18 Best Gifts for 9-Year-Olds
This parent-sourced roundup of the best gifts for 9-year-olds is filled with creative and kid-tested ideas for Christmas, birthdays and beyond. It's fun to give kids this age family games to encourage strategic thinking, age-appropriate books to help them branch out from their favorites, and toys and gifts that will nurture interests from STEM to sports. Find more inspiration on our lists for 8 year olds & tweens!
What makes Upparent gift lists unique? The gift ideas for 9-year-olds that you see here are submitted by regular parents in our community. You won't find a one-size-fits-all list compiled by an editor, or recommendations that seem legit but are actually paid for by brands. We're just sharing the things that our 9-year-olds have gotten and loved, that we've discovered and are excited to give, or that are on the wish list. Help us build a list of unique and creative gifts for 9-year-olds by adding your picks and reviews below!
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LEGO Minecraft The Zombie Cave
Age 7-14
Katie G.: Need Minecraft gifts for a LEGO and Minecraft lover like my kid? You won't want to miss out on the Minecraft LEGO building sets. This set comes with Steve, zombie, baby zombie, and bat figures. There are plenty of blocks to build your cave along with TNT if you want it to "explode."
Mermaid Tail Blanket
Gina I.: Cozy and cute, this mermaid tail blanket is perfect for cuddling up in front of the tv, curling up with a favorite book, or bringing to her next sleepover. Comes in a variety of colors.
Bubble Bumper Balls
Age 5+
Yoli B: Bubble Bumper Balls are perfect gifts for 9 year olds that will keep your kids busy for hours, and they will even fit parents too! The bubble pods will make the kids happy and you laugh while watching them maneuver inside of the bubble. I have actually heard of parents having their kids settle disputes while donning the pods! No one gets hurt and the kids will forget all about whatever conflict was bothering them. Win, Win!
ALEX Spa DIY Bath Bombs Kit
Age 6+
Kristy Pepping: My nine-year-old loves to take baths and likes to receive bath balls for a gift. If your child loves bath balls too, try this kit that lets a child make their own. They can create six balls in either a ball or heart shape. The kit comes with different colors and scents too.
Zipfy Luge Snow Sled
Age 5+
Yoli B: This sled is lightweight and easy to carry. It is easy to maneuver while going downhill and will provide your child with hours of outdoor fun in the snow.
Spy Alley
Age 8+
Gina I.: A fun game of strategy and deception, Spy Alley can be played with 2-6 players. It's a great game for 9 year olds to play themselves and enough fun that grown-ups will want to play too!
NERF Blaster
Age 8+
Gina I.: Whether your 9-year old is on the hunt for zombies or just wants to battle their siblings, you can't go wrong with a Nerf Blaster!
Justice Gift Card
Gina I.: With a huge selection of clothes, jewelry, bags, PJs, athletic wear, and accessories, she's sure to find something she loves at Justice!
I Am Pusheen the Cat
Ages 8 - 10
Kristy Pepping: If your kids have some of the Pusheen toys then it's time to read this book by Claire Belton. It gives you the backstory of this favorite cat. Like birthday, where she lives and favorite foods she likes to eat. It's an easy read with plenty of graphics and text broken out into smaller sentences. This is a nice transition book into more complex chapter books.
National Geographic Kids
Age 6+
Kelly R: My kids look forward to the arrival of Nat Geo Kids every month, and my 9-year-old will read it multiple times and loves rattling off his favorite facts. Magazine subscriptions like this make a great gift because they're quite affordable and give something to look forward to every month.
Crayola Emoji Maker
Age 6+
Yoli B: Your kids can create their own custom emoji stampers with Crayola Emoji Maker. Choose from 16 emojis!
Flag Football Set
Gina I.: This set's mini football is the perfect size for 9-year old hands to grip and throw. Plus, the ball has plays imprinted right on it for your no-huddle offense! With 5 sets of flags in each color, you can play with up to 10 people.
Basher Science Books
Age 10-14
Gina I.: The Basher Books series brings science to life with fun anime style illustrations. Each book explores a new topic: Engineering, Microbiology, Chemistry, Rocks & Minerals, Weather, Physics, and more.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid books
Age 8+
Kelly R: My avid reader LOVES the Wimpy Kid series and reads the books over and over again, so they're worth the investment. We've been getting him the newest book each year, and it is always a huge hit. You can go for the box set if your kid has some catching up to do.
Sol de Janeiro Hair & Body Fragrance Mist
Sarah C.: The "it" gift this year! Smells good & tween friendly!
Primary photo: Upparent
Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.