With the holiday season upon us, we all have a long list of gift recipients for whom we need to shop. Whether you have a 9-year-old in your own home or a niece, nephew, family friend, or another child this age, it can be challenging to find the perfect gift.
No matter whether the nine-year-old in your life is a budding scientist, slime enthusiast, movie buff, engineer-to-be, amateur makeup artist, or daredevil, we have the perfect gift for them. Let’s check out the top 30 gifts for this age range.
Get ready for the next holiday or birthday with one – or a couple! – of the following toys. No matter what you pick, you’re sure to bring a smile to your child’s face.
Let’s jump right in and take a look at our top gifts for 9 year olds!
The Best Gift Ideas for 9-Year-Olds for 2023
1. Star Wars The Force Coding Kit from Kano
Kids and adults alike adore Star Wars, so anything from the franchise is sure to please. This coding kit teaches an incredibly valuable skill simultaneously, so it’s a win-win for everyone. It’s a great tool to use to see if your 9-year-old has an aptitude for coding, and if so, you can foster that gift from there.
2. Rubik’s Cube
Classics are classics for a reason. Kids have been trying to solve Rubik’s Cubes for generations. This item makes a good stocking stuffer for 9-year-olds especially. It’s an excellent toy to get them off their screens. Encourage them to try and solve it on the way to Christmas dinner at Grandma’s house!
3. Sorry! Board Game
Sorry is another classic board game that’s so much fun to play. It won’t be at the top of all 9-year-olds’ gift lists, but it is another great tool to get them off their electronics and interact with others of their own age and within their families. The rules are simple and easy to learn, but the game lasts long enough to hold their attention.
4. Space Blaster Shooting Game
If you really want to impress the 9-year-old on your gift list this year, then look no further than this incredible Space Blaster shooting game. They and another player don the headsets and play laser tag using harmless infrared light. Not only is it super cool, but it’s also relatively active and great for getting energy out on a rainy or cold day when going outside isn’t possible.
5. How Things Work Book
It can be challenging to get 9-year-olds to read if they aren’t inclined to the activity, but most are very curious about the world around them and how things work. This book is written in their language with lots of illustrations to capture their vivid imaginations. Who knows? They might decide that reading isn’t so bad after all!
6. Rogue Starter Guitar
Many children begin learning to play music on the piano, but a guitar is an equally immersive way to enter the world of music. What’s more, it’s portable, much less expensive, and in some areas, it might be easier to find an instructor.
If the 9-year-old on your list has a good ear and an aptitude for music, get them a guitar and see how much they play around with it. This gift may just be the start of their musical journey.
7. National Geographic Microscope Science Kit
If your 9-year-old is a budding scientist, then there’s nothing better to get them than a microscope kit. National Geographic designed this particular item to be very user-friendly for kids. It comes complete with a guide for how to examine different types of objects and cells using it.
8. Hover1 LED Hoverboard
What 9-year-old doesn’t want a hoverboard? This cool LED version is fun to play with and helps kids stay active and teach balance. It is appropriate for use indoors and outdoors and comes with a rechargeable battery.
9. Canon Ivy Mini Mobile Photo Printer
If your little one loves to snap pics, encourage their gift with this mini mobile printer. They can turn everyday moments into memories and decorate their spaces, including their bedrooms, binders and school books, lockers, and more. The printer comes with some printing paper, but you may want to order more and wrap it as an additional gift.
10. PlayStation 5
The Playstation 5 might be the ultimate gift for the 2021 holiday season, and we won’t lie: it might not be easy to snag one of them. If you can, though, you’ve probably won parent of the year. It isn’t all pomp, either; this new version comes with thousands of games and gaming options as well as stunning picture display and technology.
11. LEGO Mindstorms Robot Builder
Many 9-year-olds still love to build with LEGO kits, and many subjects suit their tastes as well (be sure to browse the store!). But few LEGO kits compare to this ultra-cool robot builder, which allows kids to actually build their very own workable robot. Once it’s complete, this LEGO creation won’t just simply sit on the shelf. They will play with it over and over again.
12. Kiwi Box Subscription
Subscription boxes make such amazing gifts because they keep on coming month after month and remind kids how much you care. Plus, they’re each like a present itself.
Kiwi STEM boxes are one of the most popular options for kids, including 9-year-olds, for good reason. They’re age-appropriate according to their level, and they’re also really engaging and fun. Kids won’t even realize they’re learning!
13. Instant Adventure Treehouse
If you want to encourage your 9-year-old (and their siblings and friends) to get outside and play more, then there’s no better gift than an actual treehouse. You can put away your tools and two-by-fours, too, since this ingenious treehouse comes ready to assemble quickly. Your kids will get hours of outdoor adventures with it.
