![Micro Scooters](https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/03/03/09/micro%20.jpg)
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Our definitive guide to the best toys and activities for girls and boys
If you’re wondering what gift to buy for a nine-year-old, you’re not alone. Nine can be a tricky age to buy for – do you go for toys or tech? Cute or cool? And how do you know they’re actually going to like it?
The good news is: the average nine-year-old is into everything. They’re not too old to play with toys, by any stretch, and will still get stuck in to small-world play and role play.
But they’re also on the cusp of the pre-teen years and they’re making leaps and bounds developmentally. That puts things like tech and more complex STEM and construction toys firmly on the agenda too.
So, to help you decide which direction to go in, we’ve rounded up a list of gifts for nine-year-olds that they’ll really love. We’ve included gifts nine-year-olds can enjoy independently – whether that’s a construction toy they’ll be proud to build by themselves, or a journal where they can share their thoughts privately – as well as items like books and baking accessories, which facilitate family time.
Our nine-year-old testers worked their way through a list of gift ideas and tested a variety of age-appropriate items, either independently or with parental supervision. We looked for products right across the spectrum of price points, from pocket money toys to investment items. We also awarded points for value, durability, and serious fun factor – with the emphasis most definitely on the latter.
While it’s hard to pick a winner from such a varied range of gifts, the Sprite classic LED micro scooter came out on top overall for durability and sheer wow-factor. It also makes walking to the shops a lot faster. Hexbug’s scarab was our winner at the budget end of the price spectrum, and KitchenAid’s Mini 3.3l stand mixer was our best blow-out purchase that could be enjoyed by the whole family.
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Shopping for someone a bit younger? We have rounds up of the best gifts for five-year-old’s as well as presents for new parents too