How many toys should a 7-year-old have?

While your 7-year-old may suggest otherwise, there’s no minimum number of toys they need for cognitive development, entertainment, or life satisfaction. In fact, promising research on toddlers suggests that fewer toys actually lead to longer periods of play per toy, greater focus, and more creative play—a perfectly good argument to share with an older child who has a bottomless wish list.

How do toys influence a child's development?

Toys can provide new opportunities for children to practice skills like problem-solving, imaginative play, and critical thinking, all depending on the toy. That said, it’s often play that fosters all of these skills, not toys themselves. So rest assured that your child’s toy collection won’t make or break their academic, social, or emotional success.

How do I choose a toy my child would want?

When purchasing a toy for a 7-year-old child, a good place to begin is to ask them what toys they wish they had at home. They may seek inspiration from commercials or playdates where they’ve played with friends' toys. If you’d prefer to surprise them, consider your child’s interests and choose a toy that speaks to them and is age-appropriate.

The 20 Best Toys for 7-Year-Olds of 2022

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Seven-year-old kiddos are in the middle zone; some days they may still love to dress up for imaginative play and other days they may be acting like tweens. No matter the age and stage of your 7-year-old, there’s a toy out there that they will love.

Whether you choose a toy they can play with alone or with a crowd, choose something that is fun, easy to use, and fits the family’s lifestyle.

Here, our picks for the best toys for the 7-year-old in your life.

Our Top Picks

VTech Kidizoom Duo Selfie Camera at Amazon

Your kiddo will love this real digital camera that allows them to take photos, play games, and create photo collages.

Kid Made Modern Enchanting Craft Kit at Amazon

Perfect for a rainy day or quiet crafting moment, this kit is stocked with more than 250 pieces.

Really RAD Robots MiBRO at Amazon

For silly kids that embrace gross out humor, this robot sidekick will be much appreciated.

TeeTurtle Reversible Octopus Plushie at Amazon

With a quick flip, the plushie is a different color and may be featuring a smile, frown, or something in between

Mattel Games UNO at Amazon

UNO! This fast-paced card game is great for a crowd and is a classic family game for good reason.

Doodle Hog Alpaca Squishies Paint Kit at Amazon

Kids will love painting their very own alpaca, cactus, and smiling sun squishy.

Blingle DIY Gem Friendship Bracelet at Amazon

Packaged in a handy kit, the pod can be used as storage for the gemstones as well and is the perfect carrying case.

Chalk of the Town Short Sleeve T-Shirt at Amazon

Creative kids will love decorating their very own t-shirt with the included chalk markers.

Schleich Sunny Day Farm Stand at Amazon

This farm stand includes 21 realistic pieces including two humans, a horse, and lots of other items.

Modi Toys Baby Krishna Plush at Moditoys.com

Part playful, part naughty, this Baby Krishna plush is cute, huggable, and can even be personalized with your child’s name.

Say cheese! Your kiddo will love this real digital camera that allows them to take photos, play games, and create photo collages. The kid-friendly design means that it’s sturdy and durable, so will hold up to the inevitable drops and bumps. It uses four AA batteries and photos download to a computer via a mini USB cord that’s included.

Perfect for a rainy day or quiet crafting moment, this kit is stocked with more than 250 pieces. Kids will have everything they need to craft an entire village of enchanting characters. Your kiddo will unlock their creative side to craft fairies, ghouls, and other magical creatures that they can imagine.

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For silly kids that embrace gross-out humor, this robot sidekick will be much appreciated. The robot toy can mimic kids’ voices, make fart noises, or can be programmed to play ball (and cheer). If potty humor won’t be appreciated, skip this toy.

TeeTurtle The Original Reversible Octopus Plushie

Basically two plushies in one, this viral TikTok toy will be an instant hit with your kiddo. On one side, the plushie is happy, but with a quick flip, the plushie is a different color and may be featuring a smile, frown, or something in between. Adorable and a fun fidget toy, this plushie will be their favorite thing.

UNO! This fast-paced card game is great for a crowd and is a classic family game for good reason. Portable, with quick gameplay, there’s no reading required so it’s appropriate for younger siblings too. If your kid is familiar with classic UNO, check out some of the themed card decks for a fun spin on the favorite.

The 21 Best Family Board Games of 2022

Combine squishies and an art project and you’ll get this innovative kit. Kids will love painting their very own alpaca, cactus, and smiling sun squishy. Along with the blank squishies, the set includes paint, brushes, and decorating accessories.

Remember making friendship bracelets with your besties? Well, this gem-filled DIY kit is just like those vintage bracelets but way better. Each pod is filled with five different bracelets to get your mini designer started.

The best part is that each kit comes with three surprise designs to help your little one create the perfect bracelet. Packaged in a handy kit, the pod can be used as storage for the gemstones as well and is the perfect carrying case to take the set to the next sleepover.

The 22 Best Gifts for 7-Year-Old Girls of 2022

Chalk of the Town Speech Bubble Short Sleeve T-Shirt

Creative kids will love decorating their very own t-shirt with the included chalk markers. Once they've had enough of one look, they can simply erase the design and make something new. You'll appreciate the machine-washable chalk markers that won’t bleed in the laundry. Choose from five sizes for a perfect fit.

Inspire imaginative play with this high-quality set of farm stand characters. Built to last, fun alone or with other sets, this farm stand includes 21 realistic pieces including two humans, a horse, and lots of other items.

Part playful, part naughty, this Baby Krishna plush is cute, huggable, and can even be personalized with your child’s name. Battery operated, the plush sings five mantras that’ll inspire kids to sing along. Created by a family-owned business, the goal is to educate kids about Indian culture in a fun and engaging way that they will love.

