It can be difficult to pick gifts for kids who are not quite teenagers but also not “little kids” anymore.
One Shop TODAY contributor who has tweens says she's paid close attention to what ends up in the donation bin three months after significant holidays and what her tweens actually want to hold onto throughout the year. In her house, it seems to be all about creativity, family game nights, expressing their individuality and, of course, video games. Always video games.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best gift ideas for 9-year-olds. Whether your preteen is into decorating their bedroom or building with Legos, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to make their gifts as unique as they are. Plus, we even found a few educational gifts for the parent that wants them to keep learning.
Best games for 9-year-olds
Whether you want to relive some old memories or improve your 9-year-olds deduction skills, you should add Guess Who? to your kiddo’s gift list. On sale for just below $11, the game is an affordable investment in years of fun.
This life-simulation board game is sure to make family game nights so much more exciting for your 9-year-old. With lots of twists, turns and opportunities to advance, you'll unlock their competitive and silly side with this game.
Are they big into dinosaurs? Then they’ll love this game and your family will to. The mission of this game is to help cavepeople find food on the board while avoiding the hungry Snack-O-Saurus Rex.
An interesting take on the original concept, Kingdomino is an award-winning strategy game perfect for game night with your 9-year-old. Each player chooses tiles that show different terrains and align to create a kingdom grid. The rules are simple, but the need for quick decision making makes the game challenging and fun.
Mario Kart is a video game classic that keeps getting better. This deluxe version is compatible with a Nintendo Switch, which means your tween can battle friends on the console itself, or connect to the TV for added visibility.
If they want to switch from go-karting to battling through worlds, Super Mario Brothers Wonder was featured on Toy Insider's Hot 20 List in 2023 as an exciting, fast-paced video game for kids over the age of 8.
Best toys for 9-year-olds
These interactive pets tell kids their mood with a color-changing horn and can be worn on their shoulders using magnetic “power pods.” If your 9-year-old is into adorable, wearable, moving toy pets, Pixie Belles will be right up their alley!
An adorable stuffed animal is a great way to comfort your child, but with its weighted design, this macaron-kitty will bring them all of the cute and cozy vibes that come with any special plushy. Plus, its silly design is sure to guarantee a smile from your 9-year-old.
If you thought you knew how to solve a Rubik's Cube, think again! The iconic plaything — which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year — now has several iterations including this pre-lubricated, magnetized cube that's "engineered" for speed solves. (Alternatively, we've found that this also works as a good fidget toy!)
Fans of the popular video game Minecraft will love to play around with this replica of a glowing purple sword. The sword is a special enchantment within the game, and this toy version is sure to delight fans as much as the virtual one whether they play with it in the backyard or display it in their bedroom.
A winner in Shop TODAY’s Gifts We Love awards last year, this tail-whipping, fire-breathing, remote-controlled Godzilla won’t just be a hit with your tween. “This is technically a child’s toy, but the joy this brought to my 35-year-old boyfriend during a treacherous week was priceless,” said senior editor Jess Bender.
“Godzilla’s design and movements are highly accurate to “the real thing” — slow, menacing, slightly hunched — and it “stomps” around with great force. My favorite part of it, though, is the heat ray that explodes from it (it’s more of a violent mist courtesy of the water I dropped inside its head) and the light show that stems from its spine during the process. It’s a brilliant toy!”
The iconic ‘90s toy made a comeback last year with a new and improved design. Furby is an interactive toy that has over 600 responses, from laughing to singing. You can even pair two Furbies together and they’ll interact with each other, says the brand.
It’s official: Your 9-year-old has graduated from making paper airplanes to flying remote-controlled ones. Using Bluetooth Smart technology, your little one can control their plane’s movements with their smartphone through the toy’s app.
The Tamagotchi Pix features a color screen and camera to interact with your virtual pet. It also has 17 games to keep your character happy, and you can connect with friends to go on play dates, exchange gifts and explore.
Another version of this toy, the Tamagotchi Uni, has been previously featured on the Toy Insider Hot 20 List as a popular gift for children ages 8+.
Best building and craft gifts for 9-year-olds
With a near-perfect average from over 5,300 verified Amazon shoppers, this engaging activity book is perfect for the little crafter in your life. Plus, it’ll save you from a deep clean that may come from a traditional paint-by-numbers kit!
Inspire their imagination with this glow-in-the-dark-themed activity kit. To make collectible creatures, your 9-year-old will combine secret solutions and pour the concoction in a mystery mold. In just 60 minutes, their creation will be ready for play!
Nine-year-olds who like to create will love this simple one-step tie-dye kit from Tulip. The kit comes with 12 bottles of dye and a step-by-step guide to create several tie-dye designs. All that needs to be added once you’re ready to tie-dye is water. Pair this kit with some simple white T-shirts and kids will have a fun craft activity that’ll keep them busy and inspired.
Kids are still tapping into their inner creativity to make vibrant friendship bracelets, and this top-rated jewelry kit can help them make the perfect accessory for their BFFs.