14. Plasticine Move Maker Studio
Stop-motion animation looks much more complicated than it is, which your kids will quickly learn with this kid that is appropriate for children around nine years of age. They get to design their own characters, write their own story, and then watch it come to life.
15. Kidizoom Smartwatch DX3
If your child looks on your smartwatch enviously, you’re in luck: VTech, one of the most trusted names in children’s electronics, has a version just for them. This kids’ smartwatch does much of what yours does but in a safer and easier-to-use way, especially for little minds and hands.
They can take pictures and videos, play games, set reminders, track their activity, and much more. Best of all, mom and dad will be able to see what they’re up to and where they are.
16. Puzzle Master Puzzles
Solving all kinds of puzzles is really good for kids’ brains. Help their minds grow with one of hundreds of puzzles to choose from. This company offers numerous options appropriate for all ages, so check out their complete selection.
17. LEGO Harry Potter
More than two decades after the first book’s initial release, Harry Potter has continued to delight audiences young and old, still capturing the imagination of new generations of children. Today’s 9-year-olds are no exception.
LEGO sets also make great toys because they entertain for long periods of time and require a great deal of concentration and attention. If you need something to keep your 9-year-old occupied for hours at a time, this just might do the trick. What’s more, with so many sets available, you could continue to give them for occasion after occasion until your child has the entire Wizarding World.
18. Backyard Zipline
Nine-year-olds are coming out of their shell and beginning to explore taking risks and indulging in more adventurous activities. That’s something that makes a backyard zipline such a cool gift.
This 150-foot line is actually easy to install and very safe to use (although kids should always wear helmets, they are not included). Many families have connected two separate play areas in their yards, which means that it gets used over and over. All of the neighborhood kids will want a turn, too.
19. American Doll Clothing and Accessories
Many 9-year-old girls (and boys, too) love to play with dolls. Just as they have a lot of outfits for different seasons and occasions, they love to dress their dolls in the same way. Doll clothing and accessories make great gifts, even as stocking stuffers.
This set comes with eight outfits plus accessories perfect for American Girl dolls or other dolls 18 inches tall. The set completes an entire wardrobe with outfits for swimming, playing tennis, and taking pictures.
20. Gamefly Subscription
Many nine-year-olds are gamers or aspiring gamers and want to spend as much time as they can playing video games, watching others play video games, and doing anything related to video games.
A Gamefly subscription, which is like Netflix for video games, is a gift that keeps on giving for kids like this. It’s also a very good conversation starter because you can always ask them about the new games they’re playing, and it will remind them of your gift.
21. To-Scale, Realistic Car Model Kit
Some kids get interested in “big kid toys,” like cars and major electronics, at a young age. Indulge this interest with a genuine diecast model. These models are designed to scale and are very realistic. They’re not only a lot of fun to play with, but they also teach kids about dimensions, how cars work themselves, and patience.
22. Funko Pop Vinyl Toy
No matter what your 9-year-old is into, the chances are good that there’s a Funko Pop Vinyl Toy for them. You can find characters for everything from Harry Potter to Marvel and much, much more, including real-life celebrities and singers.
What is more, these fun figurines are very popular, so you might even start them a collection. They measure just over three inches tall, so they are easy to store, display, and stick in a backpack to take to a friend’s house.
23. Ganz eStore Gift Card for Webkinz
Kids around the age of nine love to play with Webkinz, and it’s a safe online community for them to get involved in and enjoy. They can use credits to buy all sorts of goodies for their online universe. Get them a gift card, and they will receive hours of enjoyment out of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Buying gifts for kids can be a toss-up. They grow so fast, and their interests evolve just as quickly. If you’re still unsure what to get that special 9-year-old in your life, let us help.
Below are some of our answers to common questions that many people have about buying gifts for children this age.
How Do You Know If a Gift Is Appropriate for a 9-Year-Old?
This is a tricky question because there are so many ways to evaluate appropriateness. What’s more, every child is different. One of the easiest ways is to look at the manufacturer’s indications for age. Additionally, other parents are a great resource. Ask around if anyone has bought the item, or post on an online message board about it.
How Do You Know If They’ll Like It?
This is a tricky question to answer. You can just ask them directly, but that somewhat ruins the surprise. Try asking another child around their age, or pay attention to their current interests. You also have the option of asking them to make a wish list or asking their parents for ideas.
How Do You Choose From So Many Options?
It isn’t easy, that’s for sure. But you can use an effective process of elimination to help you. One of the simplest things to do is set a budget. Once you have a price range, it’s much easier to narrow down your choices. Then, decide whether you want to entertain them, educate them, or give something meaningful.
Finding the Perfect Gift for a 9-Year-Old
No matter their interests, hobbies, personality type, or aptitude, this list has so many great options appropriate for 9-year-olds. Browse these options, think about the child for whom you’re shopping, and pick whatever speaks to you the most.