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The Spruce / Sabrina Jiang
Shopping for the 10-year-old boy in your life may seem like a difficult task, especially since tweens have such varying interests.
We researched the top picks from the best brands that are perfect for his age group. While you shop, look for something that will keep them engaged, while also being age-appropriate and safe. The LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall Kit go our top spot due to its stunning design and detail, ability to foster imaginative play and keep him engaged for hours, and the educational value of practicing STEM skills.
Here, best toys for your favorite 10-year-old boy.
LEGO 75954 Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall Building Kit
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Courtesy of Walmart
Easy to follow
Nice details
Not very stable for a large kit
Whether he is into Harry Potter, Legos, or both, this 878 piece building kit will pique his interests. He can bring Hogwarts Great Hall to life with the included 10 mini figures that will allow him to recreate his favorite scenes. When built, the hall will measure 14 x 11 x 7-inches, giving him plenty of space to play around with.
Our tester gave this kit a perfect five star rating for its immaculate design mimicking that of the books. After the great hall is complete, the set fosters imaginative play with the included figures and their new space.
Our tester also loved how this keeps kids entertained for hours while still learning how to follow instructions and practice STEM-based building skills. The only downsides are the high price tag, but the novelty of the competed build is something you can display and enjoy for years to come.
Snap Circuits Jr. Electronics Exploration Kit
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Snap Circuits
STEM toy
Clear instructions
Can be tricky for some kids
With this electronics discovery kit, your boy will get more than 100 projects he can build with more than 30 color-coded circuit components, including wires, switches, an alarm circuit, speaker, and music-integrated circuit. Projects include cool things like making a photosensor, a flashing light, a voice-controlled lamp, and an adjustable volume siren. There’s no need for tools, as all of the parts snap together on the plastic grid.
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The Spruce / Sarah Wassner Flynn
Nintendo Switch
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Amazon
Compatible with a few thousand games
Can be played on the big screen or on the go
Pricey
This scaled-down gaming console works either with television for family fun or as a handheld device to be used solo. There are a few thousand games that work with the Switch, including Mario Kart, with its high-energy races, and problem-solving games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
If you're trying to keep an eye on your child's screen time, you can use the intuitive controls to set time limits, track minutes, and ensure that only age-appropriate games are being downloaded and played.
Blue Orange Djubi Classic
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Courtesy of Amazon
Enjoyable for a wide range of ages
Great outdoor toy
Flimsy material
They may not be able to pronounce it (it’s joo-bee), but they’ll love to play it. There are no mitts in this game, but instead, each player gets a paddle that has both a launching hook and a catching net. Aim, pull back on one of the balls, which are attached to the launching hook via a loop, and fire. The other player then attempts to catch the ball in their net, and back and forth you go. The balls can fly up to 125 feet, so you can cover some serious space.
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The Spruce / Sarah Wassner Flynn
Motorola Solutions Motorola Talkabout Radio 3-Pack
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Courtesy of Motorola
Great way to communicate during family trips
Solidly constructed
Short range use
Whether going on a hike, playing at the beach, or goofing off in the backyard, kids can communicate with each other (and their parents) with these T100 walkie talkies. They feature 22 channels, have a range of up to 16 miles, and only need three AAA batteries to operate. This set in particular comes in a pack of three. Note: The talkabout radios are not water resistant.
BEZGAR Remote Control Car Licensed RC Series
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BEZGAR
Entertaining for older kids, teens, and adults
Scratch-resistant exterior
Users say it's smaller than expected
Thanks to the dual-grip remote controller, your 10-year-old can direct his Lamborghini Aventador SVJ to propel forward, backwards, and make left and right turns. Smooth and powerful, the car has a max speed of 4 miles per hour. The glossy exterior is scratch resistant, so it can withstand a good amount of rough play, or bumping into walls. The car itself requires three AA batteries, and the remote controller requires two AA batteries.
BEYBLADE Burst Rise Hypersphere Vertical Drop Battle Set
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Beyblade
Can be played with other kids
Walls keep bey blades intact
Material is a bit flimsy
This set comes equipped with all the supplies you need for battle, including the Hypersphere Vertical Drop Beystadium, two spin launchers, and two battling tops. The unique design of the Hypersphere tops enables them to climb vertically along the walls. Your 10-year-old can also compete in digital battles when you scan the code on the Beystadium.
Mega Construx Pokemon Blastoise
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Mega
Easy to put together
Includes two working water cannons
Not compatible with Legos
It comes packed with clear instructions and pieces that snap well into each other, so building Blastoise shouldn't be too difficult. The coolest part about this Pokemon building set is that it comes with two working cannon blasters, so your 10-year-old can make Blastoise unleash his Water-type moves when it's time for battle.
Taylor Toy Store Basketball Hoop Hamper
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Courtesy of Amazon
Promotes physical play
Helps keep room clean
Can be tricky to close the door
He shoots, he scores, and mom wins! This over-the-door basketball hoop is the cleanest game in town, and there are no losers. He has fun throwing his dirty clothing through the hoop instead of leaving it all over the floor to pile up, and mom marvels at the lack of mess-making this the perfect gift for a 10-year-old boy (and mom!). There’s a backboard to bounce items off of, and the bottom is a laundry bag.
