The Best Gifts for 9-Year-Olds, Vetted By 9-Year-Olds

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Nine-year-olds are pretty great, aren't they? They're so close to claiming double digits and, quite possibly, rolling their eyes at every single little thing you say, but for now—for this (mostly) blissful moment—they are still such elementary-school angels. (No, seriously, please take a quick second to savor this pre-teen paradise. We'll happily wait......)

Whether the nine-year-old in your life is into sports, theater, the great outdoors, or a hodgepodge of this and that, we've rounded up an editor-, expert-, and child-vetted assortment of great gifts for birthdays, holidays, and just because. You'll also find presents at every price point (starting at just $6!), including classic no-fail favorites (a kickball set! a six-foot fort!) and trendier of-the-moment mainstays (pickleball paddles! axe-throwing sets!). Lastly, there are some very specific learnings from the nine-year-olds we surveyed that are worth sharing:

(1) They love anything that lights up/glows in the dark

(2) They're very into riddles and gag gifts and anything else that involves tricking adults

(3) They still love Bill Nye, the Science Guy (Who knew?!)

(4) They have likely already devoured The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series so don't bother with the box set

Psst: While you're shopping, you may also want to check out our best gifts for 10-year-old girls and 10-year-old boys as well as the best gifts for 8-year-old kids.

DIY Friendship Pins Gift Set

Friendship bracelet kits are good in theory until your child winds up with nothing to show for their efforts other than a tangle of thread. This pin-spired alternative makes crafting easy, offers more bang for your bead, and can be used to embellish both clothing and backpacks.

Multicolored Basketball

With the Chance brand, there's no such thing as one-ball-fits-all. With a variety of colors and patterns—camo! flowers!—you're sure to find the gifting equivalent of a slam dunk. This glow-in-the-dark option is pretty fun too.

Related: The Best New Toys in the Country Living Toy Chest

Marshmallow Snack Pack

Watch their eyes light up as they realize it's all marshmallows and none of those good-for-nuthin' whole-grain oats.

Binoculars for Kids

If you haven't noticed, birding is having a bit of a moment (yes, even with younger hatchlings!). This lightweight telescoping twosome comes in 12 fun colors and will also appeal to spies-in-training.

Custom Woven Friendship Bracelet

When you're a kid, there's just something so special about owning a piece of jewelry with your name on it—even more so when your name is not commonly sourced on the souvenir rack. (We see you, Madilyn!)

Electronic Drum Sets

When they want a drum set but you're not a) ready to invest or b) willing to give up the square footage, this roll-up alternative (complete with—praise be—headphones!) is a sound choice.

Inflatable Fort Tent

This 6 1/2-foot-wide fort, which comes in 16 styles (including a barn!) and inflates in less than 30 seconds, is a serious upgrade from the sheet-draping tactics of old. (Note: You'll need a square box fan; not included.)

Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone

Available in 13 colors, this handy instrument will take karaoke singalongs from ho-hum to Eras-Tour epic.

Toy Foam Axe Throwing Game

Axe and ye shall receive! This backyard version of a popular bar game will appeal to the little lumberjacks in your life.

Sound Activated Party Lights

Thanks to the handy remote, this soon-to-be slumber party/dance party staple can cue up more lighting options than any European nightclub: red, green, blue, red/green, red/blue, green/blue, or all the colors at once, which we refer to as "Ibiza mode."

Special Edition Electric Scooter

Let the good times roll! Featuring a non-slip deck, cool holographic finish, and sturdy aluminum frame, this electric scooter has close to a perfect five-star rating (!!!) after 30,000 Amazon reviews, which is truly a feat on this here internet where people tend to be cranky.

Pickleball Paddles Set Of 2

Introduce them to America's fastest growing sport with this stylish beginner's set of pickleball paddles suited for all ages.

Inflatable Snow Sled

There's nothing like waking up to snowfall and realizing you're gonna have to resort to riding out the day on (say it isn't so!) trash can lids. Make sure your favorite Winter Olympian wannabes are prepared for the powder with this fast-inflating sled that comes in six not-boring styles and holds two riders (or up to 250 pounds.)

Note: For roughly the same spend, this two-pack could also come in handy if siblings would rather not share.

UNO Emojis Card Set

We surveyed a few nine-year-olds to see what emoji they'd give this classic-with-a-twist card game and the results are in: 60 percent smiling emoji, 25 percent heart eyes emoji, 14 percent thumbs-up emoji, and 1 percent unicorn for no clear explainable reason.

