Gift ideas · for a Competitor
Gifts for competitive kids
Competitive kids want a score, a timer or someone to beat, even if it's their own best time. Good gifts give them a fair way to compete and plenty of chances to practice losing.
Not sure they're a Competitor? Take the quiz.
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Ages 4 to 6
- 1A quick card game, like Uno or Spot ItShort rounds mean a loss is over fast and there's always another game. Find one
- 2A stopwatchSuddenly getting dressed is a race. Find one
- 3A soccer ball and a small pop-up goalWorks in any backyard or park. Find one
- 4Cones and a sand timerFor obstacle courses they design and time themselves. Find one
Ages 7 to 9
- 1A chess set, and then teach themIt's the classic for a reason. Winning takes thinking, not luck. Find one
- 2A door-mounted basketball hoopKeeps score all winter. Find one
- 3A speed card game, like Blink or Dutch BlitzFast, loud and good for a kid who likes to win. Find one
- 4A jump rope and a chart for their recordCompeting against yourself is a skill too. Find one
Ages 10 to 12
- 1A strategy game you'll actually replay, like Ticket to RideLong enough to plan, short enough for a school night. Find one
- 2A table tennis set that clips to the kitchen tableNo table tennis table needed. Find one
- 3A simple step counter or kids' fitness watchTheir own numbers to beat every day. Find one
- 4A tabletop air hockey or foosball gameTwo players, fast rounds and a lot of rematches. Find one
What usually doesn't get used
Games that take two hours. For a competitive kid, one long game with a loss at the end is harder than lots of short ones.
Not sure this is your kid?
This list is for a Competitor: keeps score, even when nobody asked. Most kids are a mix of two Play Types, so the quiz is the quickest way to know which lists to use.
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