3 Gift Ideas for Boys 9-12 Years Old
/Shopping for boys in the 9–12 age range can be a little tricky! They're growing out of some of the toys they've loved for years, but they're certainly not too old to enjoy playing, building, creating, and exploring. And if your boys are anything like mine, their interests can change about as quickly as their shoe sizes. Ha!
With two boys in this age range, I've spent quite a bit of time looking for gifts that they'll genuinely enjoy AND that won't end up forgotten in a closet by February. (I’m writing this review in time for Christmas shopping, but these ideas are great for birthdays or other gifts as well!)
This year, I'm sharing three of our favorite finds. Our number one pick is a BIG one, and the other two are practical, affordable gifts that would make excellent stocking stuffers. All three are things we've actually used in our home, and I think they'd be wonderful additions to your Christmas shopping list!
1. Ugee Funbox 3D Printer: Our TOP Christmas Gift Pick!
Shop the Ugee Funbox 3D Printer
Disclosure: Ugee provided our family with a complimentary Funbox 3D printer in exchange for this blog post. All opinions and experiences shared here are our own. If it stinks, I’d say so!
I'll be the first to admit that when I think of 3D printers, I don't immediately think of something my 9- and 11-year-old boys can use without a lot of help from Mom or Dad.
I tend to think of complicated software, a million settings, and a pretty significant learning curve. As a matter of fact, my boys do have a larger 3D printer they received for Christmas last year, which we also enjoy, but it’s a very parent-intensive process. And while I LOVE providing my boys with opportunities to learn new skills, I'm also a busy homeschooling mom who doesn't necessarily want another piece of technology that requires me to become an expert before my children can enjoy it.
So, when we had the opportunity to try out the Ugee Funbox 3D Printer, I was excited to see just how accessible 3D printing could be for kids this age.
And I'm happy to report that we've really enjoyed it!
Biggest Pro: Our absolute favorite things about the Funbox is the app.
I think this is probably the feature that makes the biggest difference for families who are brand new to 3D printing. Instead of having to learn how to design something from scratch (or what websites are safe to download from), the boys can browse the app and choose from all sorts of fun toys, little gadgets, and useful widgets.
It's a little like having a catalog of things you can MAKE rather than things you can buy. Which, as you might imagine, is pretty exciting for two boys!
I also love that they can explore the options themselves. There's something really satisfying about allowing a child to choose a project, participate in making it, and then have a finished object he can actually hold in his hands.
And once that first project is finished? Well, naturally, they're ready to pick another one.
Another Pro: Another thing that has impressed us is how straightforward the actual printing process is.
Loading the filament is easy, and the printer itself has been very approachable for our boys. We haven't had to turn this into some enormous project just to get started, which I appreciate tremendously. (If you're unfamiliar with 3D printing, filament is the “plastic” material the printer uses to create the finished object. The printer builds the object in thin layers until you have your completed project.)
For now, we've stuck with simpler, single-color projects. We haven't attempted anything that requires multiple colors yet through multiple stages yet, so I can't speak to that aspect of the experience. But for the types of projects we've made so far, we've found the process very manageable.
I also think this is a wonderful age to introduce children to a technology like this. They're old enough to begin understanding how the process works, exercise patience while their projects are being created, and take some ownership of the experience. Of course, I'd still recommend parental oversight, particularly around the printer's heated components and any maintenance.
Here’s are two in-process videos. A really cool feature is that there’s live video camera inside the body of the printer. (It’s directed only toward the inside back of the printer, so it can’t view the room.) It allows us to set the print, then check in remotely to make sure it’s going ok.
And since the boys are the ones who have been enjoying this gift, I thought it would be fun to let them weigh in, too!
A little feedback from Daxton and Kolton:
Daxton: “I really like how the filament doesn’t stick to the pad like it does in our other 3D printer.”
Kolton: “I wanted to use the 3D rendering part of the app to print a Spiderman toy, and it didn’t work very well. But the hippo that I drew and scanned in turned out pretty good. So the part of the app where you take a picture and turn that into a printable model doesn’t work perfectly, but it’s still really cool to turn your drawings into 3D toys.”
For our family, the Ugee Funbox has been a really fun, kid-friendly option for 3D printing, and I think it would make a fantastic BIG Christmas gift for a creative boy in this age range!
2. TOZO Over-Ear Noise-Canceling Headphones: A Stocking Stuffer They'll Actually Use!
Roadtripping with the tozo headphones
Now, moving on to something a little more practical!
We've really enjoyed our TOZO over-ear noise-canceling headphones, and they've become one of those things that just makes life easier.
Our boys use headphones for online classes, listening to music, and car rides. And if you have multiple children sharing a space during the homeschool day, you can probably imagine why a good pair of headphones is worth having!
I particularly appreciate the over-ear design and noise-canceling feature. They help the boys focus on what they're listening to without as much interference from everything else happening around them.
They're also great for traveling. Whether we're heading out for a longer drive or the boys just want to listen to something different, having their own headphones is incredibly convenient.
I love gifts that are genuinely useful, and these certainly qualify. They're the kind of thing that can get used throughout the entire year, long after the Christmas decorations have been packed away.
If you're looking for a practical stocking stuffer for big kid, these would be a great option!
3. Our Favorite Boys' Watch: A Simple Tool for Growing Independence
Kolton’s favorite watch
This last gift might seem a little less exciting than a 3D printer, but it's one of those things that has been SUCH a good purchase for our family.
My son loves this watch. In fact, when his original watch broke (from rough-housing), it was something we immediately replaced. That should tell you how much he uses it!
One of my goals as a mom is to help my children grow in independence and personal responsibility. As they get older, I want them to become increasingly capable of managing their own time, remembering their responsibilities, and moving through their days without needing Mom to constantly remind them what comes next.
Having his own watch has been a really helpful part of that process.
Whether it's keeping track of time during the school day, knowing when it's time to move on to another responsibility, or simply becoming more aware of how he spends his time, it's a practical tool that he genuinely enjoys wearing.
I think sometimes we underestimate how much our children appreciate having useful things that belong to THEM. A watch is a small way of giving a child more responsibility for his own day, and at this age, that's something worth encouraging.
It's also an easy stocking stuffer that doesn't require batteries for another toy, a complicated setup, or another giant box taking up space in your home. (And as a mom of four, I appreciate that!)
A Few Gifts Worth Giving This Christmas
As my boys have gotten older, I've found myself becoming more intentional about choosing gifts that they'll continue enjoying and using beyond Christmas morning.
Of course, there's absolutely nothing wrong with toys that are simply FUN. Childhood should be filled with plenty of play, imagination, and delight!
But I especially love finding things that combine that delight with opportunities to create, learn, and grow in independence.
These three gifts have earned their place on our list because they've actually been useful and enjoyable in our home. And I hope sharing a little of our experience helps you as you shop for the boys in your life this Christmas!
Shopping for boys in the 9–12 age range can be a little tricky! They're growing out of some of the toys they've loved for years, but they're certainly not too old to enjoy playing, building, creating, and exploring. And if your boys are anything like mine, their interests can change about as quickly as their shoe sizes. Ha!
With two boys in this age range, I've spent quite a bit of time looking for gifts that they'll genuinely enjoy AND that won't end up forgotten in a closet by February. (I’m writing this review in time for Christmas shopping, but these ideas are great for birthdays or other gifts as well!)