Holiday Gifts for Boys

Adopt A Shark

Give a unique and meaningful gift this year with Adopt A Shark.  You adopt an actual shark and contribute to marine conservation at the same time.  By adopting a shark you are donating to researchers to place tracking tags on sharks that will track the sharks migration and help to protect them.   AdoptAshark is a program of the Southern California based nonprofit group, Iemanya Oceanica, and is dedicated to groundbreaking research and education efforts to save sharks.  Each adoption pack comes with a personalized certificate of adoption, pictures of your shark, stickers, a t-shirt and plenty of fun and educational information about marine conservation.  Oh and the gift qualifies as a tax deductible donation, so win-win.

This is a great gift for boys of all ages and even girls too.  Hunter is fascinated by sharks right now (his fav movie is Jaws, hey its rated PG!), and he loves this gift pack.  He is all about learning about sharks so this was really perfect for him.  So you can track your shark on the website and they even have a really cool kids area on the site too.

Purchase:  www.adoptashark.com packages start at $49.99 and up.

The Force Trainer

Become a  Jedi with this Mind Control Headset and Jedi Training Tower.   This wireless headset actually reads and registers your brain waves using the same technology used in EEG medical testing.  By focusing and concentrating it will allow you to make the sphere rise inside the tower.  The power of your mind activates the training remote which uses a flow of air to move the ball. Actual audio clips and sound effects from Star Wars alert you when to manipulate the sphere and when to move on to the next level. Advance through 15 levels of training from Padawan through Jedi Knight to Jedi Master!

Purchase:  At Scientifics Online for ages 8 and up.

Nebula Plasma Ball

This Nebula Plasma Ball is simply the ultimate interactive light show. Blending specially formulated inert gases, it creates a dramatic display of light inside a  glass sphere!  Fascinating to watch, this light is even more fun to play with! Just place your fingers on the glass surface and watch as colored bolts of glowing light follow your every move. You can actually “feel” the energy as the light gently tickles your fingertips!  It can be viewed from any angle as well.

Purchase: At Scientifics Online.

Morph-O-Scopes Sports Kit

A unique optical illusion toy like no other.   Morph-O-Scopes mirrors magically decode the mysterious printed squiggles and swirls into amazing sports cartoon reflections.  Kids curl a mirror and position it on a page.  They then have to find and crayon morphed shapes on the distorted coloring pages to make color appear in the right place in the reflections.   Other than just coloring kids can connect dots and lines to complete a morphed picture, navigate a morphed maze, and even create their own morphed drawing.

Purchase:  AtOoz and Oz website.  Ages 5+   There are also girl kits available as well.

Yuletide Special Train Set

Is yet another fabulous train set by Bachmann trains.   The Yuletide Special is a perfect for under the tree, which is where I plan to put it when we get our tree up.  Its a gift that will last and kids will never get tired of it.  Each year you can always buy pieces and add to the train set and create new family traditions surrounding the train set.  It features a snap-fit track and roadbed system plus a steam locomotive with an operating headlight, gondola, box car, old-time combine and  12 pieces curved track, straight track, and plug-in terminal retailer, power pack and speed controller.  It was easy to put together, Hunter did it all on his own.   You can also get the Santa Fe Flyer Train Set and Thomas & Friends Tank Engine by Bachmann trains.

Purchase: To find a retailer near you go to BachmannTrains , for ages 8 and up.

Heelys Skate Shoes

Heelys happen to be a hugely popular sneaker.  Hunter loves his.  Heelys are the creative lightweight athletic shoes with a wheel inside the heel that can be easily interchanged with a non-wheel piece.  People of all skill levels can walk, run and switch to a roll at any time with these.  I like them because I can remove the wheels for when he goes to places like school where they are not allowed.  So instead of getting those boys in your life a regular shoe, get them Heely’s for Christmas.  They are not just for boys either.  Sizes run from 12c youth to a 12 mens so teens, young adults and men will enjoy them as well. They come in all different styles and colors to meet everyones taste.

Purchase: Prices run from $29.99 to $59.99 and can be bought at Finish Line, Heelys, and Zappos.

Invasion of the Bristlebots

This book is filled with ideas for robot games and activities.  It comes with 2 mini robots, which look like toothbrush heads that are motorized.  You can even  customize them with the wire legs, feelers, and beady eyes that are also provided to make them look like spiders or even scorpions.  These robots zoom around, spin, and bounce off walls.  A couple of the games and activities in this book are tug of war, stage a robot sumo-wrestling match, race them against each other, and even create a maze.  Creative and fun for boys.

Purchase: at Klutz for $19.95

Nerf Dart Tag Capture the Flag Set

Nerf guns happen to be HUGE in my house.  I’m not even kidding when I say I think we own every Nerf product out there.  This Capture the Flag Set comes with 2 scoring vests, 2 stormfire blasters, 6 dart tag darts, and an electronic flag.  The Electronic flag features flashing lights, sounds and motion sensors and includes three built in game modes.  Its a whole new way to play capture the flag. This is a great gift for any boy and his friends.

Purchase: Ages 8 and up, and sells at most major toy retailers.

Automoblox- Gifts for Boys

Lately, I have been seeing these little cars everywhere. To me, it has the potential to be one of the Hot Toys this holiday season and should be.  These little wooden cars and trucks are so durable and built to last.  You put them together and you can swap the pieces to design your own unique cars.  But the greatest feature of these toys are the learning benefits: visio-spatial processing, creative problem solving, and gross and fine motor skills.  The wooden cars, colored roofs and bright rubber tires combined with the cognitive challenges of shape sorters and puzzles create a play system loaded with healthy developmental benefits.  Perfect for any age child.

Purchase: Online or Target now carries them.  Also they come in Minis and Originals.