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Finding the right gift for an 8-year-old requires you to know a little bit about them and a little bit about what today’s kids this age are into. Thankfully, as a mom and aunt to many kids in this age range, I have the inside scoop. The best gifts for 8-year-olds lean into their drive to play cooperatively, develop relationships and problem solve. After testing many products with my kids, some of the top presents include Exploding Kittens Throw Throw Burrito, 3Doodler Start+ Essentials 3D Pen and Gui Gui The Most Beautiful Slime Made By You. After spending time with lots of elementary-aged kids, I compiled a list of the best gifts for 8-years-olds. ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTOS: RETAILERS “Toys and experiences that stimulate a child’s creativity, ability to problem solve, and promote real-world interactions have strong long-term benefits for their social, emotional and cognitive growth,” says child and adolescent psychiatrist Zishan Khan. Additionally, you want to know what the 8-year-old you’re shopping for is into, as interests can start to vary widely at this age. Here, I’ve pulled together some of my favorite gifts and toys for 8-year-olds in 2025. RECOMMENDED BY FORBES VETTED The 46 Best Toys For 1-Year-Olds, From Building Blocks To Ride-On Toys By Rose Gordon Sala The 43 Best Toys For 6-Month-Olds To Promote Development—And Giggles By Alicia Betz Best Gifts For 8-Year-Olds At A Glance Gui Gui The Most Beautiful Slime Made by You National Geographic Science Magic Kit MGA's Miniverse Make It Mini Cafe KPop Demon Hunters Huntr/x Heartthrob Officially Licensed T-Shirt Exploding Kittens Throw Throw Burrito Lego Minecraft The Baby Pig House Squishmallows Official Bean Bag Chair Chic Press-On Nails Olive and June Olive & June Pressies I recently tested Olive & June’s new Pressies with my my daughter. Designed for big kids and tweens, I found they are easy to use and surprisingly sturdy. After we had some girl time together fitting them onto her nails, she couldn’t stop looking at them and showing them off to others. Fast-Paced Trivia For True Football Fans Ultra Pro Fanzone: Football Trivia Game In this game (which has an easy and hard mode), true football fans race to be the first to answer trivia questions to determine who is the ultimate football fan. Players have to press their designated button before they can answer, so there won’t be any arguing about who was first. Aesthetic Slime They Create Gui Gui The Most Beautiful Slime Made by You! Year after year, slime continues to be a hit. This aesthetic slime kit includes mix-ins that allow kids to create and customize their slime. My daughter comes back to play with it day after day, and I don’t mind because it’s not too sticky or messy, compared to other slimes. A Book That Teaches Empathy And Compassion The Wild Robot By age 8, many kids start to become voracious readers. The Wild Robot is an enthralling novel with themes of acceptance, empathy and identity—all topics that resonate with kids at this age. The book is engaging for adults, too, and I enjoyed reading it to my daughter. Eight-year-olds “are typically solidifying their reading skills, and they can benefit not only from independent reading, but also bonding during moments of shared reading with caregivers,” says Khan. Challenge Their Logic And Cognitive Skills Mindware Marble Circuit Puzzle I love a challenging puzzle game for 8-year-olds because it gives them an opportunity to struggle a bit in order to build their self-confidence. This logic game also builds their spatial awareness as they visualize the correct way to complete the puzzle. Bring A Favorite Video Game To Life Lego Minecraft The Baby Pig House Toy Figures and Playset Combine Lego and the popular video game Minecraft, and you have the perfect duo for many 8-year-olds. My 8-year-old nephew, who has recently become obsessed with the new Minecraft movie, gravitated toward this set. “The house wasn’t too complicated to build, and he’s actually spent quite a bit of time playing with it after we finished the building process,” his mom said. Mini Pretend Food They Create MGA's Miniverse Make It Mini Cafe Series 5 A huge play trend right now is miniatures, whether it’s smaller versions of real things or just small toys. This three-pack surprise set is full of miniature pretend food they can make and then play with or collect and display. A Monthly STEM Subscription Crunchlabs Build Box Subscription With a Crunch Labs subscription, kids get a new build every month that’s designed to be slightly challenging. According to Khan, STEM kits can help fuel curiosity and improve problem solving skills. I’ve built some of these boxes with my kids, and I like that the finished product is something they can play with when they’re done. In our list of the best subscription boxes for kids, we named it the best STEM subscription box. Merchandise From The Hottest Movie Of The Season KPop Demon Hunters Huntr/X Heartthrob Officially Licensed T-Shirt The movie KPop Demon Hunters has officially taken over elementary schools. A story of acceptance and friendships, it’s full of catchy songs that kids can’t seem to stop singing. This officially licensed t-shirt, which features the three main characters, lets kids show off their love for the movie. Modeling Clay That’s Easy To Work With Crayola Model Magic Deluxe Variety Pack Art supplies are really great for 8-year-olds, who are learning to be more creative and express themselves. This one is a favorite of my 8-year-old nephew, who likes to use the