Searching for the perfect toy or gift for a 7 year old boy? Look no further. As parents and nerds we got busy compiling the ultimate list. We focused on his physical ability and expanding social skills. Each toy plays to his strengths and tests him in a way that is challenging but fun.
7 year olds are generally past the ‘transformative’ years of physical development. Now, it’s about slow and steady refinement of motor skills. He will be constantly embracing new challenges and will revel in showing you new tricks on his stunt scooter or fidget spinner.
Our top picks of gift ideas for 7 year old boys
#1
Our opinion
“Make a computer, learn to code”
We love it!
This ingenious machine is a simple and fun self-build computer for kids. Kano, the company behind it, has done a brilliant job of making computer building and coding easy-to-follow, exciting, and accessible for all kids – no prior experience needed.
The Kano Computer Kit (check price on Amazon) features a beautifully designed book which explains and demonstrates step-by-step how to build the computer from scratch using various real-life components.
The fun and learning don’t stop once the Kano computer has been built. With the computer fully operational, children will then follow along with various interactive projects which teach how to code art, music, and games. This is problem-solving at it’s best and real preparation for the technical career that may lie ahead.
Why He’ll Love It: He will also be able to use his self-made computer to play games, write stories, browse the web, and watch YouTube!
#2
Our opinion
Lots of children dream of being an astronaut and this star projector can be a great tool in making this dream more realistic for your seven-year-old. At night, the Sega Planetarium (check price on Amazon) will transform the entire bedroom into a starry night sky that can feature constellation, shooting stars, and more. There is a timer on the device as well, so if your little one wants to look at the stars as he falls asleep, he can do so.
Why He’ll Love It: There are over 30 discs that your child can use in this star projector, so he can have the entire universe at the tip of his fingers.
#3
Our opinion
The best thing about K’Nex (check price on Amazon) is that your little guy can build things that are moveable. Not to mention, he will be working on his fine motor, creative, problem-solving, and even his engineering skills.
Some of the mini-pieces might be a bit tricky for some younger kids, but it’s certainly a kit that has plenty of building options. Better yet, it comes with a “treasure chest” so that those pieces don’t go missing after playtime.
Why He’ll Love It: The included instructions show your boy how to build 35 models, so there are enough activities to keep him busy for more than one play session.
#4
Our opinion
Cozmo, your child’s first robot, with artificial intelligence. Welcome to the future! This cute and clever robotic toy has gone viral, quickly topping many toy charts. Cozmo (check price on Amazon) has face recognition and gets excited when he recognizes people. He can also laugh, joke, and express hundreds of other emotions.
As he moves about Cozmo maps out his surroundings, meaning he won’t crash nor fall off tables. Add to this the Code Lab smartphone app, and things really get exciting: Kids can use their smartphones to learn code and program Cozmo to do various things with the power cubes, such as building towers or arranging them in custom ways.
Finally, Cozmo has several interactive games which he will challenge your child to. Kid vs Robot… GO!
Why He’ll Love It: Cozmo is super intelligent and feels like a robotic playmate. Plus, he’ll get to learn basic programming.
#5
Our opinion
Another coding robot… but this time it’s the award-winning LEGO Boost (check price on Amazon). Your young man can build himself a robotic friend to play with, then go ahead and use code to programme it.
This Lego kit has 847 pieces that your kid can use to build Vernie the Robot as well as four other fun to build creations including Frankie the purring cat, a rover, and a cool guitar that can even be programmed to make sound effect.
Why He’ll Love It: Once your little boy has built his creations, they can come to life using the LEGO Boost app. Vernie can be programmed to dance, make you laugh with a few jokes, or jam out on his new guitar.
#6
Our opinion
As the name suggests, this game promotes a marriage between dodgeball and tag. Designed for two players, each child wears a mesh vest. Whoever can get the most balls to stick to the other’s vest is the winner. It’s a simple game that promotes strategy thinking, hand-eye coordination, and physical activity.
Dodge Tag (check price on Amazon) a simple game that promotes strategy thinking, hand-eye coordination, and physical activity.
Why He’ll Love It: It’s a great outdoor game and your boy will love throwing and dodging the soft, light balls.
#7
Our opinion
Your boy can work on those spatial awareness skills as he races this boat in a pool, lake, or calm river.
It can move forward, backward, right, and left and has a range of about 300 feet. This USA Toyz Remote Control Boat (check price on Amazon) also comes with a self-right feature that can be activated if the ship rolls over, and a low battery warning so that your little guy knows when to start bringing the boat to shore.
