Discover the Best Gifts for Gamers in this screen-free gift guide designed for young boys.
Updated: October 23, 2023
I don’t know about you, but as my son gets older it gets harder and harder to find gifts for him that aren’t related to his Xbox or his phone.
My oldest is 13 and all he wants for any holiday or Birthday gift is V-bucks. What are V-bucks you ask? The best way I can explain is that it’s a giant scam on Fortnite to get kids to spend money. Ok, it’s not really a scam, but in my opinion, it’s totally stupid.
My kid spends 10 bucks and in return, he gets skins (some different sort of character), vehicle wraps, or battle pass stuff. If I’m being vague it’s because I really have no clue what I’m talking about.
When he starts talking Fortnite I completely zone out. What I do know is that this $10 is used purely so that their character is “cooler.”
There is absolutely no competitive advantage to these extras. So it’s basically $10 down the drain…not my son’s $10, my $10.
Screen-Free Gift Ideas
After I’ve been asked 458962 times for my Apple ID password so he can buy more it’s usually worth my sanity to give in to prevent being whined at 458963 times.
Anyhow, I digress. My point is that I don’t want my son playing Fortnite 24/7. I want him to enjoy some other activities and to get outside in the sunshine so he can run around like a wild child.
Related: Top 13 Fortnite Gifts for Little Boys
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I know I’m not the only mom who struggles with this. Fortnite addiction is no joke.
And on top of other serious issues that come along with videogame addictions, it makes gift-giving really hard when you want to find your gamer a screen-free gift.
So, to take some of the torture out of gift-giving to Fortnite-loving boys, I’ve put together this list of alternatives that any 5-10-year-old boy is sure to love.
Top Pick for the Best Screen-Free Gift for Gamers
In my experience, little ones who love video games also have a strong interest in how these games are made. In this generation full of Influencers and YouTubers, kids are aware of how much money can be made in this niche.
That’s why I highly recommend Code Spark Academy. They teach kids the basics of computer science and will accelerate their STEM development by letting them do something they love.
My favorite thing about Code Spark? They offer a free trial so you don’t waste any money if your kids don’t love it. Use code “FT14” to get a free 14-day trial, instead of the 7-day trial that is offered on their website.
Favorite Games and Toys That Inspire Activity
An Activity Tracker We got my son an activity tracker/watch and he loves it. Seeing all his steps helps keep him active because he loves to watch the amount increase.
Every kid needs a Walkie Talkie! These will be fun outside in the yard or on camping trips or even indoors with a game of hide and seek on a rainy day. This 3-pack is a great value, especially when it’s on special and you can get it for under $30.
Get your kiddo outside with a DRONE. This will provide lots of outdoor fun and exploration. We have this exact one and my son and his dad have so much fun with it together.
Indoor Dart Board This indoor game will give you a lot of bang for your buck because this is a game that everyone can play. From little kids to older kids to adults, it’s fun for everyone.
Another benefit of this game is that it helps with hand-eye coordination and promotes strategic thinking. If you really look at darts’ benefits, you can think of it as an educational game.
And don’t worry, the darts are light and magnetic, so there’s no need to worry about your walls or furniture getting damaged.
Ribbon Ninja – Fun for the whole family, Ribbon Ninja is all about having quick and clever reflexes. If you are trying to encourage your kids to do something screen-free, that will keep them active and laughing, this is the perfect gift! This game is great for rainy days when kids need to exert energy but can’t play outside.
Best Board Games
What do you Meme: Family Edition – The Meme game is family-friendly and tons of fun. Players compete against each other to create the funniest memes. This is a perfect game to add to family game nights or for kids to play with their friends.
Catch Phrase – Technically, this isn’t a board game, but it is a really fun game so it’s going in the board game category! To play, once a phrase appears on the screen (technically this game isn’t screen-free, but it’s not a phone or an iPad so it’s staying on the list) players try to get teammates to guess the word, as quickly as possible. Catch Phrase is fun and exciting and great fun for everyone playing.
Telestrations – The reason this game is so much fun is because of how unpredictable everyone’s answers are. This is basically the game telephone, but in visual form, and is guaranteed to have everyone laughing. You DO NOT need to be an artist to play this game. In fact, the uglier the drawings, the more fun you will have.
Catapult Wars – Build and customize your own catapult and then fire off mini bean bags at your opponent. This STEM activity encourages critical thinking, builds fine motor skills, and is a great way for young children to learn from hands-on experience.