white clay and then paint it after it dries. “Pro tip: be sure to seal up any unused product in a bag quickly, as it begins to dry out within 30 minutes or so,” his mom says. Access To Thousands Of Books Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Kids Learning to read is such a cool milestone, and access to thousands of books via a Kindle can help encourage that love of reading. According to pediatric physical therapist Dr. KC Rickerd, personal items can also help kids develop responsibility. To learn more this gift pick, read our full review of the Kindle Colorsoft Kids. An Active Party Game Exploding Kittens Throw Throw Burrito Have an 8-year-old who likes to play games but struggles to sit still? Try this game, which incorporates throwing and dodging soft burritos into the gameplay. “Board games can be useful as they can help them with their social interaction, developing patience, and emphasizing strategic thinking,” says Khan. A Chance To Become An Interior Designer Suite Spaces All-in-One Bedroom Set Another toy that leans into the miniature trend, the Suite Spaces All-in-One Bedroom Set gives kids a taste of being an interior designer and creating their own dream space. Once finished, they can play with it with their dolls or display it in their own room as décor. Play Football Day Or Night Glowcity Glow in The Dark Football Eight-year-olds have lots of energy, and many really get into sports at this age. “Outdoor and sports equipment not only provide physical exercise but also foster teamwork, build resilience and lead to greater confidence,” says Khan. This glow in the dark football encourages them to get outside and play. Over 100 Magical Science Activities National Geographic Science Magic Kit Eight-year-olds are curious and love to learn. Tap into that natural curiosity with this science kit that includes over 100 activities. Khan, who recommends science kits, says that they can help strengthen cognitive skills and perseverance at this age. A 3D Pen To Create Real Objects 3Doodler Start+ Essentials 3D Pen Set There’s something pretty magical about being able to take your drawings off of paper and into the real world. With this 3D pen, kids can do just that. Let their imagination run wild creating all sorts of objects right in front of their eyes. A Beautiful Building Set Roseart Crystal Gem Creations Jewel Succulents Kit Similar to a Lego set, this Jewel Succulent Kit gives 8-year-olds the opportunity to build something beautiful that they can feel proud about. According to Rickerd, arts and crafts kits can help support creativity and self-expression. A Super-Charged Car Set Hyper Burst Shockout Circuit Playset My kids have been loving Hyper Burst sets, which use a handheld charger to propel small cars at super fast speeds. They can race and battle or just watch their car zoom around the track. A Portable Logic Game Smartgames Cats & Boxes Travel Game Heading on a trip soon? This travel-friendly game challenges kids (and adults) to use logic and spatial awareness to get every cat into a box. There are 60 challenges total, which means plenty of playing time. A Comfy Chair For Their Room Squishmallows Official Bean Bag Chair Making their room really feel like their own is important for many kids this age. The Squishmallows Official Bean Bag Chair is comfy and cozy, and it gives them their own special spot to relax or do their homework. Make Jewelry They’ll Be Proud Of Make It Real: Polish & Shine Bead Tumbler Combine geology and jewelry making with this bead tumbler that transforms pre-drilled rocks into polished beads and stones they can then make into beautiful jewelry. It takes days to polish the stones to their true beauty, so this gift helps kids exercise their patience. This Year’s Hottest Furby Furby DJ Interactive Toy An incredibly popular toy this holiday season, my daughter has circled DJ Furby in every toy catalog she has browsed. It plays music and games, and unlike traditional Furbies, it has more of a cuddly element thanks to its extra long tail. Helps Develop Strength And Confidence Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course For Kids Active kids will enjoy this set that includes a swing, a rope ladder, a climbing wall and much more. The set makes it easy to customize the obstacles and make it work for your space. Rickerd recommends obstacle course kits to help develop strength, coordination and confidence. Why Trust Forbes Vetted The Forbes Vetted baby and kids gear team is comprised of experienced parents, journalists and product testers. We regularly test toys for kids of all ages and publish gift guides for kids. The author of this article, Alicia Betz, is a mom and aunt to multiple elementary-aged kids and often spends time with 8-year-olds. She also frequently tests toys and products for this age range, and has firsthand experience with many of the gifts in this guide. She recently published guides to the best gifts for 7-year-olds and the best subscription boxes for kids. The editor of this article, Margaret Badore, is a mom of three and an experienced journalist and product tester. She’s the baby and kids gear editor at Forbes Vetted and regularly attends toy press events and trade shows. We interviewed two experts to learn more about 8-year-old development and what kinds of toys and gifts interest them. These experts include child and adolescent psychiatrist and regional medical director with Mindpath Health, Zishan Khan, M.D. as well as pediatric physical therapist and founder of Milestones & Motherhood, Dr. KC Rickerd. 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