Choosing the best gifts for eight-year-olds can present unique challenges. When trying to discern if they would play with toys, complete arts and crafts projects, or read a book instead of leaving them under their bed or in the corner of their room is no easy feat. There are some milestones to look out for when you shop for their gifts, such as becoming more independent, having a longer attention span for hours of entertainment and learning, and starting to develop their identity with a fixed idea of what activities they like or are “good at.” If you don’t know where to start, we’re here to help make your decision a little bit easier with our gift ideas that cover various categories of interest, from board games and STEM sets to things for outdoor physical activity. We’ve also included some helpful information to make your life easier.
Choosing the best gifts for 8-year-olds
They’re not little kids anymore but they’re not teenagers either. Eight-year-olds are on the cusp of childhood and early adolescence. They’re at an age where they’re ready to move on from child-like things, and onto toys and activities that are more advanced. They’re discovering new interests, becoming more independent, and are eager to tackle challenging tasks themselves.
Gifts that encourage logic and reasoning, independent play, and outdoor exploration and play will appeal to their growing desire to learn more about the world. They’re also developing a better understanding of themselves and their unique likes. Toys, games, and gadgets that facilitate this development are also ones to consider.
How we identified the best gifts for 8-year-olds
To encourage and facilitate their journey of learning and self-discovery, we chose gifts based on the important milestones that typically occur at this age.
Eight-year-olds enjoy tasks and games that are more challenging, they want to problem solve, and they want to do it independently. The STEM gifts we chose will stimulate them mentally, as well as nurture their critical thinking — they’re the type of engineering toys that are recommended by the experts because of the learning benefits.
Kids this age are a lot more physically active, but we didn’t discount their need for a bit of downtime when they feel overstimulated. We opted for gifts that will keep them active — and burn off all that extra energy — as well as gadgets and learning material that they can unwind with, catering perfectly to both ends of the spectrum. And because kids, no matter their age, love to be entertained, you’ll find a number of gifts that they can enjoy by themselves or with their friends.
Tips for buying the best gifts for 8-year-olds
- Keep it entertaining
Above all else, kids in this age group want to be entertained, whether through educational activities, cool gadgets, or games. The more entertaining a gift is, the more likely they are to engage with it for longer periods of time.
- Take their likes and dislikes into account
While the shift from childhood to adolescence is fairly universal at this age, it’s well worth remembering that all children have their personal preferences. Some kids may prefer more physical or interactive games, whereas others may enjoy activities that facilitate individual play. When buying a gift, buy it with their unique interests in mind.
- It doesn’t have to be expensive
Often, we make the mistake of equating “the best” with “expensive.” This simply isn’t true. Some of the best gifts that can stimulate their learning or creativity don’t come with an exorbitant price tag.