35 Best Toys and Gifts for 7-Year-Old Boys Who Have Strong Opinions About How They Play

With one World Cup finished and another on the way, everyone's getting football fever! This twist on foosball lets them get in on the game without adding an entirely new piece of furniture to their playrooms. Instead, kids are given handled figures that spin when you press the arms in together, and they have to use them to hit a ball and score goals against their opponents. “They loved setting it up, playing with it, and keeping score,” one parent said. The set comes with a fabric field that can be laid out anywhere (plus 10 barriers to keep the ball from falling on the floor), three Foosbots (U.S., Brazil, and Mexico), and two balls, but other Foosbots can be purchased separately, and they can collect their favorite teams. Ages 6+

It's the classic Labyrinth game parents remember, but with a Pokémon twist: Players have to manipulate the board in order to collect different Pokémon. It's a game that involves logic, strategy and planning ahead. (Pro tip: My family plays this a lot, and we use our Battle Figures as the tokens.) Ages 7+

It’s a fast-paced game with a fun way to win: When players spot a match, everyone races to squeak one of the rubbery elbow macaroni included in the game. “This was a great family game,” one parent said. “We will take this on vacation with us this summer. It's a great game for by the pool or while waiting at a restaurant.” Ages 6+

Kids can get a feel for 3D printing technology with this gadget, which melts a plastic filament that can be used to make 3D art projects and sculptures. We named it the best 3D pen for children, noting that it works best if you keep the nozzle clean. A booklet will give them some ideas of what to make, or they can go off on their own and build whatever their imagination can come up with! You might also want to buy extra filament. Ages 6+

Kids can play along with this drum pad set to learn about staying on beat and keeping a rhythm. Then, when they're done, they can roll it up and put it away (or take it along to Grandma's house). There are different rhythms and sounds for kids to experiment with—and a volume control for the adults. It can be powered by a USB. Ages 3+

This game incorporates logic skills with roller coaster building for a super fun take on a STEM toy. It comes with 39 tracks, 40 challenge cards (with solutions too) and a roller coaster car to bring all the loops and drops to life. It's the perfect gift for budding engineers to learn essential reasoning skills that they can use throughout their lives. Ages 6+

Pop any Crayola marker into the back of this machine, and it can be used to make retro, airbrushed designs. It comes with stencils, but kids can also free-hand their own creations. This was a huge hit at in-person toy testing, with kids asking for turn after turn. “I liked experimenting with it!” one kid tester shared. Ages 6+

The kids who tested this e-scooter really loved it, with parents reporting they charged it and used it every day. “My son loves being able to speed down paths on an electric scooter—the freedom, the acceleration, the breeze," one parent said. Parents were also pleased that the top speed was less than 10 miles an hour. Ages 6+

It’s like they’ve stumbled upon their own Minecraft loot box in real life! The box comes with two mini figures, a lava desk holder, a mystery plush, a poster, stickers, a mystery squishy, a wristband, and trading cards—that’s a lot of Minecraft merch! “My son was so excited to get this because it's from his favorite YouTuber,” one parent said. “Since it was a blind box, he had a lot of fun opening it and seeing what he got.” Ages 5+

This activity book is all about how to decode ancient hieroglyphics. There are 100 cardboard labels to pop out that let kids write their own messages. “[My son] said, ‘It’s really cool because it’s like writing in a secret code, Mom, like I'm a spy or something,’” one parent tester reported. Ages 7 to 10

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Not only is this game great for 7-year-olds, it was created by a 7-year-old, who launched it on Kickstarter. The goal is to build a meal with the most valuable ingredients, points-wise, but action cards do things like block players or let players steal cards, so players have to be strategic. (Just be sure you have chips on hand when you play, because you're going to get hungry.) Ages 7+

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Kids who need to have something to do with their hands love the super smooth feel of this stretchy, squishy putty. It's something quiet that they can fidget with. Our testers said they loved the texture, the color, and even the fragrance! Even the adults liked putting their hands on it. Ages 3+

He can send race cars flying through different obstacles as he builds them—imagine a ring of fire, under a tunnel, or over a ramp. Kid testers loved setting up different courses, while parents complimented it for being travel-friendly. Ages 5+

Pick this skater up, and it seems light as a feather. Send him speeding off from his launcher, and it's easy to see why: The engine revs up to 8,000 RPM, it zooms off at a clip, and then, if it hits the included ramp, it flies up to six feet high. Another hit at in-person toy testing, kids loved seeing this one soaring. "My son liked how high he could make the skateboarder go off the ramp," one at-home testing parent said. Ages 6+

Go ahead—let them crash this remote-controlled monster truck all over the place. That's the point: When it crashes, the vehicle dents and crumples, but it all snaps back into place again with a push of a button. During Good Housekeeping's in-person toy testing, kids couldn't get enough of this one, sending it flying down our hallways and into walls. Ages 4+; two AAA batteries required

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is on streaming, and Yoshi is the breakout star. Kids can watch this egg wobble, bounce, and eventually hatch a Yoshi of their own. Afterward, the egg acts like a little nest, and Yoshi becomes an interactive toy. “I did not know toys like this existed—it’s a veryery unique toy that we will continue to love!” one parent tester told the Good Housekeeping Institute. “The hatching just really blew my mind. I was just excited as the kids.” Ages 4+; three AA batteries included

Kid testers were eager to try out this Dilophosaurus, which stomps, lets out a fierce roar, gnashes its teeth, and shakes its frills. The remote even features “action mode,” allowing the dino to venture around on its own. “I love dinosaurs, and I’ve never seen something like this before,” shared one kid tester. Ages 5+

Kids are more obsessed with squishies than ever before, and these balls from Crayola squish, smush, stick together, and stick to walls. They’re just the thing for when kids need a quiet fidget. Ages 4+