Raising Kids Gear and Products These Are the Best Toys for 10-Year-Olds to Play on Their Own or With Friends From slime, robots, painting kits, and more, these toys will get plenty of use By Ashley Ziegler Ashley Ziegler LinkedIn Ashley Ziegler is a lifestyle writer specializing in motherhood, family health, and consumer products. She has written for Romper, Moms.com, and more. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 13, 2022 Fact checked Verywell Family content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. When it comes to toys, the joy of 10-year-olds is that they can play with most toys alone or with friends. Game nights, family craft projects or other group activities are wonderful team-building activities for children this age. Plus, since most 10-year-olds are proficient readers, they can even read directions, assemble toys, and independently set up and play with their toys. Reviewed & Approved The Original Stationery Unicorn Slime Kit includes everything needed to make slime of various textures and scents. If you want to splurge, we recommend the Educational Insights Artie Max: The Coding Robot. When picking out a toy or game for the 10-year-old in your life, something they can play within a group setting or is an interest of theirs is likely to be a hit. We carefully considered, design, value, toy safety, age recommendations, and entertainment value when reviewing products. Here are the best toys for 10-year-olds. Our Top Picks Original Stationery Unicorn Slime Kit at Amazon Jump to Review Educational Insights Artie Max: The Coding Robot at Amazon Jump to Review Kids Against Maturity Card Game at Amazon Jump to Review Good for You Girls Gift Set at Goodforyougirls.com Jump to Review Raddish Kids Monthly Kit at Raddishkids.com Jump to Review Slackers Ninjaline Intro Kit at Amazon Jump to Review Clixo Rainbow 42 Piece Pack at Amazon Jump to Review Silk and Sonder Kids Monthly Subscription at Silkandsonder.com Jump to Review CreateOn The Beatles MagnaTiles at Amazon Jump to Review Doodle Hog Alpaca Squishies Paint Kit at Amazon Jump to Review In This Article Expand Our Picks What to Look For Why Trust Verywell Family Original Stationery Unicorn Slime Kit Original Stationery View On Amazon View On Walmart The Original Stationery Unicorn Slime Kit is high on our list because this kit is a slime lover's dream thanks to all the included accessories. Perfect for 10-year-olds, this kit includes glue, unicorn beads, inks, textures, slime containers, and more. While older kids will likely be able to do it all by themselves, we suggest keeping an eye on them to avoid slime ending up in the wrong place. Educational Insights Artie Max: The Coding Robot Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon Artie Max is a coding robot that comes pre-programmed and ready to teach kids how to code with Blockly, Snap!, JavaScript, Python, and C++. Clear instructions, built-in tutorials, and video how-tos help kids get started quickly. Parent reviewers praise this toy as easy to use, fun, and educational. Kids Against Maturity Card Game Kids Against Maturity View On Amazon View On Walmart This game gets lots of laughs but does include some gross-out humor. Easy to play and fun for a crowd, it’s like a kid version of Cards Against Humanity. If your family isn’t a fan of potty talk, it’s best to skip this game since off-color comments are unavoidable. Good for You Girls Gift Set Courtesy of Good for You View On Goodforyougirls.com Since 10-year-olds are in the tween zone, they’ll love their own skincare gift set made just for kids who are in the early stages of puberty. Produced in the U.S. with all-natural ingredients, the giftable set comes with lotion, wash, toner, deodorant, lip balm, and much more. The 10 Best Face Wash For Tweens And Teens of 2022 Raddish Kids Monthly Kit Courtesy of Raddish Kids View On Raddishkids.com Amazing for kids who like to cook, or eat, a membership to Raddish Kids is a thoughtful gift. The monthly subscription service comes with three themed recipes, a kitchen tool, culinary skills lessons, table topic conversation starters, and more. Since food is not included, families can shop together and prepare the meals at a convenient time. Select shipments from one month up to a full year. Slackers Ninjaline Intro Kit Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon Train like a ninja with this intro slackline kit that has everything to transform your backyard into an amazing obstacle course. Easy to set up, the line stretches to 36 feet and includes seven obstacles. Change the skill level by increasing or decreasing the distance between, and order of, the obstacles. The Best Indoor Toys & Games for Active Play Clixo Rainbow 42 Piece Pack Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon Flexible, durable, and portable, these