educational birthday gift for 8 year old boy

Advertisement

• Gifts for babies and kids

The 32 Best Gifts for 8-Year-Olds

By Ellen Lee and Wirecutter Staff

At age 8, many kids are ready to level up to more-advanced toys and activities. A lot of 8-year-olds are playing team sports, getting involved in other clubs or hobbies, and tackling increasingly challenging projects on their own.

Kids who end up pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers may start developing those interests by age 8, said Tamara Moore, a professor of engineering education at Purdue University and the executive director of Inspire , a research institute in the university’s School of Engineering Education. (The research group reviews numerous engineering toys, kits, and games for its annual gift guide .) Opportunity plays a role here: Age 8 could mark the time of the “first spark,” when kids see and understand that it’s possible for them to become scientists or engineers, Moore said. “So you want to capture their imagination.”

Many engineering toys are recommended for kids ages 8 and older specifically because they have the dexterity to manipulate small pieces, the logic and reasoning skills to follow instructions, and the ability to focus on tasks for longer periods of time. Art supplies, craft kits, and creative games can also be a key part of the mix at this age, as many educational researchers have noted the importance of expanding STEM to STEAM , to include an emphasis on art, design, and humanities.

We relied on input from experts and members of our staff to find all kinds of gifts that are likely to engage and delight the 8-year-old in your life. If you’re looking for more kids gift ideas, check out our guides to the best gifts for 1-year-olds , 2-year-olds , 3-year-olds , 4-year-olds , 5-year-olds , 6-year-olds , 7-year-olds , 9-year-olds , and 10-year-olds , as well as wonderful stocking stuffers for kids. We also have guides to gifts for tweens and teens . (Just keep in mind that kids develop at different rates, so all age recommendations should be taken with a grain of salt.) And be sure to share your own best ideas in the comments below.

Code like a pirate

Potato Pirates

In this goofy card game, players captain a pirate ship crewed by potatoes—and may pick up some coding skills, too.

Buying Options

May be out of stock

This wacky card game for three to six players may look like it’s just a battle between cute little potatoes, but it also introduces kids to the fundamentals of computer programming. Each player is the captain of a pirate ship with a crew of potatoes, represented by soft tan balls. Drawing cards, players search for the elusive Potato King cards and take turns “programming” their ships to execute a function—for instance, “roasting,” “frying,” or “mashing” (that is, destroying) another ship’s crew. Students who tested Potato Pirates for Purdue’s Inspire Research Institute named this game one of its top-pick engineering toys . Fair warning: Regardless of age, players might need some help getting the hang of how this game works; the instructions can be difficult to decipher, one of our editors found.

Learn a new trick

Juggling for the Complete Klutz

This tried-and-true juggling set is great for beginners, with velour cubes that are easy to handle.

Juggling for the Complete Klutz , an instruction booklet (first published in 1977) accompanied by a set of three red beanbags, appeared under my family’s tree one year when I was a kid. My three younger brothers and I tossed the cube-shaped bags around for months until we became fairly proficient jugglers. To say that this set changed our lives would be an overstatement, but I’m proud to say that all four of us can still juggle. (To this day, my dad has hung on to our original set.) Klutz still makes the classic kit, which is recommended for ages 8 and older, and my 9-year-old is just gearing up to take on the challenge. The velour cubes are easy to grip, and the clear-cut instructions lay out the steps to successful juggling (the toss, the drop) with expertise and a dash of humor. Juggling is great for hand-eye coordination, but more than that, it’s one of those hard-won skills that help instill the joy—along with the inevitable frustration—of mastering something new. And it’s not a bad party trick, either.

A sticky challenge

Melissa & Doug Suspend Family Game

Players build a spindly structure by balancing metal rods—which can topple over at any time.

My kids and their friends love pulling out this Melissa & Doug Suspend Family Game , an easy-to-learn and easy-to-set-up game that was also recommended by Lisa Regalla, head of on-site and digital experiences at the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito, California, at the time of our interview. Players take turns balancing thin, bent metal rods (which come in an assortment of colors and lengths; a roll of a die determines which rod a player must use) on a stand, creating a delicate wire sculpture. If you place too many rods at a precarious angle, the structure, or parts of it, comes crashing down—a satisfying end to the game.

How illustrative

How to Draw All the Things for Kids

This approachable book shows kids how to sketch 42 charming illustrations, such as a unicorn, a submarine, and a turtle.

As the saying goes, never judge a book by its cover. However, in the case of How to Draw All the Things for Kids , it’s probably safe to do just that. The inviting images on the front of this how-to guide prompted me to pick it up as a birthday gift for my son’s friend; once we heard it was a hit, we got our own copy. The author, Dallas-based visual artist Alli Koch , demonstrates how to draw various things (an astronaut, a butterfly, a cactus plant, a strawberry) by breaking them down into their most basic, approachable steps. The resulting illustrations are streamlined and satisfying. (They’re also simple enough to allow room for individual embellishments.) I appreciate that the book is fairly short, with only 42 projects, so kids aren’t overwhelmed by trying to figure out what to draw. And you can work your way through it, regardless of how much experience or proficiency you’re bringing to the table. The series also includes books that show kids how to draw animals , magical things , and sea creatures .

Black heroes

Black Heroes: A Go Fish Card Game

In this beautifully illustrated take on Go Fish, each card features a historical or contemporary Black figure.

Black Heroes: A Go Fish Card Game is a 44-card game that introduces historical and contemporary Black figures across 11 categories: activism, art, exploration, fashion, film, literature, music, politics, science, space, and sports. Each card has the hero’s name at the top, a symbol representing the family the card belongs to, and a portrait of the person. Players trade cards and try to collect all four in a family. I love the excitement as my son recognizes key figures like Serena Williams and begs me to quiz him on James Baldwin’s birth year (1924). The deck also features under-discussed individuals, such as multimedia artist Faith Ringgold and Kenyan political activist Wangari Maathai , the first Black African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

Pom-pom projects

Klutz Mini Pom-Pom Pets

This craft kit lets kids make more than 20 adorable pom-pom critters.

My boys can’t get enough of cute little stuffies. So they were pretty excited to unwrap the Klutz Mini Pom-Pom Pets kit, which lets kids create their own diminutive animal friends from yarn pom-poms. My husband and I had to help with the first couple of critters, but the instructions are clear. And once the “body” is done—you wrap the included yarn around a fork to form a sort of ball, then clip the string loops, tie it off, and voilà!—the rest of the job, gluing on eyes and other features, is simple. The kids seemed to find satisfaction in envisioning and creating their own little bunny or chick, and one even gifted the resulting poofball to a friend who was going through a rough time. We liked the set with a variety of animals, but you can also focus on just pom-pom puppies or pom-pom kitties .

An iconic cube

Rubik's Cube

This classic puzzle has solvers twisting, turning, and spinning the pieces until the colors match.

GAN 11 M Pro

This updated speed cube offers a smooth feel, adjustable tension, and a snappy magnetic core.

There are, apparently, 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 ways to spin a Rubik’s Cube , the legendary puzzle, invented in 1974, that continues to draw new fans to this day. YouTube videos of people solving it blindfolded (and underwater , while juggling , and on America’s Got Talent ) only add to the enduring allure. Know an avid puzzler with a need for speed? Consider taking things up a notch with the GAN 11 M Pro , our upgrade pick for the best speed cube . An expert kid puzzler I know who can solve it in under 45 seconds also gave it high marks (and recommends the smaller, easier GAN 251 V2 speed cube for novices. The GAN cubes have adjustable magnets, and you can twist the interlocking pieces at a dizzying pace.

An approachable intro to chess

Winning Moves Games No Stress Chess

The cards included with this simple chess set walk players through the rules and potential moves until they’re ready to navigate the board on their own.

The board game is cardboard; the pieces are lightweight plastic. The special thing about No Stress Chess is that one side of the board is marked to remind you where to put the pieces to set up a new game, and a deck of cards instructs you on which piece to move, in a sort of training-wheels approach to understanding the game well enough to eventually make your own choices. Of course, using the cards means that you miss out on much of the strategy, but when my son was suddenly interested in learning to play chess, I found that the method helped me to quickly teach him (and refamiliarize myself with) the pieces and the rules of how to navigate the board. After maybe a dozen games, we graduated to cardless play. The game is officially rated for ages 7 and up, but since the cards have diagrams as well as words, some pre-readers may be able to understand them. And as kids pick up the game, you can consider upgrading to one of our favorite chess sets .

A book about differences

Different Differenter: An Activity Book About Skin Color

With thoughtful activities and prompts, this interactive book guides you through discussions about colorism and race.

Few books eloquently tackle the subject of race for kids while also offering something for adults. Different Differente r by Jyoti Gupta goes a step further, addressing a topic that, it turns out, is critical for kids to grasp before taking on racism: colorism. The beautifully illustrated Different Differenter introduces children—pictured with different skin colors, body types, and physical abilities—to terms such as melanin and genes, as well as cultural differences among families and family traditions. Because it’s also an activity book, it’s full of instructions on how to learn and interact with children on these topics through play. My then 5-year-old son, whom we call a chef for his love of playing with food, often asks to make the book’s recipe for laddoo, a popular Indian dessert. My teen took on one of Different Differenter ’s more serious activities: making a one-minute anti-bullying video. Between the art activities and the theatrical prompts, it’s a book that our family refers to often to kick off authentic conversations that are both warm and thoughtful.

A box for keepsakes

Singing Nightingale Treasure Box

Kids can store jewelry and other special treasures in this lovely musical box.

As my children age, they’ve begun to collect more special items that need safekeeping. The Singing Nightingale Treasure Box has two small compartments, one that opens at the top and a pull-out drawer at the bottom, which are great for hiding small mementos such as jewelry, little notes, or even random mini collectibles like special coins. This elevated jewelry box’s eye-catching artistic details also stand out—it almost looks as though each box is painted by hand. And a small gold crank in the back prompts the box to play a classic Italian folk song loudly and clearly.

Ultra-satisfying clay

Hey Clay Aliens

This air-drying-clay kit pairs with an app that walks kids through building jaunty, colorful alien figurines.

We also recommend Hey Clay in our gift guide for 6-year-olds , but we’ve found that our own kids can’t get enough of the stuff, and that little kids who started with sculpting farm animals or birds may appreciate wackier aliens or monsters down the line. The molding mania begins with 18 cans of delightfully textured clay. Kids can either sculpt on their own or create figures with the help of a fun instructional app. Burgeoning sculptors learn useful techniques, such as how to introduce texture, and the clay dries completely in 24 hours, resulting in a figure that can be displayed or played with. Artistic-expansion opportunities aside, these kits are also excellent travel companions. One word of warning: Once the individual pots of clay are open, it’s a good idea to use up the contents within a couple of weeks. We’ve found that they dry out if left alone for much longer.

Circuit construction

Elenco Snap Circuits Classic

Kids can use this circuitry kit’s color-coded pieces to build radios, alarms, doorbells, and other electronic gadgets.

E-Blox Circuit Blox Build Your Own Sound Machine & Radio

This circuitry kit includes wire blocks, switches, and other gizmos to make 120 electronic projects.

From a toy house that lights up to a working radio, the Elenco Snap Circuits Classic and E-Blox Circuit Blox Build Your Own Sound Machine & Radio building sets allow kids to explore the fundamentals of electronics and circuit design with easy-to-use pieces that snap together. The Snap Circuits Classic set, one of our recommended STEM toys , comes with basic components such as power sources, switches, and wires. The E-Blox Circuit Blox pieces are similar to Snap Circuits pieces but resemble—and are compatible with— Lego bricks . STEM education expert Elizabeth Gajdzik told us that she likes both sets for kids who are interested in exploring the basics of circuitry, though she found that the E-Blox pieces could be easier to manipulate for kids with a little less dexterity.

A storytelling game

Players of all ages can enjoy this simple storytelling game with its stunning art and open-ended structure.

My daughter came home from a friend’s house one day raving about “a bunny game.” The bunnies turned out to be from Dixit (players are represented by bunny-shaped game pieces), one of Wirecutter’s favorite board games for both kids and adults and a past winner of the Spiel des Jahres prize for general-audience games. Dixit players each receive six wordless cards that bear provocative and interesting illustrations (though my daughter and I noticed that the humans represented in those illustrations could be more diverse). In each round, a “lead player” chooses one of their cards and makes a short statement—a sentence, poem, story, song, even a single word—about what’s on it, without revealing what it is. The other players respond by selecting a card of their own that they think best fits with the statement, and then everyone votes on which card is the closest match. Rather than rewarding speed or dexterity, Dixit is all about creativity, provocation, and storytelling.

Balls that keep the game going after dark

GlowCity Light Up LED Basketball

Two motion-activated LED lights inside this basketball allow kids to keep shooting hoops after dark.

GlowCity Light Up LED Soccer Ball

This light-up soccer ball, available in multiple sizes, is ideal for evening play.

Even in places where winter nights are temperate enough to spend time outdoors, it can be tough for kids to play their favorite sports once the afternoons grow short. Backyard or driveway lighting helps, but it can still be difficult to see a ball well enough to avoid the occasional face shot. GlowCity’s Light Up LED Soccer Ball (available in regulation size and smaller) and Light Up LED Basketball solve this problem because they light up from the inside, allowing kids to keep the game going as late as they want to—or at least as late as you let them. The company also makes a football , but we haven’t tried it.

Bigger adventures ahead

REI Co-op Tarn 18

This versatile daypack has comfortable shoulder straps, an adjustable waist belt, ample room for water, and plenty of space for other assorted treasures collected along the way.

The durable REI Co-op Tarn 18 is one of the best hiking backpacks for kids , though my own kids have used it for a lot more than just camping trips and mountain trails. Our family has also put it into service on cross-country flights and loaded it up for playdates and park outings. And more recently it has even been put to use as my third-grader’s school bag. (We pulled the now-years-old pack from our gear closet particularly for its rows of daisy-chain loops, which are ideal for attaching an army of tiny stuffies to the outside of the bag.) The 18-liter bag, which also includes a built-in whistle and a slot for a water bladder, is best for kids about 8 and up and is likely to fit them well into their early teen years. (Smaller kids will do better with the REI Co-op Tarn 12 .)

Friendly reminders

Loopdedoo Friendship Bracelet Maker

This nifty loom turns vibrant threads into bracelets, headbands, and other accessories.

Friendship bracelets are a nostalgic craft that have made a big comeback. “It’s a nice gesture for kids to be able to give something that’s homemade and that lasts,” said Debbie Imperatore, manager and buyer of Funky Monkey Toys & Books . The Loopdedoo Friendship Bracelet Maker kit includes a spinning loom that twists the included brightly colored threads into bracelets that, according to Imperatore, are not like the ones you might remember braiding in the ’80s or ’90s. “It makes these gorgeous, multidimensional designs that are truly gift worthy,” she said. In 10 minutes, kids can weave bracelets, headbands, necklaces, and other accessories into designs as simple or as intricate as they want, thanks to a set of online step-by-step Loopdedoo video tutorials .

Fabulous watercolors

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors

The paints in this luxurious set dilute and mix like watercolors but have the rich vividness of acrylic paints.

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors represent a step up from most watercolors, and a set makes a special and likely unexpected gift for a kid (or an adult) who’s interested in graduating to next-level artistry. Made by a 117-year-old sumi-ink manufacturer in Nara, Japan, this set features an array of bright colors to experiment with, and the large pans and quick-dissolving formulation make the paints easy to use, even for kids.

Mac B., Kid Spy: The First Four Books

This series follows kid-spy Mac B. on his top-secret assignments for the Queen of England.

City Spies Classified Collection

Traveling everywhere from Paris to Beijing, five globe-trotting kids take on daring undercover assignments in this thrilling series.

The Spy School vs. SPYDER Collection

Humorously hapless Ben Ripley gets into all sorts of misadventures at the CIA Academy of Espionage.

