At 8, children are usually prone to significant changes rather than new developments. For an average child, it is a period to sharpen the skills they already possess. If you are going to get an 8-year old a toy, you might want to consider getting one that helps their development process. The best toys for 8-year-olds are that inspire problem solving and creative thinking. The list below is toys that are ideal for every 8-year-old’s development.
A lot of kids can “level up” to more advanced toys and activities once they are around 8 years old. Many 8-year-olds get involved in specific clubs or hobbies, beginning to play team sports, and tackling more demanding projects on their own. For 8 year olds involved in sports or club activities, the best toys and gifts could be those that support their interest.
STEM toys are usually recommended for kids age 8 and older by child development experts, even though any age is a good time for crafting, tinkering, and building. Why is age 8 so special? The reason is that by the time they are 8 years old, the average kid has the logic and reasoning skills to follow instructions, the dexterity to manipulate small pieces, and the ability to focus on a task from the beginning to the end. STEM toys make some of the best gifts for 8-year-olds not because every 8 year old is on the path to being an engineer or scientist. STEM toys are encouraged because they challenge kids to do critical thinking and problem solving.
Not all kids are science or tech inclined, and not every gift for a child should be about creating the next Einstein. Some kids are super creative in the artistic areas and that should be encouraged as well. The best gifts for 8-year-olds that are artistically inclined are those that encourage them to express their thoughts and create as well. Gifts that encourage creativity may be physical products like musical instruments, craft items or art drawing sets. Gifts of experience like visits to museums, attending shows are also perfect.
At other times to, we want kids to just have fun and enjoy themselves. We looked at gifts and toys that they can do just that with as well. Some gifts here would be perfect for Christmas holiday or birthday gifts for 8-year-olds.
To make your job and choice easier, we have prepared a list of all kinds of gifts that are likely to delight and challenge the beloved 8-year-old in your life.
Rubik’s Cube
Help your 8-year-old sharpen their critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the Rubik’s cube. With up to 43 quintillion move options, this cube remains the most renowned puzzle in the globe and makes perfect toy gift for an 8-year-old. And it continues to put both the old and young through challenging mind puzzles. So you can challenge the genius in kids by gifting them this cube today.
Melissa & Doug Suspend Family Game
Your 8-year-old kid will love pulling out this easy-to-set-up and easy-to-learn activity game for families. It’s an exciting balancing game for families with a host of development benefits such as cognitive skills, hand, eye coordination as well as interpersonal skills. With many different ways to play, this game encourages interaction and will make an ideal gift for kids 8 years old of age and older. If looking for best toys or games for an 8-year-old child, consider this Suspend game, which falls into that category of games that child development experts recommend because they offer opportunities for imaginative, hands-on play. Designed for up to 4 players, this is a that will make an 8-year-old child happy.
Kid Made Comic Book Kit
Bring out the creative storyteller in your 8-year-old with this comic book kit by Kid Made. It contains everything your child would need to express their creativity in pictures and stories. Each item in the kit is made from high-quality supplies that will last a long time.
The 32-page booklet, rubber stamps, markers, and other items contained in the kit has been designed to give your child room to explore the depths of their and stories. This is one of the best gifts for an artistically inclined 8-year-old child.
Klutz Mini Pom-Pom Pets
Klutz Mini Pom-Pom Pets kit lets kids create their own tiny animal friends from homemade yarn pom-poms. Parents might have to help with the first couple of animals, but the instructions are clear, and soon enough, kids will be making them on their own. Kids will find satisfaction in envisioning and creating their own little chick or bunny, and they will look at it like it is an art project, just better, because it’s their own.
Candy Making Science Kit for Kids
Get your 8-year-old thinking like an engineer and scientist with this Candy Science Kit. With sugar, liquid, and jelly, your kid can have loads of fun while experimenting and acquainting themselves with STEM principles. They can perform up to 16 experiments with this kit and a few extra household items.
There’s no better way to introduce smart-play to your kids than the Candy Science Kit.
ThinkFun Potato Pirates
This wacky card game introduces kids to the fundamentals of computer programming, even though it may look like a battle between cute potatoes. Every player (and there can be 3 to 6) is the captain of a pirate ship with a crew of potatoes, which are represented by soft tan balls. Players take turns drawing cards and “programming” their ships to execute several functions like “roasting,” “frying,” or “mashing” another ship’s crew.
