Buying gifts for 11 year olds is quite exciting as this is the age where they start to make the move from playful, developmental toys to desiring something which offers more of a challenge. They have pretty much developed their social, cognitive, creative and motor skills and are ready to show the world what they can do. They know what they like and tend to be happy to express that!
Gifts for A Wide Variety of Interests!
Buying gifts for 11 year old boys and girls is made easier by the fact that it is around this time that children really get into all manner of things (both my kids were heavily into dinosaurs before progressing to rocks and crystals). Studies have shown that children who have hobbies can actually perform better academically. Hobbies teach children important life lessons, such as teamwork, confident social interactions, and enhanced self-esteem. It is important to encourage our children to develop or pursue hobbies of their liking (and not try to make them follow ours!) Whether it is film-making, astronomy, making jewellery – your child will appreciate your support in their endeavours. Finding gifts for 11 year old boys and girls is also made easier by the fact that gender neutral interests have become increasingly popular - after all, the more inclusive, the more fun for everyone!
Group Games and Activities
The great thing about 11 year olds is, whilst they are embarking on their slow journey to adulthood, they are still happy to take part in family based activities and games. I was lucky that my 11 year old boy would happily play with his 3 year old sister, so hours of train tracks and role playing games kept them both engaged. For those times when a more challenging activity is needed, these escape room type games are just fabulous for some team work and family time. Although marketed at an older audience, there is no reason why an 11 year old couldn’t play as part of a team – some of the riddles are quite tricky but just need some thinking outside of the box, something at which pre- teens are very good!
Educational Toys for 11 Year Old Girls and Boys
They might not readily admit it, but many children do love the opportunity to share and use what they have learned at school. Helping them develop an understanding of curriculum subjects through toys and games is an excellent idea – particularly good if you suspect there may be an area where they are struggling. I love build kits and science kits which build on their knowledge and then challenge them to explore a little further at their own speed and in a non-threatening environment. STEAM kits are great for this (I’m a big fan! See other blog posts on science kits, coding and construction toys).
Having had several lessons on electricity disrupted by faulty wires or ancient connectors, I welcome kits such as this one from Cambridge Brainbox. Building on KS2 science, the kit is absolutely jam packed with the necessary equipment to find out about series and parallel circuits, build an AM radio, build a rain sensor, make and test fuses and even convert your computer into an oscilloscope! This is a great opportunity for children to experiment, get things wrong, learn from those mistakes and develop a deeper understanding of the subject.
by Allie White, educational consultant to BrightMinds
As a parent and former-teacher, Allie has a hands-on approach to home learning, believing that the best learning is done together in a relaxed environment.
Our mission at BrightMinds is to foster “a brighter way to play” to inspire your child to be curious about the world around them & encourage creativity in a fun & relaxed way.
We curate a world-class range of educational toys, games, gifts & books which are good quality, safe and backed by our extraordinary customer service. Gifts for 11 year old girls and boys are our speciality, so you can find the perfect gift to make your special one happy.
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