The start of the tween years, nine years old, is a sweet spot between curiosity and growing independence, making it a fun, though sometimes tricky, age to buy for.

Kids at this age are up for a challenge, whether that means trying a trickier craft set, playing a more complex game or stepping up their sporting interests. Pitch a gift right and you’ll not only get the whoop of joy when they first receive it, but something that will hold their interest and help them develop their skills, interests and hobbies over time.

How I selected

As an experienced toy tester, I have dedicated a lot of my career to observing children play. I’ve worked in schools as a teaching assistant and in children’s publishing, where knowing what makes children tick is essential. I also have three children of my own, so I understand what works on home turf once the gift-opening frenzy is over. When researching for this article, I aimed to strike a balance between children’s outlandish wishlists (one Christmas my son asked for a ghost for his present) and what a parent wants in their home (not a ghost).

I spoke to a lively gang of nine-year-olds with varied interests and hobbies who were only too happy to shout over each other about what they want for Christmas. I also checked in with their parents on the gifts that got their seal of approval – and offered long-term value – and spoke to childhood play experts about the best presents to suit this stage of development.

Testing primarily took place at home with one nine-year-old tester, with additional help from their friends. I also spoke to other nine-year-old children and had gifts sent to them for testing and feedback, so it wasn’t just one kid’s opinion. I noted the child’s initial reaction, how they used a toy and whether they returned to it. After testing, we had a lot of surplus toys in our house, so anything that could be donated went to the Salvation Army, which sells preloved items to raise money for its work.

The best gifts and toys for nine-year-olds

On the right track

“I want a game called Mexican Train dominoes. I played it with my older cousins on holiday, and it was fun,” says one of my nine-year-old testers. This game was pretty fast-paced and was easy to pick up, with some strategy when we played it. Players build their “train line” by matching tiles up to a central hub – but you can sneakily block each other’s play. “Peer-based play is really valuable for nine-year-olds,” says Laura Moore-Williams, an early years consultant. “Children value being part of a group at this age. More advanced games, team sports and long-term creative projects give them a sense of belonging and achievement.” This set comes in its own box, making it easy to take to their mates’ houses.

Jaques of London Mexican train dominoes

Materials: resin, plastic, wood, metal tin
Suitable for: 6+

Colourful creations

“I would like some really good colouring pencils. I’m really into comics – I started a comic club with my friends. And I’m trying to get my artwork better. I think colouring pencils might help my drawings look more grown up,” says one nine-year-old tester. Whether they’re into comics or other creative projects, a decent set of colouring pencils is a great open-ended gift for kids of this age. I spent a long time sitting with my tester, colouring side by side using these pencils. My nine-year-old loved how softly they glided across the page, and how they produced smooth, even shading. The non-slip surface is comfortable to hold for extended periods; there’s a great range of colours; and they’re made from a durable wood-based composite containing upcycled wood chips from PEFC-certified forests.

Staedtler 24 Norix colouring pencils

Materials: wood, oil, pigment, binder, wax
Suitable for: 6+

A stitch in time

“I really enjoyed doing this hanger project,” says one of my nine-year-old testers. “I did sewing in school on a project last year, and wanted to do more.” This little kit is an ideal party bag gift or rainy-day project to have in your back pocket for kids of this age. It’s not too prescriptive as there’s no set design, so it requires the child to work out what they want to create first. I found this called for gentle assistance when my tester tried it – although my ideas for letters or nature scenes got vetoed in favour of a Minecraft Creeper. Whether you get roped in or not, it’s a nice way to develop fine-motor skills for nine-year-olds working towards their pen licences at school.

Cotton Twist make your own stitched banner decoration

Materials: cotton, metal, wood
Suitable for: 5+

Pet sounds

I was stuck in a battle between my nine-year-old wanting to listen to music independently and my desire to keep them screen-free. Then I found the Mighty 3, and it has kept us both happy. It may remind some of the iPod Shuffle – it’s a tiny box you can upload music to and then whack your headphones into. My young tester has loved developing the art of playlist curation, poring over Spotify for hours with parental supervision. You then upload these playlists on to the Mighty using its app (Spotify Premium account required), and you’re ready to go. It has transformed long car journeys and even an 11-hour flight, and my tester has enjoyed the independence and grownup feeling it’s given them. It is worth noting that Mighty will stop supporting Spotify from April 2027 and only be compatible with Amazon Music.

Mighty 3

Materials: plastic, electronic components
Suitable for: 8+

Flight of fantasy

“I love Lego and Fortnite,” says one enthusiastic nine-year-old. “This Lego is absolutely perfect!” Kids at this age are able to focus on longer-term projects – especially if they catch their interest. This is a good option even if they don’t yet play Fortnite but know it’s “cool”. My tester and I spent many happy hours sitting side by side building this set. The recommended age is 10+, but my nine-year-old relished the challenge. You end up with a toy (there are a generous nine minifigures in the set) that can be played with or put on display.

