Every child develops at her or his own rhythm and as it is common for one set of skills to be advanced, while others are little behind. Keep in mind that this is the normal developmental process. What can be done to improve the skills that are not fully developed is to provide the child with the best toys for 8 year olds so he or she can learn while playing.
The milestones are divided into 5 categories; physical, cognitive, language, emotional and social, and motor and sensory. Depending on the child’s needs and preferences, educational toys for 8 year olds can target specific categories and help the child improve and develop. As the kids are passing through what is known as the mid-childhood, they are becoming more independent and agreeable, and their capacity to learn is increased. This is the period where the kids should adopt a healthy lifestyle with lots of physical activities and the best gifts for 8 year olds are the ones that will keep them active.

THE BEST GIFTS AND TOYS FOR 8 YEAR OLD
- THE BEST GIFTS AND TOYS FOR 8 YEAR OLD
- 1. National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit
- 2. Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 With Clear Accents
- 3. Melissa & Doug Suspend Family Game
- 4. Beyblade Burst Evolution Star Storm Battle Set Game
- 5. Think Fun Laser Maze
- 6. Singing Machine SML385UBK Bluetooth Karaoke System
- 7. Mattel Games Apples to Apples Junior
- 8. SmartLab Toys Squishy Human Body
- 9. Klutz Lego Make Your Own Movie Activity Set
- 10. 4M Tin Can Robot
- 11. Ideal Magic Spectacular Magic Suitcase
- 12. Ravensburger Gravitrax Starter Set Marble Run
- 13. Harry Potter Books 1-7 Special Edition Boxed Set
- 14. Chris Welles Feder Brain Quest Grade 3, revised 4th edition
- 15. Creatable World Deluxe Character Kit Customizable Doll
- 16. LittleBits Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit
- 17. GoldieBlox And The Spinning Machine
- 18. Lego Creator Modular Modern Home
- 19. Calico Critters Grand Department Store Gift Set
- 20. Force1 Velocity RC Boat
National Geographic Hobby Rock Tumbler Kit
- Why We Love It
- The set includes all accessories needed to start polishing gemstones
- Automatic shutoff timer
- Noise-reducing and leak-proof barrel
- 9 types of gemstones, 4 grades of grit and jewelry fastening
Production Dimensions: 11 x 9.3 x 7.5 inches
Weight: 5.51 pounds
Recommended Age: 8 years and up
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 With Clear Accents
- Why We Love It
- Features clear accents on the front lens panel
- Includes lens ring, shutter button, pop up button and film exit panel
- Selfie mirror on the front of the lens and macro attachment
- 3 color filters
Production Dimensions: 3 x 5.5 x 5 inches
Weight: 1.92 pounds
Batteries: 2 AA batteries (included)
Melissa & Doug Suspend Family Game
- Why We Love It
- Family games designed for 1 to 4 players
- Includes elements for playing the balance game
- Rubber-tipped wire pieces
- Develops cognitive and interpersonal skills and hand-eye coordination
Production Dimensions: 13 x 3 x 3 inches
Weight: 1.15 pounds
Recommended Age: 8 – 15 years
Beyblade Burst Evolution Star Storm Battle Set Game
- Why We Love It
- The set includes Star Storm Beystadium, 2 launchers, and 2 right spin tops
- The tops can burst into pieces during battle
- Downloadable Beyblade Burst App
- The Beyblade burst tops are interchangeable
Production Dimensions: 3.6 x 14.6 x 14.5 inches
Weight: 8 ounces
Recommended Age: 8 years and up
Think Fun Laser Maze
- Why We Love It
- Features 60 beginners to expert challenges
- Includes 1 game grid 60 challenge card with solutions and 11 game tokens
- Tokens include laser, mirrors, beam splitters, and more
- Develops critical thinking and planning skills and promotes STEM learning
Production Dimensions: 11 x 2.5 x 9.5 inches
Weight: 1.72 pounds
Batteries: 2 CR123A batteries (included)
Singing Machine SML385UBK Bluetooth Karaoke System
- Why We Love It
- Features 54 colored flashings and color-changing LED disco lights
- A CD player that plays CDGs
- 2-digital LED display, echo control, and 2 wired microphone jacks
- USB and Bluetooth connectivity
Production Dimensions: 11.1 x 10.9 x 16 inches
Weight: 6.94 pounds
Shipping Weight: 7.4 pounds
Mattel Games Apples to Apples Junior
- Why We Love It
- Includes 576 green and red cards for the comparisons game
- Comparisons of people, places, events, and things
- Expands vocabulary and develops thinking skills
- Great bonding game for the whole family
Production Dimensions: 1.5 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches
Weight: 1.32 pounds
Shipping Weight: 1.95 pounds
SmartLab Toys Squishy Human Body
- Why We Love It
- Includes 12” human body model & stand, 12 bones and muscles, 9 squishy organs and more
- 24-page illustrated anatomy/biology book
- Educate kids about how vital organs work together
- Promotes STEM learning
Production Dimensions: 10 x 2.8 x 13.5 inches
Weight: 1.26 pounds
Recommended age: 8 years and up
Klutz Lego Make Your Own Movie Activity Set
- Why We Love It
- Includes 36 Lego figures, props, punch-out animation frames and more
- The 78-page book includes ideas and instruction
- The book includes 10 Lego movies
- Free downloadable apps for tablets and phones
Production Dimensions: 10.3 x 0.9 x 10 inches
