The Best Gifts For 9-Year-Olds

Franklin Sports Quikset Air Hockey Table

Most air hockey tables are great in theory, but in reality they're big eyesores that no parent wants sitting out at home. Franklin Sports has developed a solution that is sure to please parents and kids this year! The Franklin Sports Quikset Air Hockey Table ($200) is a full-size air hockey table that folds virtually flat for storage in mere seconds — meaning it can easily be stored when not in use! Told you it would be crowd-pleaser!

1 / 28

Ivivva Stellar Switch Up Jacket

The athleisure trend has not been lost on the almost-tween set and Ivivva, Lululemon's little sister, has mastered the look. The Perfect Your Practice Jacket
($78) is not only functional (it's moisture wicking and has great thumbholes to keep sleeves in place), but it's adorable too!

2 / 28

Perplexus Epic

If your child has mastered the original Perplexus, it may be time to bring on the Perplexus Epic ($31). The 3D puzzle version of the game now has players maneuvering the ball through 125 barriers to reach the end!

3 / 28

ThumbsUp Gummy Bear Chair

What could be more fun than an inflatable Gummy Bear Chair ($40)? Nothing!

4 / 28

Star Wars Death Star Bluetooth Speaker

Star Wars fans will have a blast with this Star Wars Death Star Bluetooth Speaker ($48) — it lights up in the dark.

5 / 28

Emily + Meritt Bluetooth Bunny Speaker

Music sounds so much cooler when it is coming from this Bluetooth Bunny Speaker ($69) designed by Emily + Meritt.

6 / 28

Biiofit Driftboard Electronic Scooter With LED Lights

Marty McFly may have predicted that we'd all be riding on hoverboards in 2015 in Back to the Future, and he might be right. There are a number of brands out there, but it's the Driftboard ($291) that has everyone talking. Popular in skate parks, middle school playgrounds, and even on the streets of NYC, these smart, two-wheeled electronic scooters can easily transport you from here to there — that is, if you can get your hands on them! They're sold out almost everywhere!

7 / 28

The Emily + Meritt Wish Box

Every girl needs a place to put her special jewelry and treasured tchotchkes, and that 's just what the PB Kids Emily + Meritt Wish Box ($59) is. Part of the beautiful Emily + Merritt capsule collection, the antique-style box makes a beautiful addition to a little girl's room.

8 / 28

Tinker Crate

Kiwi Crate will enter the STEM education genre with the introduction of the Tinker Crate ($17) for kids ages 9 to 14. These boxes are filled with projects that encourage problem-solving skills while kids create things like trebuchets and motors following step-by-step (and age-appropriate) instructions. While the projects sound complicated, they're anything but! They're designed to build confidence and encourage kids without frustrating them. Each month, a box will arrive with all of the materials kids need to complete the project and a blueprint for getting there. An accompanying magazine, called Tinker Zine, features cartoon strips, science-based stories, and additional activities kids can do with their completed projects. And should they get stuck while building their creation, there's a toll-free number they can call for help!

9 / 28

littleBits Electronics Gizmos and Gadgets Kit

We've been fans of littleBits for a while now, but the latest set is one that you'll want to add to your little ones' holiday lists ASAP. The littleBits Electronics Gizmos and Gadgets Kit ($200) is an exciting way to encourage little kids' interest in electronics. The new Lego-like kits come with 15 electronic blocks and extra parts like wheels, stickers, and more — everything kids need to make 12 projects from bubble machines and a spy box to remote control cars. And we mean everything, including the 9-volt battery! Along the way, the little inventors learn a thing or two about electronics without ever feeling like they're playing with an educational toy (not that there's anything wrong with those!). If your child has ever expressed interest in building and creating, this is a toy worth saving for!

10 / 28

Wilson X Connected Basketball

If you thought basketball was just about a ball and a hoop, we're here to give you a little education. The Wilson X Connected Basketball ($200) is the world's first smart basketball. Without using any wires, the ball tracks baskets, misses, field goal percentages, and shot ranges when used in conjunction with the Wilson X app. When not paired with the app, the ball works just like your average game ball — but once you can figure out exactly where you should be standing to sink your shot, you'll never want to go back to an average ball!

11 / 28

Kitsch 10 Piece Mix and Match Studs

Have a child in your life who just can't make up her mind? Kitsch's 10 Piece Mix and Match Studs provides plenty of options to keep her happy!

