I love gift guide season! I pride myself on choosing gifts that are fun, unique, realistic, and include a lot of budget-friendly/accessible gift ideas. Today's gift guide is for big kids and preteens. Of course, Dax is my muse. He is outdoorsy, loves gadgets, is creative, and loves gaming. He plays and loves hockey but I wouldn't say athletics is his first love; that said he's a very active guy so I've included some gifts in that vein too! Hope you find something your little guy (who's not so little anymore!) will love or a few things that spark an idea! So here's the Pretty Real Gift Guide for Big Boys and Preteens with notes plus I've starred the items that are under $30.

*Cyclone Boys 3x3 Speed Cube, Metallic - Dax has a serious collection of Rubik's Cubes and speed cubes and recently added this metallic cube to his wish list

Premium Performance Pogo Stick - Ages 9 and Up- Dax discovered a pogo stick in his grandparents' basement and immediately requested one. He and his friends have competitions. We're a big fan of anything that's active!

Nike Jordan Realtree Pullover Hoodie- If your preteen lives in hoodies...Also camo is trending.

Controller Stand- this is sort of a gift for you. A stand that's sleek and aesthetic? Say less. I bought one for the kids' lounge (different one, no longer sold) and Dax immediately clocked it and complimented it.

CuberSpeed QY Toys Magnetic Clock Puzzle- Another item if you have a cuber on your hands (and straight from Dax's wish list).

*LED Digital Waterproof Watch for Kids- If you're holding off on a phone or a smart watch, this digital watch is well reviewed and comes in 7 colors

Nike Court Borough Mid 2 Hi-top Sneakers- Dax has a couple of pairs similar to this and they make any outfit cooler. (Love it when they like what we like).

*WeariQ Bluetooth Smart Glasses- WeariQ sent me these and I wasn't sure if they'd make the guide. But Dax thought they were so fun. You can listen to music or a podcast, use them for voice assistance, or use them to chat with a friend- all with open ears. They come in lots of colors and with clear lenses too.

Gaming Keypad Rapid Trigger- If your preteen plays Geometry Dash on a computer, apparently this is a game changer. It can be programmed and is customizable. Dax actually has *this one (under $30) but it's no longer sold in black.

*Weird But True Sports: 300 Wacky Facts About Awesome Athletics- We will always encourage reading and liking sports around here. ha. 
Arcade1Up Mortal Kombat II Deluxe Arcade Game with 5-foot-tall full-size stand-up cabinet- Currently $50 less than we paid! This makes a great "big gift" or gift for all of the kiddos. We have it in the lounge and love that it has a small footprint.
*Electronic Deluxe Digital Security Safe Box Key Keypad Lock- Do they have anything super valuable? Probably not. Do they like to feel like they do? Yes. Do they like to make sure their sisters can't get their hands on certain things. Also yes. PS- have and love and it comes in lots of colors.
*Inspirational Basketball GOATS Stories, Amazing Facts, and Trivia Games- a Fun and relevant book for your basketball fan and NGL, this little snippet in their description got me: "Want your child or teen to soak up mental toughness, perseverance, resilience, and teamwork from those basketball GOATs while having a fun read? You’ve come to the right place." SOLD!