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August 4, 2013 by: Shell

#SweetSuite13: Best Gifts for Boys

I attended The Big Toy Book #SweetSuite13 event in Chicago last week where I got to play with, learn about, and in some cases, get some of the toys I saw. But I’m so excited about finding so much cool stuff for boys that I’m sharing just out of pure excitement. All opinions are my own.

I’m a mama to all boys. And while I love my boys and wouldn’t have it any other way, there are times I feel a bit left out. Because the coolest toys seem to be for girls.

So I was very pleasantly surprised to see SO many awesome toys that would appeal to my three little men at the #SweetSuite13 event in Chicago last week. (There were also fun things for girls, but since I know many of you are boy mamas like me, I’m going to highlight the toys that I know will be on my boys’ Christmas lists!)

sweetsuite13

Build, build, build!

My 8 year old has an obsession with all things LEGO, so I loved getting to chat with someone from LEGO. We were talking about the different NINJAGO sets and how my son taught me to identify which are last year’s sets and which are the new sets. I don’t think he’ll ever get tired of LEGOs.

Because of that, I about wept with joy when I saw the Neat-O Zip Bin that would keep his LEGOs all in one place(and cut down on my cussing when I step on one).

sweetsuite

Photo courtesy of The Big Toy Book

I also saw Laser Pegs, which are compatible with LEGOs, but they light up. I may have been so excited to get a closer look at these that I totally forgot I had a drink in my hand and spilled it(see, it’s good I don’t have girls- it would be a bad situation if I needed to teach someone how to be graceful). We were sent a set of these this week and it’s the very first thing that my oldest claimed as his and he’s already asking for more(yes, we are starting our Christmas lists EARLY this year!).

K’NEX  were also at #SweetSuite13 and I’m amazed at the creations that can be built with those. Another toy my boys love and want more of.

Add in Tinker Toys and Mega Bloks and my boys would have been in build-it heaven just with these brands alone.

tinkertoy

I love any sort of building toys and am happy that they are my boys’ favorites because they encourage so much creativity. Even though my oldest likes to follow the directions to build whatever kit he has, he likes to then make his own creation(and my 7 and 5 year olds are all about making up their own creations). I don’t think you can go wrong with these types of toys as gifts for boys.

Toys with Wheels

Any toy that encourages my boys to get outside always wins points with me. I’ve had my eye on Razor scooters for my boys for quite a while and my 5 and 7 year olds may well find one under the tree this year. But, the Razor Crazy Cart might just earn me the title of coolest mom ever this Christmas. It’s for ages 9 and up, so I could see this being a great gift for my oldest’s upcoming birthday. And since it goes up to 140 pounds, it would be totally okay if I drove it around a little, too.

sweetsuite13

Photo courtesy of The Big Toy Book

Chuggington showed off the world’s tallest toy train track, which would have had my 5 year old swooning. He has a few Chuggington sets and loves finding new ways to put the sets together. But if he had seen that gigantic track, he’d be wondering why he couldn’t build one that big, too.

sweetsuite13

Photo courtesy of The Big Toy Book

Mega Bloks had a Hot Wheels car we could build. My 7 year old would have had it built in about a quarter of the time it took me. But in any case, Hot Wheels are another can’t miss present for boys.

sweetsuite13

Electronic Fun

You know what would be nice? If I could actually USE my own iPad one of these days, instead of having it taken over by my boys. Which is why the InnoTab3S caught my eye. Vtech also has Switch & Go Dinos, perfect for my youngest’s dino obsession.

innotab3s

The Battroborg caught my attention: fighting robots controlled by these motion-controllers. My boys could battle it out with their robots instead of beating on each other. Oh, sign me up! (and honestly, Hubs and I would love to play with these, too)

sweet suite

Photo from The Big Toy Book/Tomy

Hexbugs have been a toy on my boys’ wish lists for a while now, after seeing them at friends’ houses. After getting to play with them at #SweetSuite13, I admit, they are super cool. Me, saying bugs (even of the electronic variety) are cool- you can tell I’m used to this boy mom gig.

More Great Toys for Boys

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (did you see me all dressed up as a Turtle?) Plus Skylanders, Superheroes, and even Snoopy! When in doubt, any of those toys is a good gift idea, too.

sweetsuite13

Photo courtesy of The Big Toy Book

Thanks to The Big Toy Book for #SweetSuite13!