Book series, with their compelling characters and familiar worlds, can do an especially good job of drawing kids in and getting them excited about reading. I witnessed this firsthand when my son was in the third grade and got hooked on the spy-kid genre—he would finish one series and then immediately move on to the next. Lucky for him, there’s no shortage of options. The premise is often the same, some variation on the theme of an otherwise totally ordinary elementary schooler getting plucked from obscurity and thrust into the high-stakes world of international espionage. But how the authors spin their yarns is where you’ll find the secret sauce. The Mac B., Kid Spy books by Mac Barnett feature clever humor and lively illustrations. The City Spies Classified Collection by James Ponti is moodier and more self-serious. With 10 books and counting, the Spy School series by Stuart Gibbs keeps the formula fresh by constantly switching up the setting (think Spy Ski School and Spy School British Invasion )—they all sounded slightly like campy ’80s movies to me, and they all kept my kiddo negotiating for a later bedtime.

Finishing touches for projects

Kid Made Modern Arts and Crafts Library

This maximalist craft kit contains more than 1,000 googly eyes, beads, jewels, and other supplies.

Regardless of whether your kid is especially arty, the Kid Made Modern Arts and Crafts Library is an appealing toolkit for a wide array of creative endeavors. It’s the finishing touches like those found here—beads, stick-on jewels, pom-poms—that take a project from good to great. (We also recommend the 300-piece Kid Made Modern Rainbow Craft Kit in our guide to the best gifts for 7-year-olds .) And when the treasure trove begins to dwindle, the 10-by-16.5-inch cardboard box itself can serve as a space to store miscellaneous arts-and-crafts items your kid already owns.

$50 and over

A trip to the theater.

TheaterWorksUSA Tickets

TheaterWorksUSA produces popular kid-focused musicals and plays that tour around the country.

A few years ago, my sister gave my son tickets to see Dog Man: The Musical , based on Dav Pilkey’s ridiculously popular series about a cop with a dog’s head and a human’s body. The production was good, cheeky fun, and I found it gratifying to see my son perk up to a spectacle unfolding IRL instead of on screen. But what I love most about this gift, and any gift of theater, is the built-in opportunity to spend time together. We had lunch beforehand and then talked about the show for days afterward: Which actor was funniest? Was Petey the cat more evil in the book or onstage? Many cities have terrific kid-focused playhouses (such as the New Victory Theater in New York) and play host to touring shows, including those supported by TheaterWorksUSA , which brought us Dog Man and produces a number of other kid-focused musicals featuring beloved characters and stories, such as Charlotte’s Web , Pete the Cat , and The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System. But options exist in small towns, too—nights out with my parents to see a local school production remain among my favorite childhood memories.

A doll to pass along

American Girl Truly Me Doll and Accessories

This popular line of 18-inch dolls comes in a range of skin tones, hair colors, and styles.

I can think of no single toy that I coveted more fiercely as a child than an American Girl doll . They were expensive then (around $80 in the early ’90s), and they’re still expensive now. (They’re also a pick in our guide to the best dolls .) But for my sister and me, they were a long-term investment in imagination and love, in more ways than I could have realized at the time. We cherished and played with our dolls through adolescence, amassing a collection of outfits and high-quality accessories. Years later, my stepmother rescued our dolls and their belongings from the attic and sent them off for a restorative stay at American Girl’s Doll Hospital . A quarter-century after we first got them, we presented the spiffed-up American Girls to my two daughters when they were right around the same age. They now love their dolls, just as I remember my sister and I having loved ours.

When I was a kid, American Girl offered just five dolls, each from a different time period. The company has since expanded that line of historically themed dolls , but nowadays it also has a much wider, more diverse, and more inclusive slate of dolls , allowing your child to choose one that looks like them. To my delight (and awe at the march of time), American Girl introduced a new historical doll in 2020: an ’80s girl named Courtney .

A lunar landing pad

Lego City Lunar Research Base 60350

This 800-piece Lego set includes everything necessary to live and work on the moon, including a research lab, a rover, and even a tiny microscope.

The Lego City Lunar Research Base set imagines life on the moon, from a moon buggy for getting around to a habitat with sleeping quarters and a tiny garden. One of our favorite Lego sets for kids , it comes with large pieces for easy construction, as well as small pieces that add charm and fun details, such as a petri dish and beaker for the lab. Six brave Lego figurines live on the base (and come with the set). The set is also compatible with Lego’s other space-exploration playsets; it includes a docking point for the Lunar Roving Vehicle .

An easy read

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids (11th generation)

This e-reader is waterproof, has a two-year warranty, and comes with a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+.

Some folks get skittish at the prospect of introducing an e-reader to kids, and I understand where they’re coming from: The last thing children need is another screen to suck them in, right? I was skeptical about buying one for my then-second-grade son, remembering how much I had loved the tactile delights of real books when I was growing up, and wanting the same for him. But after a year and a half of regular use, I can happily report, the benefits of my son’s Kindle far outweigh the sacrifices. (We have an earlier model, but the Kindle Paperwhite Kids is waterproof, offers adjustable light, and is Wirecutter’s upgrade pick for the best e-reader ). Two of the obvious perks—as adult e-reader converts can attest to—are the convenience (an unlimited library that’s lightweight and portable) and the long-term cost-effectiveness (thousands of titles are included with a monthly $5 subscription to Amazon Kids+ for Amazon Prime members). I also appreciate how low-fi the whole experience feels: Unlike tablets, with their videos and apps and untold rabbit holes, the Kindle serves up only black-and-white words on a page. And I’ve noticed that as soon as my son finishes a book on his Kindle, he rushes to find the next one—the rare example of a kiddo’s desire for instant gratification having a healthy by-product.

A cozy comforter

Pottery Barn Solar System Glow-in-the-Dark Duvet Cover

With patterns like glow-in-the-dark solar systems, Pottery Barn Kids’s comfy duvet covers are out of this world.

Utopia Bedding Quilted Comforter

This affordable comforter is fluffy, warm, and breathable.

If your 8-year-old is still sleeping with a comforter from their preschool days, they may be ready for an upgrade. Pottery Barn Kids duvet covers represent a nice middle ground between little-kid bedding and adult linens. The covers come in more than 50 colors, prints, and patterns , including glow-in-the-dark solar systems , Minecraft, and ballerinas. The more classic options, such as checkered, floral, or solids, could grow with a kid through their teenage years. Our family chose a pastel, watercolor-like rainbow print for our three kids’ beds, and I’ve often remarked to my husband that the silky cotton fabric feels softer and finer than that of our own duvet cover. The Pottery Barn Kids covers have handy corner ties that attach to a comforter insert to keep it from shifting around. Pair your cover of choice with the inexpensive but ultra-fluffy Utopia Bedding Comforter Duvet Insert , Wirecutter’s pick for the best down-alternative comforter .

Crash landing

Skil-Care Crash Pad

This large, squishy foam pad is great for belly flops, roughhousing, and lounging.

The Skil-Care Crash Pad is like a supersize beanbag, except that it’s filled with ultra-absorbent pieces of foam, and rather than encouraging kids to chill out, it practically begs them to summon their inner Hollywood stunt double. An occupational-therapist mom friend first told me about the Crash Pad; she keeps a bunch of them in her office gym for pint-size patients to gleefully topple into. My son primarily uses the cushion for doing epic belly-flops, horseplaying with his friends, and (way less frequently) curling up to read. We keep it in his room, and when my husband and I do our nightly bedtime rounds, we both make a beeline for it—this pad may be the most comfortable spot in the house. It comes with a nonnegotiable royal-blue nylon cover. (Note: I like the extra-large, 35-pound, 5-by-5-foot model because it provides a lot of runway for shenanigans, but it’s definitely huge. Skil-Care also makes a more scaled-down, 3-by-4-foot version.)

Marvelous marbles

Ravensburger Gravitrax Starter Set

This elaborate marble-building set comes not only with tracks and junctions but also special pieces such as a magnetic cannon and marble vortex.

My then-8-year-old spotted this next-level, build-it-yourself marble run at a local toy store and requested it from his grandparents for the holidays that year. The toy, which has you stack and arrange plastic disks to build complex marble-racing routes, incorporates concepts of gravity, magnetics, and kinetics, and it feels far more refined overall than the taller, tubular plastic marble runs we encountered when my son was younger. (This GraviTrax set was one of the top picks in Inspire Research Institute’s past gift guides .) I’ve found that it’s the sort of thing he pulls out and focuses on for a few days and then doesn’t play with again until a number of months later. But each time my son rediscovers GraviTrax in the game closet, he seems ready to take his marble chutes to the next level of complexity.

A superior sled

L.L.Bean Polar Slider DLX Sled

This speedy plastic toboggan is comfortable, extremely durable, and easy to load into a car.

A favorite in our guide to the best sleds , this zippy, nimble, and long-lasting plastic toboggan is an impressive all-round sled. Because it can be steered, the Polar Slider DLX is suited to a greater variety of hills than the somewhat-faster snow tubes we recommend for wide-open, straight sledding hills (and in our guide to the best gifts for 6-year-olds ). Among the otherwise-flimsy plastic toboggans we’ve tested—some of which have shattered on the first day of testing —this sled’s thick, flexible plastic stands out. Rider-friendly upgrades—including a grippy, lightly padded sitting area and a convenient pull strap—help to justify the higher price. Our only complaint is its small(ish) size: We managed to squeeze an adult and a kid (or two kids) into the 48-inch “extra large” size; the 36-inch version is definitely a one-person ride.

An invention kit from MIT

JoyLabz Makey Makey

This STEM kit can turn household objects into electronic devices—like a pumpkin keyboard.

Developed at the MIT Media Lab, Makey Makey is an “invention kit” that connects to a computer via USB and allows kids to turn household objects into a keyboard, a controller, or a touchpad. (If this is hard to visualize, check out this video or this project guide , which shows some of the things that kids can create with Makey Makey, including a banana piano and a Play-Doh gaming controller.) The possibilities are endless, which is why Makey Makey is recommended by Lisa Regalla, the head of on-site and digital experiences at the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito, California, at the time of our interview. “You can hook up fruits, vegetables, flowers, anything that mildly conducts electricity,” Regalla said.

Sleek headphones that sound as they should

Puro Sound Labs BT2200-Plus

These comfortable, stylish headphones, which can work wirelessly or with a cord, limit volume to kid-safe levels.

Though a lot of headphones for kids claim to keep volume to safe levels for developing ears (under 85 decibels), many fail to actually do so. The Puro BT2200-Plus headphones, one of our upcoming picks in our guide to the best kids headphones , remain within safer listening levels when used properly—and were the favorite of all of our kid panelists. While other kids headphones are made of breakable cheap plastic, the BT2200-Plus set has a well-constructed aluminum frame. The Bluetooth connection lets kids use these headphones wirelessly or with a cord. (Puro also makes a version with active noise cancelling, called the PuroQuiets , which we also recommend.) The BT2200-Plus headphones come in a range of appealing colors, and they’re sleek and fun without looking like a toy.

A fun first smartwatch

Verizon Gizmo Watch 3

Kids can call, text, and video-call up to 20 designated people with this smartwatch.

Verizon’s Gizmo Watch 3 is a fun smartphone alternative for kids who are ready to venture out on their own a bit—it’s a pick in our guide to choosing the best first smartwatch for your kid . The Gizmo Watch 3 can make phone calls, send simple preset text messages (such as “Where are you?”), and produce silly fart sounds, in addition to telling the time. It’s a tool that allows school-age kids to communicate simply but easily with their parents or other caregivers, potentially contributing to their own growing independence. It also uses GPS to track a kid’s location, which parents can see on a smartphone app; this feature may help some people feel better about their kids’ first solo ventures.

A baller gift

Spikeball Standard 3 Ball Kit

This lawn game can be as active and competitive as players desire, involving everything from casual volleying to aggressive diving.

My sister has five kids, so finding a single gift that appeals to the whole lot has always been both a challenge and a moving target. The wildly physical Spikeball backyard game has been a hit with the entire crew, their friends (ages 8 and up), and parents. Spikeball is played a little like volleyball but with a much smaller ball and a net pulled taut over a mini-trampoline base (instead of stretched between poles). Two teams of two gather around the net, volleying the ball back and forth to one another before spiking it down onto the net at the other team. It’s fun and exhausting for all, yet it doesn’t take up a large amount of space in a backyard. This game is also easy to pack down for travel to the beach or park.

Take them out to the ball game

Tickets to a professional or collegiate sports game (price varies)

Eating cotton candy may have been my son’s favorite part of going to baseball games, but he still loves reminiscing about all the games he’s been to with his dad. Taking a kid to a live sports event can be a special shared experience, whether they’re witnessing a series-winning home run or cheering for a breakaway shot. And it doesn’t have to be a high-profile game: For an 8-year-old, a minor-league hockey game can be just as fun and memorable as the Stanley Cup playoffs. (Your closest pro team’s website should have a link to its minor-league affiliate, or you can search for the minor-league affiliates by sport, such as baseball .) You could also check to see whether any professional soccer games, women’s basketball games, or ultimate tournaments are hosted in your area. If you have your heart set on tickets to a matchup that will be on the front of the sports page, keep in mind that the “nosebleed seats” are less expensive and may actually deliver a more relaxed experience. Yes, you might have to catch some of the action on the Jumbotron, but if your kid gets tired or overwhelmed by the noise of the crowd or the blaring music (as my son has in the past), you won’t feel as bad about leaving early.

We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend .

This article was edited by Kalee Thompson.

Meet your guides

Ellen Lee is a senior staff writer covering baby and kid gear for Wirecutter. Her work has also appeared in The Atlantic, BBC, and Real Simple, and she was previously a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. She is also the author of the (ADJECTIVE) Lunar New Year Mad Libs book. (We’re hoping you filled in the blank with “hilarious.”)

Wirecutter Staff

Mentioned above

• Speed cubing turns the iconic fidget toy into a competitive challenge. We tested 14 cutting-edge cubes to find the best options for all skill levels. The 3 Best Speed Cubes (And Why the Rubik’s Cube Isn’t One)  
• Chess can be intimidating but buying a set doesn’t have to be. We talked to one of the last chess-shop owners in NYC to get tips on how to select one for you. How to Pick the Best Chess Set  
• We spent more than 30 hours trying 35 recommendations from experts, educators, and parents to pick the best learning and STEM toys. Here’s what we found. Learning Toys and STEM Toys We Love  
• We spent 20 hours researching nearly 50 board games for kids. Read on to find out our favorite games for preschoolers, elementary-school kids, and families. Board Games We Love for Kids and Families  
• Our board game picks include options for new gamers, more-advanced players, and those looking for party, travel, cooperative, dexterity, or two-player games. The Best Beginner Board Games for Adults  
• A great outdoor pack should be comfortable to carry, durable, and designed to offer easy access to hydration. Here are five backpacks we think kids will love. The Best Kids Hiking Backpacks  

31 Gifts for 8-Year-Old Boys to Encourage STEM Skills and Creativity

There’s a big world out there to discover. Help them dive in.

If you buy something from the links on this page, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?

There’s something about 8-year-old boys that’s truly unique. They’re delightfully chaotic little eccentrics who rarely, if ever, think through the consequences of their actions. Basically, inside every 8-year-old boy is a mad scientist — with an emphasis on the “mad.” And, like mad scientists, they’re also creative and insightful. They find inspiration absolutely everywhere, probably because the world is still sort of new to them. We wanted to pay homage to this weird, well-meaning sense of wonder with our round-up of gifts for 8-year-old boys.

More Gifts for Boys:

• Gifts for 7-Year-Old Boys That Will Inspire New Hobbies
• Gifts for 9-Year-Old Boys That Will Educate and Entertain
• Gifts for 10-Year-Old Boys to Make Him Look Cool Around His Friends

GOTRAX Fluxx FX3 Hoverboard

Close your eyes and think about what you’ve always wanted as a child. The correct answer is “a hoverboard.” It could be tempting, therefore, to deny your 8-year-old boy a hoverboard out of pure, understandable jealousy, but … come on. Let them live your dream (and live vicariously through them).

