If you are currently searching for the perfect gift for a young child in your life, whether it be for Christmas, their birthday, or some other occasion, you may know how difficult it is to find a present that they will use and enjoy.
As we travel further into the 2020s, it seems to be getting harder and harder to buy for children. It truly is the age of technology, and many kids just want to be left alone with their iPads or gaming consoles, even at a young age.
Long gone are the days in which kids would play with toys up until their preteens… although, if your child still plays with dolls and toy cars, count yourself one of the lucky ones!
What is one supposed to purchase for a child who only wants to play virtual games?
The reason that children may not want to play with physical toys anymore is because, due to growing up alongside fast, instant technology almost constantly on hand, immobile toys alone may bore them.
They do not need to use their own imagination so much these days, as they can, potentially, find anything that they want online.
So, what can you buy a 9 year old these days? What gifts will actually keep them interested and occupied for longer than five minutes?
Look no further! If you are reading this article, you are in the right place: we have found 37 fun (and educational) toys that your child is sure to love and enjoy.
Whether you're looking for the hottest new electronics to amaze them with, interesting puzzles to keep them occupied, or diverse chemistry equipment to help them improve problem-solving techniques, this list of toys and kits has it all.
In our collection of gifts below, we have 37 educational gadgets that are also a lot of fun to play with, as well as to help your children learn during playtime.
There is something here for every child, from astronomy to arithmetic, to arts and crafts, and even computer coding!
Whether you want to encourage your child’s artistic abilities, or improve their technological skills, we can guarantee that there will be something in this list perfect for them.
So, no more time to waste: here are 37 entertaining, yet educational, gifts for your 9 year old.
As a company, 4M is renowned for producing first rate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) toys that effectively hold the attention of young children while they interact with them, making their gifts perfect for kids of all ages.
This kit will educate your child about our solar system, allowing youngsters to construct, decorate, and display their own mini planetarium, all the while learning about the eight different planets.
The 5,000 Awesome Facts About Everything (yes, Everything) book is a fantastic informative present for the know it all 9-year-old who yearns to know more.
This book, which has over a thousand vibrant, colorful pictures inside, will most likely be glued to your child's hands at all times.
Just make sure you prepare yourself for the sentence, 'Did you know that[...]' at least four or five times a day. They may even teach you a thing or two!
If there is a small, budding biologist living under your roof, then you should definitely consider buying this basic microscope for beginners for them.
The set includes not only a microscope, but also sample slides, and even blank slides for your youngster to create their own samples, being able to examine household items such as salt, sugar, soil, or even a strand of their own hair up close and personal!
This kit will provide endless educational enjoyment and exploration for your little scientist.
This is not only a gift to stimulate the brain and creativity, as well as keeping darkness at bay (ideal for those afraid of the dark), but it may also help your child sleep better at night due to its calming, colorful properties.
By using this machine, you can guarantee that your child will be sleeping under the stars within the blink of an eye.
It can either be plugged into the wall, or it can operate on batteries, allowing your 9 year old to have their own personal planetarium in their room at all times. Sweet dreams!
Do you remember when we were youngsters in school, and we would use a potato along with a couple of wires to create some sort of source of energy?
Well, Playz's circuit design board set takes wiring circuitry to the next level, allowing your child to learn more about energy transmission and electric wiring.
This is a great gift for those interested in learning about how electricity and energy works, and while using this kit, it has never been more enjoyable.
Over 25 experiments are included with this Circuit Board Engineering Kit, providing hours of fun and learning.
For any aspiring researcher of chemistry, this crystal forming science package is an exceptional activity that will keep them entertained for hours.
The set already includes everything you will need to grow crystals of all different colors, as well as including an illuminating LED display that will allow the exhibit to appear bright and beautiful, undoubtedly and easily capturing your little wannabe chemist's attention.
Ah, mathematics: it really does seem that everyone either loves this subject, or utterly despises it.
If your child hates math just as much as we did, the method around this is to use Educational Insights Multiplication Slam, a machine that provides creative and exciting methods to learn and apply math skills to their day to day lives.
This toy is quick on the mark, enabling your child to focus intensely in order to keep up with the fast pace of the object. Having fun is the key to education, so hopefully this machine will peak your child's interest in numbers.
Is there anything more relaxing and fun than going outside at night, looking up at all the stars in the sky? We doubt it.
Humanity has been star struck (pardon the pun) by our solar system since the dawn of time, peaking our curiosity in what else could really be out there in the infinite black mass that we call 'space'. Perhaps your child has shown an interest in astrology.
If so, you should at least consider purchasing this Educational Insights astronomy equipment for them, which includes a stargazing journal along with the telescope, allowing your child to make their own notes as they gaze into the night sky.
What little boys (and little girls, for that matter) don’t enjoy shooting each other down with foam pellets?
While it may be fun, you may think that they are not learning anything other than violence from this activity.
Believe it or not, your child will undoubtedly benefit from using this K'Nex force combat bow builder.
