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Apr 13, 2024

32 Best Gifts for 9

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We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

They'll love these educational, outdoorsy and fun presents!

Nine-year-old kids have really come into their own, and they know what types of subjects and hobbies interest them — and which ones do not. They want to be appreciated for their individuality, and it's often fun to pick out gifts for kids that celebrate what makes them unique. But you also have to meet them where they're at developmentally — they're on the brink of being ready for tween gifts and can master more complicated toys and games, but they're not always 100% in control of their emotions yet. "Games like Apples to Apples or What Do You Meme provide silly, structured fun where there is no definite clear, 'right' answer," says Jennifer Rothman, LCSW. "That promotes flexibility, taking different perspectives, handling different opinions and offering more nuance in cognitive, emotional and social gains at this age."

It's not just board games that work well for this age. And the best judge of what will resonate with 9-year-olds is, of course, 9-year-olds themselves. The Good Housekeeping Institute surveys the opinions of kids each year, calling in the newest and hottest toys and sending them out to real families to be tested. The experts simultaneously evaluate the same items to ensure safety and quality. After everyone's opinions were factored in, these rose to the top as the best toys and gifts for 9-year-olds in 2023.

What were the favorite items? Anything glow-in-the-dark is having a moment. So are DIY kits that let kids show off their newfound mastery, along with educational toys that let them delve deeply into a subject they're interested in. Here, our favorites. You can also check out our top gifts for 9-year-old girls and cool toys for 9-year-old boys.

Kids need to use their problem-solving abilities and creative-thinking skills to get through these 200 riddles. The book includes new puzzles along with famed historical ones, like the Riddle of the Sphinx, and if kids get stuck there are hints to help them. Ages 9+

Everyone — from elementary schoolers to teens and college kids to even parents and grandparents — can find themselves obsessing over the puzzles in Kanoodle 3D. So it's no wonder that the game is a TikTok sensation, with lots of players posting their #KanoodleChallenge. To play, challenge cards will start a 2D pattern or a 3D shape, and kids have to figure out how to fit in the rest of their pieces using their logic and spatial reasoning. Ages 7+

Sometimes, it's hard to put into words just how much you love your 9-year-old. This journal makes it easy, with fill-in-the-blank prompts that say things like, "Every year on your birthday, I think about ______." When you finish, they'll have a one-of-a-kind gift that'll make them feel special. No age recommendation given

What's better than getting a pack of new squishies? Getting to color in the squishies yourself! This comes with 10 cream-scented squishies that can be colored in and painted in however they like (though the paint and brushes are not included). They can make a one-of-a-kind creation! Ages 4+

The contest is on to see who can create the funniest meme by combining photos and caption cards. Rotating judges award points to the players, so it also helps if you know what makes your family laugh! Ages 8+

Even non-Nintendo fans can see that this Kirby plush is just super adorable. (And might inspire them to actually get a good night's sleep?) There's also a Heart Kirby, a Warp Star Kirby and, of course, a Waddle Dee if they want to start a collection. Ages 3+

RELATED: The Best Gifts for Gamers

This book features 14 different sculptures of sea creatures made from plastic items that were removed from the ocean, so kids leave this book with a message about sustainability and being a good environmental steward. Good Housekeeping Institute testers loved taking a close look at each of the pages, looking for items like lipstick tubes and hangers in the sculptures. Ages 6 – 10

RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Awards

It's not just gum — it's science! This kit comes with everything kids need to make a whopping half a pound of bubblegum. They can see if the gum they make themselves helps them blow bigger bubbles. Ages 5+

This night light isn't just a cool lighting effect — it's 3D printed to look like the surface of the moon, giving their rooms spacey vibes. It also lights up in 16 different colors and comes in four different sizes. No age recommendation given

Tie-dye is big. Crocs are back. Why not put them both together? The clogs come in tons of groovy patterns (and also bigger sizes), and you can help kids personalize them even further by gifting them a pack of Jibbitz charms to go with them. Sized for kids 8 – 12

Kid who love figuring out how things work and want to explore the world around them will thrill to dig into this collection of a thousand science-themed facts. From way out in outer space to deep into the human body, this book gives kids insight into how scientists think about what's going on around them. Ages 8 – 12

Now they can practice their penalty kicks even after the sun goes down. LEDs keep this soccer ball illuminated so it's easy to see at night, and if soccer isn't their sport, you can get a football, basketball, tetherball or volleyball. No age recommendation given

Advertised as "photo tricks for your bricks," this kit comes with two LEGO figures and props like wigs, animals and sports equipment that kids can use to come up with different scenes. Along the way, they'll learn about photographic concepts like focus, depth of field and forced perspective, so they'll come away knowing what goes into making a great, dynamic shot. Ages 7+

There's no remote for this drone — it's all done by hand controls. She just has to toss it in the air and it'll hover above her hands. Soon, she'll be able to master tricks and flips. Ages 8+

RELATED: The Best Drones for Kids

Any Super Mario Bros. fan will instantly recognize the Piranha Plant design of these plushes — but that's not all they are. Pull them out of the "pipe," and they turn into a pair of fluffy slippers — a power-up if we've ever seen one! No age recommendation given

This is a tee that kids can design themselves — over and over again! It comes with a special light-up pen that kids can use to make a glow-in-the-dark image. After a few minutes, it fades and kids can draw another one. Sized for kids ages 3 – 14

There's so much artistry that goes into comic-book creation, from character design to the layouts of the panels to the lettering. Kids can a crack at making their own comic books with this kit, which comes with two books with 24 pre-formatted pages each. An included stamp pad lets them add in fun extras, like bubbles that say, "Pow!" Ages 6+

Take a marble run, a maze and a 3D puzzle, mix them all together, and you have Freefall. Cups are attached to a standing frame to start the maze, and players have to figure out how to flip and move the cups so the marble drops into the target. It takes lots of critical thinking skills and logic to sort it out! Ages 8+

Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.

Rachel Rothman (she/her) is the chief technologist and executive technical director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also manages GH’s growing research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems. During her 15 years at Good Housekeeping, Rachel has had the opportunity to evaluate thousands of products, including toys and cars for GH’s annual awards programs and countless innovative breakthroughs in consumer tech and home improvement.

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