30 Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys That Encourage New Interests

Your 12-year-old boy may not be a professional artist (yet), but it helps to have the right tools. This kit comes with graphite pencils, charcoal pencils, and the various tools they’ll need to take their drawing skills to the next level. And since it comes in a handsome, roll-up carry case, they can take it anywhere.

More: The 60+ Best Toys for Kids to Cure Them of Their Perpetual Boredom

Remember when your 12-year-old boy was a newborn and you could wrap him in a blanket like he was a tiny baby burrito? Well, let him embrace his natural habitat and revisit those days with this actual tortilla-style blanket (it really looks like a giant tortilla!). Roll him in it and, voilà — tweenrito!

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy are considered the progenitor and gold standard of all fantasy novels today, and it’s easy to see why. The adventures of the Hobbits, Gandalf, and the Fellowship of the Ring have captured our imaginations for more than 80 years and remain perfect for a modern 12-year-old boy.

Get ready for the most comfortable gaming session he’s ever had. This low-to-the-ground, padded leather seat is ideal for immersive play, complete with two built-in headrest speakers for a surround sound experience.

When not in use, it can be easily folded and stored. The chair can also connect to his favorite console.

Who among us doesn’t love Groot?! This Lego set comes with everything they’ll need to build the adorable — and posable! — little guy, who is perfect for display afterward. The nearly 500-piece kit even comes with, what else, a cassette tape (for dancing, obviously).

It’s like Halloween, but every month! This subscription box is the perfect gift for 12-year-old boys with a sweet tooth and includes up to 1.5 pounds of classic, hard-to-find candy.

From Pop Rocks to Sugar Babies, Baby Ruths to Abba Zabbas, they’ll have fun discovering new favorites.

Compatible with your TV or as a handheld device on the go, the Nintendo Switch supports some of the most popular games on the market.

The package includes the Nintendo Switch console and Nintendo Switch dock in black and left and right Joy-Con controllers in a contrasting gray. Also includes all the extras you need to get started.

Liesel Meminger lives outside of Munich in 1939 and can’t seem to help herself from stealing books that her foster father teaches her to read. She shares her newfound skill with her neighbors (there’s plenty of time during air raids) and with the Jewish man who lives hidden in her basement.

Here’s the cool thing about cooking: It’s something your 12-year-old boy will eventually have to learn on their own, and it’s also a lot of fun.

This just-for-young-beginners cookbook will teach them the basics via 100 recipes they’re sure to love. Built for trial and error, the cookbook encourages explorations and experimentation!

Your kiddo may feel like they’re too old for “little kid” things like comic books, but they’ve probably not outgrown them. This vintage-style canvas print is perfect for the 12-year-old boy who’s outgrown the tattered Spider-Man poster that’s been in their room since they were 5 years old, but not Spider-Man himself.

Can you shoot a ball from across the room? Flip-cup with the best? This game features dexterity-based solo challenges, buddy challenges, duels, and battle royales. Bet on your skills to beat your friends and family and win it all!

Perfect for the young man on the go who knows the importance of remaining well-hydrated, or the eco-conscious lad who has sworn off plastic water bottles. The metal bottle keeps cold drinks icy cold and hot drinks piping hot, and is available in 13 colors and four sizes.

This gift works on a couple of levels: Firstly, what 12-year-old boy couldn’t power through 12 delicious brownies handily? But these are brownies with a conscience baked at Greyston Bakery, a B Corp that hires workers other companies overlook due to past or current circumstances — giving opportunity to those who need it the most.

You may have noticed your tween has been spending more time in their room lately. Make it a space they’ll enjoy with these colorful LED lights. Various color options, functions (including flashing in sync to their music), brightness, and more can be controlled via the free app!

When it comes to racism, neutrality isn’t an option. This book dives into concepts of race, ethnicity, identity, and the history and ongoing legacy of racism.

Over 20 chapters, activities will kindle self-reflection, growth, and a foundation that will guide your child to ongoing antiracist work, giving them the tools and language to confront everyday xenophobia and racism.

As we’ve established, charging phones is an everyday struggle for your average 12-year-old boy. For powering up on the go, this portable charger is perfect, providing between one to two full charges for a phone or tablet device without having to be recharged.

Everything old is new again, and it's in that spirit that they’ll appreciate this sleek, vintage-style AM/FM radio. And, for a touch of modernity, they can use it as a Bluetooth speaker to play music from their phone or tablet.

If the kid in your life is a gamer (and, if they're 12 years old, the odds are good), they’ll love getting an immersive experience with this curved monitor, designed with gaming in mind. A 165-hertz refresh rate and a 3-millisecond response time mean improved picture clarity, especially during action scenes!

For a gift they’ll use every day (like… every single day), it’s best to stick with the classics: a basic, comfy, cotton hoodie. With an athletic fit that cuts down on a bulkier look, this one from Nike will be a favorite for years.

Before that guy who always whipped out a guitar at college parties was in college, he was a tween learning the basics.

Be the family member or friend who sets your kid on the path of “guitar guy” with this well-rated beginner guitar, which comes complete with a digital tuner, guitar pick, shoulder strap, replacement guitar strings, carry case, and more.