 miles per hour."He is consistently charging and using the Segway pretty much every single day!" said the parent of a 10-year-old. Ages 6+
Crunch Labs by Mark Rober Egg Drop Challenge
Tweens know Crunch Labs from YouTube and Netflix, where former NASA engineer Mark Rober posts cool experiments. This one lets your 11-year-old boy design a parachute for a reusable eggfilled with yolk slime, then perfect the aerodynamics.
"My son dove right into this and starting constructing the egg drop parachute," a parent told us. "It occupied him with little help from us for about 30 minutes and then he had fun with his siblings dropping it off the front porch and seeing if it landed safely. " Ages 8+
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ZipString Luma Glow-in-the-Dark Toy
We had a blast testing this in our office with kids, tweens, and adults. It's a moving, undulating string he controls,and it's mesmerizing. The web site has tricks for him to try. He can also use it to captivate a younger sibling, or the cat. New this year, the ZipString Aracna can be worn on a wrist, with the string shooting out like a spider web. Ages 8+; one lithium ion battery included
RELATED: ZipString is a Holiday Must-Have
Sourcebooks Young Readers 'Isle of Ever' Book
In this middle-grade novel. a girl has to unravel a mystery of the location of a lost island—in two weeks. Good Housekeeping Institute testers hung on every word. "It's an amazing story of the difficulties of trust and how far people will go for love," a 13-year-old tester said. Another remarked: "This was the best book I've read in a while." Ages 10+
Educational Insights BrainBolt Genius
He'll spend hours of screen-free time building up his memory and motor coordinationat the same time with this game. It flashes lights in a sequence, and players have to try and repeat it. (Warning: You may want to steal this from him when he's not looking). Ages 7+; three AAA batteries required
Goliath Butt Face: Chester Cheeks
Don't shoot the messenger with this one. We have shown this gag giftto tweens, and they universally love it. Chester Cheeks does a wiggly dance, and he farts. "I think the humor and shock of it all is a big factor here!" a parent said.
READ OUR REVIEW: Meet Butt Face, the Most Unhinged Toy of the Year
Snap Circuits Flight Deck
As far as interactive science or STEM toys go, this is a favorite. It teaches a kid about flightand also about electricity. He'll learn to send a little propeller, a ball and a paper airplane flying. When our Lab experts tested it, we relearned some physics lessons, too. Ages 8+; AA batteries required
LEGO Marvel Spider-Man vs. Mysterio: The Daily Bugle Building Toy
A LEGO lover will lose his mind over this grand set, featuring a four-story Daily Bugle building, plus Spider-Man, Mysterio, Miles Morales, Ghost Spider, J. Jonah Jameson, Venomized Captain America, and Rhino minifigures.
"The figures and building are very interactive, so he enjoyed playing with the set even after it was built," a mom told us "It is age-appropriate and would make a great gift for Marvel and Spider-Man enthusiasts."
GlowCity LED Basketball
This basketball lights up when dribbled, so he can practice in the driveway even after the sun goes down. It even shuts off on its own when it's no longer in use. The LED lights inside are powered by batteries that can be replaced. If basketball isn't his sport, you can also get an LED football , soccer ball , or volleyball . Ages 8+; batteries included
X Rocker Eclipse Video Gaming Floor Chair
Whether he's gaming or watching a movie, this could be his lounging spot of choice. It rocks back for comfort, and folds in half when not in use so you can store it away. Bluetooth speakers are built into the headrest. Ages 5+
RELATED: The Best Gifts for Gamers
Marvin's Magic Fifty Amazing Magic Tricks
From card tricks to coin tricks to linking rings, this tin contains all they need to master 50 different magic tricks—something that helps them with self-confidence and public speaking. They can use the app to get step-by-step video instructionsalong with a free magic trick every week. Ages 8+
Thames & Kosmos Bionic Robotic Arm
No batteries or motor needed for this previous Best Toy Award winner—it works with a kid-powered system of nylon cords. It will likely require some adult help, but it's cool for grown-ups, too. You'll all learn about how muscles and tendons work while practicing robotic engineering skills. Ages 10+
Chronicle Books This Book Is a Planetarium
Just when you thought he was too big for pop-up books, this comes along and blows all the others out of the water. The pages fold out and transform in to six different fully functioning inventions, including a planetarium, a decoder ring and a speaker that amplifies sound. The text on each page describes the science. Ages 8+
PlayMonster The Original Hacky Sack 3-Pack
Hacky Sack is back, popular once againwith young kids looking to kill time outside. With this set of three he can challenge his friends, or perfect his game playing solo.
"Classic fun," said one parent of an 11-year-old son. "He had fun playing with the Hacky Sack with his guy friends in the neighborhood."
Rubik's Cube Rubik's Rush
A light-up versionof the classic, handheld brainteaser puts a new spin on things. "Sound effects made it more engaging," said a parent of a tween son. "He liked that it had multiple game modes and different difficulty levels, so the game stayed interesting as it got harder and faster. He also enjoyed the different ways to play, like getting three in a row, diagonally, or both."