Weight: 1 pound
Recommended age: 8 – 15 years
4M Tin Can Robot
- Why We Love It
- Easy to build robot kit requires an old soda can for the robot or monster creation
- Kids can build a combination of the robot and the monster
- Promotes STEM and STEAM learning
- Teaches kids the value of recycling
Production Dimensions: 6.8 x 3.2 x 5.2 inches
Weight: 7.2 ounces
Batteries required: 1 AA battery (not included)
Ideal Magic Spectacular Magic Suitcase
- Why We Love It
- The magic suitcase includes 100 tricks and props
- Children can learn the secrets of illusion and performance from magic show book
- Included codes for an online video demo with Ryan Oakes
- Boost confidence and creativity
Production Dimensions: 19.2 x 5.4 x 14 inches
Weight: 3.06 pounds
Recommended age: 8 – 15 years
Ravensburger Gravitrax Starter Set Marble Run
- Why We Love It
- The set includes over 100 pieces and 18 construction elements
- Open-ended building concept
- Teaches kids about engineering, gravity, magnetism, and kinetics
- Promotes critical thinking, planning skills, and spatial reasoning
Production Dimensions: 13.5 x 13.5 x 4.5 inches
Weight: 4.19 pounds
Recommended age: 8 years and up
Harry Potter Books 1-7 Special Edition Boxed Set
- Why We Love It
- Set includes all 7 Harry Potter books
- The books are redesigned by Caldecott Medalist Brian Selznick
- Harry Potter adventures will inspire kids to develop habit of reading
- Reading stimulates imagination, develops language and listening skills
Production Dimensions: 9.5 x 5.8 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.5 pounds
Recommended age: 8 years and up
Chris Welles Feder Brain Quest Grade 3, revised 4th edition
- Why We Love It
- Includes 1000 question and answers
- 150 pages with refreshed design
- Curriculum based, aligns with national and state standards
- Encourages learning through play
Production Dimensions: 2.7 x 1.9 x 7.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pound
Recommended age: 8 – 9 years
Creatable World Deluxe Character Kit Customizable Doll
- Why We Love It
- The kit includes a doll, a wig, clothes and accessories
- More than 100 different looks and styles
- The doll is bendable at all joints
- Clothing, shoes and accessories are realistic and relatable
Production Dimensions: 3 x 11 x 11 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.85 pound
Recommended age: 6 – 10 years
LittleBits Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit
- Why We Love It
- The set includes electronic blocks, Droid parts and free app
- Over 22 missions for teaching the Droid new skills
- Kids can reconfigure the Droid and add additional abilities
- The Droid has a Force Mode, Drive Mode and Self Navigation
Production Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 6 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.05 pounds
Recommended age: 8 years and up
GoldieBlox And The Spinning Machine
- Why We Love It
- The set includes story book, 34 pieces, 5 animals and 9 build ideas
- Features the first girl engineer character
- Main goal is to build a belt drive, spinning machine
- Builds spatial skills, and introduces STEM concept of belt drive
Production Dimensions: 12 x 12 3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.85 pounds
Batteries: Lithium Metal Batteries required ( not included)
Lego Creator Modular Modern Home
- Why We Love It
- Modular construction 3 in 1 set includes 386 pieces
- Kids can build Modern Home, Lakeside Home and Garden Home
- Can be expanded with 31067 and 31069 modular sets
- Introduces children to building while developing creativity and imagination
Production Dimensions: 10.3 x 2.2 x 15 inches
Weight: 1.63 pounds
Recommended age: 8 – 12 years
Calico Critters Grand Department Store Gift Set
- Why We Love It
- The two-story department store includes interchangeable details, working elevator and revolving doors
- Can be connected with other Calico Critters Town and Village environment
- Includes Boutique Fashion Set, Cosmetic Beauty Set, Fashion Showcase Set, and Chocolate Lounge
- Stimulates imagination and role playing
Production Dimensions: 29.9 x 7.9 x 13.8 inches
Weight: 9 pounds
Recommended age: 3 – 8 years
Force1 Velocity RC Boat
- Why We Love It
- Includes 14” high-speed RC boat, transmitter, spare propeller, display stand and more
- Playing time is 8 minutes and charging time 2 hours
- Racing speed is more than 20 mph
- Can be used in freshwater, not suitable for saltwater
Production Dimensions: 12.2 x 27.7 x 36.3 inches
Weight: 2.3 pounds
Batteries: 2 Lithium Polymer Batteries (included)
How To Choose A Toy And Gift For 8 Year Old – Buying Guide
Educational Value
Children are starting to develop their vocabulary and express more complex language skills. Their focus improves, as well as the attention, so they can enjoy playing with demanding science toys for 8 year olds. Play-based learning is essential for children’s healthy growth. Through play, they are developing creativity, empathy, and problem-solving skills. According to research, there are 5 types of play-based learning; symbolic, physical, with the object, with rules and pretense. Each type of play stimulates different learning and there are toys for 8 year olds designed to support specific skill development.