Comic Book Making Kit

It's not a bird. Nor is it a plane. Rather, it's a super thoughtful gift that allows budding authors to write and illustrate their own 18-page professionally printed comic book. Just go ahead and work out your royalties should they become the Dav Pilkey of their generation.

Mini Drone for Kids and Beginners

Our friends over at Good Housekeeping named this drone their favorite for beginners and who are we to argue with the purveyors of the time-tested GH Seal?

Glow Sticks Bulk Pack

Is this the most aesthetically pleasing gift? No. Will it last them through the year? Also no. But they're going to love this 100-pack so much that none of the rest matters, really.

Flannel Lined Sleeping Bag

If your happy lil' camper doesn't already own one, maybe it's time?! While there are plenty of trendy patterns to be found, we are unapologetically partial to this unisex style that feels plucked from a Wes Anderson movie set. (Coonskin hats and vintage binoculars optional, but always encouraged.)

Reusable Water Balloons

If you've ever attempted to pick up hundreds of rubbery plastic bits from the yard after a water balloon fight, you're likely already sold on this sustainable silicone set.

Skee-Ball

For a beach boardwalk-inspired bundle, pair this old-school arcade favorite with cotton candy and a stuffed seagull that may or may not steal your French fries.

Indoor Outdoor Limbo Set

Honestly, you're not really living unless you have a limbo set hanging around at the ready. This one's sturdy enough to have some fun (no more awkwardly holding a broom handle!) but lightweight enough to carry in and out as needed. (Just do your best to temper grandma's competitive spirit come Christmas morning.)

Kickball Set

This set has all the things—a classic 10-inch playground ball, throwdown bases, foul marker discs, a pump, and—to make it really official—a flippable scoreboard which can also be used for rating cartwheels and dance routines should your kids ask for that on the regular.

The Price is Right Plinko Challenge

Parenting is a bit like Plinko, come to think of it. You send your kids off into the world and hope for the jackpot best. While your children may not appreciate your Bob Barker impression, they will quickly come to love this classic take on one of television's most popular games.

Bill Nye's Virtual Reality Science Kit

Featuring your child's favorite 67-year-old science influencer, this set includes safety goggles so you just know the 30 hands-on experiments are legit.

Soccer Ball Night Light

Soccer enthusiasts will get a kick out of this novelty nightlight that can be lit in 16 colors.

The Delish Kids Cookbook

Geared toward culinary-minded kids ages 8 to 12, this colorful compendium includes 100 fun recipes spanning both the sweet (mason jar ice cream!) and savory (English muffin pizzas!). Bonus: It's a perfect training ground for a future career in the Country Living Test Kitchen.

Buildzi Building Block Game

Up to 8 players (in other words, you're not off the hook, Uncle Gary!) can join in on this fast-stacking game that helps reinforce both kids' STEM skills and adults' nostalgia for Tetris.

Indoor Basketball Hoop with Electronic Scoreboard

Doesn't every kid dream about having one of these in their room? (Tip: Place a hamper under it and maybe, just maybe, those dirty clothes will find their way to it.)

Superhero Stationery

Okay, we know stationery may not be at the top of a nine-year-old's wish list, but this custom comic book-inspired correspondence ($25 for 35 cards) will come in handy year-round. We also love this sweet pencil option.

The Challenging Riddle Book for Kids

It says it's for kids but they're going to enjoy quizzing you so maybe give it to them after you've had at least one cup of coffee.

Retro Fleece Jacket

This super-soft, high-quality fleece comes in a variety of colors, but we're partial to this safety-guard shade of orange.

Schylling Joke Box

Kids simply love a good ol' classic gag. It should also be noted that this gift's enjoyability is inversely proportional to the adults' willingness to act startled (that's even if, hypothetically, the floating eyeball or bandaged finger does not look 100 percent authentic).

Pogo Stick

First, some trivia: The "Pogo" in Pogo stick comes from a hybrid of its German inventors' names: Max Pohlig and Ernst Gottschall. These days, there are plenty of Pogo sticks on the market, but a lot of the so-called "kids" sticks can't hold more than 80 pounds. This one, designed for kids ages 9 and up, has an easy-grip handle and can accommodate bouncers up to 160 lbs.

Bluetooth Mini Boombox

What's not to love about this rainbow-rhinestoned radio?

Book of How

Why does ice cream cause headaches? How does a flamingo stand on one leg? How did the ocean get so salty? Curious kids will enjoy learning how the world works in this 352-page fact-filled compendium.

But wait, there's more!

Don't miss our best gifts for 10-year-old girls and 10-year-old boys, as well as the best gifts for 8-year-old kids.

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