Lego Fortnite Battle Bus

Materials: plastic
Suitable for: 10+

Sip happens

Water bottles are a big deal to kids – they’re a way for them to show off their personal style at school, where they’re otherwise in uniform. Many nine-year-olds are desperate to feel more grown up, and Owala’s FreeSip for adults won my best water bottle tests earlier this year. On a practical level,it’s durable, easy to use and (less important for the nine-year-old, but key for the adult) easy to clean. This is a smaller version of my winner, which makes it lighter for kids to carry around all day. The different colourways available allow for self-expression, and they’re popular, so they’re a big tick in the “trending” box.

Owala Kids FreeSip water bottle

Materials: BPA‑free Tritan plastic, silicone, stainless steel
Suitable for: 3+

Get your skates on

“My friends all play with Tech Decks at school during playtime,” a nine-year-old tester told me. “They’re so cool. You can learn tricks. And they fit in my pocket for school. I really want some new ones for my collection.” This enthusiasm for a finger skateboard might mystify adults – myself included – but nine-year-olds seem crazy for them. This set is a good place to start – there are various “ramps” you can invest in later if you want. This set comes with six boards, 20 wheels and four trucks, plus stickers. My tester enjoyed customising their boards with the trucks and wheels included (they’re interchangeable) and spent a long time trying to master tricks; I live in hope that this transfers to a love of actual skateboarding.

Tech Deck Sk8shop bonus pack

Materials: plastic, metal
Suitable for: 6+

Stay in the picture

My nine-year-old tester loved this instant camera. They snapped photos, printed them off and coloured them in or stuck them up around their bedroom. The camera feels grown up but still has a foot in the “toy” arena. The Photo Creator is similar to the Fujifilm camera our 11-year-olds rated, but it’s less pricey to run for impulse-driven nine-year-olds as it prints on rolls of paper rather than Instax film. As it’s technically a thermal printer, it only prints in black and white, but there are kid-friendly filters they can put on the photos and an all-important selfie lens.

Photo Creator instant camera

Materials: plastic, electronic components
Suitable for: 8+

Put your records on

“I love this mini record player that really plays music,” one nine-year-old tester told me. “You can build up a mini record collection with the surprise balls.” (The balls in question are plastic spheres that have collectible items inside – in this case teeny records – and you don’t know which ones you’re going to get before you open them, which apparently adds to the fun.) Every child who came across this record player seemed totally transfixed. “It was the biggest hit for my daughter,” one friend told me. “I love that she’s listening to records – I hope it’ll get her into vinyl.”

Who knows if it’ll stick, but the delight of playing a record was palpable with my nine-year-old tester. It comes with one record – APT by Rosé and Bruno Mars – and you can add to your collection with the capsules, which are £15 for two capsules with four records each. Put a record on the turntable, and the record player will play an extract of the song using chips to trigger digital playback. I only wish I could play my vinyl on it – but alas it’s not compatible with standard records.

Mini Brands Really Works Vinyl play set

Materials: plastic, electronic components
Suitable for: 3+

Turf wars

“We have family game nights at home, and I’d like a more grownup board game now I’m nine,” my tester told me. Kids at this age have a better understanding of cause and effect, helping them think critically and solve problems. “Valuable play for children aged nine includes social games for interaction,” says Sydney Piercey, former au pair and nanny, and author of Sustainable Play. Risk ticks all of those boxes, and should see them through game nights into adulthood. Wannabe despots can conquer territories and control the world by deploying armies, attacking opponents and forming temporary alliances. Fair warning though: nine-year-olds are probably going to need an adult or two to play with them to explain and supervise gameplay.

Risk board game

Materials: cardboard, plastic
Suitable for: 10+

Lights up

“My brother got a circuit set for his birthday, and now I want one too. I want to make the ultimate circuit that does loads of cool things,” says my nine-year-old tester. This set should cater to their every wish, with 175 different projects. You simply link the components together to make various circuits that do exciting things – the glow-in-the-dark fan was a favourite with my tester. Instructions guide you through simple circuits, but during testing I noticed how quickly kids of this age learn and experiment. It quickly felt like a miniature version of the Blackpool Illuminations had been created on my dining table, and when a circuit didn’t work, my tester did some problem-solving. I just sat back and became the battery supplier (unfortunately it rinses through them at an alarming rate – and they’re not included).

Snap Circuits light set

Materials: plastic, metal, electronic components
Suitable for: 8+

Snuggle up

“I love getting new pyjamas,” says my nine-year-old tester. No matter your age, a new pair of PJs rarely misses if you’re looking for a good gift. These by Polarn O Pyret are the best pyjamas I’ve found – and my research has been extensive. They’re made from organic cotton and are just the right weight for all but very warm weather. Plus, they wash so well – I’ve put pairs through so many cycles, and they haven’t faded, but the cotton softens beautifully. The foldable cuffs are designed to let the PJs grow with your child, the stripes are a crowd-pleaser, and they’re available in several colours to keep everyone happy.

