30 Great Gifts That Will Make An 8-Year-Old Girl Happy

Around about age 8 most children experience a physical, emotional and mental growth spurt or ‘leap forward’. The physical growth spurt means that they may become more skillful in sporting activities and their coordination and fine motor skills improve which makes many artistic activities much more enjoyable. So, if you’re looking for a gift for an 8-year-old girl, sports or art might be a great place to start.

We’ve put together a list of the top 30 best toys and gift ideas for 8-year-old girls to help you in the search for a gift. There is plenty of variety included in the list so that you can pick something to suit the girl’s personality, whilst all of the options focus on building skills that are important for 8-year-olds.

1. Bikestar Kick Scooter with brakes

Scooters are very popular with children as they are an easy and exciting way to get around. They also keep kids active, getting them outdoors and playing physically which in turn helps to keep them healthy and physically fit. The Bikestar Kick Scooter with brakes is robust and built with safety in mind, with hand-operated brakes for easy stopping, air tires for a smooth ride and complying with all EU and US safety standards it really does give parents peace of mind.

8-year-olds will love the larger wheels, allowing for travel over a larger range of surfaces and adventuring on this scooter will help to increase balance and core strength and control. The Bikestar Kick Scooter with brakes would make a great gift for an 8-year-old girl who likes to play outside.

2. Lego Friends Heartlake Shopping Mall

Lego is a great toy for children spanning a huge range of ages, and let’s be honest most adults love it too! It is robust, built to last the ages and can be connected with any other Lego sets making it a really versatile toy. The Lego Friends range is especially popular with girls as it features a range of characters who have their own personalities and stories.

The Lego Friends Heartlake Shopping Mall is a challenging build and will require plenty of concentration, patience and perseverance but will keep an 8-year-old girl busy for hours.

3. Instax Mini 9 Camera

Around age 8 girls tend to enjoy experimenting with photography, taking pictures of their environment, themselves and their friends. This boosts creativity and allows for some artistic expression.

The Instax Mini9 Camera is a camera that produces prints instantly which will delight an 8-year-old girl. It is also available in a range of colors so there’s sure to be one that fits the personality of the girl you are buying for. It has a built-in flash and comes with a selfie mirror and close up lens.

4. Team Magnus Slip and Slide XL

When the weather is good it’s great fun to play outside in the sprinkler or paddling pool but this gift will take outdoor water fun to the next level. The Team Magnus Slip and Slide XL is extremely robust, made with thick heavy-duty PVC and is extra-long. It attaches to standard garden hoses so that water can flow over it continuously making it extra slippery ready for slip and slide races!

Double lanes makes racing very easy and safe, and an inflatable crashpad at the end softens the landing! Encouraging physical play, this slip and slide will help to keep kids active and playing outdoors.

5. Newyes Kids LCD Writing Tablet

8-year-old girls don’t always love to do their homework or practice their handwriting but if it is presented in a new or novel way then they are much more likely to engage in the activity. The Newyes Kids LCD Writing Tablet is a safe, high tech screen that encourages children to practice their pen control skills and increases creativity.

Portable and lightweight the Newyes Kids LCD Writing Tablet is great for taking along in the car. It is battery-powered but doesn’t use a lot of power, and no charging is required.

6. K’Nex Education Roller Coaster Building Set

K’nex building sets are a fantastic, timeless toy for 8-year-olds. Built to last for generations to come, and to be connected to other K’nex sets, they are also a fantastic STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) resource promoting plenty of skills associated with these industries.

8-year-olds will love the K’Nex Education Roller Coaster Building Set as it allows them to build a rollercoaster by following instructions or to design their own. The set is big enough to give more than one child space to play so it’s great for using collaboratively too.

7. Osmo Genius Starter Kit for iPad

Screen time, and having too much of it, can become a source of stress and conflict for parents of 8-year-olds but the 8-year-old you’re buying for has an iPad or access to an iPad then the Osmo Genius Starter Kit may be a good gift for them because it promotes a positive kind of screen-time.

