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Forbes
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The 20 Best Gifts For 9-Year-Olds That Capture That Young Tween Spirit
The best gifts for 9-year-olds straddle a fine line. Nine-year-old kids are certainly growing up—but they are, in fact, still kids. Their tastes and styles are maturing on the way to teendom, but your 9-year-old is probably still, at times, pretty goofy. 'What's really interesting about tweens is they're kind of in a liminal space in that they are still children, but they also want to be more mature,' says Brenna Hicks, a therapist with 20 years of experience and founder of the Kid Counselor Center, a play therapy center for kids and families in Tampa. 'So they kind of wrestle within themselves because their instinct is still to play, yet they want to think that they're too old to play. If there's any resistance toward playing, it's actually from within.' Even 9-year-olds will love these fun and age-appropriate treats. At Casey Sartain's Tutoring Toy store in Salt Lake City, however, plenty of tweens are shopping Lego, games, Pokémon, Jellycat, slime, mini collectibles, balls and other sports activities. After speaking with Hicks, Sartain and other kid play experts, as well as considering what my own tweens prefer to unwrap at gift time, I assembled this list of the best gifts for 9-year-olds. Amazon Enjoy six colors, scents and types of Play-Doh slime in this variety pack. Each one is unique—including foam, butter, super-stretchy and cloud. Your little slime fan can stretch, squish and knead each one before settling on their favorite. They all smell delicious, though I'm partial to the strawberry-scented cloud slime. When speaking with Kerri Adams and Christina Eromenok, the founders of family therapy center Love Play Grow in New Jersey, both say that many tweens and teens are drawn to slime or another tactile sensory item during play therapy—and that when they have something in their hands, it's not only potentially calming to them, they just may be more willing to talk to you. Amazon If they haven't yet picked up the first book in the epic Harry Potter series—The Sorcerer's Stone—a gift of the complete collection promises them months of exciting reading ahead. The first three books are generally considered age-appropriate for ages 8 and up while book four starts to take a slightly more mature (and scarier) turn, so you might hold onto the rest of the collection for them to finish closer to age 10 to 12, depending on your child's tolerance. Amazon The iScream soft fleece pajama pants come in plenty of eye-catching designs from donuts to basketballs to these cheery smiley faces, all ideal for showing off to their friends. Whether they wear these for lazy weekend mornings or to school, they're sure to appreciate both the comfort level and the conversations they spark. Amazon This trio of stretchy Funkee Monkees are sure to elicit plenty of giggles from your 9-year-old, and why not? These guys are funny. They're just about 4-inches tall, so kids can easily hold them in their hands, pulling and stretching their hair and limbs for a little stress relief whether in the form of laughter or just through the fidget toy. Amazon While tweens might view some toys as 'babyish,' especially as they experience those natural hormonal shifts, says Adams, they are often happy to pick up an activity kit—especially if it appeals to their budding interests like this bracelet kit for the kid into fashion and accessorizing. Amazon Love Play Grow recommends this cheeky game as a guaranteed way to get parents and kids laughing together. Plus, it's easy to learn how to play and super silly. 'Kids will love playing a silly card game about butts with their parents, and it's sure to bring lots of laughs,' they say. Amazon A fresh new soccer ball makes a great gift for your 9-year-old footballer. These brightly hued Adidas balls are a popular and solid pick, and you'll want size four for this age level. Eromenok says this is the perfect age to nurture those new interests and build on existing skills with something like a new sport. She explains: 'What we typically see at this stage is kids are shifting away from pretend play and more toward, 'What can I do?' and 'What am I really good at?' and 'What am I interested in?'" That means tweens will gravitate towards new experiential things that they can try out or, as Eromenok says, "skills that they can develop, or ways that they can really hone interests of theirs.' Amazon Plenty of tweens continue to snuggle and seem to crave comfort and all things cozy. These adorable Squishmallow slippers are the perfect pairing of plush cushiness and their seeking out of all things adorable and cute. Amazon This fast moving two-player table game is easily enjoyed by the whole gang. You play one-handed, moving your striker toward the ball, trying to score a goal on your opponent—but watch out, there are plenty of little challenges along the way like the magnetic 'biscuits.' It's a Danish-designed tabletop game popular in Nordic countries that's easy to pick up and move to wherever the kids want to play. My kids, ages 6 to 12, enjoy playing many a rowdy round together with our set and I appreciate that it's easy for any age to pick up the rules right away. Amazon This new video game cube gets them off the couch with interactive games the whole family can play together. It has plenty of fun favorites like Fruit Ninja but also familiar characters that can appeal to both younger and older siblings, from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Kung Fu Panda to Peppa Pig and Miraculous Ladybug. It's unlikely to distract the kid who already has a Nintendo Switch or a PlayStation 5, but it does offer a fun alternative for younger kids, and I've watched a multi-age group of