It can be played solo, or with up to four players. Also nice: It allows two mistakes before making a kid restart. Ages 7+
Thames & Kosmos Exit: The House of Riddles
Players are summoned to a house to solve a mystery—only to get locked inside! In this escape room-style game, up to four players have to figure out riddles, solve puzzles, crack codes, and put together cluesin order to escape. You can only play it once, but there are other Exit games to move onto if it's a hit. Ages 10+
Starlux Games Capture the Flag Redux
It's the classic Capture the Flag with a techie twist: Instead of a fabric flag, players are going after a glowing orb, and teams are identified through glowing bracelets. That means the game is more fun the darker it gets outside.There are enough materials for up to eight players (depending on the game variation) but you can also get expansion sets . Ages 8+; CR1220 batteries included
Pandasaurus Games The Mind Card Game
Nobody talks in this board game—you work together silently to beat each game level. You have to play cards in ascending order without speaking to the other players, so it's all about reading each other's facial expressions and learning each other's tells. Though the game is easy to learn, it's challenging to master and requires concentration. Ages 8+
Refasy Electronic Bank
Need a gift under $30? His birthday money, pet-sitting cash and allowance will be safe(a.k.a. out of the hands of siblings) with this password-protected bank. It takes bills or coins and has earned thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon. Ages 3+; three AA batteries required
JBL Go 3 Portable Mini Bluetooth Speaker
This little Bluetooth speaker is waterproof and dustproof,and once it's fully charged, he can play his music through it for five hours nonstop. No age recommendation given
Hearst Home Kids 'Good Housekeeping Ultimate Kids Christmas Book'
For any long school break, including Christmas, your 11-year-old could use fun activity ideas. These come courtesy of the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute. It shows how he can make his own advent calendar, plan a movie marathon, and brew hot chocolate. He'll also learn the history of different traditions, like why we decorate trees. Ages 8+
Steve Jackson Games Zombie Dice
Players are zombies, looking to eat delicious brains. If you roll a brain, you get to eat a human (and you get a point). If you roll a set of footprints, it means your prey got away. The play is 10 to 20 minutes and it just requires two or more people, so it's great whether he has a friend overor needs an activity to do with cousins. It wins raves from Amazon reviewers, too. Ages 10+
RELATED: Best Board Games for Kids
Rimable 22-Inch Skateboard
This 22-inch, lightweight plastic-deck skateboard is affordable and, according to Amazon reviewers, perfect for a new rider. It comes in several cool colors and patterns, including this galaxy design. No age recommendation given
National Geographic Marble Run with Motorized Elevator
"This set is an adventure in engineering and creativity. During toy testing, kids were excited to assemble their customizable tracks," said test Engineer Alec Scherma . Marbles are swept up the motorized elevator and then roll down whatever slide your child creates. With 150 pieces, no two builds will be the same. Ages 8+; two AA batteries required
Artistro 12 Acrylic Paint Markers
Indulge his artistic talent while keeping the mess to a minimum with these pens, which are filled with a quick-drying, water-based ink. They work on lots of surfaces, including plastic, canvas, fabric, paper, clay, and even smooth wood. A hit on Amazon, these pens have thousands of five-star reviews from users. No age recommendation given
LEGO Speed Champions Ferrari SF-24 F1
LEGO's Speed Champions line is for kids ready for a challenge but not something that will take them a month to build. This elaborately detailed Ferrari, made of 275 pieces, is perfect if he loves a toy carand the chance to build. Ages 10+
Global Grub DIY Mochi Ice Cream Kit
Mochi ice creams are sweet, delicious and doable at home, if he's up for the challenge. This gives him enough ingredients to make 32 pieces,along with tools like a silicone mold and a dough cutter. A similar kit makes mochi donuts . No age recommendation given
House of Marley Smile Jamaica Wired Earphones with Microphone
These popular earbuds help shut out outside noise, so he can concentrate on his music(and maybe his school homework, while he listens). House of Marley supports global reforestry through the Project Marley foundation. No age recommendation given
RELATED: Best Kids' Headphones
ThinkFun Gravity Maze
They'll experiment with gravity, cause and effect plus other STEM concepts with this game, which combines logic puzzles and marble runs into one. It comes with challenge cards for runs to build, and they get more difficult as he progresses through the deck. Ages 8+
Hasbro Inc. Bop It! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Leonardo Edition
Two '90s trends come togetherinto one irresistable toy. In this version of Bop It, you either press a part of Leonardo's shell, twist his arm (and hear his blade slice through the air) or pull his leg, depending on what the instructions tell you to do. It has two modes of play (single player or "pass it" mode). Do you have what it takes to get the highest score? Ages 8+; two AAA batteries required
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Our kids' gift guide guru is Marisa LaScala , Good Housekeeping 's senior parenting and relationships editor since 2015. She lives in New York City with her husband and tween daughter, who are both avid toy collectors.
This list was updated by Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn , formerly of Parents magazine. She's got two young adult guys who both still help with testing things such as 3D pens for beginners .
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