Why He’ll Love It: He’ll have a great time with a solo “boat trip” and can also race with other RC boats without having to worry about interference from the other controllers.
#8
Our opinion
Your kiddo can work on his balance with these adjustable stilts (check price on Amazon). The legs have non-slip grips on their feet, and there is an ergonomic “S” design where the shoulders rest to prevent the aluminum frame from digging into your his upper back. They’re lightweight but sturdy and will encourage your son to get active.
Why He’ll Love It: As he masters walking with the foot rests on the lower levels, you can raise them higher to give him yet another challenge so that he won’t get bored.
#9
Our opinion
The TKx400i (check price on Amazon) is a serious microscope but also easy to use for youngsters. Objects are lit by two powerful LEDs and magnified up to 400-times by quality optic lenses. Your child can get creative, placing various objects and substances under the microscope. As they do, they will be transported into the incredible microscopic world.
An accompanying full-color 48-page handbook provides tons of ideas for what to look at and teaches kids all about the science and art of microscopy.
Why He’ll Love It: Although it’s child-friendly, this microscope doesn’t feel “kiddy”. It’s serious and will encourage some true scientific discovery.
#10
Our opinion
Your son can construct his very own firehouse and garages with this kit (check price on Amazon). It has a total of 919 pieces, and six LEGO figures, a pole for the firefighters to “slide” down, and several other accessory pieces come included.
Not only is this set great for promoting direction following and motor skills, it also provides the perfect opportunity to go over important fire safety lessons.
Why He’ll Love It: There’s plenty to build in this kit and, with the included accessories and figures, he can have a blast engaging in free play once the buildings and vehicles are put together.
#11
Our opinion
This is a fun way to work on that hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness (check price on Amazon). Your boy can fire 15 darts up to 85 feet away without having to stop and reload. As he pulls back the string and releases, one dart fires and the next is immediately ready to go. Set up a little target course, and your kiddo will have plenty of fun.
Why He’ll Love It: We think you would be pretty hard-pressed to find a kid who doesn’t want his very own bow.
#12
Our opinion
This walkie talkie (check price on Amazon) has 3 mile range of fun and very easy-to-use kids toys. It has 22 channels and 99 subchannels of two-way radios long range. It also includes smart tech which you can send your voice without the help of the push button. 100% quality assured and is proven and tested for a great play experience for kids.
Why He’ll Love It: It has a voice-activated speaker and a LED flashlight on the top.
#13
Our opinion
A fun and safe alternative to the age-old slingshot. With these LED Foam Finger Rockets (check price on Amazon), your 7-year-old boy can take part in epic battles with his friends, sending these soft, luminous projectiles hurtling across the garden at his friends.
A great outdoor toy, these foam rockets are surprisingly well-made and durable. Unlike some cheaper imitations, the rubber band is sturdy and shouldn’t break easily. The LEDs then take this finger rocket to the next level. Powered by the kinetic energy generated from pulling back the elastic, these electric lights don’t require batteries. The rockets come in three colors and are bright enough that they can be played with during “nighttime battles”.
Why He’ll Love It: Whether he’s on the beach, in the garden, camping, or at a friends party, he’ll soon get a posse of other boys involved in some epic far-flung fun.
#14
Our opinion
Looking for a quality marble run? Well, forget the huge plastic ones, not only are they an eyesore, but they are terrible for the environment! Instead, consider this wooden marble run by HAPE (check price on Amazon). In true HAPE fashion, it is lovingly crafted from wood and is both beautiful to look at and to touch. The quality German engineering is obvious.
The marbles run smoothly without getting stuck and the endless arrangement possibilities will keep any young boy engaged for hours. This is a toy that will withstand continuous use and will still be good to hand down to the next sibling.
Why He’ll Love It: Quality marble runs are great for quality family time.
#15
Our opinion
The Pet Tornado (check price on Amazon) is an attention getter! Out of the box, it is good to go, and all it needs is a quick shake to generate the twister.
A brilliantly addictive STEM toy, the Pet Tornado creates a realistic tornado funnel which lasts for 5-10 seconds. It is a great way to inspire learning about these meteorological monsters. Just be aware, it is so fascinating and mesmerizing that it will have the whole family queueing up to take turns. If he has siblings, then you should probably consider getting them one each!
Why He’ll Love It: It creates a realistic tornado funnel that is small but still feels strangely ominous and epic!
