Tween boys can be difficult to buy for; they know exactly what’s cool… and what’s not! Lucky for you, the Wicked Uncle Elves speak Tween and have compiled the ultimate list of cool gifts for tween boys, aged 9 to 12!
In addition to brilliant gift ideas for tween boys, we also have some useful information about this age group and advice for making the most of these formative, in-between years. Ready to learn about all things tween? Let’s go!
Top Presents for Tween Boys:
- Smart Ball
- Beat That!
- Flashing LED Baseball Cap
- Twistii
- Horrible Histories the Board Game
- Perpetual Marble Run
- Mini Retro Arcade Machine
- Interactive Glow T-Shirt
- Waboba Wingman
- Pindaloo
- 12-in-1 Solar Hydraulic Construction Kit
- UKick
- Solar 7-in-1 Space Fleet
- Lights from Anywhere
- 14-in-1 Solar Robot Kit
- Fifty Greatest Card Tricks
- True Balance
- Jellyfish Tank Mood Light
1Smart Ball, £20.00£20.00
Have a ball!
2Beat That!, £24.95£24.95
Embrace your competitive side
3Flashing LED Baseball Cap, £12.95£12.95
Perfect for stylish tweens
4Twistii, £12.95£12.95
The torch with a brilliant twist
5Horrible Histories the Board Game, £19.95£19.95
A journey through our gruesome past
6Perpetual Marble Run, £29.95£29.95
Gift of the Year 2019
7Mini Retro Arcade Machine , £24.95£24.95
A blast from the past
8Interactive Glow T-Shirt, £15.95£15.95
Dress smart!
9Waboba Wingman, £6.95£6.95
High-flying adventure
10Pindaloo, £11.95£11.95
Practise makes perfect
1112-in-1 Solar Hydraulic Construction Kit, £24.95£24.95
Sun, water, robots…?
12UKick, £8.00£8.00
Kickin’ around
13Solar 7-in-1 Space Fleet, £16.95£16.95
Space-age STEM for tweens
14Lights from Anywhere, £14.95£14.95
Impressive and illuminating
1514-in-1 Solar Robot Kit, £19.95£19.95
Brilliant ‘bots!
16Fifty Greatest Card Tricks, £15.00£15.00
The coolest card tricks ever
17True Balance, £12.95£12.95
Stack to solve
18Jellyfish Tank Mood Light, £18.95£18.95
A unique alternative to a lava lamp
Tween Boys: Developmental Milestones
The word ‘tween’ is used to describe children aged from around 9 to 12. Developmentally, tween boy have moved out of childhood and are inching closer to becoming adolescents. Many physical, cognitive, emotional and social changes take place during this period.
You might notice your tween becoming increasingly skilled at sports and physical activity — the older they get, the more their coordination is likely to improve. Tweens are also likely to begin seeking more independence in their daily lives. Their individuality will blossom as they develop their own ideas, preferences and perspectives. It’s normal for tweens to start breaking off a little from the family unit — friends play an increasingly important role during the tween years. However, it’s still important to provide support and approval to your tween.
The Best Toys & Activities for Tween Boys
The best gifts for tween boys are those that make use of both their physical and cognitive abilities. It’s also true that many tweens enjoy some friendly competition. This makes sports toys, video games and board games good gifts for tween boys!
As kids move into their tween years, their concentration and focus usually improve, making project-based activities popular birthday gifts for tween boys. Magic tricks and kits are always loads of fun, as are STEM building sets. At this age, kids often want to work on these projects and hobbies alone, but they’ll probably still want to show off the fruits of their labour once they’re finished!
FAQs
What age is a tween boy?
The word ‘tween’ refers to a child between the ages of 9 and 12. As you probably guessed, tween is a shortened form of ‘in-between’. Kids in this age group have outgrown many of the activities and toys associated with children, but they’re also not quite yet teenagers. Their emotions and behaviour reflect this in-between state, with many tweens seeking more independence. Tweens are also sometimes called pre-teenagers or pre-teens.
How do you engage an 11 year old boy?
As tweens become more independent and start to form an identity outside of the family unit, it can be difficult to engage with them as you did when they were children. It’s also completely normal for tweens to want to spend more time with friends or doing activities on their own. To keep tween boys engaged, you might try asking for their opinion on different things, from pop culture to current events to what you’re going to cook for dinner! You could also ask them to tell you about one of their new hobbies or interests. Remember, it’s important not to seem judgemental — just listen!
There are also plenty of ways to bond outside of conversation — for instance, you might build something together or go on a bike ride. Making a habit of doing activities together can help as well — you might cook a special breakfast together every Saturday morning or go for a long walk together once a week.
Is a 10 year old a tween?
A 10-year old does fall in the defined tween age range, but it still depends! After all, kids develop at different rates, and some will reach full-fledged tweenhood by age 9, while others might remain child-like, physically and emotionally, until they’re 13 or even older. It’s helpful to think of the word ‘tween’ as a flexible developmental description, not a set category.
What do 11 year olds do for fun?
Mental and physical stimulation are important for tweens, so you’ll probably notice that many of the activities they like include both. Most eleven-year-olds boys love sport, physical activities and challenging games. It’s also normal for kids this age to develop a real competitive streak, and because many tweens are social butterflies, they enjoy playing against friends and family. Many tweens will also appreciate relaxing, creative and hands-on activities, such as reading, building things and even cooking.
What time should a 10 year old go to bed?
There’s no one-size-fits-all rule here, as everyone’s schedule is different, but experts agree that most 10-year-olds need at least 10 to 11 hours of sleep per night. To work out the best time for your tween to go to bed, it’s useful to determine what time they need to wake up and work backwards from there. For instance, if your child needs to wake up to get ready for school at 6:00 a.m., their bedtime might be 8:00 p.m.
What is a tweenager?
Similar to a tween, a tweenager is defined as someone between the ages of 10 and 14. And just like the word tween, tweenager is a relatively new and fairly informal term. You’ll probably notice that tween and tweenager are often used interchangeably.
Are 12 year olds considered a teenager?
No, most people would not consider a 12-year-old a teenager. Formally, the teenage years begin at age 13. That said, all children develop at different rates, so you might find that your 12-year-old has more in common with older teens than with his fellow tweens. Still, all kids are different, so if you’re in doubt about whether a toy, game or activity is age-appropriate, you can always just ask him. Remember, both teens and tweens are known for their honesty — he’ll tell you if something isn’t cool!
Looking for some more cool toys and games for tween boys? Check out the full range on our website!
What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef!
