Gift ideas · ages 7 to 9
Gifts for 7, 8 and 9 year olds
Between 7 and 9, kids want to get good at something. They'll stick with a hobby, a set of rules or a big project if it matches how they like to play. Find the kind of play that sounds like your kid and start there.
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For kids who love to build
- 1A big mixed bin of LEGO, not a single setOur pick: LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box (10698)A set gets built once. A bin gets built a hundred different ways. Find it
- 2A kid-sized real tool kitOur pick: Stanley Jr. 5-Piece Tool SetA real hammer, screwdriver and tape measure, used with a grown-up. Find it
- 3A gear or K'NEX building setOur pick: K'NEX Classics Motorized CreationsMoving parts give a builder a new kind of problem to solve. Find it
- 4Cardboard building connectors, like MakedoOur pick: Makedo Explore kitEvery delivery box becomes a building project. Find it
For kids who love exploring outside
- 1Kid binoculars and a bird guideOur pick: Celestron Outland X 8x25 binocularsNow a walk has a checklist. Find it
- 2Kid binocularsOur pick: GeoSafari Jr. KidnocularsSmall, light and made to be dropped. Find it
- 3A compass and a map of a park you go toOur pick: Suunto A-10 compassLet them lead the way on the next walk. Find it
- 4A headlampOur pick: Black Diamond Wiz kids' headlampHands free for backyard nights and camping. Find it
- 5A field journal and colored pencilsOur pick: Prismacolor Scholar colored pencilsFor drawing and writing down what they found. Find it
For competitive kids
- 1A speed card game, like Dutch BlitzOur pick: Dutch Blitz, the originalFast, loud and good for a kid who likes to win. Find it
- 2A chess set, and then teach themOur pick: No Stress ChessIt's the classic for a reason. Winning takes thinking, not luck. Find it
- 3A door-mounted basketball hoopOur pick: Spalding Slam Jam over-the-door hoopKeeps score all winter. Find it
- 4A jump rope and a chart for their recordOur pick: Buddy Lee Rope Master jump ropeCompeting against yourself is a skill too. Find it
For kids who love pretend play
- 1Blank comic booksOur pick: Lulu Jr. My Comic Book kitThey write the story and draw it. Find it
- 2A fort-building kitOur pick: Fisher-Price Create Your Way Fort BuilderClips and poles that turn blankets into a castle. Find it
- 3Rory's Story CubesOur pick: Rory's Story Cubes, OriginalRoll the dice and tell a story with the pictures. Find it
- 4A kids' cameraOur pick: VTech KidiZoom Creator Cam UltraFor making their own movies and photo stories. Find it
For kids who love to collect things
- 1A coin collecting kitOur pick: Whitman State Quarters album and 50 coinsA folder to fill and a reason to check every coin. Find it
- 2A binder with card sleevesOur pick: Ultra PRO 9-Pocket Zippered PRO-BinderFor cards, stickers or anything flat. Find it
- 3A field guide for birds, bugs or rocksCollecting gets better when they know what they found. Find one
- 4A rock tumblerOur pick: Thames & Kosmos Rock TumblerIt's loud and runs for days, so choose the spot. Polished rocks are worth it. Find it
- 5A coin folder for quartersOur pick: Whitman Statehood Quarters folderChecking your change becomes a daily hunt. Find it
For kids who love to sing, dance and perform
- 1A ukuleleOur pick: Kala KA-15S soprano ukuleleSmall, not expensive, and a few chords go a long way. Find it
- 2A Bluetooth speaker with a microphoneOur pick: Singing Machine Cube StudioKaraoke at home. Find it
- 3A keyboard with headphonesOur pick: Casio Casiotone CT-S200, 61 keysThe headphones are for you. Find it
- 4A dance class or a dance video gameOur pick: Just Dance 2026 Edition, SwitchSomewhere to learn real moves. Find it
For kids who love puzzles and figuring things out
- 1Gravity MazeOur pick: ThinkFun Gravity MazeSixty challenges that get harder, and it's satisfying when the marble drops. Find it
- 2A beginner electronics kit, like Snap CircuitsOur pick: Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100Real circuits with no soldering. Find it
- 3A Rubik's cube and a beginner guideOur pick: Rubik's Cube, the original 3x3Learning the method is the puzzle. Find it
- 4Wooden brain teasersOur pick: Professor Puzzle E=MC2 Puzzle CubesSmall enough to keep in the car. Find it
Not sure how your kid plays?
Most kids are a mix of two Play Types. The quiz takes two minutes. No account needed, and adding a name is optional.
Gifts for one age
Other ages
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Buying for the grown-ups too? Gifts they'll still own, scored on warranty and repair: for dad, for mom, under $100.
Print it before the partyHalloween Party Games for Kids: picture bingo, a monster hunt and pin the face on the pumpkin. 11 pages, $5.Get the printable →
