Best Toys for 9 Year Olds 2025

Choosing the best toys for 9 year olds can prove difficult due to their growing sense of independence. One minute, they may want to immerse themselves in a complex, imaginative world; the next, they might simply want to play with your phone. However, understandably, you may want to limit their screen time–these toys are designed to keep them entertained and engaged for longer.

This guide will help you find the right toy for 9 year olds and answer important questions that could steer you in the right direction.

What should 9 year olds be interested in?

At nine, you start to see your child’s personality coming through. They’ve developed enough skills and interests to shape their wants and needs, meaning they could easily find activities they become obsessed with—whether reading a book series like Harry Potter or playing football. As their friendships become more complex and shaped by this, so do their interests.

The question has no correct answer as it’s purely based on what your kid is passionate about. If they prefer learning new topics to playing outside, you could find educational toys that truly engage them. If they are more active or energetic, you may want to look at outdoor toys so they can adventure outside while burning off all that extra energy.

Is a 9 year old too old to play with toys?

Absolutely not. Whilst the way that 9 year olds play will differ from how they played when they were younger, there’s no reason they can’t still enjoy playing with toys. It’s less about simple make-believe and more about projects, challenges, and creation. The best toys for 9 year olds aren’t simple; they give them a challenge or project they can sink their teeth into or an activity that can absorb them for hours. If anything, you could argue that a 9 year old gets more enjoyment from toys than they did when younger, as the toys they play with now are based on their own likes and interests.

What do I get a 9 year old for their birthday?

It can be challenging to find the perfect birthday present for your kid. Our best advice is to focus on giving them an experience—don’t just think of it as an object they can use to keep them entertained for a few hours. What kind of toy will help them feel proud or accomplished? What type of toy will teach them valuable facts about the world? Or what toy would they just really enjoy playing with?

Sometimes, the most memorable gifts are family board games that everyone can enjoy or challenging problem-solving toys that will take them a while to master. Gift-giving is about understanding where they are in development, leaning into their interests and finding an experience they will love!

Best STEM toys for 9 year olds

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STEM learning is based on finding interesting and practical toys that can further your child’s education about topics to develop their own understanding. The best STEM toys for 9 year olds are complex and teach your child about resilience, as there’s a good chance they may not get everything right the first time they interact with the toy.

But that’s okay! In fact, learning how to build the toy and get it to work is part of the joy of playing with them. A good science kit isn’t just about the fizzing potion at the end – it’s about understanding how that happens. It teaches patience and critical thinking. These educational toys aim to build their confidence and problem-solving skills, so they can start trusting their instincts based on their understanding.

Top Picks

• Best Overall: PlayShifu Junior Genius 20 Game Pack
• Best Value: National Geographic Earth Science Kit
  
• Most Popular: Galt Science Lab Kit

Pros and Cons

Pros

• STEM toys can help kids develop their interests creatively and uniquely.
• Toys like this can make them more passionate about subjects in school, which can help their learning.

Cons

• Kids may become frustrated without supervision as they struggle to initially build the toy or get the toy to work properly.

Best outdoor toys for 9 year olds

The best outdoor toys for 9 year olds are based on finding easy and fun ways to use their incredible energy. Outdoor play at this age is about your kids learning their own limits and building confidence from understanding what they can and can’t do. Outdoor physical activities can help develop their gross motor skills by relying on their balance and coordination.

If you’re looking for the best ride on toys for 9 year olds, we have a wide selection of ride ons and bikes that your kid will love! As they get to this age, it’s crucial to let them explore more of the world with family and friends to develop that growing sense of independence.

Top Picks

• Best Overall: Huffy Extent Junior 20″ Mountain Bike
• Best Value: Nerf N Series Infinite Blaster
• Most Popular: Xootz Brainache Youth Scooter

Pros and Cons

Pros

• These outdoor toys can give them more independence and help them explore the outside world in a fun, engaging way.
• Toy blasters can encourage kids to be more active by introducing a competitive element that the whole family can enjoy.

Cons

• When a child is using bikes and scooters, give them suitable safety equipment, like a helmet. Bumps and scrapes can happen if they aren’t supplied with the correct equipment.
• Using outdoor toys tends to be weather-dependent.

Best construction toys for 9 year olds

The best construction toys for 9 year olds should build on the skills they’ve developed by providing them with more challenging and complex designs. They may prefer intricate building sets that require intense focus or open-ended construction toys that are more centred around imaginative play – either way, this kind of play is excellent for developing their fine motor skills and understanding their spatial awareness.

Top Picks

• Best Overall: LEGO Disney Stitch with Ice-Cream Cone Construction Set
• Best Value: NASA Mars Rover Metal Construction Kit
• Most Popular: LEGO Disney and Pixar Up House Construction Set

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Construction toys can help kids learn how to follow instructions and build confidence as they build more complex sets.
• Building intricate sets from franchises they may not be aware of could make them fans of that franchise, opening a whole new world of playtime possibilities.

Cons

• Many pieces of these sets can be pretty small, so always check that these sets are put away safely to avoid small pieces ending up on the floor.
• Some more complex sets may require supervision to prevent your child’s frustration.

Best creative toys for 9 year olds

The best creative toys for 9 year olds give them different avenues to tell their stories or express themselves in a unique and fun way. If your child is creative, you can find toys that combine their interests with new skills. A stop-motion kit, for instance, can turn their love of building sets or action figures into an epic movie they direct themselves. These types of educational toys are based on developing your child’s voice by giving them ways to express their unique perspective on the world.

Top Picks

• Best Overall: Out To Impress My Knitting & Crochet Case Craft Set
• Best Value: Crystal Creations Squishmallows Craft Set
• Most Popular: Miniverse Make It Mini Mega Buffet Multipack Playset

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The versatility of creative toys means that there will most likely be a creative toy that your child will enjoy.
• These toys teach children how to express themselves in fun ways and can also help with imaginative play.

Cons

• Some of these sets can come with small, sharp pieces, so we recommend supervision, at least initially, whilst your child gets used to these toys.

Best electronic toys for 9 year olds

Screen time is an understandable concern, but the best electronic toys for 9 year olds encourage active participation rather than passive watching. These toys feed into their growing imaginations, helping them play in new and interesting ways. The electronic nature of these toys adds to their charm and versatility.

Many electronic toys are pet-based, for example. Toys like this can help children understand how to care for something and develop essential traits like responsibility and empathy towards other creatures. These types of toys have many benefits, so if you’re worried about screen time, we recommend looking into the benefits of the toy before making a purchasing decision.

Top Picks

• Best Overall: Bitzee Magicals Interactive Pet
  
• Best Value: Robo Alive Dino Wars Raptor Electronic Pet by ZURU
• Most Popular: Furby Tie Dye Electronic Pet

Pros and Cons

Pros

• These toys can be a great alternative to screen time, as while some involve using a screen, their interactivity makes for an active playtime.
• Some interactive toys can teach kids essential skills and lessons and further their imaginative play.

Cons

• Some kids may need supervision when setting up or learning how to use their electronic toy.

How do I choose a toy for my 9 year old?

If you’re still struggling to know what to get them, think about your child’s personality. You know them better than anyone, and so you will know what they like and don’t like doing. Do they want to play alone, or are they more open to playing as a team? Do they enjoy imaginative play, or do they prefer problem-solving puzzles? Ultimately, the goal is to find something that respects their growing intelligence and independence. The very best toys for 9 year olds are the ones that make them feel seen and challenged, showing them that they are capable of amazing things.

To learn more about our range, check out our toys for 9 year olds.

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