Christmas Gift for 10-12 Year Old Boy

My boys love Hexbug Nanos and their other "bugs" http://www.hexbug.com/
They are 8 & 11. My 2 year old daughter loves them too. The Nanos you can get "habitats" which are all sorts of tracks and stuff for them to run on. My kids will build huge elaborate things on their playtable and let hordes of the Nano bugs go to town. It is hillarious to watch! The cats will sit there and watch them too. If we're not attentive they'll run off with them!

I tend to give books as gifts and boys can be tricky if they are not much into reading or they struggle with it. If you can get them reading anything, including sports magazines or graphic novels, it's a plus. Both my 13 year old nephew and 13 year old godson are getting Calvin and Hobbes comic strip books from me this year. Just a thought!

I've raised 4 boys and never met a boy who didn't like legos!

A nice basketball. Or Football.

Classic game--Monopoly, Battleship, etc.

Newer games Cuponk, Bop It Bounce,

Here's a list of toys for 11 year olds:
http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toys/toys_by_ages/boys/top_pi...

Thanks for giving to a child in need!!! We also do that such a great feeling!! So I would do a giftcard to bestbuy, or some awesome sneakers, I would also say video game but not sure on if they own that...How about a board game, baseball or football stuff... Oh I just asked my husband and he says a baseball or football jersey!!! Good luck and thanks again so important to give to others!! xoxo

I have a 10 and 11 year old. My best guess would be a rip-stick, nerf guns (mine still like them), air-soft gun, archery set and I'll ditto the suggestion below for the hex bugs. They're pretty cool. These would each max out your $30 limit but I'm almost positive, he'd love them all. Merry Christmas!

I have a 9 and 11 year old....

they are in to:

Nerf guns
XBOX
DS games
LEGOs - this might be your best bet - you can get several little sets for under $30 or one bigger set (over 100 pieces) for $30.

My 11 year old is interested in chess - last year we found a Transformers Chess set for him - he still plays it! YAHOO!!!

I have a 13 year old son and a 10 yr old daughter. Here is what my brain tells me would work:

*the hexbugs (both mine want those this year).
*remote control indoor helicopter (with batteries)--they both have these and love them... and a friend has asked me where they got them so she can get one for her child. So they were a hit outside of my family too---there's a reason that all the stores have them this year...
*ripstick (runs above your budget though--they're about $50).