With this bundle, they will be able to make four distinct bows for themselves, attaching different connectors and rods to build their own weapon, teaching them kinetic, building skills.
Don't worry - the darts are made of a soft material, meaning your budding archer is unlikely to hurt anyone during the shooting process.
With this Grow N' Glow Terrarium set from the company, Creativity for Kids, you can teach your kids about the wonderful brilliance and beauty of mother nature.
With practically everything needed already provided within the kit, all you need to do once it has been opened is supply a little water and a lamp, or some type of suitable light source, to fully view this miniature scientific world up close and personal. It even glows in the dark!
This fascinating Electronic Playground & Learning Center is a fantastic way to introduce your kids to the vast world of technology.
Children will gain a whole lot of knowledge while using this kit, being taught to create voltages and currents, and they will have a great time while doing it.
They will be able to create their own metal detectors and transistor radios, as well as over 50 more experiments that are included. This set truly is electrifyingly fun!
If you are looking for a way to introduce your child to science, but would like something that they can use more than once, take a look at the Kitki Operation Escape E.V.I.L board game.
This is an excellent activity that gets the whole family involved - not just the children - allowing everyone in the room to learn some fun, scientific skills while they participate.
This board game uses everyday domestic substances to teach children about science, specifically chemistry and alchemy. This one is fun for the whole family!
Pull your children away from their screens, and immerse them with this intriguing kit that will help them develop self confidence, scientific and mathematical skills, and an inquisitive sense of creativity.
Magnets themselves can fascinate the best of us, so for your inquisitive 9-year-old, this educational toy will bring hours of productive entertainment.
Witness as your child constructs their own magnetic constructions out of the pennies, defying gravity as well as creating impressive sculptures of art.
While it is important for your child to build mathematical and scientific skills, it is equally as important that they learn literacy skills.
This matching letter activity evolves along with your little one, helping them to learn while also gaining confidence, teaching them that learning to spell does not have to be a boring exercise.
The tool is overall fairly quick and effective, assisting, encouraging, and teaching your child how to spell basic words.
For the longest time, gardening has been known to be one of the most relaxing, therapeutic hobbies a person can take part in.
Plants are intriguing to observe since they have such a complex technique of developing. There is nothing quite like witnessing your own plant sprouting from the roots, knowing that you did it all on your own!
Purchase this Educational Insights Sprout & Grow window for your little gardener to help them learn more about how plants grow.
Almost everything you will need is included in the set, including soil and several packets of seeds - just add water!
This one is perfect for all those future scientists out there, eager to learn more about the world around them!
These MEL science boxes are ideal for youngsters since they help them to learn new skills while having a great time.
Every month, a new box will be brought to your home, enabling your child to learn more about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Why only give one gift when you can give a new one monthly?
Next up on this list, we have some more microscope fun for your little ones! Nothing beats exploring the night sky, checking out each and every star.
A microscope allows you to peer into a reality that is seemingly completely separate from our own.
You are in luck if you are seeking a sciency, educational toy for 9-year-olds because there's nothing quite as useful and interesting as a microscope. They will love this gift!
Allow your child to learn about encryption, pixelation, binary codes, and so many other things that you have no idea about yourself.
The Playz Coding and Computer Science set is the perfect present for the whizz kid 9-year-old who can't get enough of their computer or gaming console.
Luckily for you, it includes an easy-to-follow instruction manual that will educate your child genius, guiding them through several STEM related challenges, all while having fun!
So, perhaps you have a gifted, future paleontologist on your hands. If your kid loves digging up dinosaurs, this is the perfect present for them.
This set includes a block holding actual, real life fossils, as well as the equipment needed to unearth them from the stone.
Plus, it even includes a pamphlet filled with fun facts about dinosaurs and fossils, guaranteeing that your little one will be both entertained and educated at the same time!
With global warming being at the forefront of the news more than ever, it is important for us to not only protect our children’s future, but to also teach them how they can help the planet.
Renewable energy is the ultimate solution, so we are always seeking out new, safer sources of power. It seems quite natural to attempt to educate the future generation about it, while having their own fun.
This 6-in-1 solar power model kit is aimed to help kids grasp how beams of natural sunlight could, potentially, generate electricity while creating certain operational models. This kit is both fun and energy efficient!
How exciting is it that we, in this day and age, hold the ability to build our own fully functioning robots?
This OWI solar powered machine is the ideal programming set that will provide hours of scholastic fun for your mini, wannabe scientist.
The robot itself works entirely on solar energy, encouraging kids to experiment with energy production all the while building with one of the robot's 14 different modes.
It is suitable for people of all ability levels, making it perfect for your nine year old.
This gift is perfect for those children who thrive off of the creativity of their own imaginations, preferring to create paintings and sketches rather than robots.
The Paint & Plant Flower Growing Kit allows your 9 year old to completely customise their very own flower pot with multicoloured paints.