Perfect for chilling at home, traveling, the classroom, or anywhere else, Huggaroos are weighted stuffed animals that relax and soothe your kiddo. The gentle pressure and stimulation come from a machine washable stuffed animal that weighs 3.6 pounds. Fantastic for soothing a sensory kid, these come in two sweet animals.

The joy of PLUS PLUS blocks is that they empower kids to freely explore while building fine motor skills, creativity, imagination, and STEM thinking. This set includes 100 pieces, a base plate, and to the joy of parents, a convenient case that holds up to 500 blocks. Kids can create a 3D masterpiece or a flat design all with the same set of pieces.

Big little football fans will cheer for this personalized book that puts them at the center of the story. Choose from a number of popular college football teams, skin tone that matches your child, and add your kiddo’s name for a custom book that’s truly one of a kind.

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Just like bingo, Zingo Sight Words is perfect for early readers, using the game format to reinforce the importance of sight words. Easy, fun, and fast-paced, most 7-year-olds will be able to play without the help of an adult.

Head outside and start stomping! This kid-powered toy is simple and super fun. The set comes with a stomp launcher and four foam-topped rockets. Great for year-round fun, these rockets will get kids outside.

Feel good about make-up with this non-toxic set from a mom-made company. Crafted in the USA, the set includes two lip shimmers, blush, and eye shadow. Gentle and safe, this is a perfect set for young kids.

Melissa & Doug African Safari 100 Piece Puzzle

Just challenging enough for kids to do alone or with a friend, this jumbo floor puzzle has 100 pieces and is over four feet long when it’s built. Sturdy pieces mean it’s long-lasting and kids will love spotting their favorite safari animals once the puzzle is complete.

The 8 Best Puzzles for Kids of 2022

Shoot some hoops with a kid-sized basketball that features the Space Jam characters and logo. Kids will feel just like Bugs Bunny as they head to the backyard, playground, or local b-ball court for some fun adventures.

Easy to use, these kid-sized walkie-talkies will inspire lots of adventures. Three AAA batteries are required, but they’ll last up to 18 hours as kids keep in touch. With 22 different channels to chat on and a maximum radius of 16 miles, your mini squad will love talking on this set. Over and out!

Many 7-year-olds still relish creative play and Melissa & Doug’s well-made costumes are a perfect addition to any dress-up closet or corner. The chef’s costume will inspire great meals but choose from lots of different options that your kiddo will enjoy.

Final Verdict

For a gift that’s great for family game night, UNO (view on Amazon) is a simple card game that can be played by nearly everyone. It’s portable, fast, and fun. For fun alone or with a crew, both the Melissa & Doug African Safari 100 Piece Puzzle (view on Amazon) and Melissa & Doug Chef Dress Up Costume (view on Amazon) can be used over and over again.

What to Look for in Toys for 7-Year-Olds

Interests

By the time a kid is 7 years old, they are likely in a transition period where their interests are becoming more mature. They may be less interested in imaginative play and, instead, drawn to games with strategy and critical thinking or video/online games.

This transition can be tricky to navigate, so if you’re in doubt, opt for a toy that may be slightly more advanced for a 7-year-old rather than something that they’ll grow out of quickly (or scoff at as "too babyish"). Just like with clothes, buying a toy that they can grow into extends the life of the product which makes it a better investment.

Milestones

Part of the reason a 7-year-old’s interests are tough to pin down is because of their developmental stage. Pediatrician David L. Hill, MD, FAAP, explains to Verywell Family that developmental milestones in the first five years of life are very well mapped, but “they tend to cluster from ages 5 and 10,” and outside factors play a big part in that progression, such as where they are academically and their social circle.

Kids are still meeting expected and identifiable milestones at this time, but pacing varies more than it did when they were younger. At this age, kids are working on skills like these, and may enjoy toys that support this growth.

Strategic thinking: The Plus Plus Travel set (view on Amazon) is a great activity for 7-year-olds as they become more curious and enjoy more complex challenges.
Social skills: By 7 years old, friendships and teamwork become increasingly more important to kids and the Motorola Solutions Motorola Talkabout Radio (view on Amazon) offers an excellent opportunity to play with friends and go on “missions” as a group.
Math skills: Most 7-year-olds have either mastered basic math or are well on their way to it so games that involve simple math skills, like Uno (view on Amazon), are fun while also offering some addition and subtraction practice.

Entertainment Value

Much like their interests and general development, there is no one way to be sure a toy will be entertaining for a 7-year-old because of the period of change they are in. However, you can get a clue by looking at where they are academically. “As kids develop reading skills, the books, games, and puzzles they enjoy [will] grow in complexity,” says Dr. Hill, adding that the same is true as math and motor skills strengthen as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many toys should a 7-year-old have?

While your 7-year-old may suggest otherwise, there’s no minimum number of toys they need for cognitive development, entertainment, or life satisfaction. In fact, promising research on toddlers suggests that fewer toys actually lead to longer periods of play per toy, greater focus, and more creative play—a perfectly good argument to share with an older child who has a bottomless wish list.
How do toys influence a child's development?

Toys can provide new opportunities for children to practice skills like problem-solving, imaginative play, and critical thinking, all depending on the toy. That said, it’s often play that fosters all of these skills, not toys themselves. So rest assured that your child’s toy collection won’t make or break their academic, social, or emotional success.
How do I choose a toy my child would want?

When purchasing a toy for a 7-year-old child, a good place to begin is to ask them what toys they wish they had at home. They may seek inspiration from commercials or playdates where they’ve played with friends' toys. If you’d prefer to surprise them, consider your child’s interests and choose a toy that speaks to them and is age-appropriate.

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, a 7-year-old son, and a 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.

Additional reporting by Ashley Ziegler

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