Since he was a baby, my now 6yo son Benjamin has loved vehicles – planes, trains, automobiles, you name it. I am pretty sure his first word was “car” and he used to spend hours looking down from our apartment window at all of the vehicles making their way down Lexington Avenue. His tastes have evolved over the years and have significantly influenced the selection of gifts for boys sold at GIFT HERO.

Over the past couple of years, Benjamin has been excited by remote control vehicles. We’ve tried all types from a batmobile to sports cars to soccer shoes that kick a ball (true, not really a vehicle). We are lucky enough to have a second home with a deck and yard and pool which has given Benjamin lots of places to play. Well…I have to say that a gravel driveway is not a great place for a typical remote control car.  They get stuck and spin their wheels and completely frustrate a young boy.

Last summer, a weekend guest gave Benjamin the Morphibians Land Shark.  Made by Kid Galaxy, this kids’ gift  is the coolest and sturdiest remote control car we have ever tried. It speeds across that gravel driveway, plows through sand and can even go in the pool.  As soon as we tried it (and everytime we played with it all summer, fall and winter (yes, can use in snow too), I knew it was on the short list for our outdoor gifts category. 

That reminds me…I need to pick up a pack of batteries for this weekend!

When I saw the Pumponator at Toy Fair this year, I knew it was going to be a huge success. It’s a brilliant invention – now kids can fill water balloons without needing access to a hose or faucet. Suddenly, water balloons are a now a portable play possibility – park, beach, you name it.

What makes the Pumponator even more fascinating to me is that it was invented by an 8 year old. Check out this video of 8 year old Lexi, inventor of the Pumponator, demonstrating how it works.  This kid is awesome, but so are her parents and grandparents, who got behind her and made the Pumponator a reality. Given how it is selling so far, I think Lexi will more than pay for her future college tuition.

We are getting in awesome new outdoor toys that we discovered at Toy Fair this year. One of my favorites is Zartz “throw and catch darts set”. Made by the Australian company Zing Toys, Zartz is a unique combination of darts and catch that can be played either indoors or outdoors. It makes a great gift for a boy or girl age 6 and up.