Gift Ideas for Tween Boys 9-13

The term "tween" is intended to describe the ages of children who fall between the ages of 9 through 13. It is the pre-teen years, which are a transition period for young boys. Does he like to stay indoors and play video games and computer graphics or is he an outdoorsy, sports-minded one?

The testing of one's agility and proving oneself are usually the main focus of the tween boy.

Everyone develops at their own pace so many are still playing with cars, action figures, and physical activities. Favorite pastimes involving lots of movement such as skateboarding, and bicycle stunts that have daredevil antics is common. Finding the right gift is a challenge so careful consideration is needed.

The tween years is a time for curiosity and attention seeking behavior. He may be focused on creating trick illusions to impress family and friends. It's easy to see why they may be intrigued with learning magic. Most of the famous magicians of our time have started as young boys and men.

David Copperfield was 12 when he became a member of the Society of American Magicians.

Harry Houdini was 9 when he performed his first live show in front of an audience.

Currently, Reza is the top touring illusionist in the USA today. He started his career at 7 years.

David Blaine is said to do street illusions in New York City at around 8 years of age.

Tim Kutch; illusionist, started to entertain at 6 years.

There are countless others who are local and very talented. No doubt, most of these famous and up and coming, so famous magicians and illusionists, share a common trait. Most are socially shy and intelligent individuals.

Give you tween boy the gift of creativity that is sorely missing in today's technological world.

As they mature, they seek attention from girls, so learning to become the master magician is essential, especially for a shy young man.

Model cars, especially expensive sports cars, are a favorite collectible at this age. They can imagine being a rich playboy and racing these great cars when they grow up.

The authentic looking die-cast 1:24 scale sports cars such as the Maisto Special edition Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, the 1:24 Al Ferrari Enzo, and the Mustang. They are priced below twenty dollars.

Boys that like to build their own will like the model kits such as the Harley Davidson motor kit, the Hawk 1/4 scale A990 Dodge die cast engine building kit or an Easy-build InAir B-2 Stealth Bomber. These building kits are intended for older boys around 12-13.

Other less costly alternatives are DVD games that use the computer and have parts and game boards. The company, Scent It?, has an assortment of DVD games are from these favorites:

• Twilight,

• The Simpsons®,

• Harry Potter,2nd edition,

• Disney Channel,

• and Pictionary.

The games range are generally under thirty dollars.

The Nintendo DSI, the Playstation®3 250 GB Blue-ray remote and the Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 limited edition are other video gaming systems that you may consider. The Nintendo is self-contained and the Playstation and Xbox connect to the TV. They can do more than the Nintendo so their price tags will reflect that. These will keep your "tween" boy entertained for hours. Playstation appears to update their devices annually so you may want to check on that.

The Wii console has come down in price and it comes with 5 Wii sports games. This is so much fun and will keep the boys active in the cold winter months. Just plug it into the television set. The whole family can also benefit from this. It comes complete for single play but you may want to buy extra controls for team playing.

Boys love to play with remote control toys such as trucks and souped up muscle cars is still a favorite.

The Hot Wheels by Mattel® remote control cars and trucks comes in a variety of models.The Toyota Tundra is a beefed-up off-road truck that is tough enough for in or outdoor fun. There are other models such as the Toyota Tundra cruiser, The Hot Wheels RC Ford F-150, and Corvette C-6.

The new Hot wheels R/C Terrain is a lot of fun and can climb over rocks and rough terrain. This will keep them outside for hours of adventure.

Another fun toy is the remote control vehicle. Air Hogs Havoc Heli ® by Spin Meister comes in three colors. This mini lightweight helicopter is very agile. The company makes a few more versions but basically they all have the ability to maneuver with great ease. They cost below fifty dollars, depending on the model.

Outdoor activities should include exercise and keeping the tween boy active. A good gift idea for the outdoors are the ever popular skateboard, such as the RipStick Caster board, the Positiv Team Complete board, the Mongoose 102 complete board in assorted colors and the Paradise Pinstripe pintail 9 x48 complete Longboard. These are traditional styles allowing more acrobatic abilities.

More outdoor toys for the sports-minded boy are the four-wheeler, foot scooter and bicycle. ATV or 4 wheeler, for kids,is great for those rough and tumble tweens who have plenty of countryside to roam.

This all-terrain vehicle is smaller than dads but behaves just like the full-size version. Your boy can go on trail rides, work on the farm, or have fun with friends in the woods, with his very own. of course, safety first matters. Make sure he has a helmet and practices safe driving habits with dad, before venturing out on his own.

The foot scooter with hold-on handlebars provides wonderful hours of exercise as well as fun to ride. When he's been inside playing video games or comes home from along day at school, this will provide lots of foot pedaling fun!

The last outdoor gift idea for tween boys is the tried and true bicycle. The BMX line of bicycles are the 20 inch wheel Mongoose free style bike, the Kink Curb , the Diamondback Nitrus 20 BMX and the Eastern Bikes 2010 Lowdown BMX bike. They are made very rugged, for dirt road riding, trick riding and jump rides. Don't forget the necessary accessories such as helmets, knee and elbow pads, and cable locks.

The tween boy is still young and wants to play so, depending on his personality, there is a gift just perfect for him. Indoor items can keep him just as active as outdoor ones. With careful shopping, you're sure to choose the right gift.