Henoda Programmable Robot

Whether your 8-year-old boy loves putting things together or just really enjoyed Wall-E, this DIY remote-control robot is a great gift. Build your new robot pal and then play with him using the remote control. It’s a great adult-child project for quality bonding time and fun.

National Geographic Metal Detector

What kid doesn’t dream of finding buried treasure? With this metal detector from National Geographic, your 8-year-old boy really can find exciting discoveries up to 12 inches below the surface. From neat old bottle caps to rare coins, you never know what’s right under your feet until you hear the beep.

Flybar Pogo Ball

Generally speaking, 8-year-old boys are in a constant state of bouncing, wanting to bounce, or trying really, really hard to keep from bouncing. For times when bouncing is OK, this pogo ball is perfect to get all that energy out in the most fun, entertaining way possible.

ThinkFun Gravity Maze

The goal is simple: use towers to create a maze to get your marble from the start point of the puzzle to the end… it’s not as easy as you think! You can also get creative and come up with mazes of your own design.

Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes

If you’re like me, you never actually learned how to make a proper airplane, so your attempts leave something to be desired when it comes to gliding through the air. But with this book, your 8-year-old boy will know how to make 10 aerodynamic designs! Includes 40 sheets of folding paper.

More: Best Toys for Kids

MammyGol Adjustable Rollerblades

OK, we’ve waited long enough: it’s time for rollerblades to make a comeback. Officially. Is there anything like gliding along the sidewalk in a pair of these? This design from MammyGol is adjustable up to three sizes, so they’re certainly built to last for years. The wheels even light up for added fun!

K'NEX Building Set

A perfect gift for 8-year-old boys who love to build. This set comes with 480 classic K’NEX parts which will allow him to create structures, experiments, gadgets, and toys — the only limit is his imagination! The snap-fit pieces stick together securely but can be easily reassembled into other creations.

Beast Lab Shark Creator

Mix the ingredients to create the greatest beast warrior Earth has ever seen with this fun new toy, which will appear as if by magic (well, science magic). Ingredients really smoke and fizz!

Scholastic, Inc. “Captain Underpants” 10-Book Collection by Dav Pilkey

Tra-la-laaaaaa! Everyone’s favorite comic superhero is here in a 10-book box set. Full of side-splitting humor, lively illustrations, and no small amount of potty jokes, your 8-year-old boy will love it.

LEGO 3-In-1 Super Sonic Jet

We’re big fans of Lego 3-in-1 sets because it gives so many opportunities for creative play. This set can be made into a supersonic jet, a helicopter, and a powerboat. Just as fun to build as they are to play with.

Spirograph Deluxe Set

They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result … unless you’re playing with a Spirograph, in which case doing the same thing over and over only makes your patterns more complex and mesmerizing!

Gears, rings, and ballpoint pens will help your child make millions of gorgeous patterned designs.

Exploding Kittens LLC Throw Throw Burrito Game

In this exciting, fast-paced game (“like Uno meets Nerf”), players must compete against each other for card matches to earn points… but, every now and then, you just might need to have a duel. Or a brawl. Or even a war!

But don’t worry — in every case you’ll fight by hurling squishy, adorable burritos at one another. The player with the most matched cards wins!

Playz Edible Candy! Food Science Chemistry Kit

There’s a place where molecules collide and chemical reactions are the norm. A remarkable, almost magical laboratory: Your kitchen! And with this set, your 8-year-old boy will be able to take advantage of all the science your kitchen has to offer … and maybe a couple of yummy treats along the way.

Amazon Echo Dot Kids 5th Generation

This Echo Dot is designed with kids in mind, and will allow your child to listen to music, stories, and more, but has Parental Controls capabilities so you can keep them safe (and not listening to stories until after bedtime). Comes in Dragon and Owl designs.

Watson-Guptill “Draw 50 Animals” by Lee J. Ames

Age-appropriate, easy-to-follow instructions will help your burgeoning Picasso perfect their craft as they learn to draw a menagerie of their favorite animals. Perfect for young artists who want to take their talent to a new level or the kid who wants to try something new.

Klutz Lego Gadgets

Your 8-year-old boy will learn how to build 11 unique machines, from a catapult to a micro movie maker. This experience (and the 58 Lego elements included) will give him the foundation to go on to create his own designs.

Finders Seekers Mysteries Junior Explorer Subscription Box

Never hear “I’m bored” again! Well, OK, not never, but at least for the day every month this subscription box arrives.

Each box contains hours of adventure as your 8-year-old boy explores different world cultures, solves mysteries, examines natural wonders, and makes art!

Magic Tree House “Merlin Missions” by Mary Pope Osborne Box Set

For the early reader who loved the Magic Treehouse series but is ready for something a little more challenging! In this series of 25 books, Merlin the Magician sends Jack and Annie on a new adventure every book, from Night of the New Magicians to The Shadow of the Shark .

Pressman Toys Mastermind Vertical Box

In this classic game of strategy, one player creates a pattern with brightly colored pegs and hides it. The other player must deduce what that pattern is in 10 turns or less.

With more than 2,000 combinations possible, it won’t be easy, but it is sure to be a hit with your 8-year-old boy.

Gift Ideas for 2024

56 Best Gifts for New Moms

50 Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gifts to Save the Day

40 First Mother’s Day Gifts She’ll Love

30 Mother-in-Law Gifts She’ll Treasure

60 Unique Gifts for Mom

31 Stepmom Gifts That’ll Make Her Feel the Love

The Best Gifts for Taurus Signs

45 First Father’s Day Gifts for the New Dad

The 32 Best Taylor Swift Gifts to Celebrate TTPD

The Most Fun Gifts for Toddlers At Every Stage

40 Best High School Graduation Gift Ideas

23 of the best gifts for 8-year-old boys, from craft kits to skill-building games

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

• We spoke to a toy industry expert to learn what toys and games 8-year-old boys are excited about.
• From challenging games to sports-inspired gifts , here are 21 of the best gifts for 8-year-old boys.
• Still looking for a gift? Check out our list of the  All-Time Best products we've ever tested .

Stuck trying to figure out what to buy the 8-year-old boy on your list? They can be a tricky bunch. They're not quite kids, but they're not quite teenagers yet, either. Of course, many boys like toys typically branded for girls and vice versa, so don't forget to look beyond the stereotypical gift ideas when doing your shopping. 

To help us find some of the best gifts for 8-year-old boys, we spoke to Madeleine Buckley , senior editor at The Toy Insider. "You'll want to be looking for activities, toys, and games that are a bit more advanced for independent play, but that still foster imagination and skill development," she said. 

When shopping for a gift for an 8-year-old, look for something that inspires advanced independent play while still fostering imagination, Buckley explained. 

Here are 23 of the best gifts for 8-year-old boys:

A game that gives back.

Jenga Ocean, available at Bureo, $49.95

Take this fun classic game and make it sustainable! Made from 100% recycled fishing nets, Jenga Ocean teaches kids to "save the animals" via special rules that are unique to this version of the game.

A fidget that has gone viral on TikTok

Nee Doh The Groovy Glob, available at Amazon and The Paper Store , from $12.40

Buckley explained that fidget toys are popular among kids of all ages, but they can be particularly helpful for improving focus in 8-year-olds. Needoh is a popular fidget toy that kids have probably seen all over social media and at school. This simple and inexpensive gift is sure to excite.

A musical instrument building kit

Smartivity Music Machine, available at Amazon, $33.97

"This toy is an awesome example of a sneaky STEM toy," according to Buckley. Kids will work hard building their music machine from 237 different parts. When they're done, they'll have a fully functional xylophone to play.

A cooking club subscription

America's Test Kitchen Kids: Young Chef's Club, available at America's Test Kitchen, from $16.99/month

A cooking kit is a great way for kids to begin exploring culinary arts. America's Test Kitchen delivers a monthly box for kids that includes recipes like tacos and activities and games that teach kids about the ingredients that go into the meals they prepare. 

A book to help them create a better world

A Kids Book About Being Inclusive, available at A Kids Book About, $19.95

Learning how to be inclusive is a skill and a daily choice. This book will help him make the right choices, as it encourages acceptance, belonging, and uniqueness.

An interactive Lego set

Lego Super Mario Adventures with Luigi Starter Course Kit, available at Amazon , Target , Best Buy , and Lego , from $59.95

This interactive Lego set challenges kids to earn digital coins as they build and play. "Lego sets overall are a great gifting option for this age," Buckley said. If the 8-year-old on your list isn't into Super Mario, there are plenty of other fun Lego options to choose from.

A family card game with a dash of potty humor

Poo Pocalypse Card Game, available at Amazon, $24.99

Play into your 8-year-old's potty humor with this family card game. It's a simple game that only takes about 15 minutes to play, but there's no doubt it will have even the most mature members of your family laughing.

An all-inclusive Beyblade set

Beyblade Burst Evolution Star Storm Battle Set Game, available at Amazon, $36.99

Eight-year-olds who enjoy battling their Beyblades will appreciate this new set that includes an arena, two spin tops, and two launchers. Battle sets like this encourage togetherness since it's much more fun to battle against an opponent.

A new take on an old favorite

Tamagotchi Star Wars: R2-D2, available at Amazon, $19.99

Parents who grew up with Tamagotchi will enjoy sharing this pastime with their kids. This Star Wars version tasks kids with taking care of R2-D2, keeping him happy so the Jawas don't take him away.

A construction kit that encourages creativity

Offbits Build Your Own Robot Kit, available at Uncommon Goods, $19

This unique construction kit teaches kids how to build robots with step-by-step instructions, but the fun doesn't stop there. It comes with extra parts to encourage kids to imagine and build their own creations.

A prank set for the practical joker

Wicked Pranks and Jokes Set, available at Amazon  and FAO Schwarz , from $19.79

Eight-year-old practical jokers will get a kick out of this set that includes all the materials they'll need to complete pranks and jokes. Some of the included pranks include jumping spider eggs and a selfie phone squirter.

A kit for crafty animal lovers

Fat Brain Toys Make A Real Mosaic Unicorn, available at Fat Brain Toys, $24.95

If you know an 8-year-old who loves to craft, this mosaic kit consisting of real stone tile will delight. Choose from a variety of animals, including this mythical unicorn or an owl , tiger , or panda .

An active indoor toy for rainy days

Fat Brain Toys Door Pong, available at Amazon and Fat Brain Toys , from $24.95

Many 8-year-olds have an urge to move all the time . When they're stuck inside on a rainy day, they'll be able to keep busy with this door pong set. It's designed for two players and attaches to the top of any doorway.

A finger skateboard for busy hands

Tech Deck Starter Kit, available at Amazon, $24.99

If your 8-year-old is always daydreaming of skateboarding and moving his body while he's stuck sitting down, he'll enjoy these finger skateboards. The set comes with a signature pro board and a ramp.

A challenging game of skill

Fat Brain Toys I Got This! Game, available at Amazon and Fat Brain Toys , $24.95 

In this game, players are presented with challenges, but before they attempt the activity, they have to predict how many points they'll be able to win. Not only do players have to excel at the challenges, but they also have to be good at estimating their own abilities.

A Pokemon building set

Mega Construx Pokemon Building Pack, available at Target, $14.79

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021, Pokemon remains popular among kids. With this set, 8-year-olds will be able to build four different Pokemon characters. It also includes a pre-built Poke Ball.

A high-flying ball

Waboba Moon Ball, available at Amazon and Fat Brain Toys , from $8.95

The Waboba Moon Ball can soar up to 100 feet in the air and makes a unique popping sound when it hits the pavement. This ball is ideal for active 8-year-olds who enjoy playing ball games and spending time outdoors.

The ultimate Battle Bots arena

Hexbug Battle Bots Arena Max, available at Amazon and Target , $119.99

This Battle Bots arena includes more fighting space than previous versions, and it comes with interactive elements including a motorized auger and hammers. It also allows kids to engineer their own robot, sneaking some education into this fan favorite.

A game that's as gross as it is fun

Jelly Belly Bean Boozled Game, available at Walmart. $4.97

In this game of chance, kids might eat a delicious jelly bean, or they might eat one that tastes like barf. Eight-year-olds will love nothing more than to try these themselves and to pass them around the dinner table.

A guide to making the coolest paper airplanes

Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes Craft Kit, available at Amazon , Walmart , Fat Brain Toys , and Macy's , from $14.98

Say goodbye to flimsy paper airplanes that barely make it across the room. This book teaches kids how to make aerodynamic paper airplanes. It also includes paper with fun designs to add some style to their planes.

A ramp for scooters and bikes

Ten-Eighty Micro Flybox Ramp, available at Buy Buy Baby and Amazon , $49.99

If he is a daredevil on his bike, scooter, or skateboard, this ramp will take things to the next level. It has a slip-resistant finish to help prevent falls and is great for kids who are just starting to use ramps.

A lap desk with storage

NBA Super Storage Lap desk, available at Pottery Barn Teen, $79

Give an 8-year-old a comfortable place to do homework. This versatile lapdesk can also be used as a food tray, art desk, and more. It has interior storage compartments and a comfy basketball-themed cushion underneath.

A basketball hoop for their room

Spalding NBA Slam Jam Over-The-Door Mini Hoop, available at Amazon and Urban Outfitters , from $34.99

If they can't get enough basketball, let them play right in their own bedroom. Simply mount it over their door, and it's ready to go. It also comes with a 5-inch rubber basketball. 

• Main content

Trending Post : Books Made Into Movies

Awesome Toys and Gifts for 8 Year Old Boys

This post may contain affiliate links.

Looking for cool gifts for your 8 year old boys? Look no further. Here’s a great list of gifts, games, books, and toys that your 8 year old boys will be happy to receive for Christmas or another holiday such as a birthday. Scroll down to see all the cool ideas.

I love giving gifts, and my kids circle all the magazines and make long lists — so that I can pick exactly what they want. To do research about boy gifts, I ask my friends and research online. I hope you’ll find exactly the perfect gift ideas that will work for your 8 year old boy.

You Might Also Like:

2023 Toy & Book Gift Guide for Kids

All book recommendations for 8-year olds

Activity Books for Ages 5 – 8

Craft and STEM Activity Kits for Kids

Best Gifts for 8 Year Old Boys

Things in the Basement  by Ben Hatke I adore this beautifully drawn and narrated adventure set in the world of…the basement!  When Milo’s baby sister loses her special pink knit sock, he searches for it in the basement. The basement leads Milo to another basement, and then another basement, and to a whole labyrinth of basement worlds. He befriends a friendly skull named Chuckles, an eyeball creature named Weepie, and a ghost named Belle. Milo uses the sock’s yarn, help from his ghost friend, and his problem-solving skills to rescue his friends from the Gobbler and return home with the pink sock. This is a fantastical, magical journey of  friendship ,  kindness , and secret worlds!

LEGO Deep Sea Explorer Build your own submarine and get jellyfish, fish, 6 explorers, a skeleton, and more.

Squishmallows 8-Inch Red Panda Meet Cici, an adorable red panda!

Anarchy Pancakes If you’ve played Spot It, the visual matching game, then you’re almost ready for ANARCHY Pancakes, Anarchy emphasized. Because in this wild game of chaos, there are no turns! Players match and grab at will — as quickly as they can. Fun and funny.

LEGO Super Mario Donkey Kong’s Tree House This set lets you build a tree house for Donkey Kong plus you will get fun accessories.

Almanac 202 4 National Geographic Kids With schooling at home and more families homeschooling, the National Geographic Almanac is a must-own resource for families. Practice your nonfiction reading comprehension skills as you learn about animals, space, science, history, geography, and much more. Each page is designed to entertain and educate with stunning layouts and eye-popping photographs.

