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Nine-year-olds are pretty great, aren't they? They're so close to claiming double digits and, quite possibly, rolling their eyes at every single thing you say, but for now—for this (mostly) blissful moment—they are still elementary-school angels.
Whether the nine-year-old in your life is into sports, crafts, the great outdoors, or a hodgepodge of this and that, we've round up an assortment of great gifts that are editor and child-approved! If it's for a birthday, the holidays, or just because, there is something for every occasion on this list! You'll also find presents at every price point, classic favorites, and trendier of-the-moment mainstays (pickleball paddles! A Nintendo switch!). Lastly, there are some very specific learnings from the nine-year-olds we surveyed that are worth sharing:
(1) They love anything that lights up/glows in the dark
(2) They're very into riddles and gag gifts and anything else that involves tricking adults
(3) They still love Bill Nye, the Science Guy (Who knew?!)
(4) They have likely already devoured The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series so don't bother with the box set
While you're shopping, you may also want to check out our best gifts for these kiddos, too:
How cute is Mr. Luther Blue?! Squishmallows have pretty much taken over wishlists from ages 6, all the way to 16. I mean, I even know college students who love them! Thie new Tiger Shark will be the perfect companion to keep them company.
Making friendship bracelets is a rite of passage around this age. We all remember the struggles that come with tying everything off how you like it though, you often need another hand there to help! This tool makes the creative process so much easier and comes with 20 pieces of thread ready to go.
This is not a drill, Limited Too is back, people! If you remember the brand from the '90s and early 2000s, you might recall sequin purses and graphic tees. The company recently relaunched with a modern take on some classic pieces. This cozy pullover is going to be perfect for chilly days at school or hanging out at home.
They're making memories of a lifetime, why not capture the moment? Having their own camera is going to be so much and gets them away from the camera on a smartphone. All they have to do is click a button and their photo will print instantly on fun paper!
Do they have a pair of Crocs they love? If so, help them accessorize them with a giant pack of charms! These pop right into the holes on crocs so they can add their own personal touch!
If she's starting to get into accessorizing, give her her own fun necklace! This one is super colorful and will feel so special with her own initial on it! This one is made of plastic beads, stainless steel, and gold plating.
If they're into gaming, the Nintendo Switch is the most coveted gaming device out right now. The Lite edition is designed to be played anywhere and is super lightweight. They can play all kinds of fun games, from Mario to Zelda.
Do you have a bit of a water bug on your hands? These reusable water balloons are so fun and don't cause as much of a mess. Fill 'em up with water, seal them closed, and have fun! This set of 12 is latex free, environmentally friendly, and comes with a mesh bag to carry them all in. They will get a ton of fun uses out of these bad boys.
There's just something about ooey-gooey slime that kids love. While we don't love cleaning it up, it is something fun they can do with their hands and get their creativity going. This kit comes with 18 wacky colors of crystal slime, 12 types of glitter, various foam beads, fishbowl beads and more!
While classic wheels like bikes and skateboards are always popular, hoverboards definitely go at the top of the cool list. This one has a strong motor and can go up to 7 mph over a 12 mile range. You might want to throw in a helmet and some knee pads with this one.
If you want to delay that cellphone purchase but still want a way to stay in contact with them, get them a Garmin Bounce. It's a limited smart watch for kids with LTE connectivity so you can communicate with your child through text and voice messaging. It only allows up to 20 contacts, offers parental control, and real-time location tracking. It also tracks steps, sleep, activity and so much more!
Have a football fan in the house? Get them their favorite player's jersey to wear on game day or rock in the halls at school. You'll get some instant cool points for this one.
Nine-year-olds are busy! From homework, to sports practice, to her bestie's sleepover, it's a lot to keep up with. Make sure she has an ah-dorable bag like this one to help get her from place to place with ease.
Turn their drawings into amazing 3D art! It has different controls to adjust the speed, temperature, and filaments so they can bring their vision to life. This kit comes with everything needed to create the coolest 3D art.
Are they always looking for something new to do? We might be a little biased, but this book is full of incredible activities to entertain everyone. From building flower crowns and terrariums, to creating fun, kid-friendly recipes, there are plenty of creative things to do no matter the season!
This is another really cool and unique way to have some fun! They will learn all about marbling paint with this kit that comes with a helpful instruction booklet, 6 colors of paint, 20 sheets of paper, 3 needles, a pipette, spreader, measuring spoon, and the tray.
Whether they've got a sports practice to get to or they just get extra thirsty at school, having a cool water bottle is obviously very popular right now. We love the FreeSip from Owala because it's basically spill and leak-proof! Not to mention it comes in an array of fun colors.
With the Chance brand, there's no such thing as one-ball-fits-all. With a variety of colors and patterns—camo! flowers!—you're sure to find the gifting equivalent of a slam dunk. This glow-in-the-dark option is pretty fun too.
If you haven't noticed, birding is having a bit of a moment (yes, even with younger hatchlings!). This lightweight telescoping twosome comes in 12 fun colors and will also appeal to spies-in-training.