What holiday gifts are you giving kids in your life that are 7-9ish?

November 18, 2024 11:54 AM

I am aware of the idea of "experience" gifts but I also need to give multiple children in the 7 to 9 age range physical gifts.

I would like them to be:
small in size (because I have to mail them)
multiple items that are different, but roughly the same thing (some people are in the same family)
priced in the $15-$50 range (budget for each kid is about $50-$75, but I like to combine a few things, so small ideas and novelties are good too)
not heavily gendered (I am mostly giving to boys, though)

I'm looking for ideas that are a little outside of the box. Over the years, I've given umpteen LEGOs, jigsaw puzzles, craft items, games etc.

Consumable, wearable, usable, readable, creative, playable things are all good, but would be great to see something specific that you have given or received that went over well or made you feel good to buy, give or receive. Thank you!

posted by vunder to Shopping (16 answers total)

Tony’s Chocolonely bars! Weird temporary tattoos. Fancy but not ridiculous lip masks/balm.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 12:08 PM on November 18 [1 favorite]

I was advised to give a Bitzee to a favorite cousin and the kiddo melted down with joy. Kids who came by the house melted down with jealousy. Total OMG. We instantly became the greatest people in HISTORY.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:09 PM on November 18 [5 favorites]

Ok - my niblings (ages 7.5, 9.5) have loved:
- foam rc plane
- Pokemon trainer
- Chainsaw toy
- Tech Decks and accessories
posted by some chick at 12:16 PM on November 18

a microscope or a telescope/binoculars
posted by TDIpod at 12:20 PM on November 18

I bought the Wild Robot book for my son 2 weeks ago and he finished it in a couple of days and made me get the 2nd one. I hadn't heard of the book or movie when I got it for him (I totally judged the book by its cover) but he really enjoyed it.

You can also order custom Funko Pop toys from their website, so you could make a specific one of each kid. We made one of my daughter for her birthday and when my son saw it he really wanted one too. You can't do much with it but it's still pretty cool to see.

Studio Ghibli Art Crystal puzzles. They're jigsaw puzzles but the pieces are translucent so if you put the completed puzzle up by a window it's almost like a stained glass kind of thing. So a bit different from standard jigsaw puzzles.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 12:27 PM on November 18

Thinking Putty is a huge hit with my therapy clients in this age range (and, honestly, all the way up to adulthood)--you can get mini tins for $4 and that's plenty to play with.

Fidget toys in general are a big hit, as are my juggling balls (even/especially for kids who can't juggle)--I think I got my set at Target for $5.
posted by epj at 12:57 PM on November 18

My 8yo loves Bunny vs Monkey comics.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:12 PM on November 18 [1 favorite]

This is on the girly/young side but this extremely weird flying toy was a surprise hit with my 8 year old son when his little sister got one for her birthday. It's clearly a toy optimized to go viral on video based social media but that doesn't make the initial reveal any less compelling. The "bottle" it comes in does this intense shaking routine where you have to tap it multiple times and then it pops open and the fairy starts buzzing all over the place.

I think a boy in that age range would find it too pink but it's a shame because I think the excitement of having this weird little fairy buzzing around is actually something most boys would really like.
posted by potrzebie at 3:41 PM on November 18

My kid that age has liked Catan Junior, Big Life Journal, and mineral sets (we most recently got this one from the scholastic book fair).
posted by beyond_pink at 6:08 PM on November 18 [1 favorite]

Graphic Novels and comics (Bad guys, Dogman, Catkid, Garfield). And Jelly belly game.

You will be very popular with the kids. Not popular with the adults. Focus on your legacy.
posted by Toddles at 8:33 PM on November 18

This thing is truly pointless, but undeniably cool, and my nephew (just turned 7) is obsessed with it: https://looplaboratories.com/
posted by sleepingwithcats at 10:58 PM on November 18 [1 favorite]

Consider a single, larger gift that will stand the test of time as opposed to ephemeral bits of plastic.

My parents got me a telescope while I was in grade school and my interest in observing the night sky has persisted for decades. Just found this kid's telescope for around 100 bucks, and it seems to be well reviewed on Amazon although I refuse to link there.

Similarly: birding binoculars for kids and a good birding book.

PLEASE don't give food gifts. Please.
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 3:32 AM on November 19 [1 favorite]

These fidget clicker counters are big at my kid’s school right now and would be a good stocking stuffer.
posted by songs about trains at 5:25 AM on November 19

An authentic Roman coin (it's absolutely wild that these are so cheap!)
posted by wattle at 5:46 AM on November 19

My kid is recently 10, but these things have gone over well with her and her friends:

- Perplexors logic puzzle books, which come at different levels.

- various incarnations of portable microscopes, which my kid and a couple of her friends carry around in their backpacks in case of cool small things

- rocks/minerals/fossils with a book about them included

- she recently got a 3d coloring kit for her birthday and this was a big hit with her friend group.
posted by centrifugal at 3:16 PM on November 19 [1 favorite]

Mod note: [Ooh, this is useful! We've updated the Ask Me gift question list on the sidebar and Best Of blog to include it – sorry we somehow missed it on the first go 'round!]
posted by taz (staff) at 1:30 AM on November 26 [1 favorite]