Dude Diary Young writers — check out this interactive journal with awesome prompts that comes with it’s own lock and key! So cool for 8 year old boys.

Maki Stack Family Party Game Aren’t these wooden sushi pieces the best? Pick a card, then race to build a matching stack using the pieces of sushi, soy sauce, and mat. My daughter and I often play this before bedtime and love it. We like that it takes about 10 – 15 minutes and makes us laugh. Play with two people or play in teams of two. In teams, one person wears a blindfold, and their partner communicates how to build the stack correctly to them.

iPad Pro  +  Apple Pencil Both the Pro and the Apple Pencil have been much-used gifts for both my girls. They’re loving the pencil for drawing apps and think the functionality of the Pro is so much better than their old iPads.

Just Joking Jumbo  by National Geographic Kids Holy Smokes! Your eight year old kids will love this book. It’s packed full of awesome jokes and photographs; it’s hefty and impossible not to love. Fun facts added throughout make it extra interesting.

LEGO 3 in 1 Creator Robot Explorer  The best thing about these 3 in 1 kits is that kids get to build three different things from one set of blocks! This kit offers directions to make a robot dog, robot bird, and robot explorer. (Sorry, it’s not a real robot.) A great gift for 8 year old boys.

More Gift Ideas

Best Gifts for 3 Year Olds

Best Gifts for 4 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 4 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 5 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 5 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 6 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 6 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 7 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 7 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 8 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 8 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 9 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 9 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 10 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 10 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 11 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 11 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 12 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 12 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 13 Year Old Girls Best Gifts for 13 Year Old Boys

Best Gifts for Teen Boys Best Gifts for Teen Girls

Holiday Gifts for Kids: Gift Guide for All Ages

STOCKING STUFFERS for KIDS AND TEENS Ages 3 – 13

Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

Similar Posts

11 Fun Games to Play in the Car

Book Birthdays! Bookish Road Trips for Kids

How to Teach Kids Persuasive Writing: Books & Teaching Tips

Impressive New Graphic Novels (June & July 2020)

Book with Hundreds of Storytelling & Writing Prompts for Kids

10 New Middle-Grade Books, June 2018

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

41 Coolest Gifts for 8-Year-Old Boys in 2023

By: Author Janessa

Posted on Last updated: December 12, 2023

Believe it or not, I have FIVE boys. As you can imagine, there is a lot of noise and energy at my home. That’s okay though; I love my boys so much!

It’s really fun to shop for presents for boys. They are into so many fun toys and games at age 8. I spent some time rounding up a list of the coolest, trendiest gifts for 8-year-old boys to share with you. Whether you are shopping for Christmas, a birthday, Easter, or just because, you’re sure to find lots of great gift ideas for him!

General Gift Ideas for 8-Year-Old Boys

• Dart/Nerf Guns
• Board games and card games
• Video game systems (Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox, etc.), video games, and accessories

Shop Online for Gifts for an 8-Year-Old Boy

I spent some time rounding up a list of my top picks of toys and other gift ideas for 8-year-old boys. All of these items can be purchased online and are linked below.

Best Gifts for an 8 Year Old Boy

I've compiled a list of the best gift ideas for 8-year-old boys. So many gifts that they're sure to love whether it's Christmas, a birthday, Easter, or just because.

LEGO Star Wars Chewbacca Plush

Eight-year-old boys are going to love this plush because it combines two of their favorite things - Star Wars and LEGOs! This adorable plush looks just like the LEGO mini of Chewbacca, except this one is soft and great for snuggling with!

Chewbacca is durably constructed with a soft body and flat feet, enabling him to stand upright on shelves as room decor if desired.

Air Warriors EZ Fire Blaster

Sometimes younger kids have a hard time pulling the trigger on dart guns, but this EZ Fire Blaster from Air Warriors requires 50% less force than what's typically required, making this gun a top choice for my 8-year-old! He can get in there and play dart guns with the older kids easily now.

This dart gun can blast them up to 80 feet and requires no batteries!

Backyard Adventures Custom-Designed Playground

My son LOVES his playground from Backyard Adventures! This is definitely a big gift, but it's perfect for a Christmas gift that he will use for years to come!

Goats' Day Out Game

The Goats have gone wild and are eating everything in town!

Choose a goat and pick from the pieces in your tray to start stuffing their bellies. The food supply rotates as the goats chomp, munch, and consume their way around time. This isn't just a feeding frenzy, you have a gut to fit the food into! Great for groups of friends, this wacky, fast-paced game will have you laughing as hard as you are thinking!

Stay ahead of the game by strategizing which pieces fit best inside your goat's stomach. But don't get too far ahead of yourself, as the trays rotate every turn and the goats every round! Much, crunch, arrange, pass, repeat!

Boys will love this game - mine sure do!

Playmobil Catamaran

My boys love Playmobil. They are a great toy option for 8-year-old boys! This set in particular would make a fun gift for a summer birthday.

The sea is calling! Experience exciting vacation dreams on the floatable Playmobil Catamaran.

The catamaran has a bridge with a steering wheel, a seating area with a glass bottom, a sun net, two sails, and lots of delicious food for a relaxing day at sea. The little girl can be pulled through the water in the swim ring. Two water wings provide the necessary safety.

The Catamaran can also float and can be equipped with an underwater motor - perfect for the pool (not included, but sold separately).

1MORE SonoFlow Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

My son loves listening to audiobooks but needed his own pair of headphones. These wireless headphones from 1MORE have great sounds, a long battery life and are just perfect for him!

The Skeleton Dungeon Minecraft LEGO Set

Boys love LEGOs and Minecraft, so you can be sure this is a winning combination! They are some of the best toys for boys at this age.

This fun set has caves to explore and skeletons to battle! This set is affordable for just about any budget but big enough at 364 pieces for hours of fun!

Ravensburger Stomp the Plank Board Game

Boys will love this adorable and fun pirate treasure game! Search Captain Giraffe's chest, but don't get caught... or your elephant will walk the plank! In this colorful and fun pirate game, flip over treasure cards, avoiding repeats. The more cards you reveal, the more treasure you earn... but you risk stomping the plank!

Flip over the Stomp the Plank box to set up your pirate ship with attachable planks. Add tokens to the end of your opponents' planks to make them tilt. Whose elephant pirate will fall first?

Deluxe Magic Set from Melissa and Doug

Lots of boys are starting to get interested in magic at this age. This fantastic set from Melissa and Doug includes 10 professional caliber, yet easy-to-master, tricks for beginners!

Young magicians can improve their confidence and fine motor skills as they amaze family and friends with exciting tricks and illusions! "Secret Silks," "Magic Number Prediction," and Egyptian Prediction are some of the tricks included.

My son has had so much fun doing his own magic tricks thanks to this kit. It's one of his favorite Christmas gifts from last year.

Adventures with Peach Starter Course - LEGO Super Mario

My boys love their LEGO Super Mario sets! They have a few and love to get them all out and set up their own Mario scenes!

If you don't have any LEGO Super Mario sets yet, you have to start with a starter set, like this one. This set has 354 pieces and includes an interactive Peach figure!

Once you have a starter set, expand it with other Super Mario LEGO building kit for even more fun!

Star War: Lightsaber Forge Inquisitor Masterworks Set Double-Bladed Electronic Lightsaber

My boys LOVE Star Wars and if your 8-year-old boy does too he is going to love this lightsaber from Hasbro!

The hunt for Obi-Wan Kenobi is on! Gear up for the fight with this awesome lightsaber inspired by the lightsaber used by Reva (Third Sister) in the STAR WARS: OBI-WAN KENOBI series on Disney+.

Featuring entertainment-inspired design, deco, and sound effects, this customizable lightsaber includes 2 extendable red blades, 2 caps, 2 electronic hilts, and 3 clip-on rings so kids can create their own lightsaber with 3 modes of play.

It's the perfect gift for Star Wars fans!

Beyblade Burst QuadDrive Interstellar Drop Beyblade Stadium Battle Set

Beyblades are HOT right now. My nephew introduced them to my boys and they are loving them!

Beyblade QuadDrive includes the first ever 4-in-1 top! QuadDrive tops can be configured in 4 ways, for 4 ways to strategize, 4 ways to customize, 4 modes to battle, and 4 modes to win!

Modify your top to gain the battle advantage then customize the battle on 2 levels with the Interstellar Drop Battle Set!

This set comes with Interstellar Drop Beystadium, 2 right/left-spin launchers, 2 extra Armor Tips, and 2-sided removable disc. Also includes 2 right-spin QuadDrive tops: Devastate Evo Belfyre B7 G01 QD06 TS22-Q A07 and Prominence Phoenix P7 G10 QD03 TB16-Q D05.

Battle on the top level of the Beystadium, then remove the disc, drop through the Warp Hole, and take the battle to the drop level. Swap Armor Tips to change the top type.

Scan code on QuadDrive tops to battle in the Beyblade Burst app too!

Raccoon Tycoon Game

Racoon Tycoon is a hit game from Forbidden Games that 8-year-old boys will love, especially those who love strategy games! Players purchase Railroad cards, Town cards and Building tiles to become the most successful tycoon in Astoria!

The character art in this game is so adorable. My kids love it! Since players buy, sell, and auction during this game, it's educational too, without them even realizing it!

This strategy game is one the whole family will enjoy!

The Official Minecraft Coloring Book

If your 8-year-old boy likes Minecraft (and most do!) he'll love this official Minecraft coloring book! It's full of highly-detailed illustrations that provide hours of coloring fun!

Adventure Force Alpha Auto 72 Dart Blaster

Blast darts up to 100 feet with this fully automatic, battery-operated blaster! The Adventure Force Alpha Auto 72 features the largest capacity drum holding 72 darts for epically long battles! Darts are compatible with all Adventure Force blasters & most standard Nerf blasters.

He will LOVE playing with this dart gun!

Kids Athens - Deep Sea

Check out Kizik shoes, they're the easy on/easy off for the kid who’s always on the go. Once your family goes Kizik, you'll never want another shoe!

The Athens has Kizik’s signature spring-back heel, plus outsoles that bounce back for cushy walking. Plus, it stays on for all that jumping, running, climbing, and all-around kid stuff.

ComfyBean Kid's Bean Bag Chair - Hemp

Bean Products Comfy Bean Chairs are a classically designed 5 panel retro style, kid-sized bean bag chair.

Constructed with the highest quality heavy hemp fabrics available and filled with signature blend of recycled polystyrene beads and shredded foam called "Superfill", these chairs live up to their name!

If you're trying to cut back on screens and encourage the love of reading and stories, check out Storypod!

Storypod is an audio system that's a great option for engaging little kids with multi-sensory stories, music, and skill-building. Children can hear age-appropriate audio whenever they’d like, from breakfast to bedtime.

Miranda's boys love their Storypod!

S777 Home Pro Electric Shaved Ice Machine

For a unique gift that kids LOVE, check out this Shaved Ice Machine! This home-use ice shaving machine shaves soft, snow-like ice in a matter of seconds.

Koosh Flix Stix

Test your skills head-to-head with Koosh Flix Stix!

The fun of lacrosse meets the innovation of Koosh for an easy catching and gameplay action. The large pocket on the Flix Stix combined with no-bounce Koosh balls makes catching and throwing a breeze!

Kids love to challenge friends, pass Koosh back and forth, and see how far you can flick it!

Koosh was originally developed as an easier way to play catch, and this tactile wonder is now a classic toy that households everywhere enjoy.

Playmobil - How to Train Your Dragon Racing: Astrid

My kids have LOVED the How To Train Your Dragon movies and this playset is perfect for any HTTYD fans! Playmobil is always a great option for fun pretend play for boys!

Star Wars Kenobi Deluxe FRS Walkie Talkies

Communicate with your friends, allies, and even enemies from across the galaxy when you grab a set of these Kenobi Deluxe FRS Walkie Talkies. They are perfect for role play, adventure, and fun.

GABB Safe Watch Or Phone

If you're looking for a way to keep your kids protected and connected, check out GABB.

Kids can call, text, group message, take and send photos --- all without the use of internet. Parents are also able to track where the kids are through the Gabb app!

Use promo code "THRIFTYNIFTY" to get the BEST discount on GABB Watches & phones .

It's the perfect way to keep them connected to family and friends while keeping them safe.

LEGO Set Jurassic World Blue & Beta Velociraptor Capture

You can never go wrong with LEGO! My boys absolutely love building LEGO sets and this one is great for dino lovers.

This officially licensed LEGO Jurassic World Blue and Beta Velociraptor Capture Set is perfect for fans of the blockbuster movies. The kit contains everything you need to assemble a pickup truck with a capture cage as well as a motorcycle. Two human mini-figures and figures of Blue and Beta add to the fun.

Puppy Warmies Junior

Warmies Juniors Plush are fully microwavable so they can provide soothing warmth and comfort to anyone who snuggles them!

These adorable soft toys are scented with real dried French lavender and perfectly weighted for a positive sensory experience.

Koosh Cameos - Jurassic World - Blue

If you grew up with a Koosh ball, check out these Koosh Cameos with a Jurassic World twist!

These cameos feature the familiar rubber strands of your classic Koosh ball, which have been perfectly combined with amazing pop culture characters.

Spirograph - 3D

The Spirograph is a classic that never goes out of style and this version is a must have!

Make amazing Spirograph designs that appear to jump off the page with this awesome Spirograph 3D!

Kids can make endless dimensional designs, thanks to the special design pads, blue and red colored pens, and two sets of 3D glasses! Spirograph 3D is the classic way to make amazing 3D designs!

Ravensburger GraviTrax POWER Starter-Set Launch Marble Run & Construction Toy

My son got one of these GraviTrax sets last year for Christmas and loved it. He is HOOKED! A few of my other kids are as well!

GraviTrax is the perfect Christmas and birthday gift for boys who love to build.

This new POWER Launch starter set allows children to automate their marble run via a radio signal and remote control.

The GraviTrax interactive track system allows kids to design and build their own race tracks and experiment with gravity, magnetism, kinetics, and now with this starter set, even power the marbles!

Innovation Academy - Movie Projector

This gift choice is educational plus a whole lot of fun!

With Movie Projector, boys can create their own miniature movie theater with a working animation projector, while exploring light and optics! Easy-to-follow illustrated instructions help kids build their project independently. Wire circuits, project lights, and make moving pictures while investigating light and the human eye!

EPOS - H3PRO Hybrid Wireless Gaming Headset

Confession - I have a husband who likes gaming and 5 boys but I know very little about gaming supplies. What I DO know is that EPOS makes this headset that my husband and sons have said is AMAZING!

If your 8-year-old boy loves gaming and, like me, you have no idea about all of the things that go with it, don't worry. Just get him this wireless headset and he will be thrilled!

This headset is the ultimate wireless gaming solution: tons of connection options, Active Noise Cancellation, audio mixing of chat and game. All in a lightweight frame that delivers pristine wireless gaming for up 30 hours.

Star Wars Villainous Board Game

This is a great board game for boys who love Star Wars!

In Villainous, you’ll play as an iconic Star Wars Villain. Choose Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, General Grievous, Asajj Ventress, or Moff Gideon.

Each Villain has a unique objective and abilities. Players can meddle with their opponents by forcing them to face off against Jedi and heroes like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and The Mandalorian.

This game is recommended for ages 10 and up by the manufacturer, so I do want to mention that, but many 8-year-old boys will be able to play it just fine.

Adventure Force Blitz 6 Dart Blaster

My sons love having an assortment of dart guns in many sizes. Smaller than the gun mentioned above, the Adventure Force Blitz 6 Dart Blaster is perfectly sized for running around and just as fun to play with!

Like the dart gun above, this one can also shoot up to a distance of 100 feet and it comes with 12 darts.

Secret Decoder Deluxe Activity Set - On the Go

He'll have so much fun with this set where he can crack codes, uncover hidden clues, reveal secret messages, and be a super sleuth.