The Osmo Genius Starter Kit is a set of materials that can be used in conjunction with a program on the iPad. The materials are physical things that can be picked up and manipulated and they interact with the games on screen. The games and materials are all educational promoting scientific knowledge and skills such as logic, problem solving and innovation. If you’re looking for something educational that an 8-year-old will be excited by then the Osmo Genius Kit might just be the perfect gift.

8. Wekapo Stuffed Animal Storage Bean Bag

Does the 8-year-old girl you’re buying for have a huge collection of stuffed animals sat on her bed? or have nowhere to put them? Stuffed animals are a common complaint amongst parents of young children and the Wekapo Stuffed Animal Storage Bean Bag provides a storage solution for this problem.

Available in a range of colors to fit in with different décor schemes and made of soft, strong cotton canvas the Wekapo Stuffed Animal Storage Bean Bag is a bean bag chair that instead of being stuffed with polystyrene beads has space for stuffed animals to be stored inside. This keeps the stuffed animals stored neatly away whilst also providing a useful place to sit and relax.

9. LeapFrog Magic Adventures Globe

Most 8-year-olds are extremely interested in the wider world, but 2D maps don’t give the full perspective. A globe is a useful learning tool as children progress through school and this LeapFrog Magic Adventures Globe utilizes plenty of technology to really enhance geographical learning and perspective.

With a built-in screen, stylus and over 5 hours of video children can improve their technology skills whilst they learn about the world. The LeapFrog magic adventures globe allows children to retrieve information about different areas of the globe simply by touching them with the stylus. This globe represents a good educational investment piece that will also capture children’s interest.

10. Uno Extreme Card Game with Electronic Launcher

Playing games with friends or family is a great way for children to have fun with others whilst also improving their social skills as they learn to win, lose and play fairly. The Uno card game is very popular with families as it is relatively easy to understand and fun for all ages whilst also increasing mathematical skill and logic.

The Uno Extreme Card Game with Electronic Launcher is a pack of the traditional Uno card with a card launcher which spits cards out to add excitement and interest to the game. Children will love the fast pace of the game and the novelty of seeing the cards launched out. This set makes a great gift for an 8-year-old who loves to play games.

11. Snap Circuits Arcade Electronics Discovery Kit

The Snap Circuits Arcade Electronics Discovery Kit pretty much does what it says on the box! It is a great scientific kit allowing children to safely explore electronic circuit construction and operation, discovering how they work best. There’s no need to worry about electric shocks however as the Snap Circuits Arcade Electronics Discovery Kit is made with circuit-safe technology to keep kids safe.

With more than 200 projects detailed in the enclosed booklet there is plenty for an 8-year-old to do, keeping them busy and building their problem-solving skills.

12. Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad

Another way to encourage artistic and creative skills. The Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad does exactly what it says; it is a pad that holds tracing paper, an image and lights up to improve visibility and make it easy to trace. It comes with over 100 different images, so that an 8-year-old has a variety of different options for their creations.

The Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad is portable and can be used anywhere making it ideal to take along on long car rides, or trips away. Tracing also improves hand-eye coordination and pencil control, and improves concentration and perseverance.

13. Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Whomping Willow Toy

A lot of 8-year-olds love Harry Potter so this Lego Set based on the popular book and film series may be the perfect gift to keep them entertained. The Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Whomping Willow Toy is compatible with the other Lego Harry Potter sets, and indeed, any other Lego set and includes mini figures of some of the favorite characters. In line with the story told in the book, there is a flying ford Anglia model, the Whomping willow itself and a representation of Hogwarts, complete with dormitory and potions lab, all included as part of the set. This will allow an 8-year-old to play out the story completely.

The set is fairly complex, but instructions are provided for the child to follow and this will certainly be a rewarding set to build as not only is it based on some of their favorite characters, but it has working motion elements too. The Whomping willow features a knob which can be turned to make the tree move so that the story really comes to life!