GoSports Mini Bowling Game Set
Eight is the perfect year to groom the athlete in children. Bring them all the athletic fun in bowling right in the comfort of your home with this Mini Bowling Game Set by GoSports. Each easy but challenging session of this game helps your 8-year-old flex their critical reasoning skill and also master hitting targets with pinpoint accuracy.
Speevers Xballs Juggling Balls
Your 8-year-old child will enjoy a perfect juggling experience juggling the Speevers Xball juggling balls good for both kids and adults. Pick your option from a set of three balls that come in different sizes, weights, density, and colors to match the style or preferences of your child or yours.
Good for both land and water use, kids will have so much fun tossing these almost indestructible balls around and even rolling in the mud with them. Not to worry though, as these can always look brand new, thanks to being washable and waterproof. Simply toss them in the washing machine and they’ll come out looking like you just bought them.
Will make an amazing gift for any juggler, even an accomplished one. If your kid is learning, it’s wonderfully tactile feel makes learning easier and fun. The fun apart, juggling is one of those skills that help develop excellent hand-eye coordination.
Gskyer Telescope for Kids
With the Gskyer Telescope for Kids, your aspiring astronomer enjoys a view of the stars – like a real astronomer! It comes with two eyepieces and a coated optical lens to protect the eyes of your young ones. A tripod that allows the telescope to be used at different positions and heights are also included in the set. and since the telescope is portable, kids can use it even on the go. This STEM toy for an 8-year-old can help expanding his or her interest in space.
Snap Circuits Classic SC-300 Electronics Exploration Kit
An 8-year-old child, or over, can build over 300 projects using the 60+ snap circuit parts provided in the Snap Circuits Exploration Kit. Your eight-year-old child can expand his or her imagination through experiments that include photosensitive electronic organ, an AM radio, a lie detector, a two-finger touch lamp, and many more. It’s a LEARN BY DOING product for young engineers ages 8 and over.
Best of all, no soldering or tools is required. Working with the kit is a really, easy snap, as the circuit parts click together. This an award-winning product that supports the STEM/STEAM educational curriculum.
E-Blox Circuit Builder for 120 Projects
The E-Blox Circuit Blox Builder gives your kids the opportunity to explore the fundamentals of electronics and circuit design, using easy-to-understand pieces that snap together. This is a great STEM tool to help your 8-year-old child learn about electricity, current, voltage, and a whole lot more.
An eight-year-old gets to discover how lights, alarms, switches, and other electrical concepts work while building engaging, fun projects. Your child can build real-world things like a real working FM radio and listen to his or her favorite station – a great sense of accomplishment.
Roblox Fashion Playset
Reveal the fashionista in your young ones with this fashion playset by Roblox. Kids can experience the Roblox adventure of their choice or craft out their unique adventures at playtime. From changing hairstyles and clothes to combining clothes with exciting accessories, 8-year olds can sharpen their matching and cognitive skills while having fun. They’ll be having imaginative roleplaying fun while trying to impress judges on the runway!
Dixit
Players are each dealt with six wordless cards with thought-provoking e and interesting illustrations on them. In every round, one “lead player” chooses one of their cards and makes a short statement, and other players are supposed to choose one of their own cards that fit with the statement. When all of the cards are shown, all of the players then vote on which card is the best match. Dixit is all about creativity, storytelling, and provocation, and it does not reward speed or dexterity.
Hot Wheels Smart Track Kit
Since 8-year olds cannot control an actual wheel, let them relive a mind-blowing wheel experience with this race track. The Hot Wheels Smart Track Kit fuels your kid’s sense of competition and experimentation with its adrenaline-bursting race challenges. Kids can scan their cars, keep track of their race speeds, and count race laps with this hot track. By simply connecting the tracks, you get to give your kid endless hours of competitive and creative play!
Kuretake watercolors
Kuretake watercolors are a unique and likely unexpected gift because they are a step up from most watercolor pan sets that kids usually use. These paints feature a wide range of bright colors to play around with, a quick-dissolving formulation and thee big pans, which makes them easy to work with, even for kids – another great gift idea for an 8-year-old who loves art.
Harry Potter Box Set
Up your 8-year-old’s reading skills with J.K Rowling’s bestselling Harry Potter series. This series of seven is considered by the New York Times as the bestselling storybook ever. And by engaging 8-year-olds with their captivating adventures, you get to improve their creativity, and also expand their vocabulary bank. A perfect Christmas holiday or birthday gift for an 8-year-old child.
