What are the best gifts for an 8-year-old boy? I’m looking for a big gift, in the $50-$100 range. —CMP reader, via Twitter
Oh, you mean the kind of gift that makes a child pause while unwrapping, shout out with glee, and rush over to give you a big hug? Well, small gifts can do that too, but on the splurgier side, here are some of our favorites according to our own sons — and by the way, according to our daughters, all these cool kids’ gifts would be great for girls, too. Just note we stayed away from video games and accessories, though you can find plenty of ideas for those on Cool Mom Tech.
For even more amazing ideas, be sure to check out the coolest gifts for tween boys on our 2016 holiday gift guide! (And yes, girls like those too.)
SKATEBOARDS AND ATHLETIC GEAR
If I were a cool little 8-year-old, I would be psyched to find a rad, colorful Penny Skateboard like this under the tree. You may want to add some pads and a helmet too. ($100, Penny Skateboards)
If skateboarding isn’t his thing, consider roller blades, an upgrade to a top-quality youth baseball glove (this one at Sports Authority, on sale for $69.99), game-quality soccer ball, or any other gift that plays into his athletic interests.
Related: More cool gifts for 8 year-olds
OUTDOOR TOYS
If you have a backyard, eight is the age where he’s probably outgrown the swingset he may have loved a few years ago. This Round-and-Round Nylon Rope Outdoor Tree Swing looks like so much fun, I’m pretty sure my kids would collapse out of it, one by one, in a dizzy heap after spinning and spinning. But I also love that this could be a comfy place to hang out on a warm summer day. ($99, Hearthsong)
Great for balance but, more importantly, for fun outdoor play, Slackers Slackline Classic Series Kit makes it so easy to set up a slackline in your backyard. With the “teaching line” above, even the wobbliest person will make it across and, with practice, kids can learn to do some cool moves. ($79.99)
Related: More than 200 gift ideas in the Cool Mom Picks Holiday Gift Guide
If they’d rather be zipping, check out Slackers 40′ Zipline kit which comes with a removable seat for easier use by younger kids. And with a weight limit of 250 pounds, even us grownups can get in on the fun. ($79.99)
SCIENCE KITS
We have a few Snap Circuits kits here that my son adores, and their latest release, Snap Circuits Light, would make him light up too. I love how many projects they can build with this kit (175 projects!) and how sturdy it is, even with enthusiastic kids manhandling it. ($79.99 at Elenco shop)
Just about the best things coming in small packages are from littleBits, which will get your son working with circuits with just a few magnetic clicks. Super easy to use, but with lots of room for creativity (littleBits base kit $74 from our Amazon affiliate). We also always find plenty of fun options for kits that develop science, engineering, and building interests at the wonderful shop, Fat Brain Toys.
One very cool toy with real functionality is this DIY Bigshot Camera which not only teaches kids about the parts of a camera, it leaves them with a totally usable digital camera when they are finished putting it together. We also love how this company has pledged to help underserved communities around the world by donating camera kits to kids. ($99)
Related: 12 cool STEM gifts for girls and boys
BUILDING SETS
My son will happily accept any LEGO set that comes his way, but this Hobbit LEGO building kit, Dol Guldur Battle, is especially timely with the second movie just released. With almost 800 pieces and including six minifigs, this would keep at least one of my kids quietly occupied for a long time on Christmas Day. Probably longer, considering his sisters will jump in too. Just be aware that LEGO retires hot franchise sets like this, and then they cost a fortune on eBay or through Amazon resellers. So grab it now while you can. ($69.99, LEGO store)
A fun LEGO alternative are Citiblocs, little rectangular pieces of wood that can be made into some cool things, and I especially like their newer “cool colors” building set of blue, turquoise, dark green, and lime green. ($50.99)
BIG KID ART SETS
We love indulging our boys’ creative spirits, and for the future artists of the world, this 166-piece art set will have his eyes opening extra wide when he unwraps it ($74.95, Met Museum Store). With acrylic paints, oil pastels, watercolors, colored pencils, sketch sheets, brushes, and more, this is one that he will really have to take care of like a “big kid.”
You might also add in a gift membership to a favorite local museum — and a first visit with you. The gift of time is always a great one.
Related: The coolest gifts for tweens and big kids
COOL TOYS AND GAMES
Chess is such a cool strategy game for kids to learn, and when you combine it with Star Wars, as in this Star Wars Chess Set, you are bound to get a BIG reaction from movie fans. Thank goodness C3PO is paired with R2D2 since we all know that no chess piece spins around in circles. ($64.11 when this post was originally written in 2013; now $89.99 in 2015)
It doesn’t have to be played on a screen to be absolutely captivating, but this next-generation radio-controlled car is actually an iPod or iPhone controlled Ferrari Enzo, so he may have to borrow your iOS device. If he loves cars, this is a pretty wow-invoking gift. Download the free app — which looks like an actually Ferrari dash — and he can just tilt the device to control the car. ($73 on sale at Amazon via Wayfair)
GREAT STORIES
There are so many fantastic book series for 8-year-old boys that choosing great books depends on his interests, of course. But we’d start with the series that still has kids staying up all night reading under their covers: The Complete Boxed Set of Harry Potter, in easy-to-carry paperback, will have him dreaming of Quidditch, Boggarts, and all the wonderful things from the world of Hogwarts ($49.59, Amazon). You can of course splurge on the hardcover set too, which will about double the price. But it’s a keeper he’ll probably save for his own kids one day.
My 8-year-old nephew gets starry-eyed when he starts to talk about the Percy Jackson series, and I know he’d adore getting the entire series in hardcover for his bookshelf.
Another cool option: a monthly book subscription from Zoobean around the topics and themes that interest him. ($60/6 months of paperbacks, $98 for hardcover- get 50% off the first month with code COOLZOOBEAN) {EDITED TO ADD: Zoobean is currently not taking on any new subscribers; instead consider Kindle Unlimited.}
Want it in time for Christmas? Read all delivery schedules carefully; some products may require expedited shipping charges.
For more awesome gift ideas for 8-year olds (and kids of all ages, actually), check out our Ultimate Birthday Party Gift guide.
Also check out the coolest gifts for tween boys on our 2016 holiday gift guide
My DAUGHTER would love every single one of these gifts! I know the person asked for gifts for a boy, but it’s so frustrating to see it asked and answered in that way.
You people are so sensitive. Had she had nail polish and dress up clothes on there for a girl, you would not be complaining about gender equality. I searched for a list of BOYS toys and this is what came up. The fact she included girls in some of the post shows she KNOWS some of these items can be for girls.
MY 9 YEAR OLD would love every single one of these gifts! I know the person asked for gifts for an 8 year old, but it’s so frustrating to see it asked and answered in that way.
Hi Sharon, We do try to answer our questions as they are asked, but we are in total agreement with you that these are GREAT gifts for a boy OR girl. We even included the statement “and by the way, according to our daughters, all these cool kids’ gifts would be great for girls, too.”
In fact, my girls gave me the thumbs up on all these picks!
Please please put the word ‘girl’ in the title of this article. Don’t say ‘by the way’ it’s great for girls too. Girls have been ‘by the way’ for way too long.
I love your site, I just want girls to be front and centre like the boys have been for so long.
Judi, I think I love you for this.
We always always always acknowledge the gender neutrality of toys. However in this case, a reader specifically asked us for gift ideas for an 8 year old boy…and so we answered her. If you have any questions we can answer yours too. We love helping our readers.
Hi, Just wanted to say great article! I’m not sure what the reader above is talking about, as I found this article by googling new toys for boys… Hence the boy-driven article.
It was asked about an 8 year old boy. They answered a question as asked
Quite right, I have complained in toy shops because the gardener sets are in the boys section I was told, it’s so people know where to look do we really need gender specific toys? There are still doctor’s sets and vet’s sets in the toys section, despite there being more women than men at medical and vet school
People need to get over the boy/girl thing. Some girls like to play with toys that appeal to boys and some do not. It’s OK to look for gender specific toys. I agree that a lot of girls would like some of these awesome picks but you shouldn’t hassle the guy who put this list together. I for one thank him and plan to purchase the zip line for my grandson, knowing my granddaughter will love it to. Thanks again for put this together. Love, love, love it.
Thanks Shannon! But don’t assume a guy put it together. Christina is all woman, last we checked…
I am thinking another great gift option would be a remote-controlled car. Does anyone have any suggestions for a highly-rated one that would be good for a boy OR a girl? I saw the iphone-controlled one, but would prefer one with a remote. Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth,
We love Snap Circuits (shown above) and their Deluxe Snap Rover looks pretty cool and fun to build as well as use. It’s on my son’s wish list for this holiday season. I also like the looks of Thames & Kosmos’ Remote Control Machines. Finally, I’ve always liked the looks of Morphibians remote-controlled vehicles and think they could be fun for younger kids who don’t want to have to build their toy first.
Thank you for the suggestions!
Thank you for the great ideas! I’ve got two boys that would love all of the items you listed. It was nice to find a list taylored to boys.
Thanks for the list of BOY toys!!! I have two boys and they would love all of them.
The Star Wars Chess set is $89 at Amazon. Could it have gone up that much since this article was written?
Thank you so much Christina!! Each of my boys would love all that you posted, this really helps me for their birthdays coming up. Thank you again!
Thank You All, for your comments,I have 3 grand sons and all are good picks
Thank you for making a list of toys that a boy may like. Not every list on the internet has to be for both boys and girls.
Interested in gifts for teenage girls and boys under 12!
Try this Judy: https://coolmompicks.com/ultimate-birthday-party-gift-guide/coolest-birthday-gifts-for-tweens-and-big-kids/