These Are the Gifts 10-Year-Old Boys Really Want This Year (2024)

At 10 years old, they're officially tweens, which means the gifts for kids this age are big-time. That doesn't mean they have to be expensive though: They just have to hit kids right in the sweet spot of being not too kiddie for them to dismiss, but not too adult so they're too hard to use.

That makes it seem like it's really hard to find gifts for 10-year-olds, but the Good Housekeeping Institute is here to help. Every year, it evaluates hundreds of toys and gifts, sending them to real tweens to find out what they actually like, what's just hype and what they reject altogether. (Each year, the best wind up Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award winners.) We put those results together with best-sellers and editor picks, and these emerged as the best toys and gifts for 10-year-old boys in 2024. Here's what made the cut this year.

They're getting closer to the teen years, when lounging around and hanging out are just so important. Wherever they go, they can find a comfy spot for this couch, which fills up just by swooshing it around in the air. That means it's easy for him to take out and pack away again. It also comes in more than a dozen patterns. No age recommendation given

No need to go to a laser tag arena when you can get this set of laser tag set with enough gear for four people to play. You can duck through backyards, neighborhoods or even around the house for epic battles. The guns have a 150-foot shooting range, and vibrations make it really clear when you've been hit. Ages 8+

Remote-controlled cars are already a blast, but this race car is controlled by a laser, making for double the fun. Just point the laser on the floor, the wall or even the ceiling, and the car will storm after it. Ages 8+

If they're interested in getting into the world of 3D printing — or if they just want a new way to explore their art — this kit comes with everything they need to make their own 3D creations. They can follow along with the included instructions for guided builds, or they can make their own designs. Bonus: The pen doesn't get too hot, so you don't have to worry about burning your fingers. Ages 6+

This game has everything kids love about Minecraft — the mobs, the biomes, the building — but taken off screens and transformed into a strategy-based board game. Players explore the Overworld, mine resources, build structures and fight enemies to earn points, and the one with the most points wins. And, since the Overworld grid is different every time, it's never the same game twice! If it catches on, there's also a Farmer's Market expansion. Ages 10+

They'll be able to have fun outside even after the sun goes down with this illuminated flying ring. In addition to cool LED lights, it also has a soft rim for easy catching, and its makers say it can fly 100 feet. One Good Housekeeping Institute tester raved that it was easy to catch, and made of good material. Ages 5+

This is what you get when you mix a brain puzzle and a fidget toy. The brightly-colored cube unfolds to reveal new shapes, colors and patterns, and then it becomes a challenge trying to get it back into its cube shape. It'll leave everyone mesmerized. Ages 8+

Whether he's doing some solo sleuthing or playing a team sport like Capture the Flag, these spy goggles will help him see in the dark. They have two LEDs that illuminate up to 25 feet. Ages 6+

If he dreams of becoming his own comics creator, he'll be so excited to see his artwork turned into a bound book! The kit comes with a blank book, markers and a booklet with helpful tips about how to set up the comic. Then, you put it in a pre-paid envelope and send it in to get bound, complete with an about-the-author page. Ages 8+

While your child builds catapults, gravity fans, moving cabins and collision cars, he'll be learning about the fundamental properties of potential and kinetic energy. The included manual also comes with a quiz section, which could help make studying for school tests more enjoyable. Ages 8+

With 10 obstacles included, this kit makes sure he has everything he needs to become the ultimate ninja. He can swing from one ring to the next and build both upper body strength and imagination. This intro set works for many fitness levels — from beginner, intermediate and advanced training. All obstacles include steel-hanging safety clips that hang between two sturdy posts. Parents, make sure to follow the included instructions for proper safety installation! Ages 5+

Ninjago mega-fans will appreciate the two-sets-in-one nature of this Seal-holding building kit: First, kids can create a menacing ice dragon. Then they can take it apart and rebuild it as a human-like dragon warrior. It also comes with skeleton warriors and figures of Zane and Pixal to round out the battle. Ages 10+

There's so much science that kids can learn just from around the house. In this book, Good Housekeeping Institute scientists go from room to room to explain the phenomena going on there using simple, at-home science experiments. In the bathroom, for example, kids can learn about why mirrors fog with steam, while in the kitchen they can learn about how to grow veggies from scraps. Ages 7+

He'll need to sharpen his critical thinking skills to solve the 20 mysteries included in this book. The events take place in different eras, so maybe he'll absorb some historical knowledge, too, but there's also a non-historical version or a STEM-themed version he can do next. Ages 8+