Best toys for 8 year olds 2024: 24 gift ideas approved by experts

Age suitability: 7+ | Batteries required: None

My nine year old Goddaughter is obsessed with LEGO and has numerous Creator sets in her collection. They allow builders to create three different designs using the same bricks, which is a great way to keep them engaged as they finesse their fine motor skills and practise interpreting the instructions to create the final result.

Age suitability: 7+

But the age of eight, kids are likely to be well-versed in the wonder of Harry Potter, and so this LEGO set based on the second book and movie in the franchise could be right up their street. It includes Harry and Ron mini figures, as well as Hedwig and Scabbers. It'll also look great on display when it's not being played with.

Age suitability: 7+

If you have Disney+ at home, you're eight year old is probably working their way through the collection of Disney films available, including recent smash Wish. Bring the wonder from the screen to life with this LEGO playset that's based on lead character Asha's cottage.

Age suitability: 8+ | Batteries required: 4 x AA, 3 x AAA (included)

Touted as one of the best kids toys of 2024 by industry experts, this new remote control Godzilla toy is perfect for kids who love monsters. It stomps, walks and whips its tail, it roars and kids will adore when the lights and mist comes from its mouth, indicating its heat ray breath.

Age suitability: 4+ | Batteries required:  2 x AAA batteries (not included)

This vehicle will run on any surface, from carpets to grass and even in water. It comes with a dual joystick remote control, which can be used up to 100 feet away should kids want to test the boundaries. Mum Emily says: The Batman styling is very discreet. It's also a very versatile car and you won't need to worry about it getting messy.'

Age suitability: 6+ | ‎Batteries required: 2 Lithium Ion batteries (included)

This remote control car can not only handle a range of surfaces, including carpet, lawns and sand (and reach up to 10 miles an hour), it can also spin 360 degrees and flip vertically, making it super exciting to operate. A two-hour charge will give you 20 minutes of continuous use, with a range of around 50 metres.

Age suitability: 6+ | Batteries required: 3 x LR44 batteries (included)

Help your eight-year-old keep track of their keepie uppies with this kick tracker. Also flagged by industry experts as one of the best toys of the year, this toy is perfect for any budding Beckham wanting to hone their skills, while keeping active at the same time. Keep your eyes peeled for our full review of this toy coming soon.

Age suitability: 7+ | Batteries required: None

Throw Throw Burrito is a family friendly party game unlike any you may have played before. That's why we've added it to our list of best toys for eight year olds. It's a combination of a card games and dodgeball where players go head to head collecting cards, earning points and throwing squishy toy burritos at one another. "This is a really silly game but my kids seem to love it every time we play," says Susie, mum to Emilie and Charlotte.

Age suitability: 8+ | Batteries required: None

Eight-year-olds have the balance and coordination skills to begin to master how to ride a skateboard, and with the right safety equipment, you can have peace of mind while they do it too. We love this Enuff Skully Mini Skateboard from Skate Hut, which comes vibrantly finished with an Enuff Skully graphic, in either blue, green, black or pink.

Age suitability: 3+ | Batteries required: None

The Yoto audio player will not only play stories and songs via Yoto cards slotted in the top, but it also doubles as a nightlight, room thermostat, clock and more. In our tests, we were particularly impressed with the 24-hour battery life, parental controls and the engaging display. We also love how the fun design will appeal to kids as they grow.

Age suitability: 3+ | Batteries required: None

For something designed with travel in mind, check out the Yoto Mini. It's a fraction of the size of the Yoto player, so it can fit in your bag without too much hassle, and you'll get 14 hours play from one charge, which means it's perfect for keeping kids entertained on long journeys.

Age suitability: 7-11 years | Batteries required: None

If your eight-year-old already has a player and accessories, then you can always add to their stash with some new audio cards. There are loads to choose from including the classic stories of Enid Blyton, the tales of Roald Dahl, and this Horrible Histories collection that is jam-packed full of gross historical facts that kids will love.