Saboteur Duel Card Game – If you are looking for a gift for a child that loves to play Among Us, this board game is a perfect choice. This card game is about mining for gold, but as you can see by the name of the game, one of the players is trying to sabotage the other players.
Team 3 – Players have to work together to build a structure together with 3d pieces. The twist of the game, which makes good communication key, is that each player takes on a different role, and certain players aren’t allowed to speak to each other.
Best Toys for Outdoors
If your little guy loves gaming, it can be hard to inspire them to put the controller down and go outside and have some fun. According to Kids Health, it’s important for kids to keep active to work on their endurance, strength, and flexibility. These three aspects of exercise will help strengthen the heart, build strong bones and improve mobility and muscle coordination.
Here are some of my little gamers’ favorite toys and games to play outside:
Laser Tag Set – If you’re looking for a gift that will provide hours of fun, this is it! The laser tag blasters can be played outdoors or indoors and provides action-packed fun that boys of all ages will love.
Archery Set – This set comes with 2 sets so it can easily be played with friends or siblings. This great set can be used for pretend play (think Lord of the Rings) or target practice. More than just fun, archery helps with motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Kan Jam Disc Toss – This fun outdoor game is competitive and is similar to cornhole or horseshoes. This set will be a hit with both the younger and older crowds, which makes it a fun activity to play at home, at parties, or camping with family and friends.
Razor Crazy Cart – Designed for ages 6+, kids can drive, spin, and drift all day long. The go-cart is designed for younger riders, so the speeds don’t go above 8mph, but don’t forget a helmet for safety!
Electric Scooter – Safe, lightweight, and most importantly, FUN, the Razor Electric Scooter is high quality and will easily be THE favorite Christmas gift or Birthday gift this year. It comes in three different color options, so there is a little something for everyone.
Pogo Stick – This classic toy is still tons of fun! Designed for kids 5 and up, it’s available in several different bright colors that kids will love. This screen-free activity will help kids develop balance, muscle tone, and coordination.
Best STEM Toys & Activities
What is a STEM toy? It’s actually an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. STEM toys are made for educational purposes and will engage kids while teaching them fundamental skills.
Best STEM Toy Gifts
Shape Shifting Box- Imagine having this tiny box that can magically transform into more than 70 mind-boggling shapes. Well, that’s exactly what the Shashibo does, thanks to its secret weapon – 36 rare earth magnets!
From the outside, it may look like your everyday box, but once you crack it open, you’re in for a mesmerizing, kaleidoscopic adventure.
Gravity Maze – One thing I love about this game is that my son can play with it by himself or with friends. It’s not a game that requires 2 players, so it gives him something he can do alone when he’s bored. Another bonus is that it’s fun for all ages! I have just as much fun playing it as my kids do.
The game itself is a marble maze game that helps to build reasoning skills. It comes with 60 different challenges that will test their skills, or they can just free-play and make their own challenges.
RC Robot Building Kits – Easily keep your kids away from screens with this 3-in-1 transformer toy. This is a great gift for a kid who loves to build! It can be built into 3 different models: a robot, a car, and a tank. Plus it comes with a remote control, but can also be controlled via a phone app.
While building up their robot and moving it around with a remote, kids will unknowingly be working on their patience, concentration, creativity, and logic, which makes this a great toy in my book!
Snap Circuits – If you’re looking to introduce your kids to electronics, this is the way to go! Snap circuits is a STEM kit, where kids can assemble over 100 different electronic circuit projects. Since kids seem to be unable to live without technology, this kit can show them how circuits are running some of their favorite electronic devices.
One of my favorite things about snap circuits is that you can keep adding to the original kit that you buy. If your kids end up loving it, instead of throwing the first kit out because it’s been completed, you can purchase a different kit and just keep adding on.
Puzzle Game – My seven-year-old absolutely loves this game. Keep in mind that he loves Roblox and would play it 24/7 if I allowed it. So the fact that he will voluntarily stop playing his video games in order to play this STEM game says a lot!
With almost 4K five-star reviews on Amazon, plus it has been the winner of several awards, including Educational Product of the Year, I’d say that a lot of people agree that this game is a lot of fun.
3D Printing Pen – I’m sure you’ve heard of 3D printers, but have you ever heard of a 3D pen? The projects that can be made are great for kids who love arts and crafts, science, math, or building. While bringing their art projects to life, this kit will inspire creativity, design, planning, building, and spatial understanding.