Emotional Development
In the previous year or two, boys tended to play with boys and girls with girls. At this stage, the opposite sex is starting to mix together during play and the friend’s acceptance is starting to take an important role in kid’s lives. The little ones are also becoming aware of the ways they can avoid being caught when they are breaking rules so lying and cheating is expected to appear. They are eager to push the limit and see how far they can go with their behavior. An honest and healthy relationship with friends and family can help them develop healthy values, self-confidence, and self-identity. The top rated gifts for 8 year old can educate kids about different emotions and how to express them, deal with them and overcome them.
Cognitive Skills Development
As cognitive development is greatly developed at this stage, thinking and being able to focus is highly dependent on the emotional state. If the little ones are worried and emotionally troubled, their concentration declines. Here we see how emotional development, and learning how to deal with all sorts of emotions is essential for all other milestones the child is going through. Kids usually have a black and white perspective, they are going to extremes so things are either right or wrong, excellent or terrible, with no middle. They tend to ask lots of questions until they are able to draw a conclusion about the subject they are interested in. As with other key milestones, we can help kids strengthen cognitive skills by engaging them in constructive play with the best toys for 8 year olds.
Physical Milestones
While the previous years were marked into rapid physical skill development, the current milestone is represented by the refinement of already developed skills. Some kids will show more talent for sports and are more athletic than the others. This stage is marked by the kid’s increased interest in the specific activity so many children this age are choosing certain sports and joining sports clubs. If the child is not interested in sports, he or she should be encouraged to be physically active in other, non-sport related activities like swimming, biking, etc. many outdoor toys for 8 year olds are designed to encourage kids to be physically active.
Psychological Milestones
The need to belong is very important for most of the 8 year olds. How they think they are perceived by others, is usually how they see themselves. They are establishing a sense of security by being part of the group and the time spent with friends is starting to gain greater significance. Their emotions are swirling and changing rapidly as kids this age may seem a bit impatient. It is important to understand that all the phases the 8 year olds are going through are natural and important for their further development. What they need at this stage of their life is lots of support and understanding but also rules that they can follow. Toys for 8 year olds reviews can provide valuable information when choosing the toy that will support psychological development.
Design And Entertainment
Apart from educational and developmental value, the best gifts for 8 year old are designed to attract and obtain a child’s attention. Usually, with bright colors, distinctive shapes, and highly entertaining, the toy’s goal is to engage children into playing and subtly pass on important knowledge. When you are buying the toy for the 8 year old, you should choose according to the child’s interests. For the toy to be entertaining, it has to collide with what the child likes, otherwise, no matter how well designed and how many gadgets the toy has, it will end up on the shelf, collecting dust.
Safety
The safety of the toys is the same for all ages. The difference between 2 years old’s toys and 8 years old’s toys is that now the child can play with the small parts without fear that he or she will swallow it. What you need to make sure when buying a birthday gift for 8 year old, is that it is made from child-safe material. This means that the material needs to be non-toxic, if plastic than BPA free, and if possible, eco friendly.
FAQ
Q. What is the most popular toy for an 8 year old boy?
A. Many would agree that computer and video games are among the best toys for 8 year olds, both boys and girls but apart from that, there are many others that the child could enjoy and benefit from. As the kids at this age have a need to gain a sense of competence and mastery, 8 year old boy would enjoy science kits, board games, model kits or sports equipment. There are always ride-on toys like a bike, scooter or roller blades as well as construction toys like building bricks.
Q. What is a good gift for an 8 year old?
A. To find the best gift for 8 year old, our advice is to consider what the little one likes. If the child is athletic, the best gift would be something that keeps him or her active. For the little artists, choose the gift that can burst creativity. For the little nature lovers, any gift that brings them closer to nature would be a perfect choice. The little scientists would enjoy complex science projects. For book lovers, the perfect gift would be nicely illustrated and well-written children’s books and so on.
Q. What do 8 year olds like to play?
A. Children this age have increased need for social interaction so most 8 year olds like to play games that include others. Kids love playing with friends and as they are gaining better physical and cognitive skills, many kids enjoy playing sports games, strategy games, as well as arts and crafts. Ride on toys for 8 year olds like a bike, roller skates or scooter are also very popular at this age.
My Babies Planet Toys And Gifts For 8 Year Olds Review