My friends often ask me, “What should I get as a gift for a boy?” or “What do your son and nephews enjoy playing with?”   Giving money as a gift has become increasingly common, and invitations often specify what it will be used for. However, for children of a certain age, a tangible gift still holds more value than cash. Looking back at the presents my own child has received, I’ve noticed that many are used only once before being forgotten. That’s why I’ve put together a list of toys and games that have truly been enjoyed and frequently played with in our family.

The links in this post will take you to the products so you can get a better idea of what they are. However, in some cases, an item may be out of stock in certain stores, so you might need to search for alternatives online. While these recommendations are specifically for boys, most of them are actually great for any child. You can also check out our gift ideas for girls!

A foam glider is something boys love to grab on their way outside. It’s also a great way to make new friends at the playground, as other kids often come over to ask if they can try it too. These planes come in different sizes, but in our experience, the smaller ones fly the best. Their durability varies—some have lasted for multiple summers, while others have broken within days. That’s why I recommend buying a few at once. They don’t wear out or expire, so they’re always handy to have, and they make a great small gift when visiting friends!

It might seem like every home already has plenty of balls, water guns, and sleds. However, in my experience, balls tend to disappear, and sleds and water guns rarely last more than one season. The last time I went to buy a soccer ball with my son, I was surprised to learn that they come in different sizes based on age. I’d recommend asking the salesperson which ball is best suited for the child you’re buying for. Naturally, my son picked the newest and most expensive option, but it turned out to be a great investment—since the weather warmed up, he’s been out playing with the neighbor kids every single day.
Water guns are always a gamble—some last, some break after a few uses. One interesting option, though, is a long water blaster tube, which even a three-year-old can easily fill in the bathtub. When it comes to sleds, the most durable one in our family has been a simple Salvo sled, which has lasted for multiple winters. There are all kinds of sled designs on the market, and we’ve tried a few different types, some of which have held up well. If you’re looking for a practical winter gift, a sturdy sled is always a good bet!

If you’re considering gifting a bow or slingshot, it’s best to check with the parents first to see if they’re comfortable with it. One of the most wanted toys among boys is NERF blasters, but personally, I’ve avoided bringing them into our home. However, bows and slingshots are something I played with as a child myself. In our family, we have clear rules—these toys can only be used outdoors and at our countryside home. Before playing, we always set up a safe target area together to ensure responsible use. One of our favorite targets has been empty water bottles, which make a satisfying knock-down challenge!

My son and I love visiting the spa together—it’s a great way to relax and spend quality time. During one of our visits, I bought a squid-shaped diving toy, and ever since, it has become a must-have whenever we go swimming. When friends join, they take turns throwing and retrieving it from the pool, making it a fun challenge. But even when he’s alone, my son enjoys playing with it for a long time, keeping himself entertained in the water.

We first discovered Ogodisk paddles while visiting a friend, and finding them in Estonia turned out to be quite a challenge—but it was absolutely worth it! They come in different sizes, and I highly recommend getting the largest ones for the best experience. It’s a fantastic game for both kids and adults, as everyone enjoys bouncing the soft, lightweight ball back and forth.

Most kids—and let’s be honest, adults too—love LEGO. I’m sure our family isn’t the only one with a cupboard full of different sets. One thing I’ve noticed, though, is that the best investment is the 3-in-1 sets. With these, my son is much more willing to take apart his creation and build something completely new. I’ve also found that smaller sets are great for travel, as they keep kids entertained without taking up too much space.

A wooden train set with tracks, bridges, and carriages has been a long-lasting favorite in our family. We keep ours at the summer house, where it has become the perfect rainy day activity. It’s one of those timeless toys—our kids loved playing with it at three years old, and even now, as school-aged children, they still enjoy building and expanding the tracks.

Another great wooden toy in our family has been stacking planks. These are uniformly sized wooden blocks that allow kids to build freely and creatively without instructions or fixed designs. Since my child was already a big LEGO fan, I initially feared this gift might be left untouched. However, for my nephew, it quickly became the favorite present among everything he received. If your child enjoys building, designing, or hands-on creativity, this is truly an amazing gift!

Save the Penguin Ice Breaker is a fun board game where players take turns hammering out ice cubes while trying to keep the penguin from falling. It’s an exciting balance and coordination game that adds plenty of laughter and suspense—especially as the ice starts to crumble! Younger kids, in particular, find it incredibly entertaining.

One year, Santa brought us a talking hamster. You speak to it, and it records your words, then repeats them back in a funny voice. The kids absolutely love chatting with it! But the real fun started when they invented their own game—one hides the hamster in another room, and the other has to find it by following its voice.