This set features 3 unique activity books (Secret Decoder, Seek & Find, and Secret Message), 2 magic-reveal sticker sheets, 2 decoder wheels, 2 color-change markers, an invisible-ink marker, and a seek & find lens.

This set provides him with dozens of mini mysteries to solve!

Think Fun Dragon Falls 3D Login Puzzle

I've never met an 8 year old boy who didn't like dragons! This gift is a great way to challenge his mind while having fun too!

In Dragon Falls, your goal is to use the dragon pieces shown on each challenge card to build two complete water dragons.

Dragons intertwine through the waterfall and around the jutting rocks in clever ways, so he’ll have to plan carefully to solve each puzzle.

Once he masters all of the challenges, he can create his own Dragon Falls scene to display!

Geomag Mechanics Magnetic Gears

My kids love the magnetic building sets from Geomag. They are so well made and a fun STEM activity.

Made with recycled plastic, Mechanics Motion Magnetrric Gears 160 pieces is an extension of Geomag Classic and enhances play activity by exploring both the mechanic and magnetic forces.

Models can be moved by either a manual push or magnetic drive. By identifying the two magnetic poles (north/south), kids can construct functioning models in many shapes and sizes all while using the proper magnetic force to hold them together or repulse them to activate motion.

Boys will build amazing models while building ball bearings and use the repelling force of magnets to magically create movement with no contact!

The variety of the shapes and their transformations make it possible to renew structures continuously.

Includes a portable storage box and an instruction booklet.

SmartGames Treasure Island Game

SmartGames Treasure Island challenges players to find the location of the hidden temple by placing 3D island pieces on the board with clues and hints in each of the 80 challenges (from easy to expert). A great deduction game for ages 8 – adult, Treasure Island pieces have a unique shifting mechanism that you have to use to fit the pieces in place!

This is a great way for boys to exercise and challenge their minds while having a lot of fun too!

Potion Permit Video Game

You can never go wrong with a fun new video game for young boys! Potion Permit has been getting great reviews and it's rated E for everyone!

Potion Permit takes place in the quaint town of Moonbury, which is incredibly wary of the outside world’s advances and prefers to rely on its traditional methods of healing. Until one tragic day when the mayor’s daughter falls ill and the local witch doctor is helpless to save her, they are forced to look outside their small-knit community for help.

As the Medical Association’s most accomplished chemist, players are endowed to cure the mayor’s daughter and convince the Moonbury residents of the wonders of modern alchemy in the charming sim RPG, Potion Permit.

Potion Permit is available on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store and Nintendo eShop, and on Amazon Luna with an Amazon Prime subscription. Retail copies are available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.

The Ice Castle LEGO Minecraft Set

Another great new Minecraft set from LEGO is The Ice Castle Set! It's got 499 pieces including a a Royal Warrior, yeti, 2 skeletons and 2 zombies.

Young boys will get hours of playtime with this colorful LEGO Minecraft building set! Combine it with other Minecraft LEGO sets for even more Minecraft fun!

Deluxe Pit Game

Pit has been a popular game for over 100 years now. That's right, 100 years! The rules are simple: Deal the cards, wait for the opening bell, scream, and trade like crazy, be the first to corner a specific market (nine cards of the same suit), and ring the closing bell.

Boys will love this fast-paced card game from Winning Moves games that's easy to learn and provides hours of fun game time!

Pokemon Battle Let's Go Mad Libs - by Laura Macchiarola

What's the super fun gift that's educational too? Mad Libs! Boys love helping to write these fun stories and fans of Pokemon will be extra excited to find Mad Libs about their favorite Pokemon characters!

Monopoly the Card Game

Give fans of Monopoly a new way to play this classic game! If Monopoly and Rummy combined, this is the game you'd get!

The object is to draw and trade until the 10 cards in your hand are organized into one or more of the Monopoly “color-groups”.

It's an easy game to learn and play!

Nintendo Switch

If he doesn't have his own Nintendo Switch yet, you can be sure he wants one! Boys love video games and the Nintendo Switch is so much fun plus portable too!

Related Posts

If you’re shopping for gifts, we’ve got lots of other helpful gift guides too. We have Harry Potter toys and gifts, the best toys for Minecraft gifts , and LEGO gifts . We also have gift ideas for 4-year-old boys and gift ideas for 10-year-old boys too.

Friday 21st of July 2023

I love the Nintendo Switch and LEGO Set Jurassic World Blue & Beta Velociraptor Capture.

Saturday 15th of July 2023

Even my girls will want the Koosh Cameos - Jurassic World in blue. It is so cute and fun to play with.

Friday 14th of July 2023

We have the Think Fun Dragon Falls and it is a fun and challenging game. So many other great options like the Beyblades.

Wednesday 23rd of November 2022

I like the The Skeleton Dungeon Minecraft LEGO Set.

Saturday 19th of November 2022

I have a 7 year old on my list and there are so many items on this list that would be fabulous for him. He would love the GraviTrax, or the Minecraft Legos.

BACK IN STOCK!! Hydraulic Cyborg Hand!

Shop by Age

• My Account / Login

Great Gifts for 8 Year Old Boys

We have great gifts for 8 year old boys tried and tested by actual 8 year olds, so you know you'll be the best birthday gift-giver at the party. From classic arcade games, to robotic dinosaurs, and neat gadgets, every eight year old's birthday will improve when they open their gift. We can send your present gift wrapped with a handwritten card as well!

• Dinosaur Toys
• Educational
• Outdoor Fun
• Brainiac Toys
• Fashion & Style
• Toys From Ukraine
• Not Made in China
• Unicorn Gifts
• Spooky & Spells

Spy X Night Mission Goggles

For night-time exploring and adventures - see in the dark!

Metal Detector - Detects to 6" Depth

Lights up & sounds for different types of metal - scour for treasure!

Orbiter Flying Ball - Control with your Hand!

Easy to use, with bright LEDs and infrared sensors – very cool!

Astroshot - Hovering Target Game

Hit glowing balls hovering in mid-air - awesome shooting game!

Tin Can Robot - Make your Own

Transform a metal can into a fun bog-eyed walking robot - brilliant!

Harmonica Set - Learning Music Made Easy!

Inspired set teaches you how to play this 4-hole harmonica easily.

Birthday Approaching

...order before 4pm EST & we'll ship today!

Just For Boys Bracelets - Cool Dude!

Cool bracelets in imitation leather with metal chains & silver beads

Only In America - Fun Activity Book

Packed with fascinating facts, fun puzzles & games from all 50 States.

Planets Cube Book - Solar System Facts

Reveal fascinating facts and figures - keep turning to keep learning!

iMagic - Virtual Reality Phone Magic

Perform amazing tricks on your phone with App - smart magic!

WindBots - 6 in 1 Robot Build Kit

Build wind-powered robots that can walk, fly & sail - brilliant fun.

Mirror Mazes - Reflect Challenge Game

Using a mirror image, race to complete your maze first - 100 games.

We can gift wrap for you

& write a card!

Box of Frogs - Sticky, Squishy, Stretchy

Two large & colourful frogs that stick anywhere - great for pranks!

The Super, Epic, Mega Joke Book

Best kids joke book we have found - & we are the experts.

Minecraft Magnetic Travel Puzzle - 40 challenges

Solve fun logic puzzles from Easy to Expert - defeat the Ender Dragon!

Waboba Big Kahuna Ball - Bounces on Water!

Amazing 3'' ball that actually bounces on water - great for pools!

The Upside Down Challenge - Very Funny!

Hilarious challenges wearing goggles that turn everything upside down.

Chain Reactions Lego Kit - Moving Machines

Design & build amazing moving structures from LEGO!

Bean Boozled - Jelly Bean Challenge, Yummy or Not?

Test your tongue's fortune in this sweet vs. gross tasting game.

Smart Soccer Ball - Counts Juggles Aloud for You!

Interactive Soccer ball with lights & sounds that counts your tricks.

99% Positive Rating!

Read Our Reviews:

Independent, Authenticated, Trusted

12 in 1 Solar Hydraulic Construction Kit

Make 12 moving mechanical animals & machines, all solar powered.

Pocket Vortex Howler - Howls as it flies!

Awesome throwing with this 6 inch foam ball with long-distance tail.

6 in 1 Solar Recycler - Fun Green Energy!

Build six moving robot models using recyclable items & solar power.

BrainBolt - Fast Light-Up Memory Game

Can you think quick & remember the sequence of lights correctly?

Blocky Book Light - A Bright Idea!

Flexible reading light with a block design - coolest on the block!

Sound Bites - 20 Funny Sound Effects

For when you need an excited Whoopee, Game Over or even a Whatever!

Spin Copter LED - Light up the Night!

Blasts up to 150 feet, looking like a firework & floats down - wow!

Dragon Glider - Flies 80 Feet

Smooth gliding & easy to throw - an awesome flying dragon!

Infinity Loop Flow Rings - Kinetic Marvel!

Flows & rolls along your arm like a metallic bubble - the new craze!

600,000 gifts delivered

...and counting

Sticky Wall Crawlers - Watch them Go!

Throw at walls & windows, then watch them move down - splat & crawl!

Dino Poop - Bath Bombs!

Fragrant, fizzy balls of colorful dino poo to plop in the bath!

Dodgetag - Hit the Target!

Fun tag game with colorful Velcro vests & 4 soft dodgeballs.

Wicked Pranks & Jokes - For The Prankster!

Outrageous belly laughs - 100 mischief-making jokes with props.

Lights From Anywhere - Junior Edition

Make a light leap from hand to hand, come out of your ear & disappear.

Dog Crimes - Who's to Blame Logic Game

Use deduction skills to solve 40 canine crimes & sniff out suspects!

LED Light Up Gloves - Age 8 to 13

Awesome LED gloves with 6 colorful light modes - light up the night!

Chess Teacher - Learn to Play the Game

Each large named piece shows how it moves - clever aid to learning.

The Encyclopedia of Unbelievable Facts

Fascinating 112-page encyclopedia packed with facts for curious minds!

Sonic Booma Sports Boomerang - Returns Every Time!

Awesome boomerang with whistling wings & 60' flight range.

Stinky Pig Game - Pass Him Quickly!

Pass the parcel style game with a humming pig who farts - very funny!

Tetris - Handheld Game with Original Sounds

Officially licensed, portable 3.5" version of the famous arcade game.

Pac-Man - Handheld Classic Game

GeoSafari SeaScope - See Underwater

Explore secret underwater habitats in 5X magnification - awesome!

Lego Race Cars Kit - Build & Customize, Race

Engineer the fastest Lego car and test your skill racing side by side.

Happy Birthday Oreo Box - Belgian Chocolate

Delicious Belgian chocolate covered Oreo Cookies - three wishes!

The Little Book of Backyard Bird Songs

Appreciate nature & become a bird-song expert!

Dinosaur Tattoos - 50 Temporary Tattoos

Awesome book of temporary tattoos - packed with fascinating facts!

Action Camera - Waterproof HD WiFi

Compact mountable HD video camera with tripod, memory card & WiFi.

Scabs 'N' Guts - Yucky Board Game!

Answer gross questions about the human body & discover cool new facts.

Choices making you dizzy?

Shut the Box - Classic Wooden Numbers Game

Flip tiles to match the dice & shut the box - quick thinking fun!

Amazing Magic Pens - 25 Color Changing Markers

Create 3D lettering, change colors & even write invisible messages.

Throwback Pocket Video Console

Harken back to the golden age of gaming with over 150 games!

Cats & Boxes - Logic Puzzle Game

Fun cat-themed logic game with 60 challenges from easy to expert.

Bear Soapstone Carving Kit

Easily carve a unique 3.5" sculpture from soft stone - bear-y cool!

Root Beer - Brew Your Own Science Set

Brew 2 gallons of your own root beer with natural ingredients - fun!

Microjet - Returning Boomerang Plane

Throw this super smooth plane up to 10ft & it always comes back!

Interactive Glow T-Shirt - Black age 7-8

Draw on the glow in the dark canvas panel with UV light - stand out!

Wandini - Magic LED Levitation Wand

Dazzle friends with a magic, levitating light wand that changes color!

Mega Spin Gravity - Yo-Yo the Easy Way!

Light-up yo-yo automatically returns to your hand - nice and easy!

Zorbi Magic Flying Saucer - Incredible Illusion

Cool 3" disc with LEDs seems to hover in mid-air - just like magic!

MagiCandle - Makes Every Party Spectacular!

Create a dazzling light show on your birthday cake!

Who am I? - Classic Guessing Game

Hilarious fun guessing who or what is on your headband - Am I a fish?

Illusion Cubes - 120 Fun 3D Challenges

Crazy optical illusion puzzles to baffle your brain & wow your eyes!

Bouncing Planets - Make your Own

Make amazing multicolor balls that bounce & look like planets - cool!

Guess Poo? Game - Flush Them Out!

Identify the mystery poop in this laugh-a-minute game - doo-lightful!

Flashing Blue LED Baseball Cap

Lights up or flashes in funky electric blue - the coolest of caps.

Magno Darts - Magnetic Dart Game

A 14.5" dartboard and 12 safe, sure-stick magnetic darts - game on!

Inflatable Toss Target Practice - Two sports in one!

Improve your accuracy against a 44'' football & baseball player.

Waboba LED Flyer - Lights Up on Impact!

How long can you keep this feathered Flyer off the ground?

We have 12 types of gift wrap for you

…and we do the wrapping!

Slam Dunk Zzzopa Ball - Spin it, Bounce it, Throw it, Fidget!

Bouncing ball you can spin on your fingertips - the new fidgety craze!

IQ Circuit - 120 Challenges

From Easy to Expert, can you connect the dots to complete the circuit?

Bubble Gum Workshop - Make Your Own

Make over a quarter pound of tasty homemade bubble gum - sweet!

Game Controller - Milk Chocolate, Take a Break!

Safe to interrupt gaming with this choccy treat!

IQ Mini - Fun Logic Challenges

Brilliant pocket-sized single player game - there's always a solution!

Thumbler - Light-Up Fidget Sphere

Cool gyroscopic fidget creates a dazzling display - science in motion!

Amazing Artist Kit - Learn to Draw

Brilliant pack with pencils, pastels, charcoal, techniques & more!

Mancala - One of the World's Oldest Games!

Exciting strategy game - simple yet addictive five minute game.

Escape from the Aquarium

Solve puzzles & create a magic potion in this fun escape room game!

Mexican Train Dominoes - Plays Train Sounds!

Classic game with 91 colorful dominoes & a train hub that makes sound!

Star Wars Folded Flyers

Make 30 paper starfighters in 6 designs - use the Force!

Solar System String Lights - LED Planets

Bring the Solar System into your room with ten awesome planet lights.

Exercise Dice - Fun Fitness with a Roll!

Brilliant dice give you random exercises and reps - feel the burn!

Zombie Brains - Bath Bombs to Die For!

Fizzing, fragrant bath bombs with a brainy twist - for zombie fans!

Jellyfish Lamp - Color Changing Mood Light

Amazingly lifelike jellyfish move around as the light changes color.

Red Mini Hornit - For Bikes & Scooters

Array of lights & 25 fun sound effects - UFO, motorbike, even a lion!

Lawn Darts - Glow in the Dark

Brilliant version of the classic game with 9'' glow in the dark darts!

Crystal Coral Reef - Grow Your Own!

Cool science kit - grow 3 colorful coral formations with crystals.

Slingshot Glider - Awesome Flying at High Speed!

Launched by slingshot - the harder you pull the further it flies!

Collapsible Water Bottle - Soccer Ball

Soccer ball-shaped 18 fl. oz. collapsible water bottle - neat!

Detective Toolkit - Ten Unsolved Mysteries!

Help Sherlock Holmes solve tricky cases with this fun interactive kit.