kids, including 9-year-olds, laugh their way through a round with their Nex Playground. Amazon At this age, your Lego fan is ready for more complex building challenges like this playable (and displayable) Lego Friends Friendship Tree House Hangout. It comes with around 700 pieces, four minifigures, animal figurines and plenty of interesting details like a slide and workbench. My oldest daughter has a similar Lego Friends tree house set that she built around this age, and it was a highlight of her birthday that year. Amazon These oversized wearable blankets remain super popular with tweens and teens. They can throw them on to snuggle into the couch for family movie night, or just when they need an extra dose of comfort at home or during school. The thick fleece lining is extra soft and the hood offers them a way to escape when they need a moment. My kids also love the oversize front pocket for keeping their hands warm or just carrying around their essentials. Amazon A quiet game of chess can both boost your child's strategic thinking and offer an opportunity to chat with them. My kids really took to chess around this age, and I have to recommend making sure you select a magnetic board to keep all the pieces from scattering each time someone bumps the coffee table. 'Studies have shown that if the hands are occupied, your inhibitions are lessened,' adds Hicks, who often incorporates games into play therapy with kids and tweens. 'It really doesn't matter what it is. They can squeeze a squish ball, they can doodle, they can do a puzzle, they can play Uno. If their hands are actively doing something, they're more likely to feel comfortable having conversations and they're going to naturally feel more at ease versus not having anything to do.' Amazon This journaling set comes with everything they need to write down all the new thoughts swirling around their head. It's also an elevated crafting kit allowing them to customize their journal and notes with the included stickers, sayings and frames. It comes with a 70-sheet journal and dozens of additional stationary supplies to embellish it. Amazon From the makers of Exploding Kittens, this word game is a little bit like a verbal charades challenge—except to win, you can't speak in full, grammatically correct sentences. It's a lot of fun and easy for kids to pick up. (I always appreciate a game that doesn't come with a lengthy set of directions to digest.) My 10-year-old and I were giggling our way through this one speaking in mono-syllabic incomplete sentences to get the other player to guess what the heck we were trying to describe. Amazon This handheld brain teaser from Educational Insights was a big hit with my 9-year-old last holiday season. Try to follow the light sequence and then repeat it back, but watch out: The challenges get harder and harder. I like that this feels a bit like a video game (but without the screen), that it's challenging him intellectually and that it is portable—but I also love that my kid thinks it's fun! Amazon If they already have a bike and their scooter suddenly feels too young, consider a pair of skates. You might be surprised at how quickly they pick it up. Crazy Skates makes both inline and traditional roller skates aimed at beginners and with styles designed to appeal to both boys and girls. Given that their feet are still growing so fast, I definitely recommend purchasing an adjustable pair like this one. Amazon If there's one thing that really helped my older kids' reading take off (once they had progressed to a certain proficiency thanks to their tireless teachers, of course), it was giving them each a Kindle. Now, when I tuck them into bed each night, they often barely lift their eyes from the book they're reading on it. Yes, they do sometimes still read physical books. But the portability of the Kindle Kids—along with its dimmable, anti-glare screen, the ability to look up words they don't know right on the page and the wide availability of every book they've ever wanted to read—is hard to beat. Amazon For the Pokémon fans in the crowd, this just released Journey Together bundle is a coveted get, says Sartain of Tutoring Toy where Pokémon remains one of his best sellers. It includes six booster packs and 180 cards to celebrate the trainer and Pokémon friendship. You can find it in-store at independent shops and places like GameStop, too. Amazon Sartain says the Lego Speed Champions series, especially the Ferrari, remains the hottest selling Lego sets for boys of this age. And it's easy to see why. My 10-year-old son put this model together without any problems, adding it to his growing collection of Lego cars. Anything F1 related is also popular with this group, he says, especially with the new Brad Pitt movie due out this summer. Forbes Vetted editors and writers produce numerous gift guides throughout the year, and its baby and kids gear team research and write all gifting stories for babies, kids and teens, including this one. The baby and kids gear team is steeped in testing and reviewing children's products, including toys and gifts, and have nearly 40 years of parenting experience between them, so they've seen a lot of kids play with a lot of toys and unwrap a lot of gifts over those decades. While they might be asking you for Uggs, lip gloss and a new pair of Jordans, experts assure us that your 9-year-old still very much wants—and needs—to play, in order to further their development. 'We know that kids don't develop abstract reasoning until 12 or 13,' explains Hicks. 'So until they cross that threshold into full teenage years, they still experience the world and make sense of the world through their emotions and through their play.' Toys, games, activity and craft kits, sensory and tactile items and sports gear are all good playthings that can be fun for 9-year-olds as they grow.