open-ended building toys are fun for kids (and adults) of all ages. Simply click, snap, stack, and flex to create anything that you can imagine. They store flat for easy storage or to take on the go. The 13 Best Construction and Building Block Toys of 2022 Silk and Sonder Kids Monthly Subscription Courtesy of Silk and Sonder View On Silkandsonder.com For more introverted kids, celebrate their personality with a Silk and Sonder monthly subscription. Each month your kiddo will receive a monthly wellness journal, geared toward kids from 6 to 12 years old. There’s a fun theme each month, interactive activities, coloring pages, recipes, and much more. The 9 Best Backpacks for Kids at Every Age CreateOn The Beatles MagnaTiles Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Createon.com Music-loving kids are never too old to enjoy the wonder of Magna Tiles, the magnetic, open-ended building blocks. The set features 53 blocks, decorated with unique images that can be created in the shapes of the Magical Mystery Tour Bus, The Beatles album collage, a bass drum, and much more. The 13 Best Construction and Building Block Toys of 2022 Doodle Hog Alpaca Squishies Paint Kit Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Doodlehog.com Fans of squishies and projects will love this innovative kit. They can show off their creativity by painting their very own alpaca, cactus, and smiling sun squishy. Along with the blank squishies, the set includes paint, brushes, and decorating accessories. 10 Nature Crafts To Do With Your Kids Snifty Shine Bright Bundle Courtesy Snifty Shine View On Maisonette.com Fun for school, play, art, or fun, this Shine Bright bundle features a pencil pouch journal, a matching set of six pencils, a unicorn twist pen, and sweet-scented erasers. This sweet set is perfect for any note-loving 10-year-old. American Girl Doll Courtesy of American Girl View On Americangirl.com Older kids who still love dolls may treasure their very own American Girl doll. Choose from dozens of dolls or design your own to create a mini-me. While a splurge, these dolls are well-made and sure to last a long time. Be prepared to enter a world of dolls and accessories if you go this route. Franklin Portable Soccer Goal Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Fun and foldable, this soccer goal is perfectly portable. Great for one kid or a crowd, all your kiddo needs to do is add a soccer ball, and they’re ready for non-stop fun. If you prefer a full field game, order two. Mondo Llama Sticker by Number Poster Kit Courtesy of Mondo Llama View On Target Roll out the beautiful 34.5 by 19.5-inch poster and your kiddo will love matching the 400 plus stickers in the right spot to create a beautiful tiger. A perfect rainy day or quiet time activity, this project is fun and satisfying, and builds hand-eye coordination. Tactic World Map 1000 Piece Puzzle Courtesy of Tactic View On Maisonette.com Brush up on world geography with a beautiful 1000-piece world map puzzle. Made of high-quality cardboard pieces, this puzzle is an appropriate mix of challenging and educational. Once the puzzle is done, you can identify the different parts of the world. The 8 Best Puzzles for Kids of 2022 Gamewright Sushi Go! Card Game Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Ideal for two to five players, this game is quick to learn and takes just 15 minutes to play. The goal is to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whiz by. Kids learn strategy and probability in this fun foodie pick. The Best Family Board Games for Some Friendly Competition Kido Fanny Pack Courtesy of Kido View On Kidochicago.com Look just like mom or dad with a colorful, kid-sized fanny pack that has plenty of room to hold just what your 10-year-old needs. Made from canvas with an adjustable cotton strap, buying this bag supports a Black-owned business. WAKA Official Kickball Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon Toss a 10-year-old this oversized kickball and see how much fun they’ll have. Sized just right to kick, throw, bounce, or play, a kickball is a welcome addition to any backyard, park, beach, or anywhere else playdate. BeyBlade Volt Knockout Battle Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon BeyBlades let it rip! This set includes everything you need to battle, including a Beystadium, two right/left spin launchers and two spinning tops. A great set for either seasoned BeyBladers or newbies, this toy is tons of fun. paperplayandwonder Paper Dolls Courtesy of paperplayandwonder View On Etsy An instant download, simply purchase and print this multi-cultural paper doll set. Fun alone on a rainy day or with friends, older kids have the patience and dexterity to cut out and then play with these dolls. Kido Cereal Puzzle Courtesy of Kido View On Kidochicago.com This mini puzzle only