Dragon - 3D Cardboard Model Kit

Make a cool 2.5" dragon with layers of sturdy cardboard - awesome!

Chameleon - 3D Cardboard Model Kit

Make a cool 2.75" chameleon with layers of sturdy cardboard - cute!

Top Secret Journal - Invisible Ink Pen

Confidential, lockable notebook for secrets, written with invisible ...

Raven Crossdart - Fires up to 50 feet!

Cool toy crossbow with super-safe suction darts - amazingly accurate.

ICEE Machine - Coldest Drink in Town

Make refreshing slushies for hot summer days - very cool!

PAC-MAN Waffle Maker - Tasty Treats

Make Pac-Man shaped waffles and start your day with a smile!

Human Body Cube Book - Clever!

Learn all about the human body with fascinating facts & diagrams.

Phone Escape Room - Crack the Code

An Escape Room game for your phone - work together to solve the clues.

Math Magic - Astonish your Friends!

Read minds & perform funny math tricks, entertaining & clever!

Super Bendy Light - Strike a Pose!

Fun light with bendy poseable legs to grab, cling & attach anywhere!

Burger Balance - Relish the challenge!

Stack the wooden burger without toppling over - fun balancing game.

Plop Trumps - It's the Business!

Trumps with a difference - a perfect blend of science and yuck-factor.

Temple Trap - Fun Logic Thinking Game

Escape the deadly temple - 60 fun challenges to test the brain!

Fifty Pranks to Freak Your Friends

Everything you need to be a semi-professional prankster.

16 x 32 Binoculars - National Geographic

Top quality, robust set with 16x magnification - for the adventurer.

Waboba Wingman - Flying Silicone Disc

Flies straight over 40 yards - then fold up & fit in your pocket!

Mega Bounce XTR - Bounces over 30 feet!

The world's bounciest ball - bounces higher than a 2 story building!

Hyper Pipe - Awesome Bike Blaster!

Makes realistic engine sounds like a motorbike - very cool.

Water Magic Straws - Fun Fizzy Flavors

Fresh lemonade & berry fizz explodes with flavor in your water

In a hurry? We can gift wrap for you

and send it today!

(order by 4pm EST )

Sharks Tattoos - 50 Temporary Tattoos

Beat the 8 Ball - Thrilling Ball Race!

Exciting, fast-paced marble racing game - ready, set, GO!

Electric Paper Plane - Power Up your Flight

Paper airplane with a rechargeable propeller - 30 second flight, wow!

Illuminated Sand Art - Color Changing

Glass frame with shifting sand & an illuminated base - mesmerizing.

Dinosaurs - Under the X-Ray

Use the UV torch to x-ray & identify parts & learn fascinating facts.

Build a Fort - Glow in the Dark 85 Piece Set

Build different play structures - way better than sheets on chairs!

COOL LED Light Up Glasses - Blue & Red Neon

Cool dude glasses light up & flash - stand out from the crowd!

Drawing People - Made Easy!

Learn to create fun characters with simple step-by-step instructions.

Fun Tape Measure - Filled with Silly Facts

Shows the size of the largest diamond to how high a pig can jump!

Twistii - The Torch With A Twist

The world's first rotating wrist light - sleek, cool & comfortable.

Asteroid Escape - 60 Fun Logic Challenges

Space themed brain-teasing challenges, can your spaceship escape?

Waboba Moon Ball - Crazy Bouncing!

Mini ball with a crazy unpredictable spin - out of this world!

Marble Maze - Q-BA Interlocking Cubes

Build marble run towers with unique 3-cube system - awesome fun!

World's Smallest Table Tennis Set

Miniature table tennis - play on virtually any table top!

Slip 'n Slide - Super Fast Water Slide!

Easy to set up 16 ft water slide - build a waterpark in your yard!

Adventure Scope - Flexible Digital Camera to Explore

Flexible scope with LED lighting, 2.3'' viewing screen & SD card.

Drone Home - Race to Launch your Alien!

Fast-paced game with a real flying drone - it's a race to outer space!

Shashibo Moon - Shape Shifting Fidget Toy

Tactile magnetic fidget transforms into 70 shapes - so satisfying!

Puzzle a Day - Professor Puzzle IQ

Collection of 365 brain teasers, puzzles & riddles - test your mind!

Star Maker Video Kit - HD Pocket Camera

Camera, microphone, tripod, lights & more - create cool content!

May Contain Butts - Wacky Card Game

Hilarious card matching game of spotting a front & butt match!

Dinosaur Reversible Jigsaw Puzzle - 208 Pieces

Cool double-sided jigsaw with carnivores & herbivores - dino-mite!

Einstein's Number Puzzle - How Smart are You?

Sudoku-like wooden puzzle to test the brain - smart as Einstein?

Fingerprint Kit - Be a Detective!

Record, collect & identify fingerprints with this fascinating kit.

Intruder Alarm - Build your Own

Fun build project to fit to the door of your room - Keep Out!

Shakewave - Wobbly Tower Challenge

Hilarious stacking game full of suspense - be careful of the wobbles!

Battling Tops - Spinning Tops Game

Four quick-spinning tops do battle - which is the last one standing?

Underwater Metal Detector - National Geographic

Detect precious metals - flashing LED lights & waterproof to 32 feet!

Spy Motion Alarm - Make your Own

Build a fun motion activated alarm - break the beam & sound the alarm.

Color Changing Nebula Mood Light

Stylish mood light changes color with swirling effects - mesmerizing.

Salt Water Motorcycle Kit

Build your own motorcycle - powered by salt water drops!

World Map Pillowcase - Doodle Your Own!

Doodle & color in, then wash & start again - fun geography!

Air Zooka - Blast a Ball of Air up to 20ft!

For pranksters, shoot a harmless ball of air - no hair style is safe!

World's Smallest Voice Changer

Zany electronic 2.75" megaphone changes into four different voices.

Unicorn Poo - Rare, Magical & Sticky!

Mold and throw this mystical poo-sticking to any flat surface.

Fifty Greatest Card Tricks - Marvin's Magic

Learn how to do impressive card tricks & seem incredibly clever!

Ukick - Tricks & Stunts to Master

Keep the UKick in the air for as long as you can - the new craze!

Neon Effect Message Frame - Lights Up

Create a message or picture, turn on the frame and watch it glow.

Sing-Along Pro - Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone

A bluetooth wireless karaoke speaker built into a microphone.

Pottery Wheel - Make your own Ceramics

Electric pottery wheel for hands-free - easy to use kit for beginners.

IQ Stars - 120 Fun Logic Challenges

Can you fit all the stars in the grid? And go from Easy to Expert!

Air Square - Long Range Flights!

Uniquely designed flying disc for easy throwing & Wow distances!

Dynamic Coins - Now You See Them!

Intriguing tricks with coins that appear, disappear & even shrink!

Atlantis Escape - 60 logic challenges

Solve fun logic puzzles from Easy to Expert - escape the sinking city!

Push-n-Popz - Bubble Fidget Game

Fun tactile game that glows in the dark - one pop & you can't stop!

World Timeline Tape Measure - Unravel History!

Historical dates from the Big Bang to the Internet - tape measure too!

Jumbo Octopus Kite - 4 Yards Long

Impressive kite with long & colorful tentacle streamers - brilliant!

Space Wooden Pixel - Make Mosaics

Make fun designs from an astronaut to a UFO with 250 wooden cubes.

Little Pack of Optical Illusions - 50 Cards

Selection of mind-bending visual tricks to baffle your brain - wow!

Einstein's Freedom - Lock Puzzle

Shift the pieces to open the lock - puzzle to challenge the brain!

Jumbo Mutating Stress Ball - Color Changing!

Big stress calls for a 4'' stress ball - squeeze the frustration away!

Gross Factopia - 400 Fun Foul Facts!

From crocodile poo as make-up to the longest fingernails ever - gross!

Classic Metal Puzzles - Set of 8

Mind-bending challenges to give a mini-mental workout.

As Big As...Height Chart - 190 Wacky Comparisons!

Compare heights with famous people, wild animals & bizarre objects!

Snow Ball - Squishy, Squeezy, Scrunchy!

Brilliant 2" squishy ball feels and sounds like crunchy fresh snow.

Matchstick Puzzles - 50 Logic Challenges

Test yourself with intriguing challenges, riddles & brain teasers.

365 Optical Illusions - Wow your Eyes!

Deceptive eye-boggling images & brain-twisting visual tricks.

Spinning Zzzopa Ball - Bounce it, Spin It, Fidget!

Bouncing ball you can spin on your fingertips - fun fidgety craze!

True Balance - Wooden Spinning Challenge

Mesmerizing wooden balancing game, can you line up six magnetic discs?

Hexbug Fire Ant - with Mini Remote Control

Speedy 2" robotic ant glows as it scuttles along - awesome!

Hogwarts Castle - Harry Potter in 3D

Easy build, superbly detailed 17'' model of Hogwarts with 197 pieces.

RC Tuner Car - Hexmods Pro Series Modification Kit

Customise & modify your car, then speed at 20 feet per second!

Instant Blizzard - Make your own Snow!

Fluffy, realistic snow - just add water & watch the magic happen!

Salt Water Engine Car

Build your own engine car - powered by salt water drops!

Big Top Circus - Put on a Show!

Learn to juggle, make model balloons & other fun circus tricks.

The Human Body - Under X-Ray

Piece together the body puzzle, then solve missions using UV torch.

Galaxy Crystal Light - 3D Effect

Luxury 4 inch light with an intricate engraving that glows like magic.

Robotics Hook Shot - 250 piece Build set

Construct a machine that launches balls in a loop - easy build fun!

Fun & Focus Pack - Sensory Genius

Keep hands busy with fun tactile fidgets to squeeze, flip & zip.

Art-chitect - 3D Home Design Kit

Bring your very own 3D home to life - from floor plans to decoration.

Mini Tornado LED Stunt Car - 360 Spins

Stunning tricks, awesome stunts & crazy spins - drives upside down!

Tetris Waffle Maker - Tasty Treats

Make tasty Tetris shaped waffles - delicious gamer treat!

Pac-Man Puzzles - 100 Classic Challenges

Fun visual puzzles with 10 levels of difficulty to test your brain.

Zzzopa Spinning Soccer Ball - Bounce it, Spin It, Fidget!

Bouncing ball you can spin on your fingertips - soccer fidget spinner!

Build a Metal Detector - 35 Piece STEM Set

Build a handheld metal detector with lights & adjustable sensitivity.

Zensu - Game of Stealth & Strategy

Outwit your opponent & steal their pieces in this fun 2-player game!

Indoor Basketball Set - Slam Dunk!

Practice shooting hoops indoors with quiet silicone ball & hoop board.

Pyraminx Duo - Brain Teaser for Beginners!

Make each side one color - twisty puzzle to challenge the brain!

Solar System Crystal Light - 3D Effect

Magnetic Levitator - Defies Gravity!

Levitator floats in the air & spins when touched - so intriguing!

Alien Hat - With Flappy Answering Arms!

Hilarious hat flips up with YES or NO, with awesome glowing eye too.

Plug & Play Puzzler - Fun Brain Teaser

Logic challenge to test the brain - can you put the cube together?

Polar Panic - Spot & Catch Card Game

Spot matching fish & avoid the polar bear - fast-paced frantic fun!

Eye Opener - Hidden Picture Guessing Game

Fun game with 200 mystery cards - what's behind the opening eye?

World's Smallest Microscope

Explore the world in cool 10X magnification - miniature but mighty!

Cat-Opoly - Classic Game made Purrfect

Yes, Monopoly for Cat lovers - feline twist sure to make you smile!

Bugs 'N' Slugs - Creepy Crawly Board Game!

Answer fun questions about insects & discover fascinating new facts.

World's Smallest RC Helicopter

Awesome 3" RC helicopter with a 10yd range - miniature but mighty!

Turtle Soapstone Carving Kit

Easily carve a unique 3.5" sculpture from soft stone - turtle-y cool!

Nacho Stack - Spicy Game of Skill!

Balance cards & wooden jalapeños without toppling the pile - awesome!

Instant Air Hockey - With Floating Puck

Play air hockey on virtually any tabletop - for competition anywhere!

Turtle - 3D Cardboard Model Kit

Make an adorable 3" turtle with layers of sturdy cardboard - cute!

Meerkats - 3D Cardboard Model Kit

Make an adorable 3" meerkat with layers of sturdy cardboard - cute!

Hexbug Beetle - Super Speedy!

High energy 2" micro robotic beetle reacts to touch & sound, cool!

Jacob's Ladder Fidget Toy

Brilliant tumbling toy made of FSC-certified wood - moves like magic!

Paper Planes Creative Kit - Fold & Fly!

Make uniquely designed paper planes in funky, bright patterns.

Tough Choice To Make?

Frequently asked questions.

Eight year old boys are looking to conquer their next challenge and gifts that help them take their next adventure, expand their horizons, and push boundaries. Whether going exploring with a metal detector, practicing their aim with a target practice game, or building and flying a glider, the best gifts are ones that encourage their imagination, adventuring, and fun. 

Having tested hundreds of toys, games, gifts, and stuff, we know the best gifts for an 8th birthday include fun but active things like the night goggles, things that fly light our gliders or flying saucer, or things that challenge the mind like our many puzzles.

Eight year old boys are complex creatures: they're starting to look like 'big kids', but they're still losing baby teeth! At this age, boys thrive in larger social groups. Their play often involves elaborate games with ongoing storylines, usually with rotating leaders and everyone working together towards a common goal. Sometimes it's re-enacting characters and events from a popular show, and other times it's more low-tech: in the playground economy, how many shiny rocks is a grasshopper worth? It only works if everyone agrees! 

For eight year olds, their peers are more important than ever before. At this age, he'll want to get involved with clubs, teams, and after-school activities. Groups like Scouts or 4H provide a 'mini society' he can visit and experiment with, while still maintaining the safety net of a supportive family back home.  This is also the age of first sleepovers! Sleepovers are exciting, although some boys may secretly be nervous to spend a night away from home. Guarantee a great sleepover experience for every kid with fun activities like DIY slime, board games, and building sets.

Eight is also an important age because it marks the start of their metacognitive development (the ability to reflect on their thoughts). Eight year old boys are slowly growing out of the black-and-white thinking patterns of younger children, and developing more complex thoughts about their inner selves and abilities. Instead of "I'm bad at soccer!", he can now reason "I'm not very good at scoring goals because I can't kick very far, but I can practice it and get better!" Help build his resilience in the face of obstacles. Whether he's interested in art, sports, or books, encourage him to try new things and tackle tough challenges - and be ready with praise when he does!

Super-Fast Mobile Checkout

I like their interesting offerings and I can always find unique gifts! Arrived on time and in good condition.

Grandparents’ delight Excellent service and quality of products. Their wrapping the gift(s) for me And letting me choose the wrapping paper set them apart from any competitor.

Grandmothers unite! I'm a grandmother and wouldn't have any idea what to get for my grandchildren. Wicked Uncle always has great ideas.

Let the games begin! You always have the best gifts and the DodgeTag one i ordered came sooner than expected! Great!

Good in every way Excellent. My 9 year old grandson was delighted with the box of magic card tricks. Arrived in good time and beautifully wrapped. Such a great system ... Read More for helping you choose something of interest for the right age - particularly as he lives in USA and I live in England.

Fun gifts and fast delivery.

No Surprises Good service. Items arrived in timely manner, in good condition.

Fast delivery of a gift. Child loved the gifts

I love Wicked Uncle! I love Wicked Uncle! The products are unusual and of good quality and there’s always something to interest a child of any age. Your service is ... Read More excellent, fast and efficient. As a grandmother, it was a happy day for me when I discovered your company, good work, wicked uncle!

Great product and service!

Wonderful Birthday resource! The gift recommendations for my grandson, the beautiful gift wrap, and the reliable service and shipping added so much sheer joy to his birthday! Thank you, thank you! We all appreciate it!