Thanks to The Big Toy Book and hostesses Joey Fortman,  Charlene DeLoach, and Laurie Schacht. It really was the biggest night of play! You made creating my Christmas list super easy. There were so many great brands and toys that I couldn’t possibly list them all, but these were the ones that would make a list of great gifts for boys according to the small dudes who live in my house.

the big toy book

Trying to rationalize getting this “World’s Softest” Bear. My seven year old loves stuffed animals…

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Comments

  1. JDaniel4's Mom says

    August 4, 2013 at 7:32 am

    My son love his hexbugs! They are such fun! It looks like you go to see a wonderful collection of toys.

    • Shell says

      August 4, 2013 at 4:47 pm

      I never really understood what the hexbugs did until #sweetsuite13!

  2. Carrie says

    August 4, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    Thanks for the ideas! My little one will be 5 in December…it’s hard to think of gifts aside from Transformers and Legos…I hadn’t even thought of Tinkertoys but he would be SO into those…will totally have to remember this. Pinned!

    • Shell says

      August 4, 2013 at 4:47 pm

      We were sent some afterwards and my 5 year old is LOVING those!

  3. Leah Davidson says

    August 4, 2013 at 3:55 pm

    I’ve got 4 boys (and 1 girl ) over here so I HEAR you when you say there is so much cool stuff for girls! I can do my shopping for my stepdaughter in no time and have the coolest things. Then, I’m stumped for my boys. My boys are a bit older (8,10, 12, 15) , but they all still love lego (even the 15 year old), and anything  with wheels is always a hit! Thanks for sharing these ideas!

    • Shell says

      August 4, 2013 at 4:48 pm

      That’s why I was SO THRILLED to see so much for boys. I walked into this event a little hesitant, thinking it would only give me ideas for my nieces.

  4. Teresa says

    August 4, 2013 at 5:11 pm

    I still have no idea what Hexbugs are or what they do. All that stuff looks pretty cool, though.

    • Shell says

      August 7, 2013 at 5:38 pm

      They actually are cool to see in action!

  5. Jennifer says

    August 5, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    That Chuggington tower was quite possibly the coolest thing ever. I wish I could have stayed longer. I missed a lot of this stuff. 

    • Shell says

      August 7, 2013 at 5:39 pm

      Thursday was a crazy night at BlogHer. Next year, I’ll do fewer parties but stay longer.  Seems the ones I enjoyed the most were the ones where I hung around for a while. 

  6. Adrienne says

    August 5, 2013 at 4:34 pm

    My youngest would flip over that bear! We love Legos here too! 

    • Shell says

      August 7, 2013 at 5:40 pm

      I could totally see my middle son deciding that bear needs to sleep in his bed every night. 

  7. charlene (@charchronicles) says

    August 5, 2013 at 9:34 pm

    Love your picture with Moe the bear! So glad you could make it. It is so much fun seeing the hottest toys, right?! Love the boy toy picks and hope to see you next year!

    • Shell says

      August 7, 2013 at 5:38 pm

      Thanks for all your hard work! This was a great event!

  8. Emmy says

    August 7, 2013 at 2:38 pm

    That would be so fun to be able to see all those toys demonstrated.  My son loves love Legos too

    • Shell says

      August 7, 2013 at 5:41 pm

      It was! I get a little overwhelmed in the toy store, not sure what all I should look at so this was helpful!

  9. Kristin Shaw (Two Cannoli) says

    August 7, 2013 at 3:22 pm

    What a great summary, Shell! I didn’t get my box yet (hope to get it soon) and try some of the things out. I don’t suppose they threw in a Razor Crazy Cart, did they? 🙂

    • Shell says

      August 7, 2013 at 5:42 pm

      Wouldn’t that be the best? But no. Or you’d have already seen video of me riding around in it. 😉

      Still bummed that we managed to miss each other at these events!

      • Kristin Shaw (Two Cannoli) says

        August 7, 2013 at 5:49 pm

        ME TOO, beautiful friend.

  10. Joey Fortman says

    August 7, 2013 at 5:19 pm

    LOVE this post!  You rock.  Um…can I tell you how much fun I had testing out that Razor Crazy Cart?  It took 5 people to get me out of it-but it was SO FUN trying it! haha

    • Shell says

      August 7, 2013 at 5:37 pm

      I can see myself telling my oldest that I need to test drive the crazy cart before he uses it, just to make sure it’s safe. 😉

      Thanks so much for an invite to fabulous event!

Welcome to Things I Can't Say: Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom. I'm Shell. Boy mom, beach girl, bookworm, ball games, baker, brand ambassador, Thinking yoga, food, and travel should start with "b," too. Finding the easiest way to do some things while overthinking so many others. Read More…

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