Best Gifts for 7 Year Old Boys

Looking for the best gifts for 7 year old boys? Well, have I got a selection for you!

If you're like me, you probably dread the thought of having to come up with gift ideas for a 7 year old. The main reason for this I think is boys at that age appear to have everything. They've grown up with toys such as Lego, action figures and kites. They've advanced onto bikes, scooters, stereos, digital cameras and yes, I hate to admit that the average 7 year old boy is even tech-savvy enough to have his own tablet device.

So, as far as gifts go, whether it's the birthday, Christmas, special treat or you just haven't seen the little fella in a long while, I've tried to think a bit out of the box on this page (apologies for the pun). Check out my picks of the hottest toys and gifts for 7 year olds...

Challenging Gifts to Keep 7-Year-Old Boys Interested

#1. Perplex your 7-year-old boy with Perplexus

Some of the best gifts for boys are those that present a challenge - and also solve the challenge of what to get them. I think the Perplexus Maze Game is one of the best in this regard. Having played it myself (and having failed to finish it, I hasten to add), I can personally vouch for it being completely addictive.

No number of electronic games can compete with this awesome puzzle. The version shown here is the original, but it's also available in a number of variations. The age range from the manufacturer is six years and up, so it's spot-on for seven year olds.


Perplexus Maze Game

The aim of the game is to roll a metal ball around a 3D maze, comprized of multi-colored tracks covering the interior of a transparent sphere. Sound easy? If you can wrestle this little beauty away from your 7 year old, you try it. What's more, the Perplexus Maze Game includes a swing arm, a super spiral and a tightrope giving you 3 different puzzles and 100 challenging barriers to overcome

There are a number of other benefits thrown in as well, including the development of hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, spacial thinking and, of course, patience!

#2. Bop It! Fun for boys (and girls) of all ages

Another challenging (and active) gift for 7 year old boys, girls, adults, you name it. Bop It! really does cater for all ages and is lots of fun. You can see the commercial for it below, which gives you an idea of how it works as a game (sorry, the video may not be available on mobile devices - it's a Google thing). Essentially, it's a variation on the age-old favorite Simon, where you follow instructions on what to do with the toy.

Again, there are a number of variations on the original Bop It! shown here and, like I said, they're a popular gift for boys and girls aged 7 and more. In fact, the manufacturer recommends 8+, but whenever I've bought toys for my own boys and nephews, I always work on the principle of age, plus-or-minus-one.

Bop It - You Have to Try It!

Bop It! is certainly no one-trick pony when it comes to interactive fun. Featuring a variety of games and expertise levels, depending on whether you're playing solo or with a group, it's easy to play and travel-friendly.

Tips for Buying the Best Gifts for 7 Year Old Boys

1. Don't obsess about getting the best game, toy, book or interesting item. If it's a gift, they'll be pleased.
2. Try thinking about something they're not known to be into. This will be a surprize, and may be the start of a new fascination or hobby.
3. Keep it simple, and remember that any gift need not be expensive to be a big hit.

#3. Give the gift of the game of kings

When I was a boy, I remember learning how to play chess from a book. I eventually got myself to a level where I could regularly stalemate my dad and occasionally beat him - but, I always wish I had some sort of advantage. No Stress Chess gives your boys that advantage, through this instructional set which uses innovative decks of action cards that describe each of the chess pieces and how they move

You can play variations on the standard game of chess, with rules included for all types of game. The board is also double-sided to let you flip between the instructional side to a real chess board. I can't really stress enough (apologies for another pun) how much of a useful and instructional gift this would be to boys keen to learn the game of chess. I wish I had something like this to learn from when I was younger. No Stress Chess also presents a great opportunity for adults to teach and learn with their kids at the same time. Your seven year old is going to be asking you to play this every night!


No Stress Chess

Get your 7 year old boys away from the smartphone, tablet or games console and have them learning the game of kings.

This no-stress set makes it easy to teach and learn chess. With multiple levels of play, kids can work on their game and get recommendations for the best moves. Great learning for beginners and great fun for veterans of the game.

Best Gifts to Inspire the Fascination of 7 Year Old Boys

#4. 4M Animation Praxinoscope - an unusual gift for boys

What on Earth is a praxinoscope, I hear you say? Well, put simply, it's probably one of the best gifts for 7 year old boys I'm featuring on this page. As for the scientific explanation, it's actually a rotating platform with an arrangement of paper and mirrors that lets you create moving picture animations exactly like they did 170 years ago - phew!

But seriously, this is one cool toy for boys. In fact, it's not a toy, it's more a recreation of a piece of history. Speaking of recreations, many of the 4M kits require a little assembly and this one is no exception. However, it's well-designed and when kids have put this together, they can feel rightly proud. This is a very interesting gift for boys indeed.

