35 Best Toys for 8-Year-Olds Who Say They Are "Too Old" for Toys
These gift ideas are approved by actual kids.
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When kids reach 8, they're looking for toys and gifts that speak to them personally — especially ones they can make themselves. "Kids this age have much greater fine motor dexterity and can create endless possibilities whether building structures, personalized characters, associated complex storylines or copying a preferred design," says Jennifer Rothman, LCSW. She also recommends games, starting with collaborative ones. "Working together with friends in a more structured game is a nice entry point before more competitive play," she says.
But gifts for kids this age should also be safe, well constructed and long-lasting. The Good Housekeeping Institute, which evaluates hundreds of toys each year for the Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards, helps separate the good from the bad by testing toys for safety and durability and soliciting feedback from real kids to assess the fun factor. When the testing is finished, these are the best toys and gifts to buy 8-year-olds in 2025.
This has the same gameplay as a normal Rubik's Cube, which means you need logic and strategy to solve it, but all the squares are some shade of white, black or gray — perfect if you're "allergic to color" like Wednesday Addams from Wednesday. It even has a stand in the shape of Thing. Ages 8+
If your 8-year-old's bedtime routine includes reading a chapter (or two or three) of Harry Potter, they will be antsy to assemble Hagrid's Hut out of the 896 pieces in this GH Seal-holding LEGO set. They can re-enact their favorite scenes with the included minifigures and accessories.
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MrBeast Lab Swarms Mega Lab
Kids get to step into the role of scientist as they "create" new creatures in a simple beaker reaction. They add water to the beaker, shake it and watch as squishy toys emerge from the fizz. (There area additional squishy toys in the set that you don't have to conjure.) The directions include simple games kids can play with the squishies if they want another way to play with them, but Good Housekeeping Institute kid testers liked doing the chemical reaction part the most. Ages 5+
Bill Nye's VR Science Kit
This isn't your typical, at-home science kit. Kids wear VR goggles to watch as science legend Bill Nye makes concepts come to life before them. The set includes 50 pieces, including things like beakers and measuring cups, but you have to provide your own Android or iOS device to take advantage of the VR capabilities. Ages 8+
HarperAlley 'Gamerville' Graphic Novel
Good Housekeeping Institute kid testers really related to this story, about a video-game-playing kid who's sent to a screen-free camp. (Know anyone who can relate?) He gained a greater appreciation for every aspect of his life,” said a 10-year-old reader. Ages 8–12
'Godzilla X Kong' Heat-Ray Breath Godzilla RC
This kaiju has a lot of personality for a remote-controlled toy. Nearly two feet long, Godzilla has a lumbering gait and makes smashing noises with each footfall. But the best is when it's ready to attack: He charges up, with scales lighting up all the way up its spine, and then it roars and releases real (cool) steam out of its mouth to be its "heat breath." Ages 8+
A companion to Cat Crimes, this game turns kids into detectives. Each of the increasingly difficult challenge cards offers a list of clues as to which canine committed a crime, and kids have to put them together to deduce the culprit. It comes with 40 challenges, and it's one of the rare games that kids can play on their own. Ages 8+
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Skillmatics Scout It Out 50 States Game
Kids can brush up on their social studies while getting into the competitive spirit with this game. Players get hints that relate to the different states, and they have to guess which state it is. Hey, adults might learn a thing or two themselves. Ages 7+
When the Furby returned, it came back better than ever! The Galaxy edition has a bright, bold pattern that glows in the dark. And, like all the new Furbys, it dances, has interactive songs and sounds, comes with fashion accessories and can interact with the smaller, less expensive Furblets. Ages 6+
It's a little art and a little science all rolled into one. Kids can assemble the pendulum, set it in motion, release the pen and see what masterpiece results. Then they can do little experiments — changing the length of the ropes, adding weight to the platform, changing the angle of the swing — to see how that affects the final product. Ages 7+
RELATED: The Best Art Gifts for Creative Kids
Spy Labs Inc: Forensic Investigation Kit
Kid who can't get enough detective stories can try their hand at lifting fingerprints, analyzing liquids, looking for counterfeit bills, searching for clues under a UV light and more with this intro to forensics. It comes with a 20-page book that explains the science behind forensics, and it comes with equipment like a UV flashlight, fingerprint powder and pH test strips. Ages 8+
Interactive Glow in The Dark T-Shirt
If you want to give them clothes, make sure it's this t-shirt that allows them to draw and write on the front (it then glows in the dark!). Designs last for five minutes, and then they can start all over. Sizes 3T – Large
'In Your Feels: A Journal to Explore Your Emotions' Book
This journal is designed to help kids better understand how they feel and process their emotions. Each chapter goes through a different feeling — happiness, sadness, anxiety, anger, pride, fear, guilt and more — and explain what it is, why it can be useful and how it feels in the body. There are then prompts and exercises that help kids connect those emotions to their own lives. (Note: I loved this one so much, I wrote the foreword.) Ages 8 – 12
Get their brains going with this mind-teaser that's taken the world of social media by storm. Challenge cards give players the beginning of a 3D shape, and players have to fill it in with the remaining pieces. With more than 200 puzzles to complete, they'll definitely have enough challenge to keep them busy. If they like it, there are other Kanoodle versions to try. Ages 7+
This craft kit comes with a personality quiz that influences what colors are used in the woven pattern around the frame, ensuring that no two will be exactly alike. After the wrapping is done, they can choose a centerpiece and other personal touches to make it even more individualized. Ages 8+
This toy has retro appeal for those who remember the old Tamagotchi, but it's been updated — kids can now enter the "Tamaverse" and interact in different ways. Good Housekeeping Institute testers loved that their Tamagotchis could go on "playdates" together in the Tamaverse. Ages 6+
Just My Style Tinsel Hair Stylist Studio
If the 8-year-old in your life wants to get in on the "fairy hair" trend, this kit will let kids add 10-inch tinsel hair extensions into their own hair. The kit also comes with other hair accessories, like pony beads that can be threaded into hair. Ages 6+
Choose the color, font style and shape you think they will love the most, and they'll get this custom neon sign that will make their room feel even more their own. No age recommendation given.
Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Exploration Kit
You don't need a soldering iron to get started making electronic projects — all the pieces in this kit snap together. And though it's just 28 parts, it can make more than 100 projects, including an adjustable-volume siren, a photo sensor and a flashing light. Ages 8+
This gadget, made famous on Shark Tank, absolutely mesmerized Good Housekeeping Institute testers, who lined up to try it. Its effect is hard to describe: Turn it on, and a long piece of string will billow out into a big circle. Once kids have mastered holding it steady, they can try doing tricks, like "lassoing" objects. (Adults noted that it gets tangled easily, so keep someone on-call to thread it again). Ages 8+
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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