The 20 Best Toys for 8-Year-Olds of 2021

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

Our Top Picks

Hasbro Gaming Monopoly: Star Wars Complete Saga Edition at Amazon

If you think the classic game might not be a draw, try a themed one like this Star Wars version.

Melissa & Doug Secret Decoder Set at Amazon

Over 50 activities challenge kids to crack codes, uncover clues, and be super sleuths.

Razor A5 Lux Scooter at Amazon

Upgrade your kid’s wheels with this sweet scooter that's light and easy to fold.

American Ninja Warrior Competition Set at Wayfair

The 33-piece competition set includes sacks for racing, agility rings, jump ropes, and more.

SmartLab Toys Squishy Human Body at Walmart

With the squishy human body model and a 24-page guidebook, kids will have fun while learning about anatomy.

Thames & Kosmos Candy Chemistry at Amazon

Learn chemistry while creating sweet treats like rock candy, chocolates, and more.

LEGO Hogwarts Express Train Toy at Amazon

More advanced LEGO fans will be wowed as they build Harry Potter’s iconic Hogwarts Express train out of LEGO.

Fat Brain Toys Crankity Brainteaser at Amazon

There are four levels of difficulty, and each puzzle will encourage problem-solving, critical thinking, and concentration.

Basic Fun Space Invaders Game at Amazon

An easy-to-learn blast from the past mini arcade game that both kids and parents will love playing.

Kid Made Modern Jewelry Jam at Amazon

With nearly 700 beads and lots of other supplies, they’ll be busy making necklaces, bracelets, and more for their friends.

Looking for toys for 8-year-olds can be fun, inspiring, or downright hard. As kids enter this age, they can develop specific interests and may be ready for more sophisticated games and toys. They can also develop an interest in deeper imaginative play or love the freedom of movement and fun that comes with outdoor games. Don’t worry, there’s a toy out there for every kind of kid.

Here, the best toys for 8-year-olds.

By 8 years old, most kids are ready for the time-consuming fun that Monopoly can provide. If you think the classic game might not be a draw, try a themed Monopoly like Star Wars or Pokemon. Get ready to buy and sell your way to riches.

An exciting set that gives kids a chance to crack codes, uncover hidden clues, reveal secret messages, and be super sleuths. There are over 50 activities in the kit, including two game books, a secret message activity pad, and magic-reveal stickers.

Upgrade your kid’s wheels with this sweet scooter. The extra-large urethane wheels make for an extra smooth ride, and it has a super sturdy deck that can support up to 220 pounds. Just like other Razor scooters, this one is still light and easy to fold.

Get ready to run, jump, bear crawl, and climb your way to the finish line. Athletic and outdoorsy kids will love this 33-piece competition set that includes sacks for racing, agility rings, jump ropes, and more. The kit includes diagrams for multiple course configurations, or kids can set up their own and get moving.

Learning about anatomy just got a lot more fun! This human body model is made with a squishy material and removable parts to give kids a hands-on experience. They’ll learn all about anatomy and the different body functions with the 24-page book guiding the experience. To make it relatable, the book narrates the journey a piece of pizza takes through the human body.

Learn chemistry while creating sweet treats like rock candy, chocolates, gummy bears, wintergreen candies, and more. The 48-page manual will walk your chemist through each step while learning about heat, temperature, crystallization, measurement, conversions, volume, and weight.

More advanced LEGO fans will be wowed as they build Harry Potter’s iconic King’s Cross Platform and Hogwarts Express train out of LEGOs. With over 800 pieces, it’s a commitment, but the 18-inch long train will be well worth the effort once it’s completed.

A portable puzzle for one, this set includes 15 plastic gears in three sizes. With the gears, kids (or adults) are challenged to solve 40 puzzles. There are four levels of difficulty, and each puzzle will encourage problem-solving, critical thinking, and concentration. Hard work is rewarded once the gears start spinning. A storage bag neatly fits all the parts.

A blast from the past that both kids and parents will love playing. The arcade game has all the authentic arcade sounds along with a mini joystick for gameplay. Easy to learn and fun to play, this game is powered by two AA batteries.

Consider this craft kit an essential if your kid is into jewelry. The portable case has compartmentalized trays to keep beads sorted and organized. With nearly 700 beads and lots of other supplies, they’ll be busy making necklaces, bracelets, and more for all their friends.

With nearly 11 feet of neon glow-in-the-dark track tubing, this bendable and flexible system provides hours of endless fun. Once the tubes are set up, let the rechargeable tumbler vehicle go! It’s transparent with black lights on the sides, so all you’ll see is a fast-moving neon glow zooming through the tubes. The micro USB charger eliminates the need for batteries.

LEGO Trolls World Tour Volcano Rock City Concert

Your Trolls and LEGO fans will be in bliss when the two worlds combine. Kids can recreate their favorite musical scenes or just play with their mini-figures on this awesome Rock City concert stage.

Rock out looking your best! Kiddos can make their own unicorn headphones with this amazing kit that’s sure to fit their style. Besides creating fashion-statement headphones, kids will learn what creates sounds, how sounds travel from a device to the ears, how sound is measured, and what levels are safe for ears.

For an easy entry point into the world of Nerf blasters, try this single-shot blaster. It comes with three accustrike Nerf Mega darts, is easy to use, simple to load, and only shoots one dart at a time. Nerf blasters provide lots of fun, indoors and out.

Samantha Parkington’s™ 35th Anniversary Collection

For the right kid, an American Girl doll is a collectible to be loved, cherished, and played with regularly. The dolls are 18 inches tall, with a soft cotton body and movable heads and limbs made with smooth vinyl. Some come with a book about their historical significance or others can be ordered to look just like your child.

This fast-playing game is fun for sushi fans, big and small. The goal is to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whiz by during the game. Play with two to five players—one round lasts about 15 minutes, and the whole game stores in a neat metal box.

Madd Capp Puzzle Jr. - I AM Lil SLOTH 100 Piece Puzzle

Don’t be fooled by the packaging; this is a challenging puzzle. With a unique sloth-shaped border, this puzzle is as cute as it is hard. The high-gloss, photorealistic image comes to life with each puzzle piece. Oversized pieces are just right for small hands to hold and manipulate.

Fashionistas will feel proud of their personalized jewelry box that’s made to store all their baubles and trinkets. Beautifully crafted, these boxes have delicate details, an ornate lock with a turn-key closure, and a fancy tasseled key.

Young pranksters will be pleased with this prank set that includes eight classic gags, perfect for a silly 8-year old. Goofy teeth, fake vomit, a hand buzzer, and more will get lots of laughs with any kid that loves to gross others out (nearly every 8-year old?).

Kids will love painting their own planter and plant markers and then reaping the rewards of growing some beautiful flowers. The kit includes everything you need to create your little garden, including paint, the planter, and seeds to grow marigold, cosmos, and zinnia flowers.

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 almost 3-year old daughter. Her kids are active and she loves games, so any toys that can be played outside or fast-moving games like Yahtzee and Uno are winners for her.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What are your concerns?

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.

Taylor M, Mottweiler CM, Aguiar NR, Naylor ER, Levernier JG. Paracosms: the imaginary worlds of middle childhood. Child Dev. 2020;91(1):e164-e178. doi:10.1111/cdev.13162