Your little one will gain gardening skills as they cultivate their own marigolds, cosmos and zinnia flowers with their own green fingers, and they will be able to creatively express themselves by fully customising the plant pot themselves.
With a four-speed orbiting motor, Playz's Electric Solar System Model Kit educates your budding astronomer about the many marvels of our galaxy.
The kit includes 75+ premium parts and an official guide, allowing for a simple DIY setup that's jam-packed with entertaining and informative facts about physics, astronomy, and engineering.
With the supplied paint palette and polystyrene balls, your child can create their own planets, while the sun model is a compact high def projector that can also be used as a night light.
This exciting activity is not just fun to assemble and play with, but will also teach your child about what gravity is, and how it works.
From the moment they start playing with Gravitrax, your 9 year old will be captivated by its educational factors. It's a fascinating marble game that is the ideal present for an intellectual brain that is constantly seeking solutions.
Your child's hand-to-eye coordination, cognitive flexibility, problem-solving capacities, and creative imagination will all benefit from this 'create your own robot' package.
This fantastic 'build your own robot' kit is brilliant for helping children learn through play, ensuring hours of fun for your little one.
Your 9 year old will be responsible for building their very own robot prior to installing the Robobloq app, which will allow them to control it electronically.
The robot will automatically avoid certain obstacles thanks to established sensors, and it may even be further programmed to cater to certain requirements if coded accurately.
Science can be found anywhere and everywhere, and it really is amazing to witness and learn about it, especially as a child.
Thanks to Scientific Explorer, you can get the little ones in your life their first ever scientific experiment package, encouraging them to probe further into their science interests.
There are enough components to accomplish 11 diverse activities with the 20 pieces supplied, all while studying and enjoying themselves.
If your child is already a fan of geography, able to find the fun in learning about different countries and cultures, this may be the perfect gift to get them!
This award-winning educational toy package is a solid, popular choice with parents and children alike.
Skillmatics is an enjoyable and repeatable interactive tool that will keep your inquisitive 9-year-old interested and occupied for hours on end.
While playing this game, your child will learn key learning skills such as decision making, strategization, peer learning, and decoding.
This set includes six double-sided activity sheets, all of which come with easy-to-follow instructions, allowing you to work on a variety of abilities each time you come back to play again.
Electronic games and activities are appealing to both adults and children alike.
Teach your kids more about the fascinating field of electronics with this Smart Circuits Games & Gadgets Electronics Lab, which will allow them to create an endless number of programs!
Everything is provided within the packaging, including a 48-page handbook, so the action can commence right off the bat.
Next up, we have an item that is technically the squishier, softer, less competitive version of Operation.
Underneath the skin, our bodies are a vast, somewhat disgusting mechanisms, and luckily (or, rather, hopefully) we will never have to see our insides in real life.
With this SmartLab Squishy Human Body and its lifelike guts and skeletal structure, you can see exactly how it works!
The attached handbook will teach your child everything they need to know about the human body.
This is a gift that is not only entertaining to use, but is also looks and smells amazing! Just don’t try to eat it, okay?
The Soap and Bubbles DIY science kit is both entertaining and informative, and will stimulate your child's mind as they follow the colorful instructions in its provided handbook to make scrumptious looking and incredibly foamy soap. It almost looks good enough to eat!
Everybody, meet Sphero! This little robot, the size and shape of a ping pong ball, is so fun to play with.
Sphero is a miniature green robot that has swept the globe off its feet, receiving excellent reviews overall.
This little sphere of joy can be programmed via a smart device app, and has a bunch of interesting functions and capabilities that will ensure hours of fun.
If your child has found an interest in engineering and building, this package will keep them entertained for days on end.
Bear witness as your 9 year old builds and learns, aiming to construct a completely functional compact bridge while understanding the physics behind it, using the kit's included handbook. Warning: it is not as easy as it looks.
When you open this award-winning ThinkFun Gravity Maze, you will definitely be 'thinking' of 'fun' (sorry, more puns).
As your little one tries to solve all of the tasks and transport your marble safely from one end of the labyrinth to another, with the help of gravity, they will need to use intellect and logical thinking.
Participating in these activities with your child can help them develop quantitative reasoning and decision making skills.
Lastly on this list, we have the item that you simply cannot go wrong with purchasing for your child. No child in the world will ever turn this gift down.
Slime can be the bane of a parent’s life, especially while cleaning up the resulting mess.
Any child, or slime enthusiast, will love the Baby Mushroom Ultimate Slime Kit. Your 9 year old will become a goo master thanks to the incredibly simple, step-by-step tutorial handbook included in the kit, being able to create more than 10 various forms of the colorful, goopy substance.
Hi, my name is Elena Jones, and my full-time job is a teacher. Through teaching, I have discovered that children learn in many different ways, and have seen the positive impact both STEM and Montessori toys have on children.
Through this site I hope to educate parents and adults about these toys, providing them with useful information on how they can be used, and provide some in depth reviews of different toys to consider too.
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