Chocolate + Video Games = The Perfect Valentine's Day Gift Combination
- 1/24
Chocolate + Video Games = The Perfect Valentine's Day Gift Combination
When shopping for Valentine's gifts for boys, it's easy if you have a little guy who loves to cuddle and doesn't mind things with hearts and flowers. But if you have a boy who turns his nose up at all that mushy stuff, shopping for a gift can be much harder. But you don't have to default to the same old waxy chocolate and chalky candy. We have suggestions for Valentine's Day gifts for kids of all stripes, no matter where they fall on the "love is yucky" scale.
To find these gifts, we consulted the Good Housekeeping Institute, which tests toys year-round in advance of its Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards. (Some are current and former winners, too.) To their suggestions, we added editor's picks, favorites and best-sellers to be sure there's something for everyone. When all was said and done, these came out on top as the best Valentine's Day gifts for boys.
Have more people on your list to buy V-Day presents for? Check out our suggestions for Valentine's Day gifts for toddlers, gifts for her, gifts for him, and even Valentine's Day gifts for teachers, too.
Amazon - 2/24
Chocolate Game Controller
Memory Sweets
amazon.com
$13.47
It may seem like he loves nothing more than playing video games, but we're sure he'll pause it long enough to sample this chocolate controller. It comes with 70g of chocolate that'll make him forget all about those heart-shaped candy boxes. No age recommendation given
Memory Sweets - 3/24
My Must-Have Mom
Lantana Publishing
amazon.com
$17.99
In this Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Award Winner, a mom is so into "upcycling" old treasures that her son worries she'll want to tinker with and improve him, too — but, of course, she loves him just the way he is. Good Housekeeping testers responded to the sweet message, and, since it's not explicitly a Valentine's Day book, you can read it together year-round. Ages 5+
Lantana Publishing - 4/24
Heart-Eye Lion Bath Toy
SoapSox
amazon.com
$13.99
This snuggly buddy can be used as a washcloth, making it a stuffie kids can take into the bath with them. The lion even has heart eyes, so it (subtly) fits the Valentine's Day theme. You can also get a bear, manta ray or gator with heart eyes, or plenty of other animals without. Ages 1 month+
SoapSox - 5/24
Untamed Skeleton T-Rex
WowWee
amazon.com
$14.99
This skeleton dinosaur will be your kids' new buddy, since it can respond to sound, motion and touch. Get them riled, and they glow, roar, chomp, rattle their bones and even vent some dino gas. Ages 5+
WowWee - 6/24
Play-Doh Nickelodeon Slime
Play-Doh
amazon.com
$14.99
Two powerhouse kids' brands — Play-Doh and Nickelodeon — have teamed up to make a super-stretchy slime. It comes in 30 oz tubs, so you get a lot of the reusable goo, too. Ages 3+
Play-Doh - 7/24
DoodleJamz JellyBoards
Sky Castle
amazon.com
$9.99
He may have seen this on TikTok: The board is filled with colored gel, and he can make pictures and patterns in it by squishing it around with either his finger or the included stylus. It's a quiet fidget toy that'll keep his hands busy. Ages 4+
Sky Castle - 8/24
Just Between Us: Mother & Son
Chronicle Books
amazon.com
$16.95
This journal makes it easy to stay connected with your boy: It offers fill-in-the-blank prompts and conversation starters to get the words flowing. Ages 10+
Chronicle Books - 9/24
Trunk of Hearts Elephant T-Shirt
Yinibini Baby
yinibinibaby.com
$26.00
Elephants always rank at the top of kids' favorite-animal lists, and this one has a Valentine's Day twist since it's holding a bouquet of hearts. This design comes in five colors, including coral, seafoam green, natural white, gray and honey. Sizes 12m – 4T
Yinibini Baby - 10/24
Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox
PowerA
amazon.com
$32.88
This Xbox controller comes in a perfect Valentine's Day shade — though you can also get it in pink (also for V-Day) and a host of other colors, too. The gamer in your life will appreciate that it comes with a dual rumble rotor and advanced gaming buttons, too. No age recommendation given
