21 Educational Toys For 8-Year-Olds

Can 8-Year-Olds Have Toys?

Yes. Many toys are made just for 8-year-old kids and older, with options that suit their needs or preferences. Toys aren’t just for fun (or for younger kids), but can also help them learn and explore the world around them.

The best educational toys will spark curiosity and a love of learning. They are both entertaining while also supporting the deepening vital skills like mindfulness and concentration.

Why Choose Learning Toys For 8-Year-Olds?

Learning toys help your child develop or master age-appropriate skills, including hand-eye coordination, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), STEAM (STEM with art), and problem-solving skills while having fun.

What Toys Do Kids Like Most?

This will really depend on each child’s interests and age.

For example, some kids prefer video games and smart toys to books and traditional educational toys.

Another example is that some toys for 8-year-olds might be too boring for 9-year-olds, yet it’s also possible that older kids will find them interesting.

What Do 8-Year-Old Kids Like To Play With?

At this age, many kids are interested in science kits and see the magic of seeing various chemical reactions to create new things.

They’re also happy to tinker with puzzle pieces, LEGOs, or building sets that are more complicated than similar educational toys for 7-year-olds or younger.

They enjoy playing with toys they made themselves.

How Are Learning Games & Toys Different From Non-Educational Products?

Educational toys are designed to stimulate learning, including improving skills, such as logical thinking, fine motor skills, and problem-solving. In contrast, non-educational toys usually focus more on solely fun and entertainment.

Still, this can be tricky because some non-educational products can overlap with learning toys.

Some might think they’re “too simple” but slime, putty, and playdough might be learning toys depending on their use.

A human body anatomy model toy is clearly a learning toy. Yet certain sticker sets, board games, craft kits, and card games might also be considered educational.

Learning toys also make great ideas for birthday gifts (or Christmas gifts) for 8-year-olds.

Learn more about how you can choose the best gifts for them below.

Gift Guide To The 21 Best Educational Toys For 8-Year-Olds

STEM Toys

4M Kidz Labs Solar System Planetarium Model (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: DIY glow-in-the-dark solar system set

Product Safety: Child-safe materials but should be handled with adult supervision for kids younger than eight years old

Materials: Plastic and paint

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: STEAM learning, problem-solving, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and creativity

Extra Features: Includes guidebook and painting materials

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains small parts that are possible choking risks to younger children

Customer Reviews:

“My kids love this solar system kit. They had fun painting all the different planets and the sun.” – Reviewer on Walmart

“The only small down side to it is the size, some of the planets are too small and it is really difficult to paint them.” – Reviewer on Amazon

LEGO Chain Reactions (Klutz Science STEM Activity Kit) (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: STEM crafting kit and book

Product Safety: Child-safe materials (exceeds safety standards); free from harmful chemicals

Materials: Child-safe plastic

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, problem-solving, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and creativity

Extra Features: Award-winning book (NAPPA silver award winner); *NAPPA means “National Parenting Publications Awards”

Certification: US, European, and other global safety standards for toys

Made In: South Korea (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about the book’s quality and that there are only a few actual LEGO pieces (33 elements + six balls) which are inadequate to complete the projects (unless you already have your own collection at home)

Customer Reviews:

“The book is awesome for learning chain reactions.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“its kind of cool, but, doesn’t come with all the bricks you need.” – Reviewer on LEGO

Engino STEM Newton’s Laws Engineering Kit (8 to 16+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: STEM-themed 121-piece set for building different machine models

Product Safety: Snap-on parts to reduce the need for tools; certified to be free from PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), which might cause cancer

Materials: Plastic

Age Range: 8 to 16+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, spatial thinking, hand-eye coordination, creativity, and fine motor skills

Extra Features: Includes a guidebook with experimental activities for hands-on learning, illustrated building instructions, and detailed explanations of relevant scientific principles; award-winning toy (e.g., Dr. Toy’s Best Green Product and Best Educational Toy – won in the US)

Certification: Meets all safety standards in the US (ASTM F963-11 and CPSIA) and Europe (EN71, EN62115, and PAHs)

Made In: Cyprus

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains small parts (choking risks to younger children); some complaints that the product is difficult to use or assemble

Customer Reviews:

“Very cool different objects to construct.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“Small parts, difficult to use.” – Reviewer on MindWare

Elenco Electronics Snap Circuits My Home (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: STEM-themed DIY building kit with electronic parts

Product Safety: Doesn’t require soldering tools; meets US and international safety standards

Materials: Plastic and electronic parts

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, hand-eye coordination, creativity, spatial thinking, problem-solving, and fine motor skills

Extra Features: Includes 60+ snap-on parts and a guidebook for creating 30+ projects; award-winning toy (e.g., NAPPA gold winner, Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products, Dr. Toy’s 10 best Educational Products, The inaugural Seriously STEM award, etc.)

