The 20 Best Gifts for 8-Year-Old Boys of 2021

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8-year-old boys are in an in-between phase of childhood. Not quite big kids, but not toddlers, this age can appreciate both bigger kid toys and may also love solo play with some figures or other toys.

Even if the kid on your list has developed deep interests in something, expand their horizons with a toy that is new, innovative, or just made for fun. From gifts that make them feel like a big kid to toys that will unlock their creativity, there is a gift out there for every 8-year-old boy in your life.

Use this guide to find the right toy for your budget, needs, and child’s lifestyle.

Holiday Shopping Tip

Many retailers are currently experiencing shipping delays due to disruptions in the global supply chain. As a result, we recommend shopping for the holiday season early to avoid delays.

Our Top Picks

TeeTurtle Reversible Octopus Plushie at Amazon

Perfect for stress relief, the reversible plushie shows a happy and a sad side, so kids can show their mood without saying a word.

Among Us Kids Blanket at Amazon

Kids will love having their own blanket and it’ll look so cool, everyone in the family will want to borrow this cozy cover.

Pixicade Mobile Game Maker at Amazon

Surprisingly simple and easy to use, kids can make 1,600 games with seven included game types.

Boogie Board Sketch Pal at Fatbraintoys.com

Encourage writing and creativity with this innovative LCD sketch pad that boasts a hard to lose attached stylus pen.

Octopus Squishy Paint Kit at Amazon

The squishy craze just got a whole lot more creative with this kit that includes all white squishies that are ready to pant.

Looney Tunes Long John Pajamas In Organic Cotton at Hannaandersson.com

Made of organic cotton, they’re available in sizes up to 12 years old, so you can match all the siblings, cousins, or Toon friends

Dino-Lite Neon Brachiosaurus LED Light at Sammyandnat.com

Your kiddo’s room just got a whole light cooler, and brighter, thanks to this dinosaur-shaped LED light.

4 Fun Cosmic Mini Golf at Amazon

Fun indoors or out, the whole family will enjoy this gift. Easy to set up, each time you play it’ll be different.

Gamewright Sushi Go! Card Game at Amazon

The goal is to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whiz by. A fun pick that’ll teach kids strategy and probability.

Beyblade Burst Surge Speedstorm Motor Strike Battle at Amazon

This stadium has a motorized disc in the center of the platform that helps to keep the Beyblades spinning and battling.

TeeTurtle The Original Reversible Octopus Plushie

A hit on TikTok, this sensory fidget toy is a perfect addition to your kid’s life. Perfect for stress relief, the reversible plushie shows a happy and sad side, so kids can express their mood without saying a word. Choose from tons of color combos to suit your style.

Cozy up on the couch or in a reading corner with this unique Among Us super soft blanket. Kids will love having their own blanket and it’ll look so cool, everyone in the family will want to borrow this cozy cover.

Use the five included washable colored markers and paper to turn your kid’s hand-drawn concepts and pictures into video games that can be played instantly. Surprisingly simple and easy to use, kids can make 1,600 games with seven included game types.

An important note is that you do need an Android or iOS tablet in order to play and create.

What Our Editors Say

"My 8-year-old son is obsessed with gaming and wants to be a game programmer when he grows up, so this was right up his alley. It was really easy to use and pretty fun to create different games and obstacles. There is also a community on the app for him to look at the games other users create," - Latifah Miles, Verywell Family Commerce Editor.

Encourage writing and creativity with this innovative LCD sketch pad that boasts a hard to lose attached stylus pen. Draw whatever you want and then simply erase the image with the touch of a button.

The squishy craze just got a whole lot more creative with this kit that includes ready-to-paint all-white squishies. Your little artist can choose from five squishy shapes and each set is stocked with a blank squishy, paintbrush, and paint.

Looney Tunes Long John Pajamas In Organic Cotton

Get cozy with Bugs Bunny and the crew in these long-john style two-piece pajamas. Made of organic cotton, they’re available in sizes up to 12 years old, so you can match all the siblings, cousins, or ToonTown friends.

Your kiddo’s room just got a whole light cooler, and brighter, thanks to this dinosaur-shaped LED light. Powered by USB or three AA batteries, this super cool light is a fun addition to any kid’s digs.

Fun indoors or out, the whole family will enjoy this gift. Easy to set up, each time you play it’ll be different. The whole kit includes a green felt mat that’s wrinkle resistant, plastic borders, five obstacles, five holes and flags, five tee mats, two LED light up golf balls, a putter, score card, and handy storage bag to hold it all.