Age suitability: 6+ | Batteries required: None

For little Potterheads, this Harry Potter-themed Top Trumps game will be right up their street. It's an easy and mess-free way for them to play with their friends, and build on interests they are passionate about. Not a wizard fan? You can get Top Trumps cards on pretty much any topic, including football, Disney, nature and more.

Age suitability: 8+ | Batteries required: None

A trading card game that requires some strategic thinking, Lorcana is perfect for eight year olds. Suitable for two or more players, this Disney set comes with all you need to get started, including 60 cards, damage counters and a paper playmat. Mum-of-two Rosie says: "My daughter is really into Lorcana right now. It's challenging for her and it encourages her to think ahead to plan her next move."

Age suitability: 7+ | Batteries required: None

Take the hugely popular UNO, and make it Spiderman-themed, and you've got this card game that Spidey-loving eight-year-olds will adore. The game is simple enough for eight-year-olds to play amongst themselves without the need for adult intervention, helping them work on their cognitive skills and strategic thinking.

Age suitability: 7+ | Batteries required: None

Nail play sets like this tend to include specially formulated polishes that are safe and suitable for children. They also include fun stickers and stamps that they can play with to get creative with nail art. GoodtoKnow's Heidi Scrimgeour says: "My daughter’s favourite thing to do is paint her nails with me, and anything that keeps my expensive nail polish safe is a hit with me!"

Age suitability: 6+ | Batteries required: None

Another art medium for eight year olds to get to grips with, the Pouring Art Studio makes it easy to create unique works. "What I love most about this set is that it is designed so that everything is kept neatly in place," says Jenny, mum to Logan and Becky. "My kids love making pictures with special effects each time they use it."

Age suitability: 6+ | Batteries required: None

Your eight year old may have an interest in reading and perhaps even collecting comics. With this book, they have the skills and imaginations to create their own comics inspired by the graphic novels and stories they like to read. 'I'm a big fan of doodling as a form of relaxing,' says mum Emily. 'I think if you're keen on encouraging kids to draw and colour as a way to express themselves, this makes a great gift for a child, but also for an adult too.'

Age suitability: 8+ | Batteries required: None

Monopoly comes in such a large range of Junior themes including Star Wars, Frozen, Trolls, Super Mario and more but we particularly like this classic Roald Dahl version. It's sure to be a hit if a child has read all the books first. If not, then what a wonderful introduction!

Age suitability: 7+ | Batteries required: None

This Pokemon board game sees players having to find the shortest route through the Labyrinth to win. Up to 4 players can have a go at navigating their way through the labyrinth with the popular Pokemon characters including Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle.

Age suitability: 8+ | Batteries required: None

Eight-year-olds like playing in groups and are better at working together at this age compared to when they were younger. Requiring a collaborative effort this game offers a good way of nurturing the idea or team work, and that while you might win sometimes, it's also ok to lose.

Age suitability: 4+ | Batteries required: ‎1 x Lithium Ion battery (included)

Having some noisy fun with the Karaoke Wireless Microphone is a great way to burn up some energy and have fun. This clever gadget can be used as a bluetooth microphone, speaker, recorder and player, and even has its own built-in LED lights, which change along to the beat of your music, to add to the fun. Bluetooth compatible and connects to a range of music apps.

Age suitability: 7+ | Batteries required: None

Nurture a child's creativity and ability to express themselves in a more artistic way by buying them musical instruments and maybe a few lessons to go with it. If you aren't able to get along to music lessons, a great place to start is by watching free guitar tutorials on YouTube. This half size acoustic guitar is perfect for kids to start with.

Age suitability: 3-12 years | Batteries required: None

Let kids enjoy their favourite tunes with this kid-friendly smart speaker. It's designed for use with Amazon's smart assistant Alexa, which will automatically give kid-friendly responses to any questions asked and filter songs with explicit lyrics. For extra peace of mind, it also comes with a range of customisable parental controls. You'll also get a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+.