
19 Best Gifts for 9-Year-Olds
This parent-sourced roundup of the best gifts for 9-year-olds is filled with creative and kid-tested ideas for Christmas, birthdays and beyond. It's fun to give kids this age family games to encourage strategic thinking, age-appropriate books to help them branch out from their favorites, and toys and gifts that will nurture interests from STEM to sports. Find more inspiration on our lists for 8 year olds & tweens!
What makes Upparent gift lists unique? The gift ideas for 9-year-olds that you see here are submitted by regular parents in our community. You won't find a one-size-fits-all list compiled by an editor, or recommendations that seem legit but are actually paid for by brands. We're just sharing the things that our 9-year-olds have gotten and loved, that we've discovered and are excited to give, or that are on the wish list. Help us build a list of unique and creative gifts for 9-year-olds by adding your picks and reviews below!
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LEGO Minecraft The Zombie Cave
LEGO Minecraft The Zombie Cave (21141) is a 241-piece set that lets builders recreate a bat-infested cave and includes a Steve minifigure, along with zombie, baby zombie, and bat figures. LEGo makes a wide variety of Minecraft-themed sets of different sizes and difficulty levels.
Katie G. said: Need Minecraft gifts for a LEGO and Minecraft lover like my kid? You won't want to miss out on the Minecraft LEGO building sets. This set comes with Steve, zombie, baby zombie, and bat figures. There are plenty of blocks to build your cave along with TNT if you want it to "explode."
Mermaid Tail Blanket
Gina I. said: Cozy and cute, this mermaid tail blanket is perfect for cuddling up in front of the tv, curling up with a favorite book, or bringing to her next sleepover. Comes in a variety of colors.
Bubble Bumper Balls
Yoli B said: Bubble Bumper Balls are perfect gifts for 9 year olds that will keep your kids busy for hours, and they will even fit parents too! The bubble pods will make the kids happy and you laugh while watching them maneuver inside of the bubble. I have actually heard of parents having their kids settle disputes while donning the pods! No one gets hurt and the kids will forget all about whatever conflict was bothering them. Win, Win!
Spy Alley
Gina I. said: A fun game of strategy and deception, Spy Alley can be played with 2-6 players. It's a great game for 9 year olds to play themselves and enough fun that grown-ups will want to play too!
Zipfy Luge Snow Sled
Yoli B said: This sled is lightweight and easy to carry. It is easy to maneuver while going downhill and will provide your child with hours of outdoor fun in the snow.
Justice Gift Card
Gina I. said: With a huge selection of clothes, jewelry, bags, PJs, athletic wear, and accessories, she's sure to find something she loves at Justice!
NERF Blaster
Gina I. said: Whether your 9-year old is on the hunt for zombies or just wants to battle their siblings, you can't go wrong with a Nerf Blaster!
ALEX Spa DIY Bath Bombs Kit
Kristy Pepping said: My nine-year-old loves to take baths and likes to receive bath balls for a gift. If your child loves bath balls too, try this kit that lets a child make their own. They can create six balls in either a ball or heart shape. The kit comes with different colors and scents too.
I Am Pusheen the Cat
Kristy Pepping said: If your kids have some of the Pusheen toys then it's time to read this book by Claire Belton. It gives you the backstory of this favorite cat. Like birthday, where she lives and favorite foods she likes to eat. It's an easy read with plenty of graphics and text broken out into smaller sentences. This is a nice transition book into more complex chapter books.
Prime Climb
This fun and colorful math board game for older kids teaches players to multiply and divide as they work their way towards home at the center of the board. Add, subtract, multiply or divide to move and gather Prime cards that can send your opponents back to start. First player to move both of their pawns on the 101 home space wins.
Crayola Emoji Maker
Yoli B said: Your kids can create their own custom emoji stampers with Crayola Emoji Maker. Choose from 16 emojis!

Sol de Janeiro Hair & Body Fragrance Mist
Fragrances are often a favorite beauty product for tweens, and this brand is a popular choice among the Sephora crowd. Though fragrance isn’t generally awesome for sensitive skin, as long as it doesn’t cause irritation, this long-lasting fragrance for hair and skin is a good bet for any Sephora-loving kid.
Sarah C. said: The "it" gift this year! Smells good & tween friendly!
Basher Science Books
Gina I. said: The Basher Books series brings science to life with fun anime style illustrations. Each book explores a new topic: Engineering, Microbiology, Chemistry, Rocks & Minerals, Weather, Physics, and more.
National Geographic Kids
Kelly R said: My kids look forward to the arrival of Nat Geo Kids every month, and my 9-year-old will read it multiple times and loves rattling off his favorite facts. Magazine subscriptions like this make a great gift because they're quite affordable and give something to look forward to every month.
Flag Football Set
Gina I. said: This set's mini football is the perfect size for 9-year old hands to grip and throw. Plus, the ball has plays imprinted right on it for your no-huddle offense! With 5 sets of flags in each color, you can play with up to 10 people.
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Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.