Wondering what to get a 7-year-old for their birthday and scratching your brain? The best toys and gifts for this age help them write stories, draw detailed pictures, build and create.
Seven-year-olds are noticeably better at fine motor skills that help them write and create than they were at age 6, said Dr. Amanda Gummer, founder of Fundamentally Children in the United Kingdom.
Crafts, sports equipment, building materials and other interactive and educational toys are among the top gifts for 7-year-olds, noted Susan Kambrich, head of the Woodland Hill Montessori School in Rensselaer, New York, and treasurer of the board of directors for the American Montessori Society.
At age 7, kids are also becoming more confident readers, ready to explore the world through graphic novels, nonfiction books and more sophisticated chapter books — though they will still get plenty of satisfaction and education from picture books, too. Here, we've found the best gifts to help your favorite 7-year-old hone their developmental skills while also having fun.
Bestsellers | Best gifts | Best toys | Active toys | Best arts and crafts | Best games and puzzles | Best STEM and educational toys | Best dolls and stuffed animals | Best books
Bestselling gifts for 7-year-olds
Unstable Unicorns Kids Edition
Unstable Unicorns won the 2019 People's Choice Award for Toy of the Year and has sold over a million copies worldwide for a reason. The kid-friendly version with adorable artwork is sure to be adored by your 7-year-old and a favorite among the whole family.
Rainbow Loom Combo Loomi Pals Set
Make your own stretchy bracelets and add cute charms with this set that makes crafting accessible. Friendship bracelets are great for building social networks and fine motor skills.
Klutz Make Your Own Puffy Stickers
This sticker maker includes designs that can be colored in and enough material for 60 homemade stickers.
Taco vs Burrito Card Game
This game was created by a 7-year-old made specifically for 7-year-olds. All right, parents can play, too; it's actually a great card game for any age. This is a fun game centered around strategy and competition.
Everest Toys Crazy Forts Glow in the Dark Set
Kids can create their own one-of-a-kind play space with this award-winning kit. Coolest of all, it glows in the dark!
Best gifts for 7-year-olds
Big Fat Yarn
Knitting becomes kid-friendly with this jumbo finger-knitting craft kit that lets kids make accessories for their bedrooms, or disassemble the project and make something new.
KiwiCo Basketball Catapult
This STEM toy lets 7-year-olds create an adjustable catapult, then use it to shoot and score, learning about angles and arcs as they go.
Unicorn Reversible Sequin Pillow
This shiny unicorn is a great accessory, but flip sequins aren’t just fun — they’re recommended to help kids who struggle with sensory processing or emotional regulation.
Mega Barbie Color Reveal Dream House
This building set combines the magic of color reveal Barbie with the engineering of a building set for a dream house in miniature.
3D Doodler Start+ Essentials
Kids can make their own 3D art with this kit that provides a “pen” that emits the child-safe plastic building material to make their own shapes. They can follow stencils or create their own sculptures.
Best toys for 7-year-olds
National Geographic Geode Kit
Break open 10 geodes to discover the cool world inside and learn about rocks and the Earth. With over 23,000 five-star Amazon ratings, shoppers can agree that this "age appropriate," "exciting" and "quick and easy to explain" activity is perfect for 7-year-olds and science enthusiasts alike.
Lego Dots Creative Designer Box
This crafty Lego toy lets young designers create custom decor with items like wall decorations and boxes for desk supplies.
Plus-Plus Go! Street Racing Super Set
Plus-Plus connecting tiles give Lego lovers a new way to build, and this set allows for both instruction-following and open-ended play.
L.O.L. Surprise Color Change Bubbly Surprise
Collectibles, from trading cards to mini figures like these, can be important for kids who are developing a sense of group belonging, Gummer said.
Magic Mixies Moonlight Magic Crystal Ball
Magic Mixies remains one of the hottest toys of the year and has been featured across multiple toy lists. This interactive toy allows kids to create a magical potion, then, with a little wand wave, a mystical creature appears through the mist. The brand also mentions that the crystal ball can be used as a night light!
