Shopping for an 8- or 9-year-old can be a real treat—they’re at a fantastic age for trying new things, diving into hobbies, and challenging themselves. Kids in this age group are full of curiosity, creativity, and energy, and they’re ready to tackle toys and games that spark their interests in new ways. Whether they’re experimenting with science kits, building elaborate structures, or getting creative with arts and crafts, they’re looking for toys that let them explore and grow. So if you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle, this is a perfect opportunity to give a gift that’s not only fun but also meaningful.
This guide is packed with toys designed to meet the interests and abilities of 8- to 9-year-olds. From toys that encourage teamwork and problem-solving to sets that fuel their imagination, there’s something here for every type of kid. These toys aren’t just about keeping kids entertained (though they definitely will!); they’re also about helping them build skills and confidence. With these picks, you’ll be giving more than just a holiday gift—you’ll be giving something that encourages curiosity and creativity.
Why You’ll Love These Toys
These toys go beyond simple play. They’re designed to challenge 8- and 9-year-olds in a way that makes learning fun and keeps them engaged for hours. Whether they’re putting together a challenging puzzle, exploring basic robotics, or creating something new, these toys support skills like critical thinking, creativity, and perseverance. And since kids at this age are often excited to share what they’re learning, these toys are perfect for family time or for showing off to friends, making them a great addition to any holiday celebration.
What makes these toys especially great is their versatility. They’re sturdy and built to last, meaning kids can return to them again and again without losing interest. Plus, these toys are designed to grow with your child, allowing them to discover new ways to play as they get older. You’ll feel good knowing that any gift you choose from this list will not only bring holiday joy but also be something that supports their growth and exploration all year long. Happy gift-giving!
Best Toys for 8-9 Year Olds: Holiday Gift Guide 2024
Squad Hero Rechargeable Laser Tag
LED Mask with Gesture Sensing
The Wild Robot Escapes
Nail Art Studio
Punching Bag
Clay Beads Bracelet Making Kit
Lego Gear Bots Science/STEM Activity Kit
National Geographic Marble Run with Motorized Elevator
Exploding Kittens
3D Brain Teaser Puzzle
Switch-eroo Color Changing Markers
Glow in The Dark Soccer Ball
Outsmarted – The Live Quiz Show Board Game
Jetson 2-Wheel Kick Scooter
Fat Brain Toys Trestle Tracks
Wooden Pin & Skittles Game
3D Puzzle
Inflatable Air Gymnastics Mat
Bath Bombs
Sewing Kit
Marvin’s Magic Marker Pens
Watercolor Paint Set
Personalized Name Necklace
LEGO DOTS Hogwarts Desktop Kit
Mini Basketball Hoops – Indoor Over The Door Mini Hoop
Steve Spangler Science Extreme Geyser Tube
Pandasaurus Games The Mind
Hair Chalk
The Magnetic Award-Winning Party Game of Skill
Piggy Bank
Binoculars
Winning Fingers Flashing Cube
Watch
Mini Drone
Karaoke Machine
Robotics Smart Machines Junior STEM Kit
Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Makes a great stocking stuffer!
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Connetix Magnetic Tiles
I first bought these amazing magnetic tiles when my kids were toddlers and now I am just adding to their sets. Their imaginations are bigger and more tiles lets them keep creating.
Magazine Subscription
Matching games and other puzzles boost problem-solving skills. Crafts and science experiments give kids self-confidence. Stories from other lands and cultures expand children’s empathy.
Laser Maze Logic Game
Laser Chess is a two-player strategy game that combines the spatial thinking skills of chess with the high-tech fun of laser beams. Players alternate turns moving their mirrored pieces around the board, and at the end of each turn, players fire a real laser beam from their Laser. The laser beam bounces from mirror to mirror, and if the beam strikes a non-mirrored surface of any piece, it is immediately removed from play. If you illuminate your opponent’s King – You Win.
Human Body Squishy Toy
| Use soft, squishy organs and hard, removable bones to create a realistic model. Squishy Human Body contains 9 vital squishy organs, 12 plastic bones and muscles, forceps, tweezers, and an Organ-izer mat. |
Melissa & Doug Suspend Family Game (31 pcs)
Easy to play: Our activity game for families is easy to set up and play; this hand eye coordination game includes 24 game rods, wooden base, 4 frame rods, colored die, and wooden connector
BANZAI Bump N Bounce Body Bumpers
Echo Dot
Kids can ask Alexa to play music, read stories, and call approved friends and family. The super-fun design delivers crisp vocals and balanced bass for full sound the whole family can enjoy.
GoldieBlox Cloud Dream Lamp
GoldieBlox is a media and entertainment company using storytelling to make STEM fun. Educate and empower children by creating engaging content, fun toys and interesting resources that will help build their confidence and their dreams.
Lego
3Doodler 3D Pen Set
Use the Activity Guide or hundreds of free stencils and tutorials on our website to make your own glasses, helicopters, masks and more. Enjoy doodling for hours with this 3Doodler Start+ booklet. Includes a wide variety of fun creatives project templates for the whole family!
MudWatt STEM Kit
MudWatt engages kids in science in a whole new way, using the power of mud! It harnesses the power of electricity-generating microbes naturally living in the soil beneath your feet. Kids experiment with different types of soil (and food from the fridge) to maximize their power. The free MudWatt Explorer App lets kids measure their power, track their MudWatt’s microbe growth, and unlock an awesome educational comic book. You can even power a digital clock and other electronics using the power of microbes!
Got2Glow Fairy Kit
Catch the magic glow, with the Got2Glow Fairy Finder by WowWee! With 30+ virtual fairies to collect in this Fairy Finder jar and 100+ fairies to collect in total, finding fairies never ends! Search for fairies in your bedroom, in the kitchen, outside in the garden, and even upside down – there’s always a fairy around!
Ravensburger GraviTrax Vertical Starter Set
GraviTrax PRO offers unique elements like pillars, walls and balconies to build taller tracks with more speed.
FujiFilm Instax Mini Instant Camera
Chroma Cube
Chroma Cube is one of those deduction puzzles that challenges solvers to use their deductive reasoning skills by showing the position of some color cubes, and giving clues that can be used to deduce where the other colors go.
Pictionary Air Drawing Game
Get up and get moving with Pictionary Air, a hilarious twist on the classic drawing game!
What Do You Meme Family Game
How To Play: Compete with your friends and family to create the funniest memes. Do this by using one of your dealt caption cards to caption (get it?) the photo card in each round.
More Toy Guides for Every Age
- Supplies for Toddler Activities
- Anti-Racism Toys for All Ages
- Backyard Toys for Kids
- The Best Travel Toys for Toddlers + Kids
- Best Toys for Babies 0-12 Months
- Toys for 1 Year Olds
- Toys for 2 Year Olds
- Best Toys for 3 Year Olds
- Best Toys for 4-5 Year Olds
- Montessori Toys for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