Forbes
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
25 Of Our Favorite Easter Basket Ideas For Teens
Even if they've outgrown the Easter bunny, you can still treat your teens to an Easter basket stocked with personalized gifts. Although it might seem surprising, the treats they're craving aren't only of the beauty and tech variety. Incorporating some playful items, games and activity sets might be better received by your teen than you're expecting, says Brenna Hicks, a play therapist with 20 years of experience. 'We're all hardwired to need play in our lives,' she says—and playtime can offer a whole host of benefits from reduced stress and anxiety levels to stronger family bonds. After speaking to Hicks, as well as other experts in gifting, tweens and teens and attending multiple toy and gift trade shoes in the last few months, I selected these top Easter basket ideas for teens in 2025. Create a tempting display of treats with these can't miss Easter basket ideas for teens. Hicks says she still organizes an egg hunt every year for her 15-year-old son. 'I think you capitalize on just having fun with your teen, number one,' she says. Although teens—and tweens—shift away from little kid imaginary play and 'more toward activity-based' play and items, you can still find plenty of toy-like fun to fill their baskets. Hicks plans to add a Rubik's Cube, favorite candies and something related to her teen's passion for baseball into his basket. 'Give something that you know your teenager likes, that they care about, and try to make it playful or interactive in some way.' It's through play that 'kids make sense of their world,' and when kids and teens have the space for play, they feel better, she says. Plus, it's often during play that teens and caregivers find ways to reconnect and laugh together. Amazon Games remain hot with tweens and teens, including boys, says Casey Sartain, owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, including Uno Show 'Em No Mercy. My own tweens love this version of Uno that moves a lot faster and ups the challenge for older kids with essentially more types of wild cards—and more painful ones like a draw 10. Hicks also points out that teens are more likely to open up to you, talk and connect when playing a game with you or just keeping their hands busy. 'They can squeeze a squish ball, they can doodle, they can do a puzzle, they can play Uno,' she says. 'It doesn't really matter what it is, but if their hands are actively doing something, they're more likely to feel comfortable dialoguing.' Amazon Slime is irresistible to kids, even teens. Customizable slimes or those with mix-ins are popular at Tutoring Toy among older kids. Similarly, the tweens and teens that attend therapy or family therapy at Love Play Grow in New Jersey most often pick up slime, a creative activity or another tactile sensory item, say its therapist founders Kerri Adams and Christina Eromenok. 'They love slime, but expensive slime,' says Eromenok, who recommended this Dope Slime brand, along with Kawaii Slime. 'I think a lot of families have a hard time remembering just how much stress teens are under. Socially there are so many challenges, and they put so much pressure on themselves to perform. So teens are under an immense amount of pressure, and those sensory experiences are all about stress relief and relaxation for them, because they have very few opportunities for that.' The Paper Store If there's one brand that everyone referenced when it came to teens, it was Jellycat. While many teen shoppers gravitate toward the brand's quirky food and drink Amuseables (including the eggs this year), the animal plush also frequently sell out explains Shannon Collins, marketing and social media director at Tutoring Toy. Capybaras are also having a bit of a moment, and this furry little face of Clyde is pretty hard to turn away from without a giggle or a smile. Hook him onto their keychain or bag—and he'll be there at all times to provide a little comfort and comedic relief. That's part of the appeal of Jellycat, say the Love Play Grow therapists who note that the brand's unique characters provide unexpected humor and nurturing for teens. 'We know teens need comfort more than they let on, and Jellycat characters are a great way to provide that in a non-threatening way.' Rhode For teens who enjoy experimenting with beauty and skincare items, they'll likely swoon to receive this essential cheek and lip duo from model and influencer Hailey Bieber's beloved skincare company Rhode—and they're sure to work it into their 'Get Ready With Me' (#GRWM) routine. It's available in six duos but waitlist requests are a bit frequent at Rhode I've noticed, so snag their preferred tint while you can. Amazon Customization remains huge with tweens and teens, says Collins, and they're adding charms to everything, from their phones to their shoelaces. This phone charm comes in more than two dozen styles, so they can find the one that suits them best. Amazon 'Teens love LED lights,' says Adams. 