The best toys and gifts for eight-year-olds, tested by eight-year-olds

From science kits to karaoke machines, shower sets to brain-boosting games, here are the presents our mini testers loved the most

Eight is such a wonderful age. Kids are old enough to have their own interests and hobbies, but still young enough to get swept up in play and be absorbed for hours if you find the right toy for them.

By eight, children’s interests and skills are taking shape. They’re more confident readers, more strategic thinkers and curious about how things work. And while they think they’re extremely grown up, eight-year-olds still need plenty of time to play for their overall wellbeing.

Here’s a rundown of toys and gifts that will keep eight-year-olds occupied for months to come: a roster of creative kits, clever games, outdoor adventures and timeless toys that will keep them happy and busy (while sneakily learning).

As an experienced toy tester, I am living an eight-year-old’s dream. I have written about toys and parenting for almost 10 years and have also worked in schools and children’s publishing. As well as professionally observing children’s play, I also have three children, and in these guides I aim to balance what kids love to play with and what parents want in their house.

I also asked children’s play specialists and development experts about the best toys to support the developmental stage most eight-year-olds are at – from school skills to wellbeing – for a holistic approach.

A gang of lively eight-year-olds were enlisted to test toys and gifts on my behalf, and they weren’t shy in telling me what they thought of them. Their own gift picks can be found throughout this guide.

The toys and gifts that made the cut here balanced all these needs. Sustainability was always on my mind when compiling this list, with the guiding principle of buying well, not more. I selected toys and gifts that my testers came back to over and over and should last them well into the tween stage.

Those of a certain age may remember the TV show Penny Crayon; everything Penny drew came to life, getting her and her mates out of all kinds of strife. Well, this pen can (sort of) make the Penny Crayon dream come true for your child. The 3Doodler pen delivers a stream of BPA-free plastic, which cools as it hits the air, allowing children to create what they draw – “I made a pair of sunglasses and a very creepy-looking robot,” my tester reported with glee. The use of plastic made me hesitate to include it in this guide, but it kept my tester absorbed for hours. The filaments are made from a biodegradable material but can’t be put in household recycling.

“An eight-year-old’s interests include more complex games,” says Laura Moore-Williams, an early years consultant. Around this age, many children are taught to play chess at school, and the benefits are huge. It builds focus and critical thinking, while teaching patterns, spatial awareness and sequencing. All this will build important neural pathways in the developing brains of eight-year-olds. This board is a gift for life – it’s made from walnut and sycamore, and the pieces are handcarved. It folds in the middle with the pieces stored inside. My eight-year-old tester plays chess at school (many primary schools teach it at this age to develop problem-solving skills and mathematical and numerical reasoning), so their eyes lit up when they saw this board. They loved playing with a “proper” set rather than the tiny board they had been using.

Jaques of London complete folding chess board

Materials: wood, baize base for pieces

Suitable for: 6+

Eight is a great age for getting kids into a book series they can independently read and enjoy. Tom Gates was a huge hit with the eight-year-olds I spoke to. The books follow the slightly hapless but likable schoolboy Tom as he tries to wind up his annoying older sister, get his band going and eat as many caramel wafers as possible – while avoiding doing any homework. The books are filled with illustrations and aren’t too text heavy. My eight-year-old tester is a slightly reluctant reader, but they were racing through the books and begging for the next one.

“For eight-year-olds I rate advanced Lego sets,” says Moore-Williams. My eight-year-old tester loved this Mario Kart Lego set, whooping “awesome” with gusto as they clapped eyes on the box. Beyond the unboxing, it’s fun to build, with nothing that’s too repetitive, and they’re left with an amusing toy they can either display or play with (my tester definitely opted for the latter).

Lego Mario Kart Piranha Plant Power-Up Pursuit

“We started to have a Saturday afternoon games session with friends, and they brought this over to play,” said one eight-year-old tester. “It was fun for the adults and the kids, and it was easy to get the hang of.” When I tested this game with eight-year-olds and their younger siblings, it had them all giggling. It’s easy to get playing quickly (eight-year-olds don’t want to read dissertation-length instructions) and it’s pretty rapid fire – a game is won or lost within minutes – so it’ll hold even the shortest of attention spans. It’s also small enough to slip into a bag and whip out at a restaurant or pub on a rainy afternoon to keep kids from getting fidgety.

Materials: plastic, paper

Suitable for: 8+

We all know getting kids outside is vital for their physical and mental wellbeing, but it’s often easier said than done. For this guide, I looked for gifts that would get them to break cover, and this scooter fared well.

Built for bigger kids (and adults), it’s got plenty to keep eight-year-olds excited. It has large, speedy wheels to cover longer distances – particularly handy if your kids are scooting to school. The chopper-style handlebars look cool and offer a good degree of control. Our eight-year-old tester was keen to take it to the skate park to test and had plenty of fun showing it off as well as racing it around. It is more expensive than other scooter models, but it’s also built to be easy to service and…