PoP striped pyjama set

Materials: organic cotton
Suitable for: 1+

Laugh out loud

“Everyone in my class has been reading this book, and I want to get into it,” one nine-year-old told me. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a great book for kids of this age as the format – drawings, onomatopoeia bubbles (eg “Boom!”) for making sound effects, and short chapters – makes it accessible. The story follows relatable but hapless Greg as various annoying (yet funny) things happen to him at school and in his family life. It made my nine-year-old roar with laughter. It’s quick to read, but this is the first in a lengthy Wimpy Kid series.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Materials: paper
Suitable for: 8+

The sky’s the limit

“My child enjoyed GraviTrax marble runs well below the recommended age … he continues to play with it aged 11,” says Daisy Upton, play specialist and author of the Five Minute Mum book series. These sets are brilliant for nine-year-olds who like to problem-solve and get creative in a hands-on way. The SkyTrax is a newer addition to the popular GraviTrax range, and allows builders to create complex marble runs that change levels, flip the marbles and spin them around. I found it almost dizzying how fast the marbles fly around the track. It’s definitely more complex than any other marble run I’ve tested, but a great “next step” for nine-year-olds who enjoy this kind of play.

GraviTrax XXL SkyTrax action set

Materials: plastic, metal
Suitable for: 8+

Movie-night snacks

“Movie night just got so much better,” whooped my nine-year-old tester when we fired up this popcorn maker. Many niche kitchen appliances feel like a bit of a novelty (we looked at chocolate fountains and slushie makers too), but this gadget felt exciting to use – my young tester loved watching the popped corn pouring out of the canister – and it gets plenty of use in our family, where popcorn is a movie-night must. This maker works without oil, which was a nice bonus for me.

Lakeland popcorn maker with bowl

Materials: metal electrical components, plastic
Suitable for: 8+ with adult supervision

Making memories

If you’re still stuck for an idea, an experience gift is great for a nine-year-old. They’re old enough to enjoy the anticipation and start to accept that “things” aren’t everything. It’s possible to buy vouchers for theme parks such as Legoland, and for other activity experiences. I took a nine-year-old to Legoland recently, and they completely embraced the day. They were able to tolerate queueing and were tall enough for all the rides. Otherwise, Virgin Experience Days offers a wider range of activities such as treetop adventures, theatre tickets and crafting days.

Legoland gift vouchers

Experience gift voucher

What to buy for nine-year-olds

“The key developmental needs of nine-year-olds are building confidence, identity, teamwork and deeper problem-solving skills,” says Moore-Williams. “They’ll be interested in group games, coding and tech, creative expression (art, music, writing) and competitive sports. Toys I really rate for this age group include advanced Lego sets, Stem kits like Snap Circuits and coding robots, strategy games, arts and crafts kits and sports equipment.”

Kids of this age are able to dive into more complex play – and are desperate to do so and feel more grown up. They want to be challenged by trickier craft kits and board games, and many will enjoy more complex imaginative play too – character-based figures might scratch that itch well. All these types of play can give them a sense of achievement and boost their self-esteem and resilience. “So much holistic learning and development can be supported through opportunities to play games together in groups,” says Moore-Williams.

The experts I spoke to all acknowledged children’s need for sociable play with their peers. Getting them active with team sports or games is important at this age. More than one expert recommended buying a ball for a nine-year-old – they’re versatile for so many different types of play and easy to take around with you. “A small football is portable, sociable and can be played independently and together,” says Piercey.

What to get for nine-year-olds who don’t play with toys?

Many of the nine-year-olds I spoke to mentioned an experience gift. There is a good variety to choose from, including theatre vouchers, an annual pass to an attraction and days out. Some parents I spoke to asked people to contribute towards sports-club membership as a gift too. While this may not have the immediate “play” factor, it should make the recipient feel seen and supported.

A Noble Gift lets you bid on experiences such as being a football mascot or tickets for kid-friendly concerts (though be warned, some are very pricey), with the winning bids going to charity (an additional platform fee applies). If you have something specific in mind, you can always contact the organisation to see if they will allow you to do something with them, even if it’s not readily available as a voucher.

For more, read our guides to the best toys and gifts for eight-year-olds, the best toys and gifts for seven-year-olds and the best sustainable toys for kids

Zoë Phillimore is a journalist with 20 years of experience. She’s tested many things, from mattresses to makeup, and she’s slightly obsessed with finding small new businesses to spotlight. Aside from this, Zoë loves travel, being outside – especially on the beach – and finding screen-free things to keep her three very active children busy. She shares her discoveries on Instagram