Open-Ended Toys
What are open-ended toys? Open-ended toys, games, materials, etc. are ones that foster children’s creativity and imagination. Instead of fun being the priority of a game, creativity and imagination are the priority.
In a nutshell, the open-ended play has no instructions or rules and no definitive ending. No one wins, making the game or activity end. Kids stop when they’re done, not because they are made to stop because the game or activity is finished.
Best Open-Ended Toys for Kids
Slime Kit – This slime kit is a favorite in our house. My kids love this kit over others we’ve bought because it is very stretchy and has a good texture.
Thinking Putty – This is another favorite because it has good stretch and is really fun to play with. From talking to my kids, the right amount of stretchiness is very important for putty and slime. Apparently, this brand passes the test!
Kinetic Sand – Kinetic Sand is great because it can be used in so many different ways. Great for sensory bins, driving toy cars through it, “making” food, and cutting it up. This list is really endless.
As a mom, I have to warn you that it tends to get everywhere. It does clean up super easy with the vacuum but keep in mind I have had the colored sand stain carpet before. I recommend staying with the natural sand color to be safe.
Bead Art Activity Kit – With this kit, kids can create all their favorite Super Mario characters. The beads are very tiny so use caution if you have children under 4 in your home.
How to Draw Books – My kids like to draw but they often get bored because they run out of ideas or they don’t know exactly how to draw what they are imagining. Take the guessing out of it with a book that shows you step-by-step how to draw things like their favorite characters.
There are tons of different books to choose from, but you can find video game character books here.
Best Play Gifts for young gamers
This awesome Lego Kit. I haven’t met a boy yet who hasn’t loved Legos or Minecraft at some point. This is a win-win since they’ll be building something they love without staring at a screen.
Lego Table – If you have kids in your house who love Legos, then I’m guessing that like me, you are constantly stepping on Legos and finding them all over your house. Because of this, I needed Lego storage. And what works for me is baskets. Once a project has been made and starts to fall apart, all pieces go into a basket. I do not have time to separate project pieces.
That’s why I love this Lego table so much! On top of making Legos even more fun, this table has so much storage, so I can easily dump lego pieces in it whenever I find them, you know when I’m not “accidentally” sucking them up with the vacuum.
*Keep in mind that this particular set has small chairs and a low table, so it is best suited for 1-6-year-olds.
This Fancy Piggy Bank. This one is great for kids who have chores. Kids can insert their money like they’re at a bank and keep it protected with their own PIN number…this is especially great if they have a sneaky little sister.
Best Clothing Gifts for Young Gamers
Minecraft Creeper Hat or Minecraft Shirt. Clothes aren’t usually a fun gift at this age, but if it involves their favorite video game, they will love it! Minecraft Pajamas are a great idea too!
Fortnite Sweatshirt This cozy hoodie is nice and simple but still shows the love of the game. The smallest size is a youth 10/12.
Fortnite T-shirt Cute and simple Fortnite shirt that a gamer will love.
Best Creative Gift Ideas for Gamers
Light Up Drawing Tees – Kids will absolutely love these shirts! Using the provided light pen, kids can turn their shirts into a walking piece of art. Once the lines fade, after about 5 minutes, start over with a fresh blank canvas.
Flipbook Kits – Easily create your own mini movie. Choose from sports, rockets, art, butterflies, or dinosaurs, then color and put your kit together. Watch the story come to life, just like a cartoon. Each order comes with 2 story kits.
My Comic Book Making Kit. This comic book kit is absolutely awesome! Kids can create their own stories and illustrations. Once it’s completed and mailed back in, your child will receive an actual comic book that they created! And it even includes an “about the author” section! How cool is that? My son loves making his own comics, so this is definitely on his Christmas list this year.
Would You Rather Game Book. My son loves to play this game but he usually makes up crazy stuff that makes no sense. This book will help you spend less time deciding if you would rather be peanut butter or hot coffee…this is a real question I was asked yesterday. I’m sure you’re dying of curiosity so I won’t leave you hanging – I picked peanut butter.
Custom Search & Find Adventure Book – Create your little ones’ illustrated alter ego by making selections provided when you order. Kids will have so much fun searching for their images on every page.
Gift ideas that will make a gaming-obsessed boy happy
I hope this list of Best Gifts for Gamers has been helpful to you! You can check out my post about the top Fortnite-related gifts in case you want to get a few gaming gifts for your little gamer.
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Destinee McLeod says
Nifty