Active toys for 7-year-olds
Franklin Sports Blackhawk Pop-Up Soccer Goal
Sports are becoming more rewarding to 7-year-olds as they gain strength and stamina. Give them a goal net to practice and play with.
AOKESI Mini Indoor Basketball Hoop Set
Consider a gift for an active 7-year-old that allows them to channel all that extra energy. This indoor mini basketball set comes with everything they'll need to ball like a professional right in their own bedroom — the basketball hoop, backboard and soft rubber mini basketballs are all included.
Donkit Darts Magnetic Dart Board
A magnetic dart board is great for motor skills and competition without the danger of real darts. "It's so worth the money," one reviewer said, adding "We love this and play all the time."
Kidwinz Shock-Proof Binoculars
Gear like these binoculars, backyard tents and walkie-talkies encourage outdoor play and exploration.
Best arts and crafts for 7-year-olds
Just My Style Tie Dye Design Studio
Get in on the tie-dye trend with this studio in a box that lets kids dye up to 18 projects.
Klutz Friendship Bracelet Making Activity Booklet
Whether they're making friendship bracelets to trade with friends at sleepaway camp or for a certain artist's tour, they can learn to make complex chevron designs or spice up their usual braided bracelets with the instructions in this booklet. It also comes with string and beads to get them started.
Hey Clay Animals
Complete with 18 cans of clay that aren't sticky or toxic, this gift will allow your 7-year-old to make beautiful 3D creations. Let their imagination run wild!
Slime Making Kit
This oddly satisfying slime kit is fun for both kids and kids at heart. Strangely fascinating and tactile, it also relieves stress.
Klutz Sew-Your-Own Unicorn Bunny Slippers
These cozy slippers are a fun craft project and a nice way to stay warm while remote learning.
Grandparent Pen Pal Kit
What better way to get a 7-year-old (and their grandparents) excited about writing?
VTech Kidizoom
Little photographers can take pictures and instantly print black-and-white images with included paper. The digital screen lets them embellish photos with stickers and drawings.
Lulu Jr. Illustory Bookmaking Kit
Put them on the path to their first Pulitzer Prize with this bookmaking kit.
Best games and puzzles for 7-year-olds
Educational Insights Kanoodle Puzzle Game
This classic game includes plenty of brain teasers a 7-year-old can try alone, and it’s portable for travel.
Mudpuppy Amazing Insects Glow in the Dark Puzzle
Puzzles help with fine motor skills and problem-solving, and this one includes a geography lesson, too.
Uno Party
With over 300 cards, who will be the first to shout out "Uno!" in this multiplayer game? Meant to be played with large groups (up to 16 people), your 7-year-old and their friends will be entertained for hours, especially thanks to the addition of new wild cards in the deck.
Hasbro Twister Game
Get the whole family in on the fun — and the twisting and turning and bending and snapping with this classic game.
Bananagrams
Like an entry-level Scrabble, Bananagrams is fun and helps with spelling. This double version of the game comes with enough pieces for up to 16 players.
SHASHIBO Shape Shifting Box
This is a creative yet fun toy perfect for all ages — a transforming fidget toy. Your 7-year-old will have their eyes locked on this memorizing gift for hours.
Overcooked! for Nintendo Switch
Is your 7-year-old a video game lover? Gift them this cooking game for Nintendo Switch to play solo or with up to four people.
ThinkFun Laser Maze
This logic game adds an educational component to puzzles by incorporating critical thinking and STEM skills. Try the junior version for kids who might appreciate a more approachable challenge.
Best STEM and educational toys for 7-year-olds
National Geographic Crystal Garden Science Kit
This science kit by National Geographic allows kids to tap into creativity and science. According to the brand, kids choose a shade, color in the tree, then with a little growing liquid, the tree will develop into crystals right before their eyes. This kit even includes a book that's packed with crystal facts.