14. Shimmer and Sparkle Nail Design Studio

Some 8-year-old girls are real “girlie-girls” and love anything shimmery, sparkly or to do with pampering. The Shimmer and Sparkle Nail Design Studio ticks all of those boxes! It is a nail-design kit which comes complete with everything they need to create beautiful nail art and make sparkly bracelets.

The Shimmer and Sparkle Nail Design studio encourages girls’ creativity and at the same time develops their hand-eye coordination, control and fine-motor skills. With lights and sounds to add interest, excitement and an extra bit of glamour this would make a lovely gift for a girl who loves anything girlie.

15. Bright-Light Terrarium Kit

A Terrarium is essentially an indoor garden in a jar. The Bright-Light Terrarium Kit allows an 8-year-old to layer different decorative materials, arrange plants and create their very own terrarium. This can be used as a decorative piece in their bedroom or around the house and also increases their scientific understanding of nature, growth and life cycles.

The Bright-Light Terrarium kit encourages observation too and taking responsibility for the maintenance of plants. This would be a great gift for an 8-year-old who loves nature or gardening.

16. Kahootz Spirograph Deluxe Set

Many 8-year-old girls love being creative and producing their own designs for pictures, cards, book marks and more; the Kahootz Spirograph Deluxe Set allows them to do just that! Using the Spirograph set promotes the development of good fine motor skills, as the child holds a pen, they develop their pencil grip, and as they begin to move the pen around they build strength in their fingers, hands and wrists. All of these are great ways of improving skills for handwriting. Hand-eye coordination is also developed by using drawing implements this way.

The Kahootz Spirograph Deluxe Set is very easy to use and produces satisfying results too. Coming complete with its own storage case, the set is very easy to store making it a great gift to enhance a craft collection

17. Lego Classic Large Creative Brick Box Construction Set

Lego is durable, indestructible and really built to last. Kids love Lego and it’s a toy that will hold its appeal for years to come. The Lego Classic Large Creative Brick Box comes with a storage box to keep all of the small pieces contained, and some instructions for small models that can be made using the pieces however, it is open-ended enough to allow children to construct and play their own way. It is also compatible with any other Lego sets the child may have.

At age 8, constructing with Lego will continue to improve the child’s fine motor skills further, building strength in the fingers and hands which will translate to letter formation and better handwriting. This is a great gift which also promotes creativity!

18. ValueTalks Kids Bike Helmet and Pads Set

If you know the 8-year-old you’re buying for has, or is going to be gifted, a scooter, bike or skateboard then the ValueTalks Kids Bike Helmet and Pads Set is a great gift to buy to complement that. This set provides all-round protection for participating in a range of sports and activities.

With adjustable straps the set is suitable for children aged 3 to 12 years and is comfortable to wear whilst having hard, robust outer materials so the child remains safe and get on with having plenty of fun outdoor adventures!

19. Cool Maker Necklace and Bracelet Maker

8-year-olds love being creative and making things for themselves, this set gives them the opportunity to do just that with jewelry; the Cool Maker Necklace and Bracelet Maker allows for children to make both necklaces and bracelets. They can exercise their creativity by coming up with their own ideas and designs or they can make use of the 2 design books included.

Learning to read instructions carefully and follow them is an important life skill for 8-year-olds as well as improving their overall reading comprehension skills. The Cool Maker Necklace and Bracelet Maker also encourages the use of technology as it is a machine that helps children to produce the jewelry. A great idea to add something a little different to a craft collection.

20. Unicorn Eclipse Pro Bristle Dartboard

It may not be an obvious choice for an 8-year-old girl but playing darts can actually have a lot of benefits! The Unicorn Eclipse Pro Bristle Dartboard is a championship quality board, so is built to last and stand up to regular usage. It will need to be wall-mounted but can then be used indoors for family games, building the skills of turn, taking, winning and losing and playing by the rules as well as building awareness of scoring, and improving mathematical skills.

