Top pick
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Best outdoor gifts for 10-year-olds, 11-year-olds, and 12-year-olds
These outdoor gift ideas are personally endorsed by our resident 11-year-old.
Ali Y.
Editor-in-chief
We have a general outdoor gift guide for kids, but if you’re on the hunt for a gift for older kids, tune in for these exclusive picks.
As kids get older, friend time becomes all the more important to them. Outdoor gifts that have a social component (and those that can take a beating) should get priority treatment, especially for 11-year-old and 12-year-olds.
In a hurry? Here are just the top picks:
- Top overall: Spikeball kit
- Best for outdoors lovers: Portable hammock
- Best for creative kids: Wood whittling kit
- Best for sports lovers: Glow in the dark balls
- Best for playing with a group: Laser tag blasters
- Best for the whole fam: Kan Jam yard game
- Best for gearheads: RC cars and drones
Top 15 outdoor gifts for 10, 11, and 12-year-olds
Spikeball
Spikeball is a quick-paced game that is a proven winner among outdoor gifts—just check out the reviews that talk about everyone from 10-year-olds to teenagers loving it.
The game involves teams of two, with each team getting three hits to get the ball onto the net. Because it’s such an easy outdoor game to learn, you can incorporate new people to a game of Spikeball almost effortlessly. Plus you’ll be part of a growing Spikeball community around the country.
Glow in the dark football and soccer ball
There is nothing like those warm evenings when the family wants to play outside into the evening hours, past sunset. This glow in the dark football lights up with every catch and throw, which is a brilliant way to extend outside playtime into dusk. While this ball is advertised as 8 and up, every kid is different and I’d recommend 9 as the minimum age.
The football is not regulation size so any die-hard football fans should take note. The soccer ball is a size 5, which is regulation size—typically recommended past the ages of 11 and 12.
Wood whittling
Do you have a kid who likes to work with their hands? If so, a wood whittling kit could be an amazing outdoor gift idea for your 10- 12-year-old. Some parents may understandably worry about the use of sharper tools, but with safety measures and proper technique, this can be safe activity for your mature tween. Having whittling tools turns every hike into a treasure hunt, and helps develop artistic and fine motor skills.
This kit comes with 4 different whittling knives, a pair of cut-resistant gloves, and 8 basswood blocks—everything you need to get started.
Wood Carving, Whittling Kit for Beginners
Buy on Amazon
$24.99
4 whittling knives, 8 basswood blocks,1 Wood Carving Spoon Blank, Cut-Resistant Gloves
03/14/2024 11:34 am GMT
Paddleball set
A paddleball set is one of the most entertaining and easy-to-pack items for a trip to the park or the beach. Picture your 10 or 12-year-old, sitting around bored at the beach. Bring out the Pro-Kadima Paddleball Set and watch the whole energy change.
Laser tag blasters
Turn up the dial on the fun-o-meter with an epic outdoor gift for your tween kids. For under $100, you can transform your backyard into an outdoor laser tag arena for your family—and a magnet for neighborhood kids.
Best seller
Basketball hoop
My kids are homebodies so when they asked for a basketball hoop, my wife and I took a leap of faith, not knowing if it would be a waste of money. Now both my 11-year-old son and my daughter, who is a bit younger, LOVE shooting hoops outside till it’s dark.
At the ages of 10, 11, and 12, organized team sports are in full swing, and this will give your kids some casual playtime to hone their skills.
Check out these options for basketball hoops on Amazon.
Kan Jam, the yard game
I’ve stayed clear of yard games for the most part because, in my experience, things like bag toss and bocce don’t hold kids’ attention for long. Kan Jam is different. It’s fun, competitive, and will have you breaking a sweat before you know it.
The object of this frisbee-based game is to toss the disc toward the goal where your partner can help jam it in the can. Hence the name: Kan Jam. Best with two teams of two. Great for kids 10-years-old and older.
Portable hammock
We have two of these portable hammocks and they are among our favorite things to pack for camping and on family trips. In the summer, I will set one up in our yard between our oak trees. My kids never say no to going outside when they’re reminded there is a hammock waiting for them.