When it comes to dinosaurs and dragons, I can’t recommend just one specific toy because we have so many different ones. My son plays role-playing games almost exclusively with them, and he enjoys every single one. If you’re looking for something more unique, I once ordered a Godzilla figure and its little offspring from Amazon for his birthday, which turned out to be a real hit! Funko Mystery Minis: Godzilla 3 Pack, MulticolorI haven’t seen these available in stores, so you can be fairly certain that gifting one would be something unique and special!

A relative gifted my son Jan Pedersen’s book “Animal Sounds“, and it has been a fantastic addition to our home. The book features detailed descriptions of each animal, along with real sound recordings—including different calls for larger animals, such as alarm signals or mating calls. While it wasn’t suitable for my son to read as a toddler, we still enjoyed listening to the sounds and looking at the pictures together. Now that he’s older, we read and listen to the sounds at the same time. This book has been in use for years—even the batteries have been replaced!

We received the board game Vampire Castle and the card game Bandido as gifts, and both have been played frequently in our home. They’re great because they suit players of different ages and don’t take too long to play—making them perfect for a quick game on a weekday evening. Vampire Castle is a dice-based game, where on your turn, you move both your own piece and Dracula’s. This adds a strategic element beyond simple dice rolling, creating excitement as you try to win or risk becoming a vampire yourself.
Bandido is a cooperative game where all players work together to prevent a bandit from escaping prison. You must strategically block all tunnels using cards, and the game offers both an easier and a more challenging version.

Saboteur is another favorite among boys, mainly because of the peek card, which lets them secretly check where the gold is hidden. While the game is designed for at least three players, we’ve often played it just the two of us by adjusting the rules. Instead of assigning only one role per player, we draw multiple character cards, which often results in both of us playing as dwarves working together. This way, what is normally a competitive game turns into a cooperative adventure, making it just as fun!

Bohnanza is a card game where players grow and trade different types of beans to earn as many coins as possible. What makes the game unique is that you cannot change the order of the cards in your hand, which adds a layer of strategy and requires careful planning. By trading with other players, you can make better deals, but at the same time, you need to watch out for your opponents’ strategies. The game is fast-paced and engaging, making it an excellent choice for 3 to 4 players.

King of Tokyo is a fast-paced and exciting dice game, where players take on the roles of giant monsters, robots, or aliens battling for control over Tokyo. Players must roll dice, gather energy, attack opponents, and heal their character to survive and rack up points. Strategy and risk-taking play a crucial role—should you stay in Tokyo to earn more points, or retreat to avoid destruction? This game has been a huge hit in our family, as my brother plays it often with his sons, and it has become one of their absolute favorites!

The Arduino electronics kit is a fantastic choice for tech-savvy kids who want to learn programming and the basics of electronics. The kit includes various sensors, wires, and components, allowing children to build simple robots, smart lighting solutions, or other creative projects. It’s an educational and skill-building gift that helps develop logical thinking and hands-on technical abilities. Since Arduino kits can be quite expensive, it’s worth considering whether the child has enough interest and patience to make the most of its possibilities before purchasing.

One of the main activities my son enjoys at home is cooking in the kitchen. Whether it’s peeling potatoes or baking a cake, he loves being involved. Of course, peeling potatoes doesn’t always seem exciting to him, but making sweets is something he’s always eager to do. In the Lastella online store, you can find a variety of fun DIY kits to experiment with and bring even more joy to kitchen time!

For kids who love dinosaurs and gummy candies, the “Make Your Own Gummy Dinos!” kit is a perfect choice, allowing them to create fun, dinosaur-shaped treats. Whenever my son’s classmates come over, they always ask me with excitement, “Are we making gummy candies today?” It has truly become a favorite activity!

“Make Your Own Cookies!” Vehicles – this set brings fun into the kitchen with cookie cutters shaped like different cars and machines. Younger kids can use the molds for playing with playdough, while older ones can bake and decorate their own cookies, making it a great activity for all ages!

I gave each child in my son’s crafts class a mini disco ball kit to work on. Interestingly, two boys’ parents later ordered more kits from me because their kids wanted to make them again at home and decorate their own rooms. My son also enjoys making these disco balls, and he’s gotten really good at it!

“Make Your Own Yogurt Ice Cream!” is a great activity even for younger children, who can practice scooping the mixture into molds. Older kids can get creative and experiment with their own recipes. My son absolutely loves the ice cream mix included in the kit. Whenever we stir it with yogurt, it’s a challenge to stop him from eating it all before it even freezes!

I hope you found some great gift ideas here!