15 Cool Gifts for 9-Year-Olds

No batteries? No problem. Any kid can build their own solar-powered robot with this kit from 4M. Craft the standard robot base and then, using household objects, transform it into a dinosaur or monster, if you choose.

This whimsical set of 3 turtle- and 3 frog-shaped "rocks" (actually rock-like resin) beg for a young artist’s imaginative touch. 12 colorful weather-resistant paints and 1 paintbrush are included for creating little friends who can live in your garden.

Kids will love tending their own countertop terrariums and watching real live carnivorous plants grow. This kit includes nearly everything they need to design their own miniature bog — just add water and watch your fruit flies disappear.

Science has never looked so sweet! With this STEM activity kit, kids can mix their own solutions in order to grow colorful crystals to adorn their hedgehog’s back. Choose from 3 colors.

Nearly 900 bizarre but true facts abound in this set of three books from National Geographic Kids. Covering topics such as animals, food, and history, the Weird But True collection is an irresistibly fun read at any age.

What child can resist the lure of a walkie talkie? Set them up right with the Retevis RT628 battery-powered model, which features long range capabilities, clear transmission, and 20 channels for connecting all of their friends.

Durable, stylish, and designed for beginners, the Metroller skateboard comes in 15 colorful designs big kids will love. Safety features parents will appreciate include things like an anti-slip deck and anti-shock, wear-resistant wheels.

This natural mineral based hair chalk allows kids to don the colorful strands of their choice. Choose from the hues provided, or let them mix up custom shades in the enclosed palette. Nervous about having a rainbow-haired child? This chalk washes out with one shampoo.

Move away from the kidnoculars and get your 9-year-old a genuine pair of binoculars (that are still kid-friendly). As we wrote in our review of Noptix Binoculars, these are easy to adjust and hit that sweet spot of actually providing an up-close view of faraway birds and other animals.

A family-friendly party game that’s geared toward bigger kids, Cover Your Kingdom is equal parts silly fun and strategy. Touted as “magically malicious,” this card game promises to bring out your child’s competitive side, while characters like the “Pigxies” (fairy pigs, of course) bring out the smiles.

Three felt tip markers beckon kids to design their own temporary tattoos, while an accompanying activity book provides plenty of inspiration for your budding artist. The ink is washable, as well as dermatologically and ophthalmologically tested.

Featuring well-researched stories that often don’t make our history books, Honest History is a beautiful, full-color magazine that brims with true stories, stunning illustrations, and DIY crafts and activities. Whisk kids away on a reading adventure with untold perspectives on pirates, samurais, the space race, and more.

Designed in Denmark, Klask bills itself as “an epic magnetic battle,” — a cross between foosball and air hockey that’s age-appropriate for all and small space friendly. Fast-paced and fun, Klask is designed for tabletop play and is practically guaranteed to make your home the preferred after school destination for your child’s group of friends.

Go retro with a polaroid-style camera that delivers instant prints. Available in six pastel colors, this mini camera takes standard shots, as well as perfectly framed selfies with its dedicated selfie lens.

If you have a growing gamer on your hands, this DIY video game set is sure to be a hit. With a visual editor you can access for free online, kids learn beginner-level coding in order to create an arcade game all their own.