Our Christmases have slowly been transforming over the years. Christmas mornings used to be filled with gleeful, chaotic unwrapping of gifts, wild playing with toys, and then an often-spectacular sugar-fueled crash (ah, Pax)…
Now our Christmas mornings have morphed into something much more peaceful. Don’t get me wrong – our Christmas mornings are lovely. And while these mornings are calmer than they used to be, there is still plenty of noise and mayhem and fun.
In recent Christmases, the boys have gone skiing, or played pool, or built ski jumps in the backyard. If I’m lucky, I can get them to cuddle with me by the fire and read (while stuffing ourselves with my Mom’s christmas cookies) or play boardgames – it’s great.
But I do miss the toys.
A couple of years ago, in a nostalgia-induced fit (likely spurred on by either Facebook memories or Google photos), I ordered two hoverboards from Amazon, barely a week before Christmas. The boys, who, at this point, were used to getting gear to support their expensive hobbies (*cough*skiing*cough*) were delighted when they came downstairs on Christmas morning to find that Santa left them something to play with. They were so surprised!
What surprised the rest of us, however, is how much a toy changed the dynamic. It suddenly felt a little more like our old Christmases. And ended up with even my Mom getting in on the fun.
Ever since then, I’ve made it a mission to make sure that Santa brings something to play with. It can be a stocking stuffer (slingshots and felt balls were a hit one year) or something bigger (this balance board is shockingly hard but made for fun competitions last year).
Never Too Old To Play: Seriously Fun Gifts Teens Will Actually Love
Finding toys or games (that aren’t video games) that my boys will actually have fun playing with is tricky. But I’ve been on the hunt for a couple of years now, and this is my latest compilation. Since I was putting this list together for myself anyway, I thought I’d share.
But before I get into the actual toys, if you happen to be considering a VR Headset, the Meta Quest 2 is phenomenal. The year we surprised the boys with this was probably the most excited I’ve ever seen them. And if you get more than one headset, you can all play together. It’s something we still do as a family! So, SO fun.
Ok! Now the toys!
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1. Slingshot + Felt Balls
This is the set I snuck into their stockings a couple of years ago. We also grabbed slingshots for their little cousins, too, and a big battle ensued. Easy & fun, and the cleanup isn’t terrible. You will, however, have balls flying around your head. 🙂
2. Indo Balance Trainer
We gifted Raines this balance board for a long-ago birthday, and it’s still in use. It’s actually really hard to do, but the boys use is to prep for surfing and skiing. Pax, in particular, will roll back and forth for a while.
3. Door Ping Pong
I like how easy this set is to install – just click over a doorframe and blast away. Yes, this will likely get out of hand quickly, but hey, that’s part of the fun.
4. String Rope Launcher
This is an addictive-looking little contraption. Almost like a yo-yo, but a little more mesmerizing. Would make a great stocking stuffer.
5. Balance Board
This is the balance board we got them for Santa gifts last year. Did they go wild with excitement? Nah. But it’s tricky enough to be engaging, and rewarding to do tricks off of.
6. Polaroid Now+
Raines has been asking for a Polaroid camera, and I love the idea of him being a little creative on Christmas morning. There’s something so much more tangible about actual film, especially instant. (Be sure to get enough film if you go this route!)
7. Smartphone Controlled Paper Airplane
Raines has always loved a good paper airplane, and this seems like both a fun project AND something he can weaponize to terrorize his brother. Obviously a win-win.
8. Caster Board
Pax, my nonstop movement kid, never seems to tire of anything snowboard/skateboard/hoverboard adjacent. This is like those other products, but with a twist. He’d be into it. (Also, wheels lighting up always gets him going.)
9. Leather Poker Set
Raines has been learning how to play poker and LOVES it. Feel free to judge, but he’d have a blast playing on Christmas morning.
10. Hover-1 Evolution Hoverboard
This is a similar model of the hoverboard I gifted the boys a few years ago. It supports weight up to 160 lbs. If you want the full adult model (up to 220 lbs), go with this one.
11. Magnetic Dart Board
Pretty self explanatory, but if you have kids that turn everything into a competition…this could be seriously fun.
12. Snow Sled
Honestly, I know sleds don’t seem like an exciting gift (all of us snowbound people probably have them already) but these are supposed to be fast. Maybe I’ll just secretly gift myself one, and then challenge them to a sled race. They can use whatever crappy ones we already have, and I’ll use this one MWAH HA HA.
13. Frozen Bubbles Kit
OMG! I want this!!! Granted, you need a day where the temps are 23F or lower but…YES YES YES! Soooo freaking cool.
14. Nerf N-Strike Elite Disruptor
Ok, I have strong opinions on Nerf guns, based on years of observation: the bigger, complicated guns are trash. I said what I said. This gun, above, is the only gun I’d recommend with any sort of bells and whistles. And honestly, we’ve had some epic battles that were JUST AS FUN when everyone was armed with only single shot Nerf guns. (The single shots are also a good option if you feel some sort of way about automatic Nerf guns. I’ve gotten over that, but totally get it.)
15. Flying Orb Toy
This may be dumb, and could end up broken. That said, there’s 13K 4-star reviews and I know it would be fun for a while. The boys would try and fly it at each other but….that’s normal. Basically.
16. Chicken vs Hotdog Game
Do your kids do that suuuper annoying thing with plastic water bottles where they throw them up and try and flip them around and around until they land perfectly? Gahhhh I hate that. Anyway, if they do…this game. It actually looks like fun, and will channel that weird water bottle flip drive into a force for good.
17. Bracelet Kit
I think I’ve put this into every teen gift guide I’ve written for the past three years now. Probably because I want it. It just seems like Christmas day could be a nice little project day.
18. Safety Goggles
This is here merely as a PSA: If you get the automatic Nerf guns, then also get the safety glasses.
19. 3D Printing Pen
Raines has been low-key intrigued by these since he had that 3-Doodler pen ages ago (good for little kids). This one is supposed to be even better, with more control.
20. Needle Felting Kit
Needle felting, anyone? My boys would think I’ve lost my mind – I mean that SANTA has lost his mind – but I know a few teens who would get into it.
21. Scarf Knit Kit
Or maybe this would be a cooler route to try! This kit promises that its “absolute beginner friendly” and I love that the included yarn is 100% wool. The scarf is seriously so good.
22. Minute of Fun Game
It’s Minute to Win it! This seems like it would be a fun little Christmas break activity for the fam. Random little challenges are the most fun to get really competitive over because they matter not at all.
23. Balloon Fencing Puppets
My husband wants this for Christmas. The kit comes with a bunch of included balloons, and you “joust” with the needle. I just ordered it for him. 🙂
24. Indoor Balance Jousting Set
Speaking of jousting, OMG!!! Guys…my boys would LOVE this set. Like so, so much. Like clear the living room of any breakable objects and sharp corners they would LOVE IT. This might be…this might be my next move. Hmmmm.
What should I get? And did I miss any other good ideas?
xo,
S