#16
Our opinion
This wild ride-on toy has a top speed of 5mph and can turn on the spot. It’s intuitive to maneuver, so your kiddo will have it mastered in no time. After that, he’ll be racing around the garden like Mad Max.
Make sure he’s supervised if using it on the street – it’s very low which makes it difficult for car drivers to see.
Why He’ll Love It: It’s easy to use and 5mph feels speedier than you imagine.
#17
Our opinion
Children cannot resist a collection of ooey-gooey slime. The Zen Lavoratory’s DIY Slime Kit (check price on Amazon) comes with 18 mystery box containers. There’s also plenty of glitters, foam balls, beads, and other manipulatives. This kit promotes creativity alongside stress relief. You may even want to take part in this thrilling sensory activity.
Why He’ll Love It: He’ll love horrifying squeamish adults with his epic arsenal slime. This is a very relaxing activity. The slime can be stored for months. Your child can pull it out when he needs some squishy fun.
#18
Our opinion
You don’t need a hammer to break open this ATM-shaped piggy bank (check price on Amazon). It can hold over 100 pieces of paper money or 600 coins. It will help your little guy learn about the importance of personal finance. It will also provide him with a place to keep his money away from meddling siblings.
Why He’ll Love It: This electronic ATM is the perfect place to deposit lemonade stand revenue.
#19
Our opinion
Dash (check price on Amazon) is an adorable blue and orange robot that can be used to teach coding. This open-ended learning platform teaches children to build computer programs. Control Dash’s actions using one of five free coding apps. He gets a whopping 5 hours of run-time per charge.
Why He’ll Love It: The Dash Robot is a thrilling STEM activity. It enables kids to see their coding in real life.
#20
Our opinion
The Dunk Collection Hamper Hoop (check price on Amazon) teaches lazy kids to probably dispose of their dirty laundry. The hoop sits over a soft laundry bag. Children can toss in their dirty socks and underwear before emptying the contents.
Why He’ll Love It: What kid doesn’t enjoy a toy that transforms their least favorite chore into an athletic experience?
#21
Our opinion
A car that kids can both build and race encourages motor skill development, critical thinking, and social play, and it’s exactly what he’ll get with the Lego Technic WHACK! racer (check price on Amazon). The 135-piece set comes with detailed instructions to explain assembly, which provides an age-appropriate challenge for your child and encourages him to use logic.
When the car is assembled, its cool green body and rear spoiler make it look just like a true race car. The pullback motor is simple for kids to operate and requires no batteries, so as soon as it’s assembled, it’s ready to rock. Best of all? This car is designed to offer a satisfying “crash” on collision, meaning that the engine pops out for dramatic effect; don’t worry, it pops back in again easily.
Why He’ll Love It: He won’t just get to race the car, he’ll get to build it, too! There’s also no dead batteries to contend with, and the design offers a cool “crash” on impact.
#22
Our opinion
Tracing with a light box like the Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad (check price on Walmart) helps art-loving kids to practice a steady hand and improve their technique. If your child is striving for more realistic drawings, he’ll love this set, which offers colored pencils, tracing sheets, drawing paper, and graphite pencils as well as an illuminated surface which allows the design of the tracing sheets to project through to their drawing paper.
The slim design of the tracing pad makes it great for traveling, as carrying it along is no hassle. It can help them practice some basic techniques and line work, and if he really loves art, he’ll likely find even more cool ways to repurpose this little kid-friendly light box.
Why He’ll Love It: It will help him create drawings with a more steady-handed and realistic appearance and improve his drawing technique.
#23
Our opinion
Minecraft’s immense popularity has found the brand extending to things like home decor, costumes, and some of the most popular toys for 7 yr old boys, including LEGO building sets like this Lego Minecraft Zombie Cave (check price on Walmart).
This 241-piece set allows them to build a cool cave from their favorite game, adorned with familiar ores like gold, diamond, redstone, and coal. They’ll love the inclusion of a furnace and ladder, which rings true to the original game. Building the zombie cave encourages the use of hand-eye coordination, small motor control, and critical thinking, and once it’s set up, it’s a perfect addition to social play which offers opportunities for imaginative storytelling and role-playing.
The set is rounded out by some of the series’ best loved mini-figures like Minecraft Steve, a zombie, a baby zombie, and a bat.
Why He’ll Love It: It will help him create drawings with a more steady-handed and realistic appearance and improve his drawing technique.
