Yes, video games and gift cards are always appropriate, if not very creative, for the nine to twelve year old set. Hey, I’m not knocking it as a gift giving strategy for kids this age, because they know best what they want. If you choose to go that route for the tween boy in your life, consider these retailers: GameStop, Amazon, Powell’s Books, iTunes, Target or a sporting goods store.
But if you want to give a physical gift, consider these:
Board Games
Image from Amazon.com
Yes, Smarty Boy is proof kids still play games that don’t require a big screen TV. We’re fans of Gestures, Pictionary, Blokus, and 10 Days in the USA (and other 10 Days games). He also loves Monopoly, but I’d rather be hit in the head with a ball peen hammer than play an entire game.
Wooden Puzzles/Puzzle Boxes
We were in a small specialty shop, The Escape, in Texas recently and Smarty Boy fell in love with their wooden, hand-crafted puzzles. These puzzles can be pricey, but the workmanship is so detailed, you’re actually purchasing a piece of art. If your tween isn’t that picky, you can find less expensive ones at places like TJ Maxx.
Books
Image from BN.com
Many boys are reluctant readers, possibly because they’ve yet to stumble across an author that sparks their excitement. Rather than insisting on buying the classics, consider buying books that will simply instill a love of reading. Potential authors and series include:
Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz
Eragon series by Christopher Paolini
The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott
The Ultimate Book of Optical Illusions
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This week is National Handwashing Awareness Week, which I found especially appropriate to tween boys. If you figure out a great way to make a twelve-year-old aware that he needs to wash his hands more than once a week, please, for God’s sake, let me know!