This game is quick to learn and takes just 15 minutes to play, perfect for two to five players. The goal is to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whiz by. A fun foodie pick that’ll teach kids strategy and probability.

Beyblades let it rip! Your kiddo will have everything they need to battle, including a Beystadium, two right/left spin launchers and two spinning tops. This stadium is designed to keep the fun moving with a motorized disc in the center of the platform that helps to keep the Beyblades spinning and battling, a first in the brand's line of toys! A great set for either seasoned Beybladers or newbies, this toy is tons of fun.

The perfect accessory for any shark-loving swimmer, this snorkel features a cute shark fin topper that sticks out of the water when swimming. It comes with a protective case, but you’ll need to supply your own goggles or mask.

Cooking teaches kids about healthy eating, math, science, and so much more. Make sure they enjoy it safely with a handy three-piece knife set. Sized just right for kids, these knives are safe for little hands but are totally functional in the kitchen when it comes to chopping, cutting, and slicing.

OMY Design & Play Super Hero Coloring Poster

Layout this 40 x 28-inch oversized coloring poster and get ready for fun. Perfect alone or with a group, the poster depicts superheroes saving the day. Get your markers, crayons, or colored pencils ready, and have fun!

Designed to be used outdoors, this gift will get your 8-year-old to turn off their screen and get moving. Sized just right to kick, throw, bounce, or play, a kickball is a welcome addition to any backyard, park, beach, or anywhere playdate. The ball arrives deflated and the brand specifies to only inflate it to 1.5 pounds of air pressure to avoid overinflation.

Unlike any other toy, the award-winning fidget cube is a fun and challenging puzzle toy. The shape-shifting cube moves in multiple ways and encourages STEM thinking to solve the puzzles. Similar to the DIY fortune-tellers from the 90s, this toy will bring back some retro memories.

Fat Brain Toys 4D Vision Great White Shark

Part puzzle, part toy, this anatomically correct 13-inch great white shark model will teach kids about marine biology all while honing their visual-spatial skills. Made with 20 detachable parts, the shark also comes with an educational guide all about the shark's life cycle, habits, and much more.

Fat Brain Toys Wheel Brightz Bike Lights

Snazz up your child’s bike with these fun lights for their wheels. The LED lights and battery pack mount directly to the wheel spokes and stay lit while riding. Choose from five colors and buy two if you want to decorate the front and back wheels.

Join the Atlas Book Club and each month your kid will receive a package of age-appropriate books that feature different cultures. The goal is to foster awareness and acceptance by experiencing a new culture firsthand. Each package includes one book plus unique materials relevant to the culture of the country featured in the book.

Build hand-eye coordination and counting skills with these creative paint-by sticker books. Each page has a perforated edge, so it’s easy to rip out and display the awesome finished product on the fridge. If Outer Space isn’t your thing, choose from many other themes.

If your guy has a SkyZone trampoline park nearby, a gift card is a wonderful present. A perfect spot to jump, bounce, and blow off energy, just make sure it’s close by since no 8 year old can drive!

Final Verdict

It’s hard to go wrong with Beyblades (view at Amazon), since they are fun alone or with a crowd. For a quieter best bet, the Paint by Stickers Kids (view at Amazon) books are fun at home or on the go and are oh so satisfying when each page is complete.

Why Trust Verywell Family?

Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of an 11-year-old son, 8-year-old son, and 4-year old daughter. Maya is finding that 8 year old boys are VERY active and love to play outside, so a new kickball is an amazing gift. All her kids love their BeyBlades and bring them on tons of outdoor playdates.

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The 20 Best Gifts for 8-Year-Old Boys of 2021

Find that special something for him

TeeTurtle The Original Reversible Octopus Plushie

Among Us Kids Blanket

Pixicade Mobile Game Maker

What Our Editors Say

Boogie Board Sketch Pal

Octopus Squishy Paint Kit

Looney Tunes Long John Pajamas In Organic Cotton

Dino-Lite Neon Brachiosaurus LED Light

4 Fun Cosmic Mini Golf

Gamewright Sushi Go! Card Game

Beyblade Burst Surge Speedstorm Motor Strike Battle

Bling2O Misty Shark Bit Fin Snorkel

Tovla Jr. Knives for Kids 3-Piece Set

OMY Design & Play Super Hero Coloring Poster

WAKA Official Kickball

Shashibo Shape Shifting Box

Fat Brain Toys 4D Vision Great White Shark

Fat Brain Toys Wheel Brightz Bike Lights

Atlas Book Club

Paint by Stickers Kids: Outerspace

SkyZone Gift Card