Automatic gel water blaster gun
Not your grandma’s old squirt gun, is it? If you are hoping to impress the kids this Christmas or want to take your family NERF battles outside, these gel water blaster guns will hit the mark. Hopefully that means less Fortnite and Minecraft and more time spent outdoors.
28 inch mega bouncy ball
Sometimes kids just need to burn some energy. And trust me, they’re never going to be too old for a bouncy ball. To make sure they’re not too heavy for it, check out this 28 inch bouncy ball and send them outside for some epic fun.
Ferro Rod
When it comes to kids who like to spend time outdoors, I believe they should learn how to build a fire and keep it going. So when I saw magnesium fire starters at our local Harbor Freight, I made an impulse purchase. My son and daughter loved experimenting with them under my supervision.
The one I linked to above is fine, but it was worn in no time and we had spotty results. This ferro rod, on the other hand, is a game changer and creates sparks with little effort. Be sure to provide adult supervision and teach your kids about safety.
Snow tube
Snow tubes make great wintertime gifts for everyone from young children to adults, but older kids (talking ages 10, 11, and 12) are in the sweet spot for having the biggest blast. They can take on steep hills and pick up some serious speed. Luckily, these tubes are rated up to 220 lbs (100 kg), which should work for most kids and a lot of adults as well.
Inflatable Snow Tubes, 3-Pack, Heavy Duty Hard Bottom, Handles
Buy on Amazon
$35.99
03/14/2024 09:38 am GMT
Snowball maker
Snowball fight! As a kid, I always dreamt of having an endless stockpile of snowballs I could throw in quick succession. These weren’t around for me, but I’m perfectly fine giving my kids a leg up in their next snowball fight.
As I was doing research for this article, I came across the item below and ordered it from Amazon. We got 10 inches of snow a couple of weeks ago and it hasn’t completely melted. So my kids went out and put the snowball makers to the test. The snowballs came out perfectly round!
I love this especially because it should keep their gloves dryer which extends outside playtime in the winter.
Outdoor gifts? How about an outdoor hobby!
Flying drones
The drone is the new kite. I just came up with that line, but it surely feels like it. The best way to get gadget-loving older kids, like my 11-year-old, to spend time outside is to give them a drone as a Christmas gift. Most come with a built-in camera so they can take pictures and explore the world from a different perspective.
If you’re not too sure about this, start with an entry level model. Battery life, stabilization, and range are key factors. You can’t go wrong with one of these options:
Best for beginners
Best drone for the money
Disc golf
If you want your kids to be involved in an outdoor activity that immerses them in nature, promotes cardio, and has a social component, look no further than disc golf / frisbee golf. This is the best starter set around for those getting into the game. The discs are durable, comfortable, and present an overall great value.
Dynamic Discs 3-Pack Disc Golf Starter Kit
Buy on Amazon
$29.99
Putter, Midrange, Driver, Bonus Mini Disc
03/14/2024 11:44 am GMT
Racing hobbyist-grade RC cars
If you think racing remote control cars doesn’t count as active outdoor play, hear me out. Not only can remote control cars get your kids out of the house, but they can encourage social interactions with neighbors and friends, and even support creativity as kids come up with obstacle courses and other fun ways to test these cars.
When it comes to selecting the right RC car for your 10, 11, or 12-year-old, it’s important to realize there is toy-grade and then there is hobbyist-grade. As your kids get older, you can introduce them to a whole new world of cars that are faster (up to 50 mph / 80 kph!), more powerful (thanks to electric and nitro batteries), and customizable with modifications you could make to a real car.
Traxxas Bigfoot Classic F-100 Ford XLT Ranger Body 1/10
Buy on Amazon
$249.95
03/14/2024 01:12 am GMT
Traxxas (link takes you to their Amazon store) is a great brand I can’t say enough good things about. True to the spirit of this article, we received one as a gift. The awesome thing is, my kids (who can be total homebodies) can easily spend hours outside racing their Traxxas. This outdoor hobby is so contagious that any time we have a friend over, they end up asking for one for Christmas.
Pro tip: Comes with NiMH batteries, but go ahead and order the 7.4v lipo for noticeably better performance.
Off-brand alternative
HYPER GO Electric 4WD Off-Road RC Car, Up to 42mph, 1/16
Buy on Amazon
$149.99
03/14/2024 01:18 am GMT