Not only is darts a game that can be played as a family, increasing interaction and time together, but it also allows for the development of important hand-eye coordination skills. A brilliant gift for an 8-year-old girl who seems to have everything else, the Unicorn Eclipse Pro Bristle Dartboard will broaden her interests and skills.

21. Playmags 100 Piece Super Set

Playmags are a brilliant resource for any home; they span a wide range of ages and even adults love using them. The Playmags 100 Piece Super Set has a variety of pieces making it easy to bring a wide range of ideas to life. Connecting together using just magnetism, Playmags are a very satisfying construction toy, also promoting important scientific skills.

Trying to work out how best to build and connect the tiles encourages a basic understanding of physics and the properties of magnetism as well as increasing problem-solving skills when construction doesn’t go quite to plan! 8-year-olds will improve their motor skills and control with these high quality, durable tiles which make the perfect gift for those that love construction activities.

22. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magic Set

The Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magic Set is the perfect gift for an 8-year-old who loves the performing arts as it encourages creativity and performance skills. It’s great for beginners as it comes with very simple step-by-step instructions and all the materials you need to perform 10 magic tricks. Working on skills like magic forces children to think about their actions in advance and carefully control their movement, these physical and cognitive skills are valuable in many areas of life.

Most 8-year-olds will love to perform the magic tricks for their family increasing their self-awareness and confidence, as well as giving them a new interest and hobby!

23. Smart Sketcher Projector

Some 8-year-olds are naturally brilliant at drawing, whilst others need a little help; but most want to produce beautiful drawings for themselves, their bedrooms, and friends and family too. The Smart Sketcher Projector is a great way to bolster 8-year-old girls’ artistic and creative skills.

The Smart Sketcher Projector projects pictures and photographs onto paper so that the child can then trace around the shapes of the picture to create their own drawings and designs. Following the lines to achieve these results is very rewarding for children but also improves hand-eye coordination, fine-motor skills and concentration.

24. Brio Labyrinth

In an age of battery-powered toys, screen time and everything interactive, sometimes it’s nice to get back to basics. The Brio Labyrinth is a traditional maze game, which encourages hand-eye coordination. The child must use twisting knobs to tilt the board in order to lead a small ball through a maze.

This requires skill, patience and logic too. It also improves fine motor skills by building up flexibility and the small muscles in the fingers which in turn improves handwriting skills. The Brio Labyrinth is made of wood, adding to the traditional feel and representing a more eco-friendly approach.

25. Amicool Wireless Microphone Karaoke

Some kids were just born to perform so if the 8-year-old girl you’re buying for is one of those then she’ll love this Wireless Karaoke Microphone. The Bluetooth wireless design means that she’ll be free to sing and dance to her hearts content without getting tangled up in wires and that the Wireless Microphone Karaoke can be used with a wide range of compatible devices, no specific Karaoke machine is required.

Unlike other hand-held mics the Amicool Wireless Microphone Karaoke doesn’t require a steady stream of disposable batteries either as it has a built-in rechargeable lithium battery, meaning that the fun really can last for hours! This is the perfect gift to encourage creativity and the performing arts.

26. Snazaroo Ultimate Party Pack

Children love face paint, especially for parties, and by around the age of 8 they are beginning to assert their independence a lot more and want to do a whole range of things for themselves. 8-year-old girls often love experimenting with make-up and being creative so face-paints may be the ideal gift to allow them to experiment.

The Snazaroo Ultimate Party Pack comes with very simple instructions so that 8-year-olds can have a go at doing it themselves. They are made with safe, non-toxic ingredients and are suitable for sensitive skin and washable.

27. Lego Friends Bus Toy with Swimming Pool and Slide

Robust and built to last Lego is a toy that will last for years, and can be expanded upon and added to as all Lego sets can be connected together. The Lego Friends Bus Toy with Swimming Pool and Slide is part of the popular Lego Friends range which has