Some guys are going to forever be young at heart. You might not want them to balance your checkbook or be trusted with nuclear launch codes, but there is no finer babysitter, or more fun friend to have around than a man who manages to capture the wonders of childhood. He’s always the life of the party and the first one to turn your furniture into fashion accessories after just a couple of beers. Help encourage his exuberance with some big kid toys.
Each of these 20 gift ideas is meant to help bring a little joy into the life of a grown kid who knows that you’re only as old as you feel, and prefers to feel forever 11 years old.
Marshmallow Fun Co Marshmallow Blaster
Confection Weapon: What can make a puffy ball of sugar better? Making it airborne. The Marshmallow Blaster kicks large marshmallows out up to 40 feet and you can even pack the barrel with minis and fire them scattershot to put down a Candy Land riot. [Purchase: $15]
Sphero 2.0 Wireless Robotic Ball
Well Rounded: The strange Sphero showed up and rocked the world. On the surface, it is just a remote controlled ball, but once you start fiddling with it you see how intelligent and interesting Sphero can be with new features and capabilities being released all the time. It’s a blast in the home or office. [Purchase: $100]
Nerf Weapons
Foam Warfare: Nerf wrote the book on safe weapons that encourage you to shoot at your friends and family. This collection shows they haven’t lost a step with everything from pocket nukes to remote attack drones, plus standard sidearms for every Nerf combatant. [1. Nerf Vortex PRAXIS Blaster: $28 | 2. Nerf Nuke: $100 | 3. Nerf Combat Creatures TerraDrone: $60]
Big Wheel Drift Trike
Street Racer: This is everything a big kid would want his big wheel to be. With a 6.5 hp motor strapped to the back of a CNC bent chro-moly frame, the Drift Trike can give you some decent street speed and crank up the danger and the fun to grown-up proportions. [Purchase: $2,000]
Dream Cheeky 908 Thunder Missile Launcher
Become Mission Control: With the USB foam missile launcher, you’ll be able to control the deployment of ordnance right from your computer. Aiming and firing is adjusted from your screen even as you write to notify the target’s next of kin. [Purchase: $54]
DJI Phantom 2 Vision Quadcopter with Integrated FPV Camcorder
Eye in the Sky: Not all toys need to be made for pure enjoyment, they can also be functional. The Vision Quadcopter is ideal for the spy who wishes to surveil the neighborhood, but also allows for aerial filmmaking and home security. [Purchase: $799]
Whamo Solo Snow Ball Blaster
Snow Blower: Throwing a snowball is not accurate, and feels an awful lot like exercise, so you shouldn’t do it. Instead, you should arm your big kid’s snow fort with a piece that can fire snowballs as far as 60 feet with deadly accuracy. Perfect for the wintry holidays. [Purchase: $23]
Star Wars Interactive R2D2 Astromech Droid Robot
Help Me Obi-Wan Kenobi: There’s only one droid that Leia would trust with her message of rebellion, and now it can be brought into any home. Able to respond to multiple voice commands as well as capable of standing guard, the only thing missing is an effete protocol droid companion. [Purchase: $220]
Video Game Consoles
For Indoor Kids: Whether your big kid likes fragging his friends or engaging in solo adventures, there is nothing that will see more use than one of the new generation of consoles. Whether he’s an Xbox fan, a PS4 devotee, or even a Nintendo enthusiast, one of these is sure to brighten his holidays. [Playstation 4: $399 | Xbox One: $349 | Nintendo Wi U: $349]
Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction
Diminutive Devastation: These manuals will allow enterprising individuals to make catapults, rubber band guns, trebuchets, and even crossbows that are designed for small scale conflicts. Guaranteed to lay a very tiny smackdown on enemies of the state. [Purchase: $10+]
HEX 3 Laser Tag
Phone Wars: The HEX 3 turns your phone into a laser tag game that brings first-person console shooting action into the real world. With just an app installation and a smartphone with a camera, your big kid will be begging to go outside to play. Also works with games built for individual enjoyment. [Purchase: $60+]
Anki Drive
Off the Rails: Imagine the old electric racing kits, only now imagine that they include upgradeable cars that can be controlled through a smartphone and have on-board artificial intelligence. That is the idea behind the Anki Drive as it blurs the lines between video games and reality. [Purchase: $150]
Marvel Selk’bags
Heroic Hibernation: Selk’bags are wearable sleeping bags that allow you to move around, rather than being stuck in a cocoon. This is convenient, but to add icing to this cake, Marvel has made some that look like some of the most memorable heroes in their lineup. [Purchase: $150]
Desk Slingshot
Fire at Will: The surprisingly classy appearance of this desktop slingshot is misleading, since it is fully functional and intended to be used to fling scrap around the office, at co-workers, into trash cans, or even toward your employer, if you feel like cleaning your desk out by the end of the day. [Purchase: $29]
LEGO Sets
Movie Magic: There are Lego sets for kids, and then there are those that are just for much, much older kids. These are complex sets that allow you to build some of the most iconic film items ever. From the Death Star to Batman’s Tumbler, any film freak will be thrilled with these sets. [1. LEGO Death Star: $400 | 2. LEGO DeLorean: $35 | 3. LEGO Tumbler: $325]
Bug-A-Salt Original Salt Gun
Insect Assassin: Forget traditional flyswatters and bug zappers. Using the Bug-A-Salt gun you are able to exterminate flies, mosquitoes, and any other pest using just a pinch of ordinary table salt in a way that is fun and deadly effective. [Purchase: $48]
Mountain Boy Sledworks Ultimate Flyer
Downhill Demon: Recapture the joy of careening down a hill on a toboggan with a birch and willow sled built for adults. The hand-made Mountain Boy is 52 inches long with custom molded skids that can handle powder and hardpack alike for incomparable winter fun. [Purchase: $140]
PowerUp 3.0 Smartphone Controlled Paper Airplane
Winging It: The paper airplane just got an upgrade. Equipped with Bluetooth tech that interfaces with any smartphone, this is a flight sim stashed inside a little tree pulp. Easy to fold and easy to operate, it can soar for dozens of feet and crash without injuring the chassis. Set a flight plan and let it go. [Purchase: $50]
Hot Wheels Car Maker
Car Constructor: Why buy Hot Wheels cars when you can make your own? Using a process simple enough for kids of any age, this can turn a stick of wax into a customized miniature hot rod that can be painted and taken out on the track in classic style. [Purchase: $42]
JOOLA Inside Table Tennis Table
Hollow Baller: Ping Pong is the sport of kings. At least, a king probably played it once. The JOOLA is an affordable table tennis set that breaks down to fit into any home and the table halves can even be disguised for use as actual tables, then uncovered for a match of epic proportions. [Purchase: $400]
