Gifts for 9 Year Old Boy?

Hi N.,

Games and science kits are good for boys 9 years old and up. There are some really cool science kits where you can even blow things up. I know that is right up my son's alley and he is 11.

I operate an online retail store and I created a Holiday Gift Guide with picks for kids, divided by age to make it easy for savvy aunts and grandmas to shop. I'm certainly not pushing you to buy anything from me but the list might give you some inspiration. Here's the link to the picks for Boys 7 years old and up. http://www.chocolatecakeclub.com/boys7yearsold1.html

I hope it helps you with some ideas.

S. Kirchner

Playmobil - I started my girls when they were 3 and all my neices and nephews by age 4. ALL the kids to come over to my house play with these for hours. This includes my 12 yr old's friends (most of whom are already 13) and my 9 yr olds friends. A total hit for YEARS to come. And easy for everyone else to do - you just tell them "buy playmobil, the zoo/house/fairy collection" and just change which collection each year.

We even do Playmobil advent calendars each year and my nephews all love them too, it's as easily a boy thing as a girl thing.

Perplexus-a round maze with several levels. Very fascinating. You can find them on amazon.

My son is 8.5.
He would LOVE an iTunes gift card for apps on the iPad!
He would also like a science set.
Or O. of those Volcano making kits.
Mine is also a huge history buff, so he would like anything and everything pertaining to WWII.
My son has never been a huge fan of Legos, though.....
And he loves sports: jereys, bobbleheads, logo footballs, mini helmets, etc.

I second, third and fourth the game Perplexus!! :)

My 8.5-yr old got it from his Nana for a 14+ hr road trip we took a couple weeks ago and he was HOOKED. He spent hours working on it and when we got to our destination, all the adults were hooked, too!! It is such a fun, frustrating, perplexing, awesome toy! My MIL got it for him at Target. We have the basic one, but there are more advanced ones available on Amazon, I think. If you check out the Perplexus website, they show the options.

My boy also loves anything science and physics-related, or building (like erector sets) or anything military. Toys R Us has a military toy section with tanks, aircraft carriers, etc that he was drooling over last week.

I don't have any boys so I don't know anything specific but Marbles: The Brain Store in Naperville has a lot of neat stuff. Many of the games are for both children & adults. I'm not sure if Naperville is their only location or not but I think they have a website. Happy Shopping!