Certification: American certifications – CPSIA, ASTM 963m, and 16CFR (Standard Consumer Safety Specifications); meets international standards

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains electronic and small parts that can be hazardous to younger children; some complaints that the toy is too complicated or unsafe for kids

Customer Reviews:

“10 year old daughter did these different circuit designs for several hours without moving on to anything else. Great buy.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“One of the sets shorted and burned the kids finger.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Thames & Kosmos Solar Race Car (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: DIY solar-powered car with an adjustable panel

Product Safety: Includes accessible electronic parts (assemble with adult supervision and keep the pieces out of younger children’s reach)

Materials: Plastic and photovoltaic cells (for solar power)

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Includes solar cells (no need for batteries) and a manual or guidebook

Certification: European (EN71) and US safety standards (ASTM and CPSIA)

Made In: Taiwan

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints that the toy might be boring

Customer Reviews:

“I like how the book goes beyond assembly instructions and includes other engaging information related to solar power.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“Cons: kids can lose interest after it’s put together, which only takes 20-30 minutes, needs a lot of sun, pretty small.” – Reviewer on Amazon

MindWare Science Academy: Squishy Ball Lab – Science Kit (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Science kit for creating squishy balls

Product Safety: Meets toy quality and safety standards

Materials: Chemicals that can be safe if used with adult supervision (keep out of younger children’s reach); Warning: Don’t let any of the chemicals come in contact with the skin, especially if there are open wounds.

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: STEAM learning, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Includes step-by-step instruction guide

Certification: CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), and CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act)

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains chemicals and parts that can be hazardous to younger children; potentially messy toy or experiment

Customer Reviews:

“My 8 yr old loved it! All ingredients are pre measured so she did it mostly on her own.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“We buy tons of slime kits make slime toys this was a disappointment one day use and not much in kit.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Words, ABCs, Numbers, & Colors

Educational Insights Fraction Formula Game (8-11 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Math-themed toy set

Product Safety: No sharp parts

Materials: Child-safe plastic and cardstock

Age Range: 8-11 years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Includes a play guide

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Hong Kong (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about quality issues (e.g., receiving an incomplete set)

Customer Reviews:

“You can basically teach kids the important part about fractions, the heuristic, while playing Blackjack.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“We were very disappointed to find that our game was not complete— every single one of the fraction cards had “1/12” on them.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Learning Resources Snap It Up! Phonics & Reading Game (6-10 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Language-themed card game

Product Safety: Child-safe materials

Materials: Cardboard and cardstock (thinner than cardboard but thicker than paper)

Age Range: 6-10 years old

Educational Value: Critical thinking, vocabulary, spelling, and reading

Extra Features: Includes 90 color-coded playing cards

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about the rules and product quality

Customer Reviews:

“It is a fun game for kids and adults. Even for kids who are learning letters you can use the cards.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“The rules for this game are too complicated for the age the reading skills apply to.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Educational Games & Interactive Smart Toys

MindWare The How I Survived Game (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Wacky STEM-themed trivia game

Product Safety: Products meet toy safety and quality standards

Materials: Laminated paper

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, planning, and cognitive development

Extra Features: Includes a 30-second timer and a playing guide

Certification: CPSIA, ASTM, and CPSC

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Possibly none

Customer Reviews:

“Provided hours of fun for my 12 year olds birthday party.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“The game is more of a creative fun game than competitive. It sparks the imagination to be silly.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Thames & Kosmos Happy Atoms 2D: Interactive Chemistry Puzzles (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Interactive STEM-themed 2D puzzle set for chemistry beginners

Product Safety: Meets toy safety standards

Materials: Cardboard

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Includes a play guide, an app for identifying the resulting compounds, and a bonus 3D water molecule

Certification: European (EN71) and (ASTM and CPSIA) US safety standards

Made In: China

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints that the app doesn’t work

Customer Reviews:

“My 10 year old daughter was learning about covalent bonds and making carbon dioxide and methane and learning the properties.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“The ONLY device I could get the app that goes with this product to work was the galaxy s8 (my phone) and the app was very finicky at best.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Educational Building Sets & Puzzles

Learning Resources Dive into Shapes! A “Sea” and Build Geometry Set (6-10 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Math-themed building set

Product Safety: Child-safe materials; no sharp parts

Materials: Child-safe plastic and cardstock

Age Range: 6-10 years old

Educational Value: Critical thinking, math skills, and planning

Extra Features: Includes 15 double-sided activity cards for 30 activities

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Small parts (balls) that can be choking risks to younger children; some complaints about quality issues (the sticks can easily break)

Customer Reviews:

“They are made of a heavy duty plastic that will stand up to a lot of uses.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“During the first time with the kids using them, the sticks were breaking off inside the holes on the balls.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Fat Brain Toys Trestle Tracks – Marble Run Deluxe Building & Construction Set (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: 43-piece starter construction set for a DIY marble run

Product Safety: Passes toy safety standards

Materials: Child-safe plastic

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: STEAM learning, concentration, and cognitive learning

Extra Features: Includes ideas for guided builds

Certification: ASTM and ICTI (International Council of Toy Industries)

Made In: China

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains small parts (marbles) that can be choking risks to younger children; some complaints that the product is too complicated for the age range

Customer Reviews:

“Little guy has not put this down. He wants no help from older siblings wants to work with it himself.” – Reviewer on Fat Brain Toys

“A little too complicated for my 8 year old, out of the box use.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Thames & Kosmos Geckobot (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: STEM-themed experiment and building kit

Product Safety: Meets toy safety standards

Materials: Child-safe plastic

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, hand-eye coordination, planning, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Includes suction parts that allow the robotic gecko to climb on smooth surfaces such as mirrors

Certification: European (EN71) and (ASTM and CPSIA) US safety standards

Made In: Taiwan

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains small parts (choking risks to younger kids) and requires batteries; some complaints about the quality

Customer Reviews:

“My grandson liked his so much he wanted to gift one for a birthday gift.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“This sucks. It breaks apart. It doesn’t walk/stick into glass beyond a step or two.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Learning Resources Simple Machines (8-13 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Building set of simple machines

Product Safety: Child-safe materials

Materials: Child-safe plastic

Age Range: 8-13 years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, planning and coordination, fine motor skills, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Includes activity guide

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about missing instruction guide

Customer Reviews:

“My 10 year old son has a new fav building smart toy. The hard plastic construction is durable and snaps in place and stays in place. We love it!” – Reviewer on Learning Resources

“I didn’t receive an instruction booklet.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Musical Toys

Kako’o Harmonica And Mini Harmonica With Bonus Cloth (5+ years old to adults)

Pros & Best Features: Standard-size harmonica

Product Safety: Child-safe materials; no sharp parts

Materials: Stainless steel

Age Range: 5+ years old to adults

Educational Value: Musical skills, creativity, and social skills

Extra Features: Includes carrying case and cleaning cloth

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: China

Product Recall: None

Cons: No reviews yet from real customers for you to check

Customer Reviews: None yet

Smartivity Music Machine (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: DIY mechanical xylophone

Product Safety: Non-toxic and safe

Materials: Metallic sound plates and sustainable, recyclable, and laser-cut wood parts

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: STEAM, motor skills, creativity, analytical skills, motor skills, and practical skills

Extra Features: Mess-free assembly that doesn’t require glue; includes a detailed instruction booklet and learner’s log

Certification: American certifications (CPSIA, ASTM 963m, and 16CFR) and international standards

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Small parts and elastic bands that can be choking risks to younger children; some complaints about quality issues

Customer Reviews:

“Truly simple, tool-free and glue-free construction.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“I was excited to get the kits, but it’s disappointing that the material is flimsy.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Creative Toys For 8-Year-Olds

Melissa & Doug On the Go Crafts – Friendship Bracelets (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Craft kit for 10+ friendship bracelets

Product Safety: Free from heavy metal (lead) and other toxic materials

Materials: Yarn strings, plastic beads, and foam (mini loom)

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: Creativity, imagination, pretend play, and social skills

Extra Features: Includes detailed full-color illustrations with design suggestions and handy tips

Certification: CPSIA; meets US, EU, and other safety standards

Made In: China (reviewer on Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints that the product is too complicated or the instructions aren’t detailed enough

Customer Reviews:

