The 6 Best Toys For 11-Year-Old Boys

Key Points:

• The best of the toys for 11-year-old boys is the Snap Circuits Electronics Exploration Kit. 

• We reviewed hundreds of awesome toys and chose the best six for this age range.

• Our reviews include an eclectic mix of fun and educational toys. It is not always easy to shop for an 11-year-old, but these options will give your kids a thrill and help to expand their minds.

• When buying toys for 11-year-old boys, it is important to find items that will keep them engaged but also teach important skills. Important milestones for 11-year-olds include an increased attention span, the building of self-regulation skills, and a greater sense of responsibility, among others. We believe the toys we selected capture these important milestones.

It isn’t always easy to select the best toys for 11-year-old boys. It is at this time that your son is starting to become his own person, and his interests can change by the day. However, while that may be the case, when their birthdays or the holidays come around, you will be tasked with finding them a toy they will love and cherish for the next year.

There are many toys out on the market. However, with everything in the world becoming more expensive, parents must be selective. Remember that while you may want to buy them something fun, your 11-year-old is also growing and maturing, so they may need a toy that also expands their minds and teaches them new skills.

Educational Toys Are Important

At 11 years old, your child will start to experience many social milestones, including building more complex relationships and becoming more independent. They will also have cognitive milestones, such as the ability to form opinions, memorize facts more easily, and start to understand how things in the world are connected. Because of all of these changes, it is important to find toys that are fun, but that also teach principles of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) so they can continue to grow and evolve. 

During our review, we found six awesome toys that offer a lot of bang for the buck and many that provide educational benefits. There is bound to be something here for the growing boy in your family.

Top Pics: The Best Outdoor Toys for 11-Year-Old Boys

After reviewing many different toys on the market, we found the six best for 11-year-olds. The toys listed below are the best for education, fun, and overall entertainment.

#1 Best Overall: Snap Circuits Electronics Exploration Kit

In our review, the best overall toy for 11-year-old boys is the Snap Circuits Electronics Exploration Kit.

At this age your children will start to have an interest in more complex toys and activities that may prepare them for the future. If your child is excited about working in the field of engineering or they just love to see how things work, then they will enjoy this electronics exploration kit.

Essentially, this affordable kit for ages 8+ gives young boys the tools and knowledge they need to make their own electronics. The kit has everything they need, including a plastic snap-grid, 32 different electrical components, and a project manual that teaches your kids how to make over 100 different projects.

Your kids can make anything from a simple electric light to a two-speed fan, a flying saucer, a sound machine, a musical doorbell, a voice-controlled lamp, a police siren, and more. All they need is in the box. No extra tools or components are necessary.

There are many similar toys on the market, but few are as exciting as this model. It is an award-winning kit that can teach your kids essential STEM skills, including problem-solving, logic, and how to work with their hands to achieve a desired goal.

Pros and Cons of the Snap Circuits Electronics Exploration Kit

2. Best Toy for Kids Who Love Gaming on the Go: Nintendo Switch Lite

This video game powerhouse allows your kids to play hundreds of games on a high-quality device they can take on the go.

While it may not be the most educational toy, a Nintendo Switch is a high-quality gaming device that your kids will be thrilled to receive on their birthday. This Lite model is the portable version of the regular-sized Switch, but it is just as powerful. The device is available in multiple colors, from black to blue to bright yellow.

The Switch Lite comes with a 5.5-inch touch screen that opens up a variety of options when it comes time to play their favorite games. Altogether, the device is just over 8-inches long, 3.6-inches high, and .55-inches deep, which makes it easy to fit into a pocket or a backpack. With this accessibility, your kids can play at the park, at home, or on the bus ride to school.

Of course, the star of the system is the games. There are many top-notch games that will provide your kids with hours of fun. Standouts include Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Hogwarts Legacy, Super Street Racer, Super Mario Party, Splatoon 3, Disney Magical World 2, and more.

The Nintendo Switch Lite is truly one of the best toys for 11-year-old boys, but it is also fun for adults, so parents can justify the price. More great games will come out as time passes, so this is the time to buy your kids a Switch.

Pros and Cons of the Nintendo Switch Lite

3. Best Toy for Active Children: Schwinn Koen & Elm Big Kids Bike

The Schwinn brand has always been the go-to when it comes to dependable bikes, and this Koen & Elm model is a great starter for the 11-year-old in your life.

Perfect for ages 7-13, this awesome Schwinn bike is the perfect gift for the holidays or a birthday. This is a great model for growing children as it comes with 20-inch wheels, and it is perfect for riding down the street or to the park. 

This is a great bike for youngsters as it is built with a lighter frame, pedals and cranks that are positioned forward, a smaller grip and seats, and gearing that is designed for smaller hands. The bike is also incredibly safe with a rear coaster brake and a front-hand brake. When your kid gets older, they can transition to the hands-only break.

As your child grows, the bike will grow with them. It has an adjustable saddle, a seat post, and a seat-tube angle that makes it easy to adjust over time. Unless you order it to be pre-assembled, parents will need to put the bike together, but it does come with easy-to-follow instructions.

Your kids will love riding from place to place on their new bike. This is a great chance to bring the family on a camping adventure where you can ride the trails and explore the beauty of nature.