Crayola Color Chemistry Lab
This kit includes 50 different colorful experiments, from an erupting volcano to "rubber goo." With "hours of enjoyment," tap into their creative genes with this chemistry set.
AOKESI Building Block Robot Kit
Does your 7-year-old kid love to tinker and learn about science? This kit lets them build their very own robot and would be a great STEM educational challenge to take on together.
Lego Super Mario Adventures
Turn Legos into a real-life video game with this kit that also includes interactive elements.
"Building can engage children in higher-level thinking and creative problem-solving through hands-on design and construction," said Kambrich.
Any Lego kit will be a hit for 7-year-olds, but this one promotes STEM skills along with construction.
Best dolls and stuffed animals for 7-year-olds
Warmies Fox Warmies
Pop this furry friend into the microwave for soothing and relaxing snuggle time — the brand says these Warmies are lavender-scented, making them the perfect bedtime companion. Choose from a fox, sloth, dog and other cute animals (bonus: they were one of Oprah's Favorite Things).
Mattel Margot Robbie Movie Barbie Doll
If your 7-year-old is obsessed with Barbie, more now than ever thanks to the upcoming movie, gift them with a doll modeled after the main actress. Dressed in a pink gingham dress, this doll is posable and features a half-up, half-down hairdo to style.
Squishable Comfort Avocado
This avocado is part of Squishable’s “comfort food” line, an unusual addition to the usual stuffed animal menagerie.
Autumn Leaves Lottie Doll
These diverse dolls include accessories such as cochlear implants and hobbies like star gazing or fossil hunting.
Best books for 7-year-olds
“The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza,” by Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris
This Read With Jenna Junior pick started as live cartoons for kids stuck at home during the pandemic. It’s now a graphic novel featuring a whimsical moon queen, a toenail-clipping robot and an astronaut cat who may or may not eat pizza.
“Cat Kid Comic Club: Collaborations,” by Dav Pilkey
The newest book in the graphic novel series from the creator of “Dog Man” has the club making mini comics like Chubbs McSpiderbutt to inspire collaboration and storytelling in readers, too.
Audible Subscription
For learning readers, audio books are a welcome way to connect to stories without stress. Audible has classics including “Anne of Green Gables” and “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” alongside original content like “The Weirdies,” by Michael Buckley, narrated by Kate Winslet.
"Highlights Book of Things to Do"
This activity book is encyclopedic. With crafts, recipes, science projects, brain teasers and games, it makes for an easy answer the next time a child complains there's nothing to do.
“Endlessly Ever After,” by Laurel Snyder and Dan Santat
This choose-your-own-adventure-style fairy tale follows a trail of breadcrumbs from many familiar stories but leaves the reader in charge of the remix. The options aren’t quite endless, but they’ll entertain ever after.
“Farmhouse,” by Sophie Blackall
Climb inside the precious world of Sophie Blackall’s old farmhouse, where a family lives and grows as years pass, with intricate illustrations and one long sentence that somehow suspends time.
“The Year We Learned to Fly,” by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López
Children who are stuck inside learn to use their imaginations to fly – a message that will resonate deeply with children who lived through a pandemic, who must adjust to a new place or cope with any life changes or hardships.
“Patchwork,” by Matt de la Peña and Corinna Luyken
In beautiful verse with artwork to match, this picture book explores the unexpected ways children might grow into themselves.
“Amah Faraway,” by Margaret Chiu Greanias and Tracy Subisak
When Kylie goes to visit grandma so far away, she is shy and nervous about unfamiliar customs. But she warms to the visit and leaves ready for another in a mirrored storyline that takes the hesitation of the beginning into excitement, using the same words.
“Sleuth & Solve: Science,” by Ana Gallo and Victor Escandell
Science-inspired mysteries let kids understand scientific principles while solving thorny riddles.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect present for every kid in your life including babies, 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, 6-year-olds, 8-year-olds, 9-year-olds and 10-year-olds.
