20 Cool Toys and Gifts for 9-Year-Olds

On one hand this is a literal box of 15 rocks. But they're the perfect size, shape and smoothness for painting, and the rock painting kit comes with ten paints and a brush, transfer stickers and 30 googly eyes. It keeps your kid busy creating, and then the rocks can go in the garden or be given to a friend or teacher.

This stress-ball toy is naturally cool to the touch, too. It's calming when your 9-year-old is having a real day, but also just fun to fidget with.

We know 9-year-olds who have bead-bracelet-making birthday parties, but making bead jewelry is a fun craft anytime. This inexpensive bracelet kit from Just My Style has more than 2000 beads, including 500 alphabet beads for song lyrics and messages.

Beautifully illustrated, this magical little book is perfect for any young person who dreams of whipping up potions and spells. Wondering what sort of incantations are in store? Just the sweet ones about building friendships, boosting confidence and building strong bonds with pets.

Science has never looked cuter! Kids mix their own solutions to make blue crystals grow on this hedgehog.

These playful hair extensions come white, then your child adds the color and shine before putting it in their hair with a clip. They're all washable and rewearable.

Slime is not a parent's favorite toy (see: how to get slime out of carpet) but kids love it for sure. Elmer's "Gue" (get it?) is a bucket of clear slime with fun add-ins. If you make this an outdoor activity, say on the porch or patio, it can be stress-free and fun for your child to do with a friend.

Brighten up any 9-year-old's day with this super cute LEGO plant set. The 217-piece LEGO Botanicals Happy Plants set is easy to assemble, according to reviewers, and makes a great piece of decor on a desk or shelf.

What child can resist the lure of a walkie talkie set? Set them up right with the Retevis RT628 battery-powered model, which features long range capabilities, clear transmission and 20 channels for connecting (and spying) with a sibling or a friend.

Isn't this a cool, retro bluetooth speaker? They can listen to their own music through this via bluetooth with a phone or tablet, and you can hear what they're into. Sync your own phone to it and play them your favorite tunes, too!

Everyone loves Jellycat plush — toddlers, college kids, and yes, 9-year-olds. This parrot is a new character with an inscrutable expression; your kid will have fun giving it personality.

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.

Your 9-year-old can create their own magic garden with this all-included DIY mini terrarium kit. You'll get the bottle, live moss, soil, rocks, a tweezer, decorations, an eye dropper, and a wooden stick, plus directions. It makes a great addition to any shelf or desk.

One of our best guitars for kids, this Fender set is the real deal, sized for your 9-year-old's small hands thanks to its 18-fret design (as opposed to the traditional 20) that helps make it much easier to stretch between frets. It comes bundled with a gig bag, strap, tuner, stringer, string winder, picks, and an instructional DVD.

Go retro with a 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. Don't forget to buy Instax film to get them started.

With its anti-glare, 7-inch screen, the new Kindle Paperwhite might persuade resistant readers to read more, and allows voracious readers to load on many long book at a time. Buy this kid's version from Amazon and get a free 6-month subscription to Amazon Kids, with free access to thousands of books for kids up to age 12.

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.

If you have a gamer on your hands, this DIY video game set is likely 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.

Designed in Denmark, Klask bills itself as “an epic magnetic battle,” — a cross between foosball and air hockey that’s age-appropriate and small-space friendly.

Build out their LEGO collection with these adorable French Bulldog pups. With 237 pieces and a detachable base plate, kids can build, play, and display their creations with pride.