Pros and Cons of the Schwinn Koen & Elm Big Kids Bike

4. Best Toy for Kids Who Love To Learn: Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand STEM Experiment Kit

The incredible Mega Cyborg Hand from Thames & Kosmos is perfect for kids with a big imagination and an interest in science.

While it may initially look like a Halloween decoration, this mega cyborg hand is a toy that your child can build from scratch. 

The glove uses the power of air pressure, water, and hand movements to open and close and perform different tasks. The kit comes with 203 pieces so that kids can assemble the 16-inch robotic hand that slips on their hand like a glove. While they make the glove, the child can conduct experiments with all of the different parts. 

This is an important gift because this STEM kit educates your children about numerous essential topics, including pneumatics, robotics, and hydraulics. This toy could be an incredible stepping stone for their development as they grow and evolve in school.

Best of all, the glove is completely customizable. It can fit on different size hands, and it can be configured for both left- and right-handed children. All you need is the kit. No batteries or motors are required.

Pros and Cons of the Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand STEM Experiment Kit

5. Best Toy for Future Astrologers: NASA Lunar Telescope

Kids who have a love for the universe and a desire to see the stars should enjoy this NASA-endorsed telescope.

The NASA lunar telescope comes with all of the bells and whistles that will allow your 11-year-old to see the moon and stars in incredible detail. The unit comes with a finder scope, low-power and high-power eyepieces, a steady tripod to steady the unit, and a smooth mounting system that allows easy movement.

This telescope is ideal for looking at the moon. The low and high-power eyepieces work together with a mounting system to allow your child to scan the lunar surface and see many of the details that we cannot see with the naked eye. 

Parents will be happy because the telescope is easy to assemble and use, and you can bring it from home to the park or wherever you want to view the stars. Plus, the unit comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if there are any issues, you can get an exchange and go back to star gazing. 

As a bonus, the kit comes with a detailed learning guide that teaches young astronomers fascinating facts about the moon and other interesting topics. 

Pros and Cons of the NASA Lunar Telescope

6. Best Toy for Basketball Fans: Glow in The Dark Basketball

This regulation-sized basketball is great for kids who want to work on their skills even when the sun goes down.

Many boys are interested in playing basketball at this age, and if they do, they likely have a sizable collection of basketballs to use, but not all of them can glow in the dark. This ball is regulation-size, so it can be used on any court. Inside are two bright LEDs that are activated with pre-installed batteries. 

Once activated, the LEDs light up the ball and produce an orange glow for up to 30 hours of nighttime play. Once your kids are done, and the ball is put down, the lights automatically turn off. The ball is protected by a water-resistant rubber exterior that protects the lights and keeps the ball glowing. 

Just like a standard basketball, you only need to inflate the ball and start hooping. Note that the pump is not included. The ball bounces just like a regulation ball, and it allows your kids to keep practicing their free throws late into the night.

Pros and Cons of the Glow in The Dark Basketball

Criteria: How To Choose The Best Toys for 11-Year-Old Boys

While every toy will be a bit different, there are certain factors that you will want to keep an out for so you can ensure that you get a quality product for your 11-year-old.

Here are the considerations to make when choosing a toy:

• Price/Reviews
• Educational Factors

Price/Reviews

When buying toys for 11-year-old boys, parents will face a lot of variety. Before you buy anything, talk to your kids and ensure that they are still interested in that type of product. That is why the price is such an important factor. The last thing that you want to do is to spend a lot of money on a toy just to find that your kid is no longer interested. 

Even if your child is interested, you also need to verify that you are getting the best value for your money. Some products may be expensive, but they don’t offer much value. Do your research and read up on the product with different websites until you are confident in your purchase. Also, view product images, so you know exactly what you are getting.

During this stage, it is also essential to read reviews. If you find a product on Amazon that looks perfect, read the customer reviews first. Parents know what spending money on a subpar product feels like, so they will be honest in the reviews. They will tell you if you are paying too much, if the product is faulty, and if the entertainment value is worth the cost. 

Educational Factors

As we mentioned, it is important to find toys that are fun and educational. Your children are still growing, and their brain is evolving, so choose the right toys that will expand their minds. Toys that teach them about physics, science, and the environment are best as these skills will be necessary as they grow into adulthood. The toys you choose should also pique their curiosity about the world. Your kids are more likely to learn important things if they are having fun.

FAQs

Below are some of the commonly asked questions that parents wonder when shopping for toys for their 11-year-old boys.

Q. Should I be upset if I buy my child a toy they don’t like?

A. At 11 years old, many boys are in a highly emotional space. They are just beginning to cope with hormonal changes, and they are also easily influenced by their friends and the kids at school. Because of these milestones, your son may not always be excited by what you purchase, as you may hope. Do not let it get you down. They may like the toy more as time goes on, and they will still appreciate the effort.

Q. What toys do 11-year-old boys like?

A. While every child will be different at this age, you generally can’t go wrong by buying your 11 year olds toys that they can use outdoors. Kids this age love to run, play, and engage in sports, so consider basketballs, baseball equipment, and the like. However, kids this age also like their quiet time, so books are also a great gift idea. Ask them what they like before you buy.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Ashley Haugen / Amazon.