98 Gifts for 9 Year Olds

At 9, they’re probably a reasonably autonomous thinker. They may now appreciate some rather challenging problem-solving toys that require some time and patience to finish since they have a longer attention span. For this age range, there are tons of fantastic multi-stage building kits and more significant scientific, craft, and artistic tasks. Some of them will challenge your 9-year-old, but if they persevere and finish the game, their expression of success is always totally rewarding.

Choosing the best toys for 9-year-olds

At 9 years old, children are becoming more mature and cognitively aware. They may be developing passions for certain social issues and hobbies and have an increasing self-awareness about the world around them. Empathy is fast becoming an ingrained trait, as they start to identify the emotions and lives of the people around them. They’re mimicking the grammatical patterns of adults and their literacy ability is also greatly improving. They may want to read books that were previously deemed too difficult and engage in new subject matter.

Increased attention span means they can now pick a sport, subject, or activity and have the discipline to study and master it. They can also tackle more complex mathematical theories and have increased spatial awareness. It’s important to keep encouraging this so when choosing a gift, focus on gifts that will further develop this like Lego building sets, games like Tetris, or puzzles.

They’re also refining their fine motor skills and may become more interested in activities that require focus and dexterity. Toys that can help this along are things like playsets that feature hammers, screwdrivers, and other smaller objects. Drawing, painting, and model-building are all great activities for developing this skill. 

How we identified the best toys for 9-year-olds

When we evaluated the best toys for 9-year-olds we typically looked at toys that challenged them and that would be longer-form projects for them to work on. With all the new milestones being achieved, our focus was to develop and enhance their budding skills.

At this age, the opinions of peers and their relationships with them are highly important, which is why some of the toys we included can be played with friends. This also creates a healthy competitiveness, where each child tries to master the given task. Children can compare their results and co-ordinate and co-create together. 

Many of our toys encourage fine motor development with delicate and complex building sets guaranteed to let your 9-year-old master their skills and take on longer projects. We also place focus on their physical development with a selection of toys that build coordination and stamina. You’ll find a range of toys that promote physical wellness and help formulate new hobbies and interests such as archery. For girls, we made sure to include pretty gift items that allow her to work on her fine motor skills through beading and bracelet-making, as well as indulging in pretend play and self-expression. For boys, we selected items that also encourage pretend play while utilizing their skills at the same time through building sets. 

Tips for buying the best toys for 9-year-olds

1. Make sure it’s age-appropriate
   While 9-year-olds are mastering adult-like hobbies and grammatical patterns, it’s easier to forget that they’re still children who are learning and can be prone to accidents. Whatever toy you buy, stick to the age guideline and put safety first.
2. Encourage new hobbies
   If you notice your 9-year-old is chattering away about a new subject or activity, encourage exploration and choose a toy that aligns with it. They may discover a new hobby that they can master and could one day be a pathway to a career.
3. Incorporate education
   Academics are becoming more difficult at this stage and a healthy interest in subjects like mathematics, science, and literacy will stand them in good stead for the future. No matter what age we are, we’re always learning and it helps to have a good relationship with making an effort to learn more. They still have a while to go when it comes to fulfilling their education, so encourage them to develop a good relationship with it early on.