'A simple way to make that playful is you actually have a color code for what each color led light means and how that represents the team. So brown is poop, blue is sad today, red is crazy, and pink is like, 'Welcome. Come on in.'' I bought this LED strip for my tween after she begged for a set, and she does enjoy alternating the colors to suit her mood. They were relatively painless to install with the sticky adhesive backing. Nike Restock their sock collection with one of teens' favorite brands—just make sure they're crew and not ankle height. This six-pack of cushioned Nike socks are available in a rainbow of colors just right for spring, but your teen likely just wants black or white. Amazon Gift them their very own Sonny Angel, one of the most popular collectibles among the tween and teen girl population. The Hippers version hangs on their phone or wherever they place them, flashing the figure's naked baby booty—all the better for showing it off. If you want to really wow them, grab one of the latest releases in the series directly from Sonny Angel site. There's a new cherry blossom series release coming this spring, as well as new Smiski series, another popular Japan-grown collectible. Keep in mind that it's typically one figure per box, and it is a blind box, so you can't control which new collectible they'll receive—of course, that's all part of the fun for a generation who grew up on surprise packs and toy unboxing videos. PacSun Help them get ready for swim season with a new set of trunks. This Quiksilver pair offers a full mesh lining, side pockets and a back one, actual adjustable drawstrings and a comfortable 7-inch inseam. Like Hicks, I also find that my tweens still enjoy an egg hunt, and I plan to keep it going as long as we can. I do stuff those plastic eggs full of candy, but I also like to add a couple of eye-catching, larger treats to their baskets. Select a treat that they like best, of course, like this cute funnel of milk chocolates (it also comes in a Reese's Pieces peanut butter, carrot-shaped option). A solid milk chocolate bunny is another way to go, or if you've got a non-chocolate loving kid, a giant egg of Skittles or a pretty Peeps marshmallow stick are fitting choices for the holiday, too. Amazon My tweens love the solo puzzle game Kanoodle, and I love to see them working hard at it with their hands: building and rebuilding in order to solve each challenge. The Kanoodle Extreme offers three types of puzzle challenges and more than 300 individual puzzles in one box. The Love Play Grow therapists also recommend Kanoodle as a great way for teens to 'practice mistake making, not knowing and perseverance.' Fanatics Scoop up a fresh jersey, kit, hat or tee of their favorite home team, so they can represent them all spring and summer season long. Fanatics carries it all—like this Los Angeles Dodgers World Series commemoration hat in the famed Dodgers' blue. Amazon Made popular by the aforementioned Bieber, the phone lip gloss holder is suddenly an essential accessory for those teens who really take pride in and identify with their personal brand and look. This Case-Mate accessory snaps right on to Mag-Safe phone cases, or they can peel and stick it to a case. Walmart Many teens gravitate toward squishy things or tactile items to fidget with, and the NeeDoh line has a particularly satisfying squish. This Nice cube is a little bit more firm and requires you to press it harder, which the Love Play Grow therapy team especially likes for teens. 'Trust us, we've tried all of the fidgets around and NeeDoh ones are the best,' they told me. 