Thames & Kosmos Engineering Makerspace: Terrain Walkers
The kit comes with 138 pieces—including gear trains, linkages, a motor box, and instructions that kids can choose to follow. This kit allows kids to assemble eight different robotic animals, including a mouse that scurries across the floor and a kangaroo that hops.
Creatable World Customizable Doll
Watch your 8-year old flex their imaginative role-playing skills with the Creatable World Customizable Doll. It comes with 6-item clothing, and 3 pairs of shoes so that your child can create their unique characters at their pleasure.
The doll can also be bent at different joints to enable kids to create different fashionable picture-perfect poses.
GlowCity Light up Soccer Ball and Basketball
It can be hard for kids to play their favorite sports once the day gets short; even if you live in the place, winter nights are warm enough that you can stay outdoors. A well-lit backyard or driveway is a good option, but the ball is still hard to follow. GlowCity Light up Soccer Ball and Basketball solve this problem by lighting the ball from the inside, which allows kids to play as late as you let them, without the dark stopping them.
Casio Portable Keyboard Bundle
Teach the music-loving kid in your life the basics of the keyboard with this portable keyboard bundle. It has up to 400 fascinating tones and 150 rhythms to give 8-year-olds the musical excitement of their lives. It also comes with DVD instructions, AC adapter, and batteries so that your child can play away wherever they are. And although the keyboard is lightweight, it very durable and can withstand lightweight
Ravensburger Gravitrax Starter Set Marble Run
When it comes to learning toys, the best toys for 8-year-olds are those that challenge them to do critical thinking. The toy incorporates concepts of magnetics, gravity, and kinetics, and it feels far more refined and durable than the taller, tubular plastic marble runs that a lot of young children encounter and play with. Playing with this toy means stacking and arranging plastic disks to build complicated marble-racing routes, and then racing with the marbles. This toy can be fun for multiple kids (for sleepovers or rainy evenings), or it can be a challenge for one kid that likes alone playtime.
Help 8-year-olds sharpen their planning and spatial coordination skills with this marble run toy by Gravitrax. Kids also get to experiment and experience STEM in a fun-filled way. They’ll get to build race tracks and then move their balls to the finish line using magnetic, kinetics, gravity, and engineering principles. This is a great learning toy for an 8-year-old.
Sphero RVR Coding Robot
Encourage creativity and computer science learning in your 8-year-old with this Coding Robot by Sphero. This no-assembly, tank design robot comes with different sensors, accelerometer, Gyroscope, and IR so that your lad can get acquainted with the basics of programming early in life. The expansion plate of this robot has also been designed to work with various third-party hardware.
AmazonBasics Easy Care Super Soft Microfiber Kid’s Bed-in-a-Bag Bedding Set
The perfect product for a child’s bedroom, guest room sleepovers, or travel. Give your 8-year-old a gift that’s comfortable to use, regardless of the season. It’s suitable also for other ages. This bed in a bag set, made of ultra-plush microfiber construction with 100% polyester filling, has multiple kid-friendly design options and is durable, soft, and breathable. Kids will find a print that they’d like, even if they are very meticulous because the covers come in multiple design options.
Very convenient for travel and other out of home use. This could make a great Christmas holiday or birthday gift for an 8-year-old.
The Galaxy Comforter
If your 8-year-old loves space, the galaxies and all the mysteries they hold, then the Nice Night Black and Blue Galaxy bedding sets with 3D printed cloud quilts comforter may be just the right thing to help pique his or her imagination.
With beautiful colors depicting the galaxies, clouds, and even the solar system, the Galaxy comforter is an ultra-soft and comfy bedding set that can give a room an aura of mystery not only for kids but for adults as well. There are a couple of space-related designs to choose from, with an animal print or two thrown in the mix.
Ravensburger Disney Villainous Board Game
Teach your Disney-loving child to strategize and compete healthily with this Strategy Board Game by Disney. It features Disney characters like Aladdin, Ariel and Peter Pan combatting 6 villains like Maleficent, Prince John, Ursula, Captain Hook, Queen of Hearts and Jafar. While gaining mastery of these characters, your child gets to understand how to strategize and make wise moves during competitions.
Squishy Circuits Kit
Thrill the electric circuit enthusiast in your life with this circuit kit. It includes using play dough with insulating and conductive properties to carry out STEM activities. Kids can squish, and create whatever they want with the dough, and bring it to life using buzzers and LED included in the package. They also get to hone their creative skills when they make the squishy dough from scratch!