Good Liked it. Like your toys even better!

Wicked Uncle is a godsend. Interesting products complete with card and gift wrapping are a godsend for anyone who has a child’s birthday and cannot be there. My granddaughter was ... Read More thrilled with her gift. Excellent service and high quality items.

Buy fun stuff you won’t be disappointed. Great! Gift received in a few days. I will order from you again.

First rate. My grandson Always appreciates your choices (and mine)

Great Kids' Gifts Great selection of products. The kids always love their gifts. Shipping is either early or right on time. Fair prices and a range of prices.

Poor service. No response from Wicked Uncle! Extremely disappointed with Wicked Uncle. Purchased 2 pairs of light up gloves and one doesn't work at all! Contacted the company 1 week ... Read More ago and haven't heard anything from them. Needless to say my grandson was extremely disappointed. He was going to wear the gloves in a musical concert. Will not not purchase from this company again. Be aware!

Great Purchase! The game I ordered— the hamburger stacking game—arrived quickly and exceeded my expectations. The box that the game comes is is attractive and sturdy. Very nicely designed.

Fun products - fast delivery - great packaging.

Great company! I found Wicked Uncle looking for party favors for a 10 year old’s sleepover and man did I find the mother load!! I bought darling things and they ... Read More came quickly and were great quality!!! I highly recommend them!!

User friendly site. Fast delivery.

Awesome company to do business with! What a great company. Lots of toys, games, etc to choose from. The toy I ordered came very quickly. I opted for gift wrapping, ... Read More which is a big plus and saves me from lugging out my wrapping paper for one item. The wrapping on the package was perfect. I love doing business with Wicked Uncle.

Purchase of harmonica I am very pleased with the support I Received via email. Product arrived on the date your website indicated. The item was in perfect shape, and condition. ... Read More And the recipient is very happy with it.

Award winning customer service

Wicked Uncle is rated 99 out of 100 for Customer Service based upon 7214 reviews.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then   View saved stories .

• Backchannel
• Newsletters
• WIRED Insider
• WIRED Consulting

Adrienne So

18 Tech Gifts for the Kids in Your Life

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more . Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

Best Headphones BuddyPhones Cosmos+ Read more

Best Music Player for Younger Kids Yoto Player Read more

Best Music Player for Older Kids Victrola Re-Spin Bluetooth Suitcase Record Player Read more

The Best Watch for Kids Apple Watch SE (2022) Read more

No matter how much they're begging for one, your kid probably doesn’t need a smartphone. The official advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics is that young children need hands-on social interaction and exploration with peers and caregivers to learn.

That doesn't mean you don't need a digital device to locate them, entertain them, or distract them while you're doing something else. If you need someone to absolve you, let me be the second, fourth, or 10th person to tell you: That's perfectly OK. Here are a few devices that have worked for me and my children, who are now 6 and 8. Most of these gifts don't require parental supervision, and the ones that do have good parental controls to limit your kids' use. Check out our Best Subscription Boxes for Kids guide and Best Tablets for Kids guide for more.

Updated November 2023: We added the BuddyPhones Cosmos+, Yoto Player, Victrola Re-Spin, Amazon Echo Pop Kids, Original Woom 4 bike, Amazon Kindle Kids, Amazon Fire HD 10 Pro Kids, and Luna blanket. We've also updated prices and links throughout.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off) . This includes unlimited access to WIRED. com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

Best Headphones

This year, the best headphones for kids that my family tried were the JBL Jr 460NC for $80 . They are limited to under 85 decibels for safety, have active noise-canceling, are moderately priced, and can be used both wirelessly and plugged in. The huge ear cups are so comfortable that my 6-year-old wore them for almost a whole five-hour flight to visit my parents. However, they are currently sold out on JBL's website, with limited stock from Amazon. If you can find them in a color your kid likes, they're great.

A comparable pair that is more reliably in stock is the BuddyPhones that WIRED writer Simon Hill recommends in our guide to the Best Headphones for Kids . They have active noise cancellation, Bluetooth, and volume limitation, and they are brightly colored, sturdy for travel, and fold into a case. My daughter also has a pair of light-up iClever pink cat ear headphones for $37 that she can wear comfortably for long periods of time and which have held up to the abuses of travel. However, the RGB lights were a bit much on a dark plane, and I had to put my beanie over them to keep other passengers from complaining. The sound quality was also a little tinny, but my daughter didn't care.

Best Music Player for Younger Kids

One of the most common queries I get from parents is how to play music or tell stories to young kids without a screen. The Yoto Player ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) is one of the most popular solutions a few WIRED parents have tried. This adorable, sturdy, thoughtfully designed little cube is basically a wireless speaker that comes with physical cards and NFC sensors that trigger stories, podcasts, guided meditations, and audiobooks. Your child simply inserts the card into the slot when they want to hear something.

Our children loved the Yoto, but as a parent I found that it has several significant downsides. The first is that it's so darn hard to keep track of these cards. I'm still finding them in random desk drawers or underfoot in the playroom. The sound quality is just OK, and it needs a Wi-Fi connection to work. However, if you're planning on traveling with it, there are 16 gigabytes of storage for downloading stories beforehand. Plus, it's fun and versatile if you're using it at home. For more options, check out our guide to the Best Kids Speakers .

Best Music Player for Older Kids

I never would have believed it until I saw my kids playing records at a friend's house, but even smaller children can enjoy a little piece of vintage tech. Plus, it's easy to find Alvin & The Chipmunks on vinyl. As WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu raved last year , this little portable record player is adorable and won't bankrupt you, nor will it break your heart if your kids mess it up somehow. If you have trouble finding kids' vinyl at garage sales or your local used record shop , we have some suggestions on where to buy vinyl records .

The Best Watch for Kids

This fall, my daughter entered the third grade. So many kids in her class have wrist wearables, whether it's an old Apple Watch or a Gabb watch . A watch is a good intermediary step if your child is old enough to have solo playdates or walk to the corner store on their own, but not quite old enough to have a phone.

I set up my old Apple Watch Series 7 for my daughter and the SE for my son; this year's Watch SE is the relatively affordable version intended for family members. Through Family Setup, I can turn on Schooltime mode (basically a kid's Work Focus ) and closely monitor their contacts. I can also see where they are on Find My, and my daughter can call or text me when she's ready to be picked up from a neighbor's movie night. Because of the security risks involved, I would opt to kid-proof a used adult watch rather than buying a dedicated kids' smartwatch . However, if you don't have a used one—or you're not an iPhone household— Xplora's smartwatch has the fewest security vulnerabilities.

Scott Gilbertson

Christopher Null

Julian Chokkattu

A Great Kids Speaker

Earlier this year, Amazon announced this new kids version of its small, affordable desktop speaker, the Echo Pop ( 7/10, WIRED Review ). The Echo Pop Kids has a feature called Explore with Alexa , which draws content from the World Wildlife Fund and AZ Animals for fun, science-based conversations.

I don't see that much of a difference between Explore with Alexa's supposedly more conversational answers and the answers that we've previously gotten when we ask voice assistants about capybaras and vampire bats. I also find Alexa's kid-focused morning report to be the most grating firehose of Amazon-based content possible at 7 am. However, when I asked my children if they found their News-O-Matic daily briefing to be irritating, they said they loved it. The Echo Pop Kids is $50, but for $10 more you can get a cute design on the Echo Dot for Kids .

If you have a tablet, there are many systems that help turn the slate into a tactile toy. Osmo is one of our favorites for younger kids, but we also like the PlayShifu Tacto system. There are Tacto sets for kids who like dinosaurs , classic board games , coding , lasers , and electronics , but this one teaches young kids how to play chess. It turns the surface of the iPad into a game board and uses physical pieces to teach your kids moves and strategy. It's a bit fiddly with the iPad Mini, so we suggest sticking to the full-size iPads.

A Location Monitor

Of all the trackers I’ve tested, the Jiobit is the simplest and easiest to use with kids. You can fasten it to your child’s clothes with a flex ring or a spare hair tie; my kid was delighted by how small and cute it was. Then, send them outside and check the app on your phone to see your child moving around on a map in real time. We tried the Gen 2, but the newer Gen 3 has an improved battery life.

The security protocols on this Smart Tag are stronger than on similar devices. In addition to standard safety precautions like a security chip and data encryption, Jiobit also burns away a part of the circuit board after assembly, so even if a hacker got their hands on the monitor, they wouldn’t be able to reprogram it. It requires a monthly $17 subscription fee, but it’s commitment-free (there are other monthly plans available with a commitment).

Best Backpack

After seven years of parenting, I've learned that there are some gear items you simply cannot skimp on. I tried cheap backpacks from Amazon, but the hardware and fabrics couldn't endure the abuse of being repeatedly stomped, dragged, and stuffed to the gills. However, this is the third year running that my kids have used the same Pottery Barn backpacks, which have withstood some serious abuse.

The bags come in a huge variety of sizes and patterns, which may increase the odds that your children will like and use them. However, if you're planning on traveling with your children this holiday season, I recommend the rolling version. Both my 6- and 8-year-olds can roll their own backpacks around the airport when we fly across the country to visit grandparents. That saves me the hassle of carrying two extra backpacks once they get tired somewhere between Concourse C and D.

Best Way to Connect With the World

Hear me out. Whether they're asking Siri if dinosaurs can have two heads or trying to spot constellations in the sky, my absolute favorite use of technology is when it connects my kids to the wider, wilder world. One of the best ways we've done that is with a Haikubox ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ). Every time the app pings me with a new bird, my children race to look at pictures of it, listen to its songs, compare it to the online database , and grab the binoculars to see if they can spot it. Like many of the selections here, the Nocs aren't kid-specific binoculars, but rather compact and durable ultralight adult binoculars.

They're light and easy enough to manipulate that my 6-year-old can use them without my help. Moreover, the sturdy, rubberized exterior has withstood many collisions and grabbing fights between my children. These hang on the coat rack of our entryway for quick access, and they've held up very well. Want a pair for yourself? Check out our Best Binoculars guide for more.

Best Kids Bike

Biking to and from school is another great way for kids to gain independence, practice following directions, and learn autonomy. My 8-year-old has grown out of several kids' bikes at this point, including a Guardian bike for $339 that she very much loved. It has a patented SureStop brake system that has only one lever and always stops the rear brake first, so the bike can't flip. This served her very well from around age 5, when kids are still a little uncoordinated.

However, now she has learned about shifting and going up and down hills, so we've graduated to a Woom bike with gears. You can get the 20-inch size with either SRAM shifters or 7-speed MicroShift twist shifters. We have the MicroShift version, and my child has found it easy to operate. The lightweight aluminum frame is just a little sportier than the Guardian, but it's still forgiving and easy to ride. An unanticipated perk is that because Woom is a child's brand, ours has never been stolen, unlike the tiny Trek and Specialized bikes my friends bought for their children. I may have just jinxed myself, though.

A Phone for Kids

According to my colleague Simon Hill (and basic common sense), the best kids’ phone is an old phone you already have. That means if you’re an Apple family and recently upgraded to the iPhone 15 , you can now pass on your old iPhone. Alternatively, you can bump them up to the latest iPhone SE 2022 . If you’re an Android family, your kid is lucky because the Pixel 6A is a great Pixel phone .

The 6.1-inch body is smaller than many other smartphones on the market, and you don’t have to worry about your child shattering the plastic body. The AMOLED screen looks great, the battery lasts all day, and it will get around five years of software updates, so you won't have to replace it anytime soon. We regularly see it dip as low as $299, which is a killer price. Just don’t forget to childproof it before you hand it over.

The Best Tablet

Both of my favorite child videophone devices—the Meta Portal Go and the Amazon Glow —have been discontinued. So we've reverted to a reliable standby, the iPad, for FaceTiming distant relatives.

The fact that it's not a single-use device might make it more appealing to many families. My 8-year-old now uses the iPad to make Minecraft builds and stop-motion animation videos, and to play games off Apple Arcade . It's also compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil , great if your kid likes to doodle, and there's a whole slew of fun add-ons in our Best iPad Accessories roundup. Yes, there's a newer, 10th-gen iPad, but Apple is still selling this model, which is cheaper but just as capable.

The Best Kids Reader

I give up. There's no book-buying subscription on this planet that can keep pace with my 8-year-old and her addiction to children's novels about magic school . Last year, Amazon released an update to the base Kindle Kids, which comes with 16 gigabytes of storage, a beautiful protective cover, a two-year worry-free guarantee, and a year's subscription to basically unlimited books in Amazon Kids+ .

For an additional $50, you can upgrade to the Kindle Paperwhite Kids for $160 . If you have a child who will read for more than an hour a day, the waterproofing, longer battery life, and reduced lag time when turning pages are all worth it, especially if you download  free library books . It’s also worth noting that Amazon's  Reading Sidekick feature  doesn’t work with the Kindle. If you don’t have a print book, your child will need to read on the Kids+ app or on their Fire tablet. Or you could just gift them your old Kindle and buy yourself an upgrade. Check out our guides to the Best Kindle or the Best Ebook Readers  for more.

Best Tablet for Smaller Kids

As senior writer Scott Gilbertson points out in his guide to the Best Amazon Fire Tablet , Amazon recognizes that the word “kid” covers a huge variety of hand sizes and other factors. There are several kid editions of the Fire tablets. The Fire HD 8 for $150 is the best tablet for kids under 5, while older kids will appreciate the bigger screen and slightly more streamlined case of 2023's Fire HD 10 Pro Kids.

Like the Kindle Kids, the Fire tablets for kids are basically the same as the regular Amazon Fire tablets, except they come with a case, a year's subscription to Amazon Kids+, and a two-year worry-free guarantee. When they were younger, my 6- and 8-year-old very much enjoyed Amazon's unlimited content. When we traveled, it was easy for me to connect them to Wi-Fi and let them enjoy books, movies, and simple games. However, once my daughter got older and started to want specific software, it became too difficult to whitelist everything, and we switched to the iPad.

Best Chromebook

If you, like many other parents, became involuntarily familiar with Chromebooks during the season of remote learning , you may want to stick with a Chromebook while your child is in school. This laptop/tablet hybrid has a very nice OLED display for this price. Even if the processor isn't as powerful as Intel Core processors, it should work well enough for ChromeOS. Not sure if this is the right one for you? Check out our Best Chromebooks guide.

The Best Mask

To a kid, getting a face mask in their stocking might be the modern-day equivalent of getting a boring pair of socks or a pack of batteries. But nowadays, a great kids’ mask is essential equipment, especially as we head into cold and flu season.

There’s just no other mask my kids like as much as their Happy Masks. In fact, I bought the adult version for myself. They’re comfortable and fit both a 6-year-old and a 8-year-old well. The beaked shape sits off their little faces, and a light membrane filter inside has been independently tested for 99.9 percent filtration of viruses and other particulates, down to 0.3 microns in size. However, the most important part is that they come in a variety of colors and prints, and my children have grown irrationally attached to their unicorn and dinosaur masks. The only problem is that each mask costs $24, so replacing them if they get lost or damaged is a pain.

Best Weighted Blanket

Do you have a child who has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? If you suspect your child has an emotional or mood disorder, please consult a doctor. However, if your child just isn't getting quite enough rest (or you're tired of having to make pancakes at 5 am on the weekends), we've discovered that a child's weighted blanket is life-changing. Just a warning—your child has to be able to move out from under the blanket on their own, so it should be under 25 percent of their body weight.

The Luna kids' weighted blankets come in a wide variety of sizes, prints, and weights. They're breathable and washable and made of Oeko-Tex certified cotton , which means that they've been independently verified to be free from toxic chemicals. My kids fought over the one blanket I bought; they said it was like sleeping while being hugged.

