10 cool Valentine's gift ideas for boys who aren't so into the cutesie stuff

Valentine’s Day has a tendency to skew all lace and hearts and traditionally “girly” stuff, so as a mom of boys, I wanted to find some cool gifts just for them. Well, not just for them, because I know a lot of girls would like these too — but it is hard to search for Valentine’s Day gifts for boys and find uh, not too much.

Gender stereotypes aside, whether you’re an all-out, big-budget Valentine’s Day gift person or you just want a little something to make your kids feel a little extra loved, these are just cool Valentine’s Day gifts for boys — and girls — that I know my own video-game-loving, sports-playing, music-listening kids would like.

And for what it’s worth, when I asked my 14-year-old son what he thought teen boys would want for Valentine’s Day, he just said, “Candy.”

Anything else?

“Candy.”

Okay, got it.

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– Post updated for 2022 –

If your kids are into sports, why not think of some fresh new gear for Valentine’s Day gifts….in red, of course. We’re in the middle of basketball season at our house, so this $10 cherry red basketball would be a great, easy gift to give my athletes on Valentine’s Day.

For those Mando-loving kids in your galaxy, this Target exclusive Funko Star Wars Valentine’s Day Pop! The Mandalorian with Grogu is just what their collection is missing. There is even a sweet message written at their little feet. You can also check Best Buy for this slightly different Mandalorian Valentine’s Day Funko Pop — and the Funko figure with Luke and Grogu is pretty adorable too.

If you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day gift for boys who are tough to shop for, candy and snacks are a staple of course. But the tweens and teens in my life have very specific likes and dislikes — my own son hates chocolate which always makes me wonder if there was a mix up at the hospital).

Sugarwish (top) is a fun service that sends the recipient a text, email, or card letting them know they can fill a box with their favorite treats from dozens of choices — candy, popcorn, cookies and more. We recommend them here all the time because kids get so excited by the choose-your-own option.

My nephews and kids also go crazy over CraveBox which is as it sounds — a huge box filled with all kinds of snacks they love for a really great price. It also includes nut-free, gluten-free snacks so there is a little something in there for everyone.

If video games have stolen your kids’ hearts, then this “V is for Video Games” t-shirt Threadrock on Etsy or “I Love it when my mom let’s me play video games” t-shirt from UnidornTees on Etsy (top) are a perfectly appropriate Valentine’s gift for boys.

My kids love their music, and they always have a pair of headphones nearby. If you’re up for a splurge, the high-end wireless Beats Solo3 on-ear headphones (top) are a major score.

Or, go the more affordable route with the iLuv TB100 Wireless Earbuds shown above — cool Valentine’s Day gift for a boy who’s hard to shop for, especially under $25 on sale right now!

Bombas socks were a huge hit with our kids for the holidays (really, they love them!) and what says “I love you” more than the gift of warm, cozy feet? These Be Mine Calf Socks are a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for boys, whether they’re sporty or just stylish. And of course there are other styles too if the hearts won’t fly. (Note that you can get 20% off your first purchase by using the code BOMBAS20.)

If your kid is a reader, Valentine’s Day does not (and should not!) be all about romantic poetry for your kids. Instead, start them out on the Arc of a Scythe series by Neal Schusterman. This dystopian series really has nothing to do with Valentine’s Day (except the red on the cover) but it’s a book that my boys are reading over and over.

Sometimes, just upgrading to a fresh phone case can feel like you’ve got a whole new phone. This Custom Otter + Pop phone case from PopSockets gives you a blank canvas to design a case featuring your kid’s favorite things — anything from a photo of their favorite sport, movie character, their best friends, or their beloved pet snake.

Just a word of advice, resist the urge to use an image of yourself, parents. Ha.

Grab one of these red CamelBak Eddy+ Water Bottle and fill it with personalized M&Ms with fun messages like “don’t forget to drink water!” Or you know, just go ahead and fill it with chocolate kisses or Twizzlers or whatever’s on the drugstore shelves.

If your kiddo has a super bright future, a nice pair of shades is always a fun gift. These OG Goodr sunglasses are a staff favorite because not only are they polarized, they really stay put through all of the outdoor activities. And the price is pretty sweet at just $25.

Not Parent Approved is one of Liz’s favorite games to play with her kids, and it’s a great Valentine’s Day gift for boys that don’t want anything too sentimental. It’s like Apples to Apples meets Cards Against Humanity, but for kids. It’s a funny, laugh-out-loud, quick game you can play after dinner and before homework at night. And hey — great family game night activity if you’re home on Valentine’s Day looking for activities to do with the kids.

if you already own one, check out their brand new expansion pack with all video-game focused cards. It’s an affordable little gift that will freshen up what’s probably already a family-favorite game.

If it’s time for a new pair of shoes, consider these Nike Blazer Low ’77 Sneakers with that cool red swoosh. My son was so smitten with them, he didn’t even wear them right away but displayed them on the bookshelf in his room — they are that cool.