4M Animation Praxinoscope

Inspire the next cartoonist in your family with the 4M Praxinoscope. It comes with everything you need to put it together and full instructions.

As a real neat touch, there's also an included LED light that can be set to flash, producing an authentic silent movie effect. If you've got a piano at home, then why not accompany the action with a suitably vintage soundtrack!

#5. With a magic set, your 7-year-old can build confidence

Focusing on hands-on creative play, Melissa & Doug toys and games have been entertaining boys and girls of all ages for over 25 years. Speaking of hands-on, or rather slight-of-hands-on, my next recommendation for 7 year old boys is a magic set.

They'll just love showing their tricks in front of family and friends, helping them to build personal confidence through the acts of preparation, performance, being creative and exercising a little dramatic flair.


Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magic Set

There are 10 illusions to master in this quality magic set. Each one is a classic that professional magicians still perform in shows all over the world.

So, if you know a 7 year old boy who might well be the next David Copperfield, then this gift may be the perfect start.

#6. Get your 7-year-old boy ahead in geography class

It's a sad fact that many boys these days grow up not really knowing much about the world and the other countries in it. However, you needn't let that be something to worry about with the LeapFrog Explorer Interactive Smart Globe. This is one of those toys often described as a wonderfully educational and fun gift, and that pretty much sums up the ethos of the company that makes them.

LeapFrog are no strangers to creating amazing educational toys and games. The Smart Globe is no exception to their impressive range of interactive electronics specifically designed for kids, and they never fail to make great gifts. If you know a 7 year old boy that could do with brushing up on their geography, then why not let LeapFrog take them on a journey of exploration. Check out the video below (sorry, the video may not be available on mobile devices - it's a Google thing).

LeapFrog Explorer Smart Globe

The list of things that this globe will teach your seven year old is as long as your arm, including: continents, names and locations of countries, populations, land areas, capital cities, distances between locations, currencies, time zones, bodies of water, highest points...

Top Gifts For Boys That Are Just Plain Fun

#7. For 7-year-old boys that love to play outdoors

Having focused on some pretty mentally-intensive gifts so far, it's now time to let the boys have some fun that's a little more physical. First up in my recommendations here is the Zing Air Hunterz Z-Curve Bow. As bow-and-arrow sets for boys go, this one is a bit of a beauty.

Ideal for any 7 year old boy, this bow will shoot its foam arrows up to 125 feet. Three arrows are supplied with the bow - two with foam ends and one with a suction cup. The construction is good and it's safe to use. Obviously the arrows shouldn't be fired at people, pets, etc., and especially so at short-range. The Z-Curve Bow is very highly-rated and is a popular toy for boys.


Zing Air Hunter Z Curve Bow

Boys will be spending hours playing outside, as opposed to indoors with that games console! This is great gift idea - cool enough for any seven year old, but also safe enough that parents don't have to worry.

There are a range of accessories and extra bow sets in the Air Hunterz range that are compatible with the Z-Curve Bow.

#8. Spy Gear for boys aged 007

So, you're obviously reading this because you've come here looking for the best gifts for 7 year old boys. Or should I say boys that are 007? Get it? Spy Gear? Oh, never mind, I'll keep the day job. Joking aside, the Wild Planet Lazer Tripwire is so much fun. Set it up and you'll be alerted to the presence of little sister trying to sneak into your room. Or maybe you're wanting to keep tabs on where that pesky dog keeps going in the other room. Parents? Ha! Gotcha!

Toys like the Lazer Tripwire are simple, and that's the secret to their longevity. If things are easy to play with and are fun, then they'll be a favorite way to pass the time for weeks, months, or even years. What's more, this is a gift idea that introduces kids to different kinds of technology.

Lazer Tripwire Set

If you know a 7 year old that just loves playing spies, this could well be the ideal gift to fuel that imagination.

The Lazer Tripwire is one of a whole range of gadgets for kids known as Spy Gear, that also includes alarm pads, listening devices, night scopes, spy watches, voice scramblers... the list goes on.

#9. The Boys' Book of Survival

My final recommendation in my roundup of the best gifts for 7 year old boys is probably also my favorite. It's simple, it's easy to play with, it's... a book! I love books now as much as I did when I was a boy, and this one just happens to be all about survival. Featuring tips on what to do if you walk into quicksand or if you confront a bear and how to carry someone with an ankle injury, this book also delves into the light-hearted, with survival tips for alien and zombie invasion.


The Boys Book of Survival

The Boys' Book of Survival is jam-packed full of practical tips covering every aspect of life. With great illutrations to accompany the text, it's a fun book that all boys will enjoy.

As I've mentioned before on this site, this is another gift that'll get your 7 year old away from the TV, out of the house and nurturing the adventurer in him. In any case, as every boyscout knows, "Be Prepared".