PowerA - 11/24
Paper Airplane Cards
Geefuun
amazon.com
$11.99
These love notes fold up and turn into paper airplanes. Stage in-home paper airplane competitions, or buy them for the class party. Ages 5+
Geefuun - 12/24
Valentine's Day Mad Libs
Mad Libs
bookshop.org
$4.99
It's funny how the formula for Mad Libs haven't changed for decades, but kids still get a kick out of them like they're new. This comes with 21 Valentine's Day-themed fill-in-the-blank that kids can use to come up with their own silly stories. Ages 8+
Mad Libs - 13/24
Squishmallows Valentines Squad
Kellytoy
amazon.com
$20.90
Stevon the Tan Dog is the perfect friend to add to his Squishmallows collection; he's 8" tall, and comes with a cute "hugs and squishes" message on his belly. But if dogs aren't his thing, there are plenty of Squishmallows to choose from, in a variety of animal (and food!) shapes, in Valentine's themes and non. Ages 0+
amazon.com - 14/24
Moon Lamp
LOGROTATE
amazon.com
$19.99
Turn his room into a night sky with this lamp, which is 3D printed to look like the surface of the moon. It comes in four sizes and lights up in 16 different colors. No age recommendation given
LOGROTATE - 15/24
Whoopee Cushions
Fun Express
walmart.com
$24.29
Pranking is huge among kids, and this is a way to introduce some lighthearted pranks into a lovey-dovey holiday. Watch where you sit! You get 12 in one pack, which is perfect for a class party. Ages 4+
Fun Express - 16/24
Plush Heart
Svaha
svahausa.com
$17.99
Give him a heart this Valentine's Day ... an anatomically correct one! And if you want you can get other organs to go with it, too, like a kidney or liver (or a drop of blood or insulin). It's a mini STEM lesson and a V-Day gift in one! Ages 3+
Svaha - 17/24
Heart Mini Maker Tube
PLUS PLUS
amazon.com
$7.99
The great thing is that these interlocking pieces can be used to build hearts and flowers for Valentine's Day — but when the holiday is over, they can be used for open-ended building. Every Plus Plus piece can be used with any other Plus Plus set, so there's no limit to what they can make. Ages 5+
PLUS PLUS - 18/24
Spider-Man Body Kit
Every Man Jack
amazon.com
$36.99
With great power comes great responsibility ... to not be smelly. This Spider-Man themed set includes body wash, deodorant and shampoo with a "fresh air" scent that's supposed to make you feel like you're swinging through the sky. No age recommendation given
Every Man Jack - 19/24
Express Your Feelings Sensory Bottles
hand2mind
amazon.com
$24.99
If you want to use the holiday to talk about all the emotions, not just love, these are good conversation starters. Each bottle represents a separate emotion — happy, angry, scared or sad — and the liquid moves through it in a corresponding way. They're fun to keep lined up on a desk or dresser. Ages 3+
Hand2Mind - 20/24
Pete the Cat: Valentine's Day Is Cool
HarperFestival
bookshop.org
$10.22
If your guy is reluctant to celebrate Valentine's Day, tell him so was Pete the Cat — until he realized how special all the cats in his life are. This book also comes with Valentine's Day cards and stickers, too. Ages 4+
HarperFestival - 21/24
Mustache Heart T-Shirt
14 Below
amazon.com
$16.99
The best way to make a heart t-shirt feel less mushy? Add a mustache! This shirt also comes in adult sizes for men and women — and in five different colors — if you want to do a family match. Sizes small – 12
14 Below - 22/24
Cupcake Pop It
Kido
kidochicago.com
$8.00
If Valentine's Day makes them think of candy hearts and sweet treats, they'll love this cupcake-shaped popping toy. Kids have been known to collect, trade and use these poppers to keep their hands busy. Ages 3+
Kido - 23/24
Sweetheart Rubber Duck
Ducky City
amazon.com
$8.50
With its bright red and white hues, you'll never lose this bath toy under the bubbles. It can get him started on a rubber ducky collection. Ages 6 months+
Ducky City - 24/24
Valentines Day Name Shirt
HappyLifeParties
etsy.com
$22.00
Any truck-loving kid will thrill to wear these hearts on their sleeves. It comes in a few different styles, including white short sleeves, as well as a red raglan or black raglan. Sizes 12M – 6/8
HappyLifeParties