measures eight inches in diameter and features 70 tiny puzzle pieces that will challenge and delight older kids. Fun on the go or at home, kids will love completing the sugary sweet image. hand2mind Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon Homemade ice cream is yours in 30 minutes with this all manual ice cream maker. Producing a pint of ice cream at a time, kids will get hands-on experience learning about the properties of movement, freezing, and ice cream science. Final Verdict Even the most active 10-year-olds will need some down time, so an educational puzzle like the World Map 1000-Piece Puzzle (view on Maisonette) would be a wonderful family activity. For an outdoor toy, a kickball (view on Amazon) is always fun. And any kid with stuff to carry could benefit from their own fanny pack (view on Kido Chicago). What to Look for in Toys for 10-Year-Olds Interests In order for a toy to be well-loved (and used), it needs to play into a kid’s interests. What makes this difficult is that what a child is interested in can change drastically over the course of a year or even a couple of months. “Certainly as kids develop... their interests evolve,” says pediatrician David L. Hill, MD, FAAP. And this evolution can be based on age, education, social development, and more. By the time a kid is 10 years old, they will likely be putting more emphasis on friendships, teamwork and collaboration, and their general social status. So when picking out a toy or game for the 10-year-old in your life, something they can play within a group setting it is likely to be of interest. Aside from social status, kids at this age also tend to lean more into toys and games that allow for more exploration, are centered around specific sports, and give them an opportunity to be active. Milestones Dr. Hill explains that in the first years of life, it’s easy to find toys that play into milestones because development is pretty straightforward. However, he says, milestones “tend to cluster from ages five to 10” which makes it a little more difficult to identify toys and games that will aid in development for a 10-year-old. That being said, there are some milestones that are fairly common for 10-year-olds, such as: Increased attention span: Kids around this age can focus on more complex and time-consuming toys and games, like the Educational Insights Artie Max The Coding and Drawing Robot (view on Amazon). Physical skills: By 10 years old, children typically have improved agility, speed, coordination, and balance, so the Slackers Ninjaline (view on Amazon) makes for a great (and fun) toy. Self-awareness: Ten-year-olds are putting more emphasis on physical appearance, making toys like the Good for You Ultimate Gift Package (view on Good for You Girls) an appealing option. Entertainment Value If you want a toy to get used, it needs to be entertaining enough to keep a kid’s attention and make them want to go back to it again and again. Dr. Hill explains that sometime around age 8, kids stop being as engrossed in imaginative play and, instead, will enjoy toys and games that align with their cognitive development. Look for toys that are more complex and require some critical thinking and exploration, such as STEAM toys or sets. Frequently Asked Questions What skills should a 10-year-old be learning? At school, 10-year-olds are hard at work mastering advanced mathematics involving geometry and early algebra including multiplication, division, and fractions. They’re learning to use reliable resources for research and to synthesize their findings, all with increasing independence. Ten-year-olds are also learning how to communicate their opinions and persuade others to accept their viewpoints—one reason why they might sound more like teenagers and less like children every day. How do I choose the best toy for my 10-year-old? The best way to make sure your gift is a home run is to ask your 10-year-old what toys are on their wish list. Otherwise, keep an eye on the toys your child tends to play with most or ask about what toys they most appreciate when playing at friends’ homes. What should I get for a bored 10-year-old? Oftentimes boredom stems from lack of ideas, not lack of toys. Games, crafts, puzzles, and sports equipment can all occupy a 10-year-old. Refreshing their collection of any of these items should help them beat boredom. 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 a 10-year-old son, 7-year-old son, and 3-year-old daughter. Her kids are super active, so she's always looking for toys that get them outside and playing for as long as possible. She's found that chalk, scooters, and stomp rockets are perfect for one-size-fits-all fun. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 1 Source Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Middle childhood (9-11 years of age).