If you want to select a thoughtful gift for a boy, you’ll want to make sure it meets their needs: fun and educational. Although you could give them just another action figure, why not seek out a gift idea that teaches them important concepts while they play? Plus, it’s always a bonus when you can give them a gift that’s so much fun that they don’t even notice they’re learning!
See our review of top STEM toys:
1. AR Tattoos (4-6 years olds)
Every child loves temporary tattoos, so we’ve taken them to a whole new level. Instead of merely sitting on their skin, they can see their tattoos pop up to create AR monsters, metal mania, Jurassic dinos, or sea creatures. A prime example is our Monster Mash AR Tattoos set. It comes with 10 augmented reality tattoos that move and make sound!
HoloToyz
Monster Mash AR Tattoos
Explore the future of temporary tattoos with HoloToyz AR Tattoos! Just apply the temporary tattoo and scan it with the free HoloToyz app to see these creepy characters come to life in 3D animated augmented reality!
Shop NowTemporary tattoos will teach your youngster about creative self-expression. Additionally, they’re perfect for imaginative role playing and body autonomy.
2. Paw Patrol AR Puzzle Cubez (4-6 year olds)
Place the six interactive cubes together in a variety of ways to create different Paw Patrol characters! Rather than simply sitting there, though, the pups will come to life through the power of augmented reality. This gives your child interactive experiences that include sound and animation.
HoloToyz
PAW Patrol AR Puzzle Cubez
Discover the magic of phygital play with the HoloToyz 4D Magnetic Cube Puzzle. Each completed puzzle launches an AR experience that brings Chase, Marshall, Skye, Rubble and the rest of the PAW Patrol gang to life in 3D using the free HoloToyz app.
Shop NowWhile creating the six unique characters, your child will also build enhanced focus and spatial reasoning skills through this multisensory learning experience. Moreover, instant digital feedback teaches them about trial and error.
3. DK Books and Discovery Sets (8-12 year olds)
Boys between the ages of eight and 12 can be especially difficult to shop for because they’re beginning to transition away from typical toys. Fortunately, we can help! In fact, we’ve got the perfect gift ideas for an 8 year old boy and girl with DK books and discovery sets.
For instance, let’s say your eight-year-old has been getting into sports. Why not steer into the skid by giving them our Virtual Reality ESPN set? It features more than 20 VR experiences, and it comes with a 128-page interactive DK book. Plus, this set comes with three medals that will let them have the experience of winning! Even better, VR learning about their favorite sports can help them with split-second reaction times and quick decision-making skills.
Virtual Reality ESPN
Discover the thrill and excitement of sports in immersive virtual reality! Go behind the scenes at ESPN and learn your favorite sports like never before. This deluxe gift set includes an interactive 128-page DK book, 20+ VR experiences, and a set of championship medals!
Shop Now4. Penn & Teller Magic Lab VR (8-12 year olds)
This magic lab experience is one of the best gifts for any child between 8 and 12. They’ll be able to virtually step on stage in Las Vegas and learn from the best! There are 28 different tricks that Penn & Teller will demonstrate, and then teach them how to do. Additionally, this set includes a 50-page book and 75 magic pieces.
Penn & Teller's
Magic Lab VR Experience
First, we're going to show you a trick, in virtual reality. If you like it, we'll show you how it's done, and more importantly, how to perform it! But that's not all. Along the way we'll establish confidence, public speaking skills, and self awareness, so let's get into it!
Shop NowWhile they’re having a blast gaining magic skills, they’ll also be learning self awareness. Other things they’ll tackle include public speaking skills and building confidence. Before you know it, they’ll be able to host a magic show for the whole family.
5. Pixicade (8-12 year olds)
Pixacade allows your child to unleash their imagination by drawing their own playable video games! We feature three different Pixicade sets, and any of them will be instantly loved by kids who like to play video games. Instead of picking up a video game for $70+, let them design their own games without any coding experience.
Our first Pixicade set won multiple awards, including Best in STEM from Newsweek. It features a 100+ page activity book, the Pixicade app, and five markers. Pixicade+ includes the same things, along with more than 75 stickers and lifetime access to Pixicade Plus. Finally, our special animated edition is hosted by superstar animator Alan Becker. Not only can they design their own games with this edition, but it also comes with more than 100 sample games.
Draw Your Own Games!
Pixicade+
Unleash your imagination and turn drawings—and now stickers—into playable video games in minutes with Pixicade+! This award-winning STEAM set has everything you need to bring your ideas to life. If you can draw it or stick it, you can play it!
Shop NowWhile they’re having the time of their life, you can rest assured that they’re also learning spatial reasoning and creative confidence. Furthermore, they’ll learn color coding logic, game design theory, and iterative problem solving.
6. Cold Case VR (14+)
While most of our educational toys and games are made for those 12 and under, we do have one of the most awesome gifts for a 14 year old boy or girl. Taking a cold case murder mystery and adding VR to the mix makes the experience really come to life! In fact, the Case of the Fatal Follower is often enjoyed by adults, too.
COLD CASE VR
The Case of the Fatal Follower
Who Killed Hailey Rose? When a promising, young content creator is murdered, police suspect an online stalker but can’t piece together the evidence to crack the case. In Cold Case VR, YOU pick up where detectives left off. Do you and your friends have what it takes to solve the crime?
Shop NowThis game can be played by anywhere from one to six people and will take up to three hours to complete. They’ll be totally immersed in the mystery as they investigate more than 75 pieces of physical evidence. VR comes in handy when it’s time to review surveillance videos.
Aside from how fun it is, they’ll also be learning critical thinking and logic, developing their persistence and patience, and building more empathy for others. Can your teenager solve the case?
AR and VR Teach Them on a Deeper Level
Through the magic of AR and VR, your child will turn passive reading into a hands-on, active experience. AR and VR bring abstract concepts to life too, which helps with STEM understanding and experiential learning. Make the switch to AR and VR learning today!
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