The 10 Best 14 Year Old Boy Gifts
This wiki has been updated 33 times since it was first published in September of 2015. If it isn't already too late, this could very well be the last year you can buy your son something he won't sneer at before retreating into his room to wallow in teenage angst. Make it count by selecting one of these highly-entertaining 14-year-old boy gifts. We've made sure to include something to suit every type of kid, from the gamers to the athletes and everyone in between. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. DJI Mini 2
2. Retrospec Zed Bamboo
3. CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Starter Kit
Editor's Notes
December 10, 2020:
Though it may seem hard to find something to buy for a 14-year-old boy, you can rest easy he will love the gift if you get him something from this list. These selections are proven to be popular, and they come in a range of prices so there will be something to suit every budget.
We decided to eliminate the Syma X5UW in favor of the DJI Mini 2 during this update. While the former is a decent drone, it can't hold a candle to the Mini 2, which offers a longer flight time, higher video resolution, more quickshot modes, and overall better aerial performance. While it is pricey, it is no more expensive than a new video game console, and this will get them spending more time outdoors. Another item we added that is ideal for any teen interested in recording their adventures is the GoPro Hero8. While this isn't the newest model, it still offers an amazingly effective stabilizing technology called Hypersmooth 2.0, which makes videos look as if they were shot on a gimbal even though the camera is held in the hand or strapped to a bicycle. Unless your child is a true action camera buff and is going to take advantage of the many advanced settings, he probably won't get much more from the 9 than he will the 8, and the latter is more affordable.
We also chose to remove the Beats Solo3 in favor of the Apple AirPods. If yours is one of the many children that owns an iPhone, he will find that these integrate better with his mobile device, and many will be impressed at the sound quality they offer. Plus, they are a lot easier to carry around than a bulky pair of over-the-ear headphones. Speaking of sound quality, it is for that reason that we chose to eliminate the Ultimate Ears Boom 2 in favor of the JBL Flip 5. Not only is the latter more affordable, but it offers better acoustics with richer and deeper bass. While the Redes Bluetooth Beanie certainly doesn't compare with either of the above options for sound quality, it doubles as a fashionable accessory and is quite budget friendly.
Another change we made was to replace the Nintendo Switch Lite with the standard Nintendo Switch. While they both function essentially identically when in handheld mode, the former cannot be docked to a TV, which is really what makes the Switch so popular and such an innovative platform. Some other changes were to replace the Xprit Electric Kick Scooter with the Gotrax XR Ultra, as the latter has a farther range, and to eliminate the Skywalker Jump N' Dunk in favor of the Retrospec Zed Bamboo longboard.
November 18, 2019:
Trending products are constantly changing and what might have been a hot gift just one or two years ago may no longer appeal to teens. In that same vein, there are new items that are on the must-have list of every 14-year-old boy these days, electric scooters being one such example. It is hard to go a full day without seeing five or ten people cruising around town on one of these. Perhaps because of that though, injuries from riding them have become rather common place, too. To satisfy a teen's desire to own one and a parent's desire to keep their child safe, we have recommended the Xprit Electric Kick Scooter, which has a top speed of just 12.4 MPH. Of course, that doesn't mean anyone should ever ride one without a protective helmet.
Drones are just as popular today as they were when they first came out, but now there are many affordable options that can capture decent videos and images, like the Syma X5UW. It also boasts live streaming to a phone, which just adds to the fun.
Due to the ever-increasing demand for people with programming skills in the job force, we added the CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Starter Kit to our list. When connected to an external monitor or TV, it allows a teen to build their own fully-functioning computer, and it is a great device for learning Python and other coding languages.
Though we recommended the Nerf Rival Artemis, Makey Makey Invention Kit, and Owi Robotic Arm in the past, we have walked back our decision on those and removed them simply because we now fell they were a bit too childish for the average 14-year-old.
4. GoPro Hero8
5. Redes Bluetooth Beanie
6. Nintendo Switch
7. Apple AirPods
8. Gotrax XR Ultra
9. JBL Flip 5
10. Spikeball Set
How A 14 Year Old Boy Is Developing
It not uncommon for them to test their physical skills as well.
The age of fourteen is a time when young children start to become young adults. As such, they will have completed many stages of their development, but will still be undergoing changes and growth in other areas. Gross and fine motor skills will be well developed by this time, but can continue to be increased with specific activities, such as sports or working with small parts when assembling a model or electronics. Buying gifts that require some initial assembly, or that involve disassembling and reassembling the toy regularly to create different forms is a great way to continue promoting motor skill development in an engaging manner.
Cognitive brain development is at a stage where they are fully capable of taking in information, assimilating it, and then applying it to life or hypothetical situations. A fourteen year old will also be eager to try new things and put their skills to the test. Complex board games can make great gifts as it allows them to do this. It not uncommon for them to test their physical skills as well. Specific likes and dislikes of academic subjects become more pronounced around this age, and they may begin to formulate some ideas of what types of career paths they might pursue as they age.
The age of fourteen is a roller coaster of social and emotional development. Most teens will be moody and unpredictable. They will be extremely close with groups of their peers, or a few select individuals and will share their problems and experiences with friends instead of their parents. A fourteen year old will be extremely self-conscious and will often try and change their physical appearance or personality to fit in.
What Kinds Of Gifts To Buy For A 14 Year Old Boy
The goal to buying gifts for a fourteen year old is to match it to their interests and developmental skills. Buying a board game that is too elementary will be seen as infantile. Their ability to handle complex reasoning and consider multiple outcomes of a potential action makes strategy games a good bet. Not only will it help them develop better reasoning, but they will be able to play it with friends during sleepovers. Strategy and other board games can also be a good way to promote family time as well, which is extremely important to a teen's well being.
Ones that include an aspect of friendly competition can be particularly motivating.
Any gift that gets a teen outdoors and playing actively is also a smart choice. Gifts that promote activity help a child learn that leading a healthy life and exercising can be fun. Ones that include an aspect of friendly competition can be particularly motivating. There is also some research that shows that competitive activities teach children valuable life lessons.
Most teens have a tendency to become heavily focused on their favorite type of music. Gifts that allow them to listen to their favorite music regularly will be a much loved choice. This can include a portable speaker so they can take it to the park with friends, or a pair of headphones that allows them to listen to their music as loud as they want while at home without disturbing other family members.
Drones and other robotic toys are popular among people of all ages. There are a number of budget drones, which are ideal for teens. Buying one for yourself and one for your child can also be a good way to bond while performing an activity they enjoy.
The Importance Of Identifying Your Teen's Interests
Though the teen years are a time of trying new things and new experiences for most, they generally prefer to discover these new activities on their own. It is not uncommon for a teen to immediately reject an idea just because their parents brought it up, whereas if the same idea was proposed by a friend they may have been extremely interested.
Look at the designs on their clothing and check to see which bands they are listening to.
For this reason it is important to identify subjects and activities your teen is already interested in before buying them a gift. If you have a teen who loves the X-men, don't buy them a Spider-man themed gift. It may seem like the same thing to you, but your teen won't see it that way.
Identifying your teens likes and dislikes is as easy as paying attention to them. Look at the designs on their clothing and check to see which bands they are listening to. Simple clues like these can be a good indication to what they like. If you find your child talking about an item one of their friends has, there is a good chance that they are hinting that they would like one too. The teen years are a time when children want to imitate their friends because it is just one more way to fit in.
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.