Lego Friends Stephanie’s House
Lego Friends Stephanie’s House is a large Lego set for ambitious players, and it offers 622 pieces. Lego Friends Stephanie’s House is definitely for some of the most ambitious players, but the kids who stick with it will have a perfect dollhouse with three human figurines and their pet rabbit. Stephanie’s House belongs in a Lego’s Friends line that includes a dolphin rescue, restaurants, and pool parties, which offers something different from the more archetypical Lego playsets.
LEGO Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Building Kit
Let your child’s imaginations run as wild as it can with this Harry Potter building kit. With 121 items that include 4 mini-figures, 8-year olds can creatively build the Azkaban forest scene, and take on different character roles. There’s definitely no limit to the fun they’ll have with this kit.
Makey Makey
Makey Makey is an “invention kit” that was invented and developed at the MIT Media Lab, and it connects to the computer via a USB cable. It lets kids turn household objects (for example, oranges, bananas, or Play-Doh) into a keyboard, touchpad, or a controller. This toy offers endless possibilities and the opportunity to let the child’s imaginative mind to play and run free.
Nerf Rival Nemesis Toy
Give your child the advantage they need in all their playful combats. With this motorized Nemesis blaster by Nerf, they’ll have 100 opportunities to fire exciting rounds at their opponents. Kids also get to hone their cognitive skills, learn teamwork, and shooting with accuracy.
Puro Sound Labs BT2200
Many headphones for kids claim to limit the volume under 85 decibels, which is the safe levels for developing ears, but the truth is that not of them do so. However, the Puro BT2200 headphones really remain within safer listening levels for kids. Although other kids’ headphones are made of cheap plastic that is not durable, the BT2200 headphones have a well-constructed aluminum frame. They are definitely sturdy enough to survive several years of being dragged around and used all the time. They also have Bluetooth connection that allows kids to use them wirelessly or with a cord.
Franklin Sports Mini Hockey Set
With this Set, the young sports enthusiast in your life will experience what playing Hockey game feels like. And from the comfort of your home, your 8-year-old can learn to shoot and keep goals like a pro. The set consists of 4 hockey sticks, 4 balls, 2 goal nets, and 2 goal sticks. It is also easy to assemble and can be carried about easily with its carrying case.
VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX
An 8-year-old child will enjoy using the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX, thanks to its interactive features such as games, fun activities, action challenges, and motion sensors.
It’s equipped with a camera that has good memory so that your child can take tons of photos and videos, use photo effects and voice recorders, and even voice-changing effects, all on the touch screen. It’s loaded with a bunch of features to help an eight-year-old get better organized, such as an alarm, a timer, and a stopwatch, plus a calendar and a calculator.
The VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch is a great gift for kids ages 4 to 9.
Laser Tag Set for Fun Family Games
Build the family or friends bond by having everyone join the thrill and excitement of shooting laser tags. Always a rich memory builder that an 8-year-old child and family or friends will hold for a long time.
Laser tag gives you almost the experience of starring in a video game, an activity opportunity that players will enjoy. With the Dynasty Toys Laser Tag Set, there are 4 unique team setting options to choose from. The team setting and blast settings are interchangeable on blasters, with the ability to set them on the fly.
Thames & Kosmos Magic Set
Your 8-year-old doesn’t have to just sit and watch magic tricks anymore. They can now master and perform theirs! They can turn apples to oranges, knot and unknot ropes, or perform whatever their imaginations can conjure just by waving their wands. The Thames & Kosmos Magic kit comes with a set of different magical props, and a 72-page magical guide to help kids master the various tricks.
Klutz LEGO Movie Kit
Yeah! Movie producing can now be done by your very own 8-year-old! With this kit and their creativity, they can get their own movies up and running. The 36 LEGO items and 6 backgrounds in the set help to introduce kids to the basics of animation creation. And with the motion pictures accessible on apps, kids can learn advanced skills while they make their unique movies.
Pinwheel Crafts Tracing Pad
Let your child flex their creativity for endless hours with this LED tracing pad by Pinwheel Crafts. With 10 templates, 10 tracing sheets, 1 pencil, 12 crayons, and a power adapter, kids can challenge their artistic skills and still have so much fun. Their imaginations can be inspired to come up with mind-blowing masterpieces just by tracing design outlines on the pad.
DIY Glowing Slime Kit
Irrespective of gender, you can gift any 8-year-old this glowing slime kit to add more color and excitement to their playtime. You also get to hone their creativity, hand-eye coordination, and motor skills with this toy set.
With 15 fascinating crystal slimes, a dozen glitter types, sparkly sugar, and beads, slime can become an exciting substance to work with. With little or small quantity of slime, there’d always be a glow that lightens up the darkness.
