Kids are old enough to have their own interests and hobbies, but still young enough to get swept up in play and be absorbed for hours if you find the right toy for them. By eight, children’s interests and skills are taking shape. They’re more confident readers, more strategic thinkers and curious about how things work.
And while they think they’re extremely grown up, eight-year-olds still need plenty of time to play for their overall wellbeing. Here’s a rundown of toys and gifts that will keep eight-year-olds occupied for months to come: a roster of creative kits, clever games, outdoor adventures and timeless toys that will keep them happy and busy (while sneakily learning). As an experienced toy tester, I am living an eight-year-old’s dream.
I have written about toys and parenting for almost 10 years and have also worked in schools and children’s publishing. As well as professionally observing children’s play, I also have three children, and in these guides I aim to balance what kids love to play with and what parents want in their house. I also asked children’s play specialists and development experts about the best toys to support the developmental stage most eight-year-olds are at – from school skills to wellbeing – for a holistic approach.
A gang of lively eight-year-olds were enlisted to test toys and gifts on my behalf, and they weren’t shy in telling me what they thought of them. Their own gift picks can be found throughout this guide. The toys and gifts that made the cut here balanced all these needs.
Sustainability was always on my mind when compiling this list, with the guiding principle of buying well, not more. I selected toys and gifts that my testers came back to over and over and should last them well into the tween stage. Those of a certain age may remember the TV show Penny Crayon; everything Penny drew came to life, getting her and her mates out of all kinds of strife.
Well, this pen can (sort of) make the Penny Crayon dream come true for your child. The 3Doodler pen delivers a stream of BPA-free plastic, which cools as it hits the air, allowing children to create what they draw – “I made a pair of sunglasses and a very creepy-looking robot,” my tester reported with glee. The use of plastic made me hesitate to include it in this guide, but it kept my tester absorbed for hours.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