A Cute Console

Years after it debuted, the Switch is still an incredibly popular console. If your kid is ready to step up from playing Minecraft or Roblox on their iPad, the Switch would make a great first console. They don't go on sale very often, so you might want to consider this cheaper version, called the Switch Lite ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ). It’s small, cute, and fits my 6-year-old's and 8-year-old's hands.

The best part about getting a Switch for your kids is that even if they lose interest, you can play on it yourself. My daughter and my spouse play Minecraft together on the Switch, but we have more suggestions here .

WIRED COUPONS

Save up to $58 Off TurboTax Online

20% Off All H&R Block 2024 Tax Software | H&R Block Coupon

Up to $20 off at Instacart in 2024

1st Order: 25% Off DoorDash Promo Code ($15 minimum)

$10 off $100 purchase at Finish Line w/ coupon code

Groupon coupon: Extra 25% off sitewide

35 Best Toys and Gifts for 4-Year-Old Boys 2024

These unique and unusual picks have something for every kid.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

" The best gifts at this age include construction toys that allow them to build and problem-solve — think about plastic interlocking blocks, gear toys, domino runs, magnet tiles and other similar choices," Parlakian says. "If your child already has wooden blocks, consider expanding the set with new block types like turrets, arches and cylinders to spark their building play. Pretend play props, like costumes, a tea set or construction tools encourage role-playing. With more control over their fine motor skills, art supplies like paints and brushes, markers and other similar items can also be a big hit. And finally, simple board games and activities like dominoes and memory cards are also fun for preschoolers."

The Good Housekeeping Institute has tested toys in all of these categories and more, looking for ones that are safe to use, will last stand up to rough play and — most importantly — won't annoy parents. Then they hand their favorites over to real 4-year-olds for the true test, making sure they are ones kids will go back to again and again. When the results came in, these were the best toys and gifts for 4-year-old boys in 2024, including current and former Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award winners.

Air Hogs Flippin’ Frenzy

The clever secret to this R/C is its big, soft wheels: They're mighty enough to roll over uneven terrain inside or outside, but they're squishy enough not to damage floors, furniture or walls. Kids can also pick their style, since one size features a red muscle car, and the other side features a blue sports vehicle. In Good Housekeeping tests, parents enjoyed playing with this as much as the kids did. Ages 4+

Disney Junior Firebuds Bo and Flash Action Figure Set

Fans of Firebuds on Disney Junior will thrill to the way these Bo and Flash figures talk to each other and sense when the other is nearby. The figures scored big with families. "This moves in a way that is unusual for a vehicle toy — it seems pretty technologically advanced,” a parent tester said. Ages 3+

RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards

GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope

Kids who are curious about science, nature and the world around can learn real facts about plants and animals with this talking microscope. It comes with more than 60 images on its slide, which easily store inside the microscope. There are also different modes of play, including Fact Mode for learning and Quiz Mode to see if they've absorbed the knowledge. If they're really into STEM, you can also get them the new GeoSafari Jr. Talking Telescope . Ages 4+

RELATED: The Best Educational Toys, According to Experts, Parents and Real Kids

The Ice Cream Vanishes

Squirrel and Bear are about to perform an amazing magic trick: making ice cream disappear! Can you figure out how they do it? Good Housekeeping Institute testers and experts loved this one because of the way, if they know how it ends, kids can look for "clues" that foreshadow their trick. Ages 4 – 8

RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Awards

LaScoota 2-in-1 Kids Kick Scooter

Good Housekeeping experts were impressed at the long life of this scooter, which can start out as a ride-on for younger ones (or younger siblings) and then adjust in height until the kids are about 12 years old. But kids focused in on something else: The light-up wheels! It also comes in a bevy of colors. Ages 3+

RELATED: The Best Scooters for Kids

Magna-Tiles Downhill Duo

Kids build everything in this downhill race set, from the path to the cars to the checkered finishing line. Then, they can send the vehicles zooming down the track, learning about gravity and magnetism along the way. Parent testers say this toy appealed to the whole family, and siblings and adults alike loved competing in head-to-head races. Ages 3+

Splash Park Kids Puzzle

Kids can use their spatial skills to put together this puzzle, which depicts a fun day at the park. The pieces are sturdy to stand up to rough preschool play, and the puzzle is just the right size at 24 pieces . Ages 3+

Monster Jam Grave Digger Trax

Testers really put this one through its paces, sending it over obstacles indoor and out, on all kinds of terrain. When the results came in, it had perfect scores across the board. “People were jealous of its ability to go over rocks and through water," one tester said. Ages 4+

Design & Drill Bolt Buddies Rocket

This one fosters both imaginative play and motor skills: Kids use a toy, battery-operated drill to build and disassemble these playsets , getting a feel for how to take things apart and put them back together again. There are lots of different playsets, including a recycling truck, a plane , a recycling truck , a race car , a fire truck , a police motorcycle , a helicopter and a tractor for a barn set . Each one comes with two "buddies" who also act as screwdrivers. Ages 3+

Sing-Along Numberblock Five

If it's all high-fives for Numberblock Five, then this is the plush for your Numberblocks fan. It has 12 songs and phrases that reinforce the concept of the number five, and kids can activate it with a touch of the hand. And yet, the body is still soft like a plush. Parent testers reported that this became a "popular daily toy." Ages 3+

Hot Wheels Ultimate Octo Car Wash Play Set

It's all the fun of going to the car wash in a four-foot-long Hot Wheels play set that's ready to spark imaginative play. The coolest feature is that running the vehicles through the water changes the color of Color Reveal cars . Kids can move the robotic cleaning arms, but there's also a ramp, a loop and a spiral to make it a little more exciting. Ages 4+

My Ice Cream Shop Play Set

This play set comes with a whopping 60 pieces including ice creams flavors, cones, scoops and play money. There are even cards that prompt kids with different orders and what to charge for them, which gets them practicing their early math skills. “My kids loved pretending to scoop and eat, and they loved the money drawer,” one parent said. Ages 3+

Kids' Toy Golf Set

Fore ! He'll have to work on his control and focus to hit the golf ball on this set, and then he'll get all his energy out chasing the balls to put them back in the feeder again. It comes with 15 golf balls, along with three club heads (a left driver, a right driver and a putter). Ages 3+

LEGO Team Spidey at Green Goblin's Lighthouse Kit

It's your friendly, neighborhood LEGO set, and all the Spidey fans will flip for it! At 149 pieces, it's just the right amount of challenge for 4-year-olds. When they're done, they'll have made an island lighthouse full of the Green Goblin's traps — watch out for the cave jail! — for Miles Morales, Ghost Spider, Sandman and Green Goblin to use for adventures. Ages 4+

Glow-in-the-Dark Set

With this set of magnetic tiles, any 4-year-old kid can spark creativity and build shapes with the pieces that stay together based on the strength of the magnets . Whether they're already a fan or looking to add to their collection, kids will appreciate these groovy tiles, which glow in the dark to give their structures new flair. In the box, you'll get 16 pieces in various shapes and sizes. Ages 3+

Wonder Crew Superhero Buddy

The Wonder Crew is halfway between a stuffed animal and an action figure . Together, your boy and his new buddy can be rough and tumble when it's time for adventure, or snuggly when it's quiet time. There are four Wonder Crew buddies, each with a different look. Ages 3+

Switcheroo Coding Crew

This combination of coding and rescue vehicles was a certifiable hit with Good Housekeeping Institute kid testers., who found it explained coding in manageable bites without needing any computer science knowledge. Kids draw a challenge card, snap on one of the vehicle shells (police car, fire truck or construction vehicle ) and program the cars to go in and save the day. They can even figure out "secret" codes, like how to make lights or sounds. Ages 4+

Lincoln Logs

Both kids and parents will love this Lincoln Logs building set, since parents might remember playing with this building set in their own childhoods. The set includes 111 pieces made of real maple wood that can be used to build structures like a cabin or two small houses with a bonfire. There are three different guides in the manual, but kids might have even more creative fun by building their own ideas. Ages 3+

Rattlesnake Jake

This is a game of nerves: Rattlesnake Jake comes curled around a pile of gold pieces, and players have to steal them from him. But watch out, because his rattle gets more intense and then he strikes! Snatching the gold before the bite helps kids work on their fine-motor coordination, and Good Housekeeping testers who tried this game said it was always a "wow" moment when the snake struck . Ages 4+

Crayola Dinosaur 5-in-1 Art Kit

Now he can unleash his creativity on his favorite subject: Dinosaurs! This set comes with fuzzy, flocked coloring pages, so he'll have a sensory experience, too. It also has origami pages, pop-out scenes and activity sheets, along with crayons and markers to color them all in. Ages 4+

RELATED: The Best Dinosaur Toys for Kids Who Love All Things Prehistoric

Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother . She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.

Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years , overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems. 

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-o9j0dn:before{margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;color:#ffffff;width:1.25rem;bottom:-0.2rem;height:1.25rem;content:'_';display:inline-block;position:relative;line-height:1;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} Product Reviews

The Best Humidifiers for Babies

The Best Nail Stickers and Wraps

The Best Shower Filters

The 5 Best Outdoor Security Cameras

The 14 Best Sunscreens of 2024

The Best Checked Luggage

The Best Gifts for 7-Year-Old Boys

The Best Dresses on Amazon

Best Stain Removers for Clothes

The Best Bathroom Cleaners

I Tried Skinvive, the New "Injectable Moisturizer"

8 Birthday Gift Ideas for Young Children

T hese 8 Birthday Gift Ideas for Young Children has everything from sensory toys for bath time to motorized toys outdoors play that are perfect for young kids! Now that my own kiddo is grown and has made me a grandma (YAY), I find that gift giving can pose a real challenge, because I am so "out of the loop" when it comes to what young kids like!

Every kid's favorite day of the year is almost always their birthday...well, that and Christmas or Chanukah! We never want to disappoint our grandchildren, or nieces and nephews when it comes to their birthdays, so the struggle is real when it comes to gift giving for young children!

Whether it's books and games to keep them entertained, sensory toys for bath time, or super cool motorized toys for playing outside, we're sharing 8 Birthday Gift Ideas for Young Children that are sure to be a hit!

Case IH Lil Tractor & Trailer

The perfect ride-on vehicle for your little helpers! Kiddos can load up their trailer, step on the accelerator and haul their load around the yard with the Case IH Lil Tractor & Trailer!

For ages 2-4, it includes a large, adjustable seat to accommodate growing children. Please note that it has a weight capacity of 55 lbs.

It goes as fast as 2 ¼ mph with foot pedal accelerator, and with Peg Perego's "All in One" technology the accelerator pedal, when released, becomes a brake that automatically stops the vehicle. A 6-volt rechargeable battery and charger included.

Jameson IS LOVING this little tractor! You can even ride it indoors on carpet or outside in the grass or on pavement. He's been riding it all over their apartment complex!

Made in the USA, in Fort Wayne, Indiana factory using domestic and global components.

Get it on Amazon.com MSRP: $179.99.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Rainbow Picnic Game 

Race to fill your rainbow with a food token of every color with this easy to learn game for preschoolers ages 3+!

Beautifully designed with Eric Carle’s illustrations, this playful, screen-free learning activity helps kids with color recognition, matching skills, and more!

MSRP: $16.99 Available on Amazon.com .

Highlights Big Book of Activities for Little Kids 

Discover the ultimate collection of activities for little ones and their boundless energy! Developed by early childhood experts and inspired by the award-winning High Five magazine, the Highlights Big Book of Activities for Little Kids includes over 200 screen-free activities for ages 3-6.

With 288 pages of screen-free activities divided into 12 handy chapters, this book offers hours of low-mess entertainment. Grown-ups will love the inviting questions designed to spur thinking, learning and conversation. Everyone will cherish creating core memories of time spent together.

Kids and grown-ups can use everyday household items to make lasting memories while they banish boredom and get the wiggles out. I know that Angeline and Jameson are going to have an absolute BLAST going through this big book of activities together!

MSRP: $19.99 Available on Amazon.com .

Glo Pals Sensory Play Jar and Light Up Bath Toys

Glo Pals water-activated light-up bath toy characters were inspired by a child with autism whose mother used the technology to help him overcome his fear of water. Easy for children to hold, the Sensory Jar engages kids in sensory playtime with adorable Pals featuring bendable arms and colorful personalities.

My grandson Jameson likes to play with his Sensory Jar in AND out of the bathtub! He even slept with it the first night I gave it to him!

MSRP: $20.00 Available on GloPals.com and  Amazon.com .

Enhance your child’s bathtime with Glo Pals! Featuring bendable arms and colorful personalities, each Pal proudly illustrates the uniqueness in every child.

• Supports Sensory Development: Cause & Effect, Cognitive Skills, Fine Motor Skills and Color Recognition
• Water-Activated Light Up Toy; Automatically Turns Off When Fully Dry
• Sammy has Flexible Arms and Legs to Brighten Bath Time and Playtime | Each Vibrant Reusable Light Up Cube Lasts a Minimum of 30 Days
• Comes with 1 Sammy Character + 6 Red Light-Up Cubes. Please Note that the 4-additional light-up cubes are tucked inside the main box.

Hand Packaged with love and care in Mississippi by a US-Based Small-Business and Every Purchase Supports Batson Children's Hospital of Mississippi!

Available on GloPals  and on Amazon.com  

Scentco Air Dough

Scentco’s super lightweight, unscented, nontoxic Air Dough is the perfect modeling compound to stimulate creativity and open-ended play for kids ages 3+.

With 60 bags of 14 colors (including a glow in the dark option!), 3 sculpting tools, googly eyes, and more, this Air Dough Bucket can help kids amplify their critical thinking ability, confidence and educational development all while having fun!

Air Dough is a Super Lightweight, Unscented, Non-Toxic, Gluten-Free, Modeling compound that stimulates creativity and play based learning for Ages 3+!

MSRP: $24.99 | Available on ScentCoInc.com and Amazon.com .

Canal Toys Photo Creator Instant Cameras

This easy-to-use camera for kids features a digital camera with front and back-facing lenses to capture photos and selfies as well as an instant thermal printer, meaning no ink and no film!

Choose from 20+ funny effects to enhance your photos and capture fun memories. Kids can also switch modes to record motion memories with the video function. Perfect for parties, travel and more, the Photo Creator has a compact design and wrist strap for instant print photos! 

Get it on Amazon.com MSRP: $59.99.

Paw Patrol My First Instant Camera

Also available is the new  Paw Patrol™ Instant Camera for $69.99. I was sent one by the company and I'm saving it for Jameson's birthday in July. He loves Paw Patrol!

Capture photos and instantly print them with the Paw Patrol Instant Camera This easy-to-use camera includes three different functions in one device – a digital camera, instant printer, and a video camera!

Use the back or front facing lenses to capture photos or selfies. Switch to the video function to have fun recording videos with your friends. You can even choose between multiple Paw Patrol themed effects to add onto your photos. The thermal printing capability means no ink and no film!

Includes one camera with enclosed rechargable battery, one wrist strap, one USB cable, 4 paper rolls, 4 markers, and 50+ stickers! Micro SD card required for some functions. Not Included. Adult assistance required.

Get it on Amazon.com MSRP: $69.99.

Connetix Tiles

Connetix offers a variety of  beautiful  magnetic tile sets that encourage open-ended play and help develop a child’s imagination and creativity.

Made using non-toxic ABS plastic that is BPA, lead and Phthalate free, Connetix's unique beveled design allows the tiles to be strong while creating beautiful clear refractions. 

Get them on https://connetixtiles.com/ MSRP: $39 - $249

woom ORIGINAL Kids’ Bike

With their low weight, seamless design, high-quality components and child-specific geometry, woom bikes are designed to give children the perfect introduction to riding a bike and spark a life-long passion for cycling.

The woom ORIGINAL line ranges from woom 1 to woom 6, accommodating different heights, weights and riding levels.

MSRP: $249.00 - $699.00 Get it at Woom.com .

The post 8 Birthday Gift Ideas for Young Children appeared first on The Rebel Chick .