'A fan favorite is the Nice Cube. Teens have a lot of stress to squish out!' Amazon This kit in cute giftable packaging comes with everything your budding crafter needs to learn to crochet. The Woobles patterns are particularly playful and kid-friendly, available in a variety of cute and quirky animals and objects. They come with a pre-started piece and plenty of online tutorials. It's a great activity to do together or for them to learn solo during downtime. I've gifted a number of these over the years and my artsy tween has enjoyed making them. Amazon I love to give flip-flops, sandals or slides in my kids' Easter baskets, and I know a lot of other parents have told me they do too, along with other spring and summer essentials. These Crocs Mellow Recovery slides provide that cloud-like plush cushion under their foot that so many comfort-craving teens prefer year-round, not just on recovery days. The price is a bit more teen-centric than some other adult recovery slides, and it's a beloved brand among kids of all ages. Owala In case you didn't know, Owala water bottles have taken over with the backpack crowd. Personally, I also love the two-ways-to-drink model of the Owala FreeSip and have found my tween's bottle to be leak-free, though it takes an extra firm hand to close the lid. This pretty yellow would look great in a basket and keep them hydrated through spring sports season. There are dozens of colorways to choose from and new shades dropping all the time, so select the one that speaks most to your teen's aesthetic. Amazon Whatever their sport, now is the season to spoil them with a new bat, ball, a fresh set of cleats—or just a whole new hobby. Just as you tucked sidewalk chalk and bubbles into their baskets when they were little, add something that's big kid ready to get them outdoors this spring. This pickleball set is among our favorites, and it arrives with everything a family or a group of their pals needs to get started, including four paddles and balls. Urban Outfitters Rollers are back, but today's teens are not interested in messing with the painful, pinch-y rollers of the past or suffering through heat damage. Instead, they're smartly gravitating to heatless, often satin 'pillow rollers' that can be left in overnight with a lot less fuss and pain. This pretty Glov Coolcurl set includes four satin curlers that promise voluminous curls. Amazon Teens love miniatures and gravitate toward nostalgia—even for eras well before their birth. These mini retro arcade games are actually playable and come in full color. It also fits right in their hand. Sure they can play any game on their phone, but the mini version is so much cuter and can be played even when phones aren't allowed. My tween son has a keychain version that's quite popular among his friends, too. REI This lightweight pair of polarized sunglasses offer excellent protection from the sun with UV400, blocking both UVA and UVB rays. They fit well and comfortably with glare-reducing, polarized lenses, so they can wear them to all their many sports activities and hang this spring and summer. Baggu Miffy is back—and trending with teens and young adults. You can find Miffy plush again, clothing and even pimple patches. This Miffy print Baggu case for earbuds can be a sweet pick-me-up as they reach for their music, and of course is on-theme for Easter. Amazon If you have a crafty teen on your hands, this terrarium kit from STMT has everything they need to create a mini hanging plant feature for their room. With multiple colored rock and sand options, they can design it so it feels right to them. My kids have enjoyed multiple STMT sets in the past, including its jewelry-making kits. I think the company does a really nice job of bringing some more elevated activity sets to kids of a variety of ages—especially tween and teen girls. Adams at Love Play Grow loves terrarium and other slower-paced activity kits for teens. 'While teens pretend that they hate to play, they actually love to play,' she says. 'Their materials just look different. So it could be stacking stones, it could be those tiny terrariums.' Amazon If you've noticed that your teen gravitates toward all things soft and cozy, you're not alone. They seem to crave comfort and security—and today's teens love positive affirmations, which is maybe why smiley slippers like these were trending all holiday season on TikTok. Keep your teen smiling and their toes warm with their very own pair. Amazon Another fun stress reliever that comes in Easter-ready hues, Speks Crags Ferrite Putty feels calming in your hand. They're magnetic and stone-like, so teens can shift them back and forth in their palms, roll them between their fingers and otherwise play with this big-kid (ages 14 and up) fidget toy. They feel cool to the touch, have a bit of weight and some people even like the sound they make. Love Play Grow says these are 'another great anxiety reliever that your teens will appreciate.' The Forbes Vetted editorial team has researched and published dozens of gift guides, including those for kids and teens. We aim to recommend the highest-quality picks and also those that our editors love and have tested themselves as often as possible.
