Nine year-olds have a lot going on. Their interests are deepening, as are their athletic skill, social awareness, and mental acuity. Also, sense of humor. In short, they’re becoming legit little humans, and the stuff that’ll make them happiest reflects that.
For goofy class clowns, seekers of obscure information, and those for whom growing up holds precious little appeal (show of hands?), this book will provide hours of entertainment with such gems as How to Hang a Spoon From Your Nose, The World’s Easiest Card Trick, and Alien Abduction Dos and Donts (because the last thing you want to do whilst captured by an alien life form is commit an inadvertent faux pas).
Nothing says (noun) like this (adjective) word game. The classics never go out of style, and this deluxe, 50-year-anniversary mega Mad Libs edition will have kids of all ages (verb ending in –ing) their (body part, plural) off.
Dance fiends, spotlight seekers, and the nervous energy-afflicted alike can hone their moves to more than 40 awesome dance tunes, while parents can use the Just Sweat mode to stealthily sneak in a workout. And rug-cutters of all ages can come together to indulge their competitive streaks in a dance-off.
When there’s an aspiring Top Chef in the house, parents can put ‘em to work. Yes, there’s a little mess, but the payoff is an outsourced dinner! This cookbook includes more than 50 recipes tailored to the abilities and tastes of kids, although, let’s be honest: if someone else is doing the cooking, what grown-up will complain about popcorn chicken?
What better way to pass the time on an interminable bus ride than to spend it fantasizing about fancier wheels? This card game, which comes in a sweet carrying case, is a fun way to learn random facts about cars, and offers plenty of categories over which to compete. For a more substantial gift, style the kiddo out with several sets—other varieties include Predators, Space, and Wonders of the World.
Whether used for the homework-help timer, or covertly clipped onto the pages of Goblet of Fire, this digital book light, which comes in several cool designs, is the perfect companion. And with a session timer that automatically shuts the light off, parents will rest assured that even the most ardent late-night readers will know when to say when. (Or at least will be out of luck when it’s lights out.)
There’s no such thing as having too many cute jammies, and these sweet, fuzzy shorts are as cozy as it gets. They come in a ton of different patterns and themes, making finding the perfect pair a cinch—even if you don’t know the birthday girl that well. Score. (Pro tip: size 7-8 will fit most 9 year-olds.)
Picture it: You’re nine. Your friends come for a sleepover. You bust out this kit, sit back and watch your friends’ eyes alight as they dissolve into squeals. Make your own bath bombs?! Your own makeup and body scrubs?! You, nine-year-old self, have won.
Enjoying that fantasy? Who wouldn’t.
Be gone, backpack! For sleepovers and overnights with the traveling team, a kid’s gotta have a sweet weekend bag to go with. This adorable duffel makes packing something to look forward to.
Adventure and mythology fans won’t be able to put down these best-selling tales of gods and monsters—but fortunately, the five-book set means it’ll last… a little while, anyway. Witty, fast-paced, and tear-jerking, there’s a reason Rick Riordan’s stories keep readers coming back for more.
Wanna keep the kids outside, entertained, and running off all that energy they get from who-knows-where after the sun goes down? Few games are more perfect.
There are action figures, and then there are ROBLOX action figures—where the surprise and variety are kind of the point. Each set includes three random figures from the 150-figure-strong collection, mix and match parts, plus a virtual item code. For kids who are into collecting, Roblox figures are a serious treat.
All things flip sequin, like a backpack.
You know what they say about bright, shiny objects. Flip sequins are the it-bling of the moment, and why shouldn’t they be? They add flair and sparkle to anything, and their flip-ability makes them easily personalized (not to mention the perfect foil for fidgety fingers).