With this child-safe, heat-free 3D pen, kids can see their drawings come to life. The system comes with an app that gives kids stencils and step-by-step instructions, but they can also create original 3D figures using their imagination. The kit includes plastic filament for drawing and additional refills can be ordered once your child runs out of materials.
This gift for your 9-year-old will keep on giving because of the pottery creations your pre-teen will make at home. The pottery kit includes three pounds of natural clay, a pottery wheel, sculpting tools and so much more. With illustrated instructions within the kit, your kiddo will go from an amateur ceramic artist to an expert in no time.
Best unique gifts for 9-year-olds
Made of edible ingredients such as water and natural flavoring, these “lickable” bubbles are made to be consumed! The set comes with tasty flavors such as Juicy Watermelon Splash and Glazed Cinnamon Roll, so your 9-year-old can have fun in the sun and on their tongue.
This unique glow-in-the-dark shirt is sure to make a great gift for any preteen! Your 9-year-old can be as creative as they want and draw with the included glow pen. Their design will last up to 10 minutes, after which they can start over again with something new.
There's a likely chance you've heard your 9-year-old belting out the lyrics to songs from the new hit movie, "KPOP Demon Hunters." In that case, treat your child to this stylish crewneck that they'll be excited to show off at school.
Hydroflask is always releasing new colors. This 24-ounce bottle features double-wall insulation that keeps contents cold for up to 24 hours and includes a flex straw lid for easy sipping.
Let them get creative to make their next favorite accessory. They can make bag charms for their backpacks or purses. The kit comes with a mix of 270+ oversized beads to mix and match.
It’s never a bad time for a sweet treat. With pre-measured recipes and clear recipe guidance, they’ll have several cake pops in their possession in no time!
This DIY fortune cookie kit from Global Grub teaches kids exactly how to make and fold the classic Chinese treat. The kit comes with 60 pre-written fortune messages to choose from, plus blank slips and an edible food marker for creative kids who want to pen their own words of good luck.
These colorful Pokémon Crocs will look adorable on all little feet. The Crocs come in varying colors and are available in kids and juniors’ sizes.
The ‘80s style is back in a big way, and this USB charging machine from New Wave Toys perfectly nails the look of arcade bill changers. Kids can charge up to six devices at one time with this totally tubular charging system, and the on and off button is a cute “temporarily out of service” LED indicator. The unit even comes with mini golden tokens for a true nostalgic feel.
Get them their first piece of jewelry with this birthstone bead that can fit on any chain. You can personalize it with their corresponding birthstone month. It makes for such a personal and special gift that they will keep forever.
Best books for 9-year-olds
If you're eager to introduce your "muggle" children to the Wizarding World, what better way than with the book that started it all. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" has been capturing a sense of adventure and taking readers on a magical ride since the late '90s.
Encourage reading by offering a book that might relate to their own life experiences. The “Smile” novel details a young girl’s journey with braces, headgear, retainers and more, making it the perfect read for a 9-year-old.
If your pre-teen is not a huge reader, they will love this graphic novel that centers around Nikki Maxwell, a middle school student who humorously shares her emotions with her diary. The graphic novel is one in a series of 15, so if your 9-year-old loves it, you can supply them with more.
“My 9 year old daughter loves these books. She’s already on the 3rd one,” one reviewer wrote. “This seller shipped out the book quickly and packaged it securely so that it wouldn’t be damaged.”
It’s the summer of 1987, and all 10-year-old Bug wants to do is go to the beach with her older brother and hang out with the locals on the boardwalk. But Danny wants to be with his own friends, so Bug is stuck with their neighbor Philip’s nephew, Frankie. As the summer unfolds, these new friends learn some important lessons about family, friendship and finding their way in a complicated world.
In this finale of Kwame Mbalia’s trilogy, Tristan Strong faces off with his archenemy, King Cotton, once and for all. But it’s going to take many Alkean friends, including the gods themselves, the black flames of the afokena gloves, and all of Tristan’s inner strength to finally deliver justice.
Effie just wants to have fun being a witch, but her life in Brooklyn is about to get weird(er). The second in the “Witches of Brooklyn” series, this middle-grade graphic novel teaches kids about family, friendship and learning to embrace who you are.
Discover how Sammy came to be the one-in-a-million legendary superhero oyster he is today. While learning about the sea, inclusion, friendship and courage, this teaching tale helps kids understand how to become the superhero of their own life.
Nine-year-olds are still expanding their vocabulary list, so an expansive (and visually enticing!) thesaurus could be useful as they build on their confidence with choosing the right words.
Whether your 9-year-old loves horses or reading, this box set will bring them to the world of Sasha Siler, a boarding school student who has a horse named Charm. With four books included in the set, your tween won’t need to wait for the next installment.
“A nostalgic pick we remember from our own childhoods but really still a classic choice to get kids reading,” said one TODAY.com editor of this six-book set. From undersea adventures to run-ins with the abominable snowman, they’ll love the thrill that comes with turning every page.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY team works hard to find the best products and coolest gifts out there. We use our own personal experiences with brands and shopping to find the most unique gifts on the market that are sure to be a hit.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect present for every kid on your list including babies, 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, 6-year-olds, 8-year-olds and 10-year-olds.