Spin Master Marvel United Super Hero Cooperative Strategy Card Game
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Courtesy of Walmart
Perfect for Marvel fans
Can be played with the entire family
Some users complain about receiving the wrong character
This is a board game the entire family can enjoy because it's all about teamwork. The players, or superheroes, must join together to defeat the Marvel villain. While some games can be boring as you play them repeatedly, this one offers a lot of variety based on the cards you choose.
Klutz LEGO Make Your Own Movie Activity Kit
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Courtesy of Walmart
Builds creative thinking
Kids can direct and execute their own short movies
Doesn't come with its own app
Kids have been making stop-motion animation LEGO movies for years, but this kit takes the guesswork out of the process for newbie filmmakers. It comes with several mini-figure actors (with different faces, outfits, and accessories like hats and wigs), props, backdrops, and an 78-page instruction book with different plot ideas for inspiration and even tips like how to build a homemade tripod.
Hot Wheels id Smart Track Kit
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Courtesy of Mattel
Fun virtual and physical play
Comes with two cars
Expensive
This slick racetrack works with the compatible Hot Wheels app using Bluetooth. Players can compete by tracking their speed (it's scaled to reflect how fast you'd go in a real car), number of laps, distance, loops, jumps, and other stats. In free play mode, they can scan in new cars, measure their achievements, and build new track configurations (it's fun to watch what you're physically building appear on screen). In campaign mode, the pressure is on to beat challenges, which get increasingly harder, to earn rewards.
L.L. Bean Sonic Snow Saucer DLX
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Courtesy of L.L.Bean
Great for active, outdoor play
Side handles make it easy to carry
Not very fast
Go for a classic toy for a 10-year old with this Sonic Slider that will have him cruising down the hill on a snow day. The saucer is lightweight and the side handles make it easy to carry back home or up a hill. Besides letting him have hours of fun this will also get him outside and keep him active.
Big Potato Sketchy Tales, Disney Edition
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Courtesy of Walmart
Family game night appropriate
Disney fans will have the most fun
Can't be played solo
Doodling becomes a group sport with this fun game. Players pick a character and an action (example: Piglet and singing karaoke) which they have to draw and then pass along to another player to complete the drawing. Others have to guess exactly what the sketch is. Needless to say, there will be a lot of laughs and hours of playtime.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Mega Slime Kit & Putty Lab
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Amazon
Glows in the dark
Users found the learning guide helpful
Not for younger kids, so keep caution around siblings
This comprehensive kit comes with eight different substances, all designed to teach about scientific principles. The putty properties include magnetic, glow-in-the-dark, and color-changing (activated by the heat of your hands or the chill of the freezer), as well as several types of slime. The full-color learning guide explores the fascinating science behind slimes and putties. Kids will learn about the world of slime and putty.
VTech KidiZoom Creator Cam
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Courtesy of Target
Kid-friendly
Includes green screen
Included storage is small
Your 10-year-old may not be ready for an expensive DSLR camera just yet, but this option from VTech is a fun pick. Kids can created HD videos with this camera, which includes 20+ animated backgrounds, like getting chased by a T-Rex. There's built-in editing software and the tripod makes it easy to set the camera on a table or flat surface while filming.
IELLO King of New York Board Game
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Courtesy of Amazon
Excellent for parties
Challenging game for older kids
Long play time
Up to six players can enjoy this fast-paced, strategy-heavy game, which is themed around the Big Apple and a follow-up to the popular King of Tokyo. It's meant to be played in about an hour, making it ideal for parties and game nights, and the object is to defeat the monsters and become ruler of the city.
flybold Slackline Kit
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Amazon
Easy to install
Great for parties
Hard to take down
If you want to get them away from their devices and outside, a slackline is a smart toy. These kits are all the rage and will have your child perfecting their balancing skills from the comfort of your backyard. Think of these kits as a sort of tightrope that has a wider base. This kit has all you need to get started including a main and training lines as well as travel bag to take the act on the go. Caution: Make sure to read instructions carefully and never leave kids unattended during play.
What to Look for in Gifts For 10-Year-Old Boys
Recommended Age
While 10-year-old boys are likely ready for some increased independence and autonomy, these tweens may still need some guidance and supervision when it comes to more mature concepts and ideas. For this reason, it’s best to stick to a gift that is recommended for their age.
Safety
If you are looking for a gift for a thrill-seeking 10-year-old boy, make sure that you include the recommended safety gear. This can be a helmet, knee pads, or eye protection. This is also a great time to talk about online safety, as they may be getting into technology that connects to the internet.
Educational Value
Some of the best gifts for 10-year-old boys incorporate learning into play. Whether it is building on an interest or passion they already have or helping them develop a new skill, an education gift is sure to be a hit with both kids and parents. The best kind even includes group participation to get everyone in on the fun.
Creativity
Think about how your 10-year-old boy likes to engage with his interests. For an adventurous, outdoor kid, it may be in creating a new game or course to enjoy with his friends. Future engineers may enjoy building and constructing. Budding artists can spend hours creatively. No matter what his interests, a great gift allows him to express himself.
Chuck English, Virginia STEM Coordinator at the Science Museum of Virginia, recommends that parents get involved in play as well. “It’s a good opportunity for parents to play with their kids,” he says. “Kids teach them how to do an activity or use a toy.”
Why Trust the Spruce?
This article was written by Julie Evans, a writer who has been researching home products for The Spruce since 2017. She has extensive experience covering products for children, including toys and gifts.