“Cute craft for my grand daughters. Worth the cost.” – Reviewer on Walmart

“Instructions not very detailed or clear.” – Reviewer on Melissa & Doug

Kid Made Modern Arts and Crafts Supply Library (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Art and crafting kit with 1,000+ pieces

Product Safety: Meets safety and quality standards; products designed and evaluated for potential risks and hazards

Materials: Cloth, felt, paper, wood, glitter, and plastic

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: Creativity, planning, imagination, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Includes sticky back jewels, googly eyes, and an inspiration sheet

Certification: Certified independent third-party laboratories

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains many small and sharp parts (choking and puncture risks for younger children)

Customer Reviews:

“This definitely has plenty of craft items in it. My grandchildren loved it.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“Not really worth it. Glue spilled and it is very cheap.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Crayola Deluxe Wooden Art Set – Over 75 Pieces (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: 75+ art set

Product Safety: Meets safety standards

Materials: Safe and non-toxic coloring materials

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: Creativity, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and planning skills

Extra Features: Includes wooden carrying case

Certification: CPSC and ASTM

Made In: Vietnam (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains small parts

Customer Reviews:

“great gift for just about anybody really.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“Omg, it is a mess!!!, terrible crayola product, even what it supposed to be washable it’s not very washable…” – Reviewer on Amazon

Toys For Learning Life Skills

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magic Set (8+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Magic set for 10 classic tricks

Product Safety: Child-safe materials; free from lead (heavy metal) and other harmful or toxic materials

Materials: Wood, paper, and cloth

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: Creativity, practical life skills (becoming a magician), fine and gross motor skills, and hand-eye coordination

Extra Features: Includes a guide with step-by-step instructions

Certification: CPSIA; meets US, EU, and other safety standards

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Several complaints about the lack of instructions (it’s actually found under the black cardboard); contains small parts that can be choking risks to younger children

Customer Reviews:

“Our 9 year-old grandson delighted the crowd at his 4 year-old sister’s birthday party. BIG HIT!” – Reviewer on Amazon

“The mechanism that hides the ball broke after only a few tries.” – Reviewer on Melissa & Doug

LEGO Set – Heatwave Transforming Lava Dragon (8+ years old)

ding and toy set with movable and transforming parts

Product Safety: Free from harmful chemicals; child-safe materials that exceed safety standards

Materials: Child-safe plastic

Age Range: 8+ years old

Educational Value: Pretend and imaginative play, planning, fine motor skills, early engineering, hand-eye coordination, and social skills

Extra Features: Includes mini figures and a purple “dragon element”

Certification: US, European, and global safety standards for toys

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Plenty of small parts (choking risks to younger children); can be pricey

Customer Reviews:

“Beautiful build and play experience the transformation feature makes it super playful + the minifigures are just phenomenal.” – Reviewer on LEGO

“Lego Ninjago prices have increased considerably.” – Reviewer on LEGO

Tips For Choosing Learning Toys For 8-Year-Olds

Toy Safety For 8-Year-Olds

Safety is always the #1 factor to consider when choosing toys for your little ones.

Many toys for 8-year-olds contain small parts that must be kept out of younger ones’ reach.

You’ll unlikely worry about choking risks for 8-year-olds but their toys must remain free from sharp parts, chemicals, or other hazards.

Here’s a guide to checking for chemicals to avoid in children’s products: Our Family Health & Safety Philosophy.

It’s also important to monitor for toy recalls.

Some recent ones include the following:

Rollerblade USA Inline Skates Recall (2023)
Calico Critters recall (2023)
Kids Preferred recall (2023)
Target Toy recall (2022)
Haba recall (2022)
Kidoozie Play Tent recall (2022)
Monti Kids recall (2022)

Learning Toys Based On Skills & Milestones For 8-Year-Olds

Consider toys that suit 8-year-olds’ milestones, such as: (1)

Can read simple sentences
Can skip-count by 2s and 5s
Can keep, follow, or create rules
Can show interest in money and books
Can use correct grammar but still needs improvement
Can show interest in group activities

Other Factors To Consider

Interactive toys that spark their imagination
Great gifts based on their interests
Review bestsellers & other products to find high-quality learning toys
Simple but useful & interesting for 8-year-olds
Smart toys (but with minimal screen time)

Other Gift Ideas & Learning Toys For Different Age Groups

References

(1) https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/pregnancy-parenting/parenting-school-age-children-6-11-years/school-age-children-growth-and-7