My grandkids forgot my Christmas gift before New Year’s Day.
I’m Linda. I’m 64, and I have two grandsons, Eli and Max. Eli is 10, and Max is 8.
Last Christmas, I spent $90 on two Nerf blasters. The boys screamed when they opened them. I felt like the best grandma in the world.
They shot at a cardboard box for one afternoon. By New Year’s Day, they were back on their tablets. In March, I found both blasters at the bottom of the toy bin.
It Wasn’t the First Time
There was the robot dog. The big LEGO set that’s still half built. The art kit that dried out in its box.
My daughter said it kindly.
“Mom, they have enough toys.”
She was right, and that stung.
I only see the boys a few times a year. I don’t want my gift to be something they open and forget. I want it to be part of our time together.
A Rainy Sunday in April
Then something small happened.
Eli dug a blaster out of the bin. He set up the box, knocked it over, and set it up again. Three minutes later, he dropped the blaster on the couch.
“It’s boring, Grandma. It just sits there.”
Eli, age 10
I kept thinking about that on the drive home. It just sits there.
The Blasters Weren’t the Problem
The target was. A box doesn’t move, so once you hit it, there’s nothing left to figure out.
Then I thought about their tablet games. Everything moves. Things dodge and jump. No wonder that’s what they pick.
Most of the toys I’d bought just sat there too. The boys figured them out fast, and then they were done.
What I Found That Night
That night, I typed “moving target for Nerf” into my phone. That’s how I found something called Hover Shot.
A small base blows a steady stream of air. Light foam balls float on top. They bob and dance, so you never get the same shot twice.
And it works with most Nerf-style blasters and darts. The ones in the bin would finally get a second life.
I Thought It Might Be a Gimmick
I’ll be honest, I almost didn’t buy it. But it came with its own blaster, darts, and 10 balls, plus a 60-day money-back guarantee. So I ordered it.
It came in about a week. I tested it alone in my kitchen first. I missed 6 times in a row and laughed out loud.
Christmas Morning
My daughter snuck the old blasters out of the bin. I wrapped them up with the Hover Shot.
The boys had it plugged in before the wrapping paper hit the floor. Max missed his first 5 shots. Eli hit one and yelled so loud the dog barked.
My daughter made one rule. Aim at the balls, never at people or pets.
Then my son-in-law asked for a turn. Then I took one. Nobody touched the pie until it was cold.
What Happened After
In January, my daughter texted me a picture. It was a score chart on their fridge, Dad vs. Kids.
Did they give up their tablets? No. But the blasters aren’t in the bin anymore.
On a video call in February, Max said something I keep coming back to.
“Grandma, when you come, you’re playing.”
Max, age 8
I’m terrible at it. They cheer every time I miss.
For the first time in years, my gift wasn’t something they forgot. It’s something we do together. I still can’t quite believe it.
If You’re Shopping This Year
If you’re shopping for the kids in your life this year, I think you have 2 options.
One tip before you order
I ordered from the official Koko Home website. That’s where you get the full set and the 60-day guarantee. There are a lot of floating target toys out there, so make sure you’re getting the right one.