35 Best Gifts for 9-Year-Olds

LEGO, Minecraft, axolotls — this is all 9-year-olds' favorite things rolled into one gift. The set is less than 300 pieces, so it isn't too much of a challenge, and it comes with a bunch of figures, including an underwater explorer, a drowned zombie, a dolphin, a puffer fish and, of course, multiple axolotls. Ages 7+

You'll never know what type of five-inch, plush animal you'll find inside these Adopt Me! eggs, and there are 12 to collect in all. And, even better for Roblox fans, each one comes with a digital code that unlocks a virtual item in the Roblox universe. Ages 6+

Good Housekeeping Institute testers loved the little mini pieces of decor they could make with this kit. It helps kids progress through their skills: First they use a dome over the wheel and use template to make their designs, and as they get better they can remove the dome and do their own creations freestyle. Ages 8+

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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+

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+

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

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+

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We all know kids love telling a good joke, now it's time to get them to start writing some jokes of their own. This book leads them through different ways to come up with a joke — like seeing what happens when you replace "crack" with "quack" in words like "nuctracker" and "firecracker" — and gets them thinking about things like puns and joke structures. There's even tips about performing. “My daughter would read the book, then tell me jokes from it and we would work on our own together using the prompts," one Good Housekeeping Institute parent reviewer said. Ages 7+

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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, among others. No age recommendation given

Let them have a hand in capturing family memories with this camera, which instantly produces 2" by 2.5" photos. This set comes with extra film (which is great because each one only offers 10 exposures), plus a carrying case, but you can get just the camera for less money. No age recommendation given

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! (Note: They run a little large.) No age recommendation given

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Whether they want a comfy place to read or are thinking of heading out to a sleepover, this just needs to be stuffed with regular bed pillows to transform into a comfy lounger. It comes in lots of patterns, including polka dots of all colors, navy stars, black-and-white checks and an outer space pattern. No age recommendation given

If they are still flying high from the Super Mario Bros. movie, surprise them with this action figure that, when activated, has smoke coming out of his mouth! No wonder this walked away with a Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award. Ages 3+

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+

Take the classic, camp game and give it a techie twist that lets them play after dark. Now, the "flags" are replaced with glowing orbs in team colors, and teams are identified with light-up bracelets. There are enough bracelets for eight players, but you can add more with an expansion set. Ages 8+

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+

Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet players will be excited to open a card that has their favorite character from The Teal Mask, Ogerpon, in the form of a full-art foil promo card. In addition, kids who actually play the trading card game will appreciate the card sleeves, energy cards, damage-counter dice and condition markers this set comes with. Ages 6+

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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+

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+

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