Avengers Gauntlet Articulated Electronic Fist
Elevate imaginative role-play for kids by gifting them this Avengers-inspired electronic fist. When activated, the rhythmic Infinity Stone glow of this electronic fist will thrill your 8-year-old and add colorful fun to their playtime. Its fingers can also be locked in a fist so that imaginative roleplaying can truly be fun for hours.
Crayola Masterworks Art Case
If you want kids to freely express the artistic nature in them, there’s no better toy to gift them than the Crayola masterworks Art Case. It contains over 200 supplies for drawing, painting, crafting, and coloring to help fuel creativity in 8-year-olds, and also encourage their self-expression. There’s also a wooden case to help kids learn to organize their supplies appropriately.
Hey Clay Aliens
At 8, kids would definitely enjoy molding and sculpting with clay. The Hey Clay Aliens is one clay modeling toy that helps kids explore the depths of their creativity, and express themselves limitlessly. It inspires their imaginations to come up with unique figures they can keep as action figures and toys as soon as they’re dried.
Portable Karaoke Kit for Kids
Help your 8-year-old practice how to be a music star with this portable karaoke kit. It comes with 14 different light effects, 5 special effects for voice, and 6 sound effects. So, kids can storm their shows and play parties with the vibrant and energetic sound this karaoke machine produces. The system can be connected to phones and tablets so that kids can sing with their different light effects
Spalding Basketball Hoop
Have you got an 8-year old with a liking for basketball? You can encourage the athlete in them with the basketball hoop by Spalding. Made at a quarter-scale to the NBA hoop, this basketball hoop can be hung on doors to buildup muscular balance and inspire confidence in your muscular balance
Harry Potter Wizard Training Wand
Inspire your 8-year olds with hours of magical play by gifting them this Harry Potter Wizard Training Wand. The wand is 15 inches long and can be used to cast 11 different spells. Kids get to practice how to cast spells, and in the process, they learn patience and determination. There are also five play modes to challenge your 8-year old to more exciting magical adventures.
Vantic Hand-Operated Drones for Kids
Give your 8-year olds up to 20 minutes of exciting air-borne play with the Vantic hand-operated drones. The drone does not require much space so that kids can sharpen their cognitive, hand-eye, and spatial coordination skills right from the comfort of your home. It is durable and can be recharged for exciting air-borne
Botley the Coding Robot
With Botley, 8-year olds can learn STEM while developing their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. It is a screen-free programmer with which kids can understand coding very easily. And with just 5 AAA batteries, other supplies, and the manual guide, Botley can be made to follow loop commands, and also get coded for up to 100 steps.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Camera
Spark up the creative photographer in 8-year olds by gifting them a Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 camera. This Fujifilm camera can take exciting 62 by 46-millimeter pictures with up to 0.6-meter focus. And its auto-exposure measurement helps kids hone their hand-eye coordination and motor skills appropriately. The camera comes in five exciting colors and requires 2 AAA batteries to work.
Ideal Magic Spectacular Magic Suitcase
Every 8-year-old can now own their own magic suitcase and perform loads of tricks before their friends. The Ideal Magic Spectacular Magic suitcase encloses a magic hat, a wand, and props for 100 magical tricks. With every wave of the wand, kids get to build their confidence and self-awareness as they keep their audience wowed.
4M Crystal Growing Science Kit
Foster your 8-year olds interest in science with this educational crystal growing science kit. The kit contains supplies for 7 crystal growth experiments and is a fun way to teach kids science.
Each experiment in this kit helps to hone cognitive, motor, and critical reasoning skills in kids and the fully grown crystals can be a huge boost to an 8-year olds confidence.
Apples to Apples Junior by Mattel Games
This easy-to-play card game can now be enjoyed by 8-year olds. It comes with 576 play cards that help kids build their critical thinking skills and also expand their vocabulary while they make fun comparisons. Kids also experience imaginative role-play when they take turns in being the judge, and convincing the judge to make their match the convincing the judge
UWANTME Electronic Shooting Target
Hone your 8-year olds accuracy and precision skills with this electronic shooting toy. Every hit down on this toy has been programmed to make fun sounds like broken glass and gunshot sounds for more excitement. Kids also get to track their scores and progress with the LCD screen included in the set. And when they’re on the winning side, their confidence level will definitely going through the roof.
Conclusion
There! You’ve got an articulated list of toys you can gift the 8-year old closest to you without tampering with their development process.