#24
Our opinion
Understanding circuitry requires use of critical thinking, logic, and cause and effect; in lieu of dangerous electricity, let him practice with Snap Circuits (check price on Amazon). The kit comes with 14 components that are all perfectly safe for your child to touch with his bare hands, as they simply snap onto the included “circuit” board in order to complete projects.
Over 20 projects can be completed with the components that are included with the kit, and a full-color manual is easy to parse and takes the frustration out of the learning process. Once they’ve mastered the original Snap Circuits set, additional sets and expansions can be added to his collection to unlock new fun activities and project potential.
Why He’ll Love It: It’s an opportunity to experiment with creating fun hands-on projects requiring electrical circuits — and, best of all, it’s totally safe and parent-approved!
#25
Our opinion
Although there are myriad kid-friendly learning apps for iPad, they simply can’t replace the kinds of hands-on activities included in the Osmo Genius Kit (check price on eBay).
The unique learning toy uses an existing iPad and proprietary software to create a game environment which utilizes external pieces, like a tangram puzzle and letter and number tiles. Stackable, color-coded containers to store each kind of piece are included, as is a sturdy stand that props up the iPad safely while they play.
As they learn more about art, letters, numbers, and spatial reasoning, the device tracks their learning process, making sure they’re leveling up their knowledge rather than repeating activities they’ve already mastered.
Why He’ll Love It: It’s not just a tablet learning game, there are also fun hands-on aspects that set it apart from typical education apps.
#26
Our opinion
Although there are myriad kid-friendly learning apps for iPad, they simply can’t replace the kinds of hands-on activities included in the Osmo Genius Kit (check price on Walmart).
The unique learning toy uses an existing iPad and proprietary software to create a game environment which utilizes external pieces, like a tangram puzzle and letter and number tiles. Stackable, color-coded containers to store each kind of piece are included, as is a sturdy stand that props up the iPad safely while they play.
As they learn more about art, letters, numbers, and spatial reasoning, the device tracks their learning process, making sure they’re leveling up their knowledge rather than repeating activities they’ve already mastered.
Why He’ll Love It: It’s not just a tablet learning game, there are also fun hands-on aspects that set it apart from typical education apps.
#27
Our opinion
A classic board game of military strategy, Hasbro’s beloved Battleship (check price on Target)pits two players against one another in a fight to sink the opposition’s naval crafts. As they duke it out and laugh it up, he’ll be using his continuously-forming critical thinking skills, logic, and short-term memory to plot the potential locations of his opponent’s ships.
It’s also a great opportunity to bond socially, whether it’s with a parent, sibling, or same-aged friend. The time-tested game makes a great way to spend a rainy afternoon, and the addictive competition begs for rematch after rematch, leading to hours of fun.
Why He’ll Love It: It tests his critical thinking skills in a way that just feels fun, and provides an opportunity to spend time one-on-one playing with a friend, sibling, or family member for social growth.
What to expect from your 7 year old boy
7-year-old boys are becoming more self-aware and form stronger opinions. Indeed, they may start to act, walk and talk pretty grown up, but remember, they are still fragile and need your warmth and encouragement. Make the most of the cuddling and hand-holding whilst you can, it won’t last for long!
Here are a few things you can look out for: (Source):
Body, hand and finger skills
- There is now a real variety in activity level between boys;
- Rides a bike and starts doing tricks (if he’s into it);
- Great at running;
- Perilously good at climbing!
- May show more interest in physical toys and sports
- Both fine and gross motor skills are used easily
Emotional development
- More independent;
- Able to get on and finish tasks by himself;
- Tends to sulk when upset;
- Has high expectations of himself and gets disappointed if he fails to meet them;
- Sensitive to how others see him; especially to praise or blame;
- Doesn’t like to lose and will cheat or storm off if it’s about to happen;
- Thoughtful of others;
- Conscious of right and wrong
Cognitive development
- Speaks fluently including idioms and slang;
- Gets cause and effect;
- Gets very focused and filters out background distraction;
- Very good problem-solving ability;
- Getting better at sensing and judging time
- More adept at using building toys and sets
- More interested in toys that require problem solving/critical thinking
Wrapping up
Quick, make the most of your little sweetheart whilst he is still okay with a kiss and a cuddle. Soon he’ll be embarrassed and feel like he’s too old for it.
Our list of toys has been carefully chosen to suit his physical skills and his appetite for problem-solving. We hope he enjoys them.
