28 Cool Gifts for the 10-Year-Old in Your Life

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At 10 years old, kids' personalities are well developed, as are their hobbies, interests, and taste preferences. So, choosing the best gifts for 10 year olds involves finding out more about what makes them tick.

Look for gifts that "cultivate curiosity" and "games that incorporate their hobbies, sports, arts, and crafts," explains parenting expert and licensed educational board-certified behavior analyst Reena B. Patel. It's also a great time to look for gifts that "allow for interactions amongst friends and opportunities to problem solve as a group." Coding and STEM activities can help create what Patel calls "those aha moments" in applied science.

And while the best gifts and toys for 10 year olds will help challenge and excite them, Patel points to some no-nos to avoid when gift shopping for this school-aged set: Steer clear of graphic and violent video games, or anything above their developmental level (such as games that involve teenage or adult romantic relationship questions).

Remember that it's not about how much you spend: Many budget-friendly gifts on our list ring in under $20, with plenty even under $10, too. It's never to early to stock up on stocking stuffers for everyone!

And if you're still shopping for other toys and gifts for kids on your list, don't forget to check out our complete list of toy and gift guides for every age, below.

Shape-Shifting Box

Available in tons of eye-catching patterns and colors, this cool fidget cube morphs into 70 different shapes using 36 rare Earth magnets.

Flying Orb Ball

This small, lightweight ball with a powerful engine floats, flies, and comes back like a boomerang. Color-changing lighting makes it glow like a spaceship in the dark.

Girls Knee High Socks (Set of 6)

These cute character socks come in a pack of six so they can show off bold, whimsical style all week long.

Flying Disc

This is no ordinary frisbee: 36 LEDs give it a colorful glow for 1,000 throws on a single charge.

The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs

This cookbook was made just for kids (and thoroughly tested by more than 750 kids to make sure all the recipes are just right), and includes recipes for breakfast, snacks and beverages, dinners, desserts, and more.

Dual LED Kids Microscope

This kids' microscope is two powerful tools in one: Use the lower LED lights to view specimens on slides, or switch over to the upper lights to check out three-dimensional objects up close.

Initial Necklace

This gold-tone initial necklace is a personalized gift with a big impact at a seriously budget-friendly price point.

NightBall Basketball

This cool light-up basketball gets brighter as kids play with it. It’s water resistant and floats, too.

Sprocket Portable 2x3" Instant Photo Printer

This sparkly, smartphone-sized photo printer is designed for use on the go. The free app allows you to customize photos from your phone with stickers, doodles, and more, before printing sticky-backed images to share anywhere you like.

Paper Airplanes Craft Kit

Paper airplanes are a timeless hit with kids, and this book contains the goods to make 10 cool styles of planes with 40 sheets of custom paper.

DIY Wall Collage Kit

Encourage their creativity with this DIY wall collage kit, stocked with more than 1,000 creative components including 750 stickers, foam blocks, wall-safe tape, and an instruction booklet.

10th Birthday Charm Bracelet

This adjustable stainless steel bracelet features an inspiring message for the birthday girl: “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

Spoof Family Party Bluffing Board Game

In this game, kids 10 and up put on their best poker faces for bluffing. It takes just five minutes to learn, and about 30 minutes to play.

Amazon Fire HD

This powerful gadget is not a toy — it’s a real tablet that comes with a full year of age-appropriate Amazon Kids+ content, plus a kid-friendly case to keep it safe.

Rhinestone Headband Set

This set of dazzling headbands comes with three puffy, jeweled pieces sure to jazz up any birthday girl's look.

Interactive Digital Pet

More than just a screen, this digital pet is a 3-D creature kids can really pet and touch. It starts as a baby and grows with the user’s love and care.

Friendship Bracelet Making Kit

Friendship bracelets are having a major moment. This DIY kit includes a loom and all the told they need to make 15 bracelets.

Hoverboard

This futuristic hoverboard goes as far as 2.5 miles on a charge and rings in at a giftable price tag under $100.

Gross Science Kit

Sure, it’s a STEM learning tool at its core — but the gross theme makes it especially appealing to the 10-year-old set.

Difficult Riddles For Smart Kids Book

This book includes 300 riddles and brain teasers that will challenge the mind — and engage friends and family in the fun, too.

Lamborghini Car Building Kit

This exotic Lamborghini-building kit is a slamdunk for the car or racing fan in your life.

Diamond Painting Art Kit

This art kit contains all the tools they need to make a three-dimensional work of art — including the frame as the finishing touch.

Backyard Soccer Goal

Turn the backyard into a high-energy soccer field with this lightweight and portable goal. Secure it with stakes for all-weather stability.

Crystal Growing Kit for Kids

This cool chemistry kit includes all kids need to make seven cool crystals and display the end products in the included cases (but the real fun part is watching them grow).

Gravity Maze Marble Run Brain Game

This engaging toy combines a logic game, marble run, and STEM educational tool — that feels way more like play than learning. It contains 60 challenges from beginner to expert, a game grid, nine towers, a target piece, and three marbles.

5 Second Rule Card Game

Pick a card, read the topic, and race against a speedy five-second timer to play. It’s fun for the whole family, age 10 to 110.

Ombre Bling Mini Boombox Bluetooth Speaker

This blinged-out mini Bluetooth speaker looks like an old-school boombox — but with modern features like light-up LEDs and a phone holder.

LED Photo Clip String Lights

These LED string lights feature clips for hanging photos or art — perfect to make their room a reflection of their creative spirit. It comes with a remote to switch easily between modes and change up the look.

Shop more toys and gifts for kids

Looking for more of the best gifts for kids? Check out our guides for every age:

• Gifts for babies: Best Baby Gifts | Baby Boy Gifts | Baby Girl Gifts | Best Gifts for 6-Month-Olds

• Gifts for toddlers: Gifts for 1-Year-Olds | Gifts for 2-Year-Olds

• Gifts for preschoolers: Gifts for 3-Year-Olds | Gifts for 4-Year-Olds | Gifts for 5-Year-Olds

• Gifts for big kids: Gifts for 6-Year-Olds | Gifts for 7-Year-Olds | Gifts for 8-Year-Olds | Gifts for 9-Year-Olds | Best Gifts for Girls | Best Gifts for Boys
  

• Gifts for teens: Best Gifts for Teens | Best Gifts for Teen Girls | Gifts for Teen Girls on Amazon | Best Gifts for Teen Boys
  

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