Five days ago I asked my 13 year old son lovingly to write me a list of toys that would appeal to his age group, teens. I got the normal grunt, groan and “do I have to” comments. I told him, no you don’t have to. Two days later, sitting on top of my lap top was a list of “20 Items Teen Boys Want”. I immediately assumed it was going to be a list of everything he wanted for his upcoming Thanksgiving birthday or Christmas wish list. I was surprised to see that he’d actually put a bit of research into it. So, giving credit where credit is due, Toys for Teens would not have been written without my son’s input. Thanks AJ!

Many people assume once a child becomes a teenager that they no longer want toys. Trust me; they still want toys as much as they did when they were little. While some of the toys may be more advanced or electronic, they are still toys. Toys they want to play with. I was overjoyed when the list he made did not include every electronic toy on the market. He also included toys that are used outside, toys they get actual exercise with.

Many of the toys he included are great ideas for gifts for teens. They are not all gender specific and many will not cost you an arm and a leg to purchase.

The first toy on his list was a snowboard. Now every teen does not want a snowboard, but in the area we live in, it is not uncommon that most of his peers have a snowboards or a pair of skis. AJ started snowboarding in 5^th grade. We didn’t purchase his first snowboard until the fall of 2008. We wanted to make sure it was going to be a sport he would stick with and enjoy. He snowboards regularly with the ski/snowboard club from his middle school. He also spends as many free weekends as possible snowboarding. I would also recommend if you have a snowboarder, that they have a good pair of ski gloves, leather guards to go over the ski gloves to protect the gloves while using the towrope and of course a helmet.

Lacrosse stick. Lacrosse started gaining popularity here about four or five years ago. Just recently the state added it as a sanctioned high school sport. We have several lacrosse sticks. They are great for learning hand-eye coordination and work really well for throwing the tennis ball long distances for the dog to chase after. The kids do use them frequently and they pack up nicely to take with on camping trips, to the cabin or to Grandma & Grandpa’s house.

Golf Clubs. This one I have to believe is a for real; I want this mom, okay? He has been using his sister clubs for two years now and they are a lovely black and teal. Golfing is a great sport for teens. Joining a summer league gets them out of the house and moving around. It is also a great sport for girls and guys in High school. Many colleges award scholarships to golf players, more increasingly to High School girl golfers. Golfing is a great sport that both my kids have enjoyed with their dad, great bonding time and sometimes, they get to drive the golf cart.

Skateboards and ripsticks are quite popular among the teenage boys in our community. We have ramps built at the end of our cul-de-sac and skate parks close to home. The boys often take the dogs out for a run, riding behind the dog on their skateboard or ripstick. It is quite entertaining to watch. Great exercise for the dog. Winter skateboarding is fun too. On our impeccably kept winter city streets, the boys are out with their skateboards using the hollowed out ruts left by the snowplows as jumps. This winter I might just put a pair of antlers and a bell on the dog and see where it goes from there.

This past summer we stumbled upon another new toy, a wakeboard. The use of the wakeboard on the lake by teens was the number one toy of choice, followed closely by the tube. I would venture to say that every family on the lake had a wakeboard. I sat on the dock one Saturday afternoon amused by all the tricks and stunts these boys and girls could pull off riding this sweet little board. Both fear and joy crossed their faces as they jumped the wakes of the water behind the boat. It was more comical watching the dads try it!

For the sports fanatic in your house, just how many balls do you need?  Well, in our case, a lot.  The soccer ball is the most important at our home.  Our son is a year round soccer player, needing both outdoor and indoor balls.  As the kids grow, they will need larger balls, up to a size 5.   Smaller juggling balls are also available for those who are serious about learning to juggle the ball.  The football comes out every year, about the time that the Vikings head into training camp.  Neighborhood pickup football games are common during the fall.  If you have a baseball or softball player in your home, you know by now that there are never enough balls.  They get lost easily during the baseball season.  They also serve well as a puppy’s chew toy.  Kids also need a good baseball glove or softball glove.  The gloves can easily be restrung every year, if they leather sewing has started to wear.

I had not heard of the next item on the list, so I had to ask, “What is an Xbox 360?” “Mom, it is the most popular game system out there.  It has Xbox Live which lets you play a game with your friends and talk to them too. “  Well, I imagined there was more to it that that, so off to Google I went to research this toy.  I discovered it is the second video game console produced by Microsoft, the first being the Xbox.   Using the Xbox Live feature does allow you to download content such as TV shows, movies and arcade games.  Checkout Xbox 360 website for the most up to date features.

Playstation 3 130 GB system is another game console that teens love to play. It has built in Blue-ray technology; it is internet ready with Wi-Fi and can store games, photos, music and videos.  The Playstaytion 3 250 GB system is an update to the Playstation 3 130 GB, available on November 3.  Our kids have the Playstation 2 and it is a great game console that they can use for years to come.  When we moved our daughter into the dorm this fall, I glanced into one of the suites to find a room full of boys, a large screen TV and Mario Cart on the screen.  This dorm room is the most popular on the floor.

Apple IPod Touch. According to my source, it has a ton of really cool games on it and it’s an IPod too. Who knew? It has a 3.5 inch screen that they can watch movies on, built in Wi-Fi to keep in touch with friends and update your status on Facebook, among other really cool features. Santa, can you hear me, mommy wants an Apple IPod Touch too.

Boom boxes have been popular for years. They keep getting better, and louder. Boom boxes now have the capability to attach your IPod to, listen to DVDs or jam out to Jack FM. They go anywhere. They can be used in the backyard at night while having a bon fire with your closest friends or you can crank up the volume when Mom is taking a nap. Either way, teens love Boom boxes. They also have staying power. I haven’t had to replace a boom box yet. Boom boxes are also an affordable alternative to a stereo.

Several years ago we purchased an electric guitar for our son. He has been playing ever since and is one of the better investments we made. Both teen boys and teen girls enjoy playing guitar. Many choose the acoustic guitar; some choose a base guitar and others the electric guitar. Music is so important in life, and being able to play an instrument is a lifelong hobby or career for many. We have three acoustic guitars, one electric and somewhere hidden among the dust bunnies, is my husband’s banjo.

Everyone needs a DVD player Mom. I’m not sure why, but as I understand it, all teen boys living in the continental US have a television in their rooms, good LCD televisions – this describes the one word as we know it “everyone”. You need a DVD player so you can watch movies in your room at night on your good TV. Ahhh, so there is no TV on the list, but I think I got the hint. I’m not against having a TV in his room, as long as he doesn’t watch it endlessly, he currently has one that is 20 years old and is only good for watching movies and playing Guitar Hero. Portable DVD players are great for long trips and can be easily hooked into the “lighter” outlet in your vehicle. It has served my sanity well on many a long road trip.

I hope you enjoyed reading this hub, feel free to comment.  You may also enjoy reading:

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