12 / 28

Lego Minecraft The Mine

Minecraft-lovers will have a blast with The Mine Lego set ($92). It has 922 pieces as well as Steve and a skeleton, zombie, spider and a Creeper.

13 / 28

100% Gumdrop Necklaces

Designed in New York and made in the USA, 100% Gumdrop necklaces ($40) are made from stainless steel and dipped in 14-karat gold. Pick from a variety of fun words — from nicknames to smartypants comments — for her daisy chain!

14 / 28

Manchester United Sleeping Bag

Sleepovers are a lot more fun when his sleeping bag shows off his soccer allegiance. The Manchester United Sleeping Bag ($70) is not only great for overnights at his friends' homes, but for camping trips as well!

15 / 28

eKids Marvel Avengers Captain America Rechargeable Character Speaker

Your big kid will love grooving to the music with these adorable rechargeable speakers. The eKids Marvel Avengers Captain America Rechargeable Character Speaker ($28) comes in several different styles — think Mickey and Minnie, superheroes, turtles, and more — to help him share his tunes with family and friends.

16 / 28

Nike KD Hyper Elite Basketball Socks

If you've spent any time on the playground this year, you know that Kevin Durrant's Nike KD Hyper Elite Basketball socks ($20) are all the rage — even if your child can't dunk quite yet.

17 / 28

Top Trenz Wink Tongue Emoji Pillow

Sometimes it feels like emoji were created just for kids — it's the only way they communicate! Top Trenz's Wink Tongue Emoji Pillow ($17) will be hit on your child's bed, or as the star of their selfies!

18 / 28

Furlicious Eco Lounger

A step up from the kids' chairs that little ones get when they're born, this Furlicious Eco Lounger ($239-$289) is the ultimate spot for kids to sit and read a book or just listen to some music.

19 / 28

Electronic Dictionary Bookmark

For the little reader in your life, the Electronic Dictionary Bookmark ($40) is the perfect gift to keep her immersed in her books. It's super slim so it can serve as a legitimate bookmark, and it helps her build her vocabulary at the same time.

20 / 28

Babiators Aces Navigators

Nothing beats an awesome pair of shades ($30) that can be used on sunny days all year long!

21 / 28

It's All About Us (. . . Especially Me!): A Journal of Totally Personal Questions For You and Your Friends

Girls will have a blast chronicling their tween years in this journal — It's All About Us (. . . Especially Me!): A Journal of Totally Personal Questions For You and Your Friends ($13).

22 / 28

Lego Star Wars Tie Fighter Building Kit

There are a number of intricate new Lego Star Wars sets out there, but none are quite as detailed as the LEGO Star Wars Tie Fighter Building Kit ($200). With more than 1,600 pieces, this may be more of a display piece than one you'll want the kids to get their hands on. Either way, it's one you'll come back to time and time again.

23 / 28

FatDots

From the world of FatHead (the creator of those larger-than-life sports decals that kids love to put on their walls) comes Fat Dots ($8 for six). The dome-shaped adhesives attach directly to iPhone and iTouch home buttons while allowing kids to show off their allegiance to their favorite teams, their favorite animals, or even a custom design.

24 / 28

Script Monogram Wall Jewelry Storage

Jewelry-lovers are always looking for a fun place to place their earrings. PB Teen's Script Monogram Wall Jewelry Storage ($149) has spaces for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and more.

25 / 28

Anki Overdrive Starter Kit

Race cars hit the 21st century with the new Anki Overdrive Starter Kit ($150), perhaps the coolest race track to hit the floor. The cars use artificial intelligence and robotics to make their way around the track. And speaking of the track, kids can design the tracks to look however they like — want it to go over the sofa? You can do that! Want it to twist around the tree? You can do that too (expansion packs can be bought for $10 to $30 each). The slot cars literally read the track so they'll never fall off the course. Using an iOS or Android app, players control their cars and can actually launch tricks and attacks by engaging weapons and power-ups against their opponents in an effort to win the race.

26 / 28

Razor Crazy Cart

Your child's first car? The Razor Crazy Cart ($400) takes kids on an unbelievable ride — it drives forward, reverse, sideways, diagonally, and everything in between. Like a cross between a go-kart and scooter, it moves up to 12 miles per hour.

27 / 28

PicWits!

Consider PicWits ($25) the ultimate caption-writing contest. Players have to match photos up with the best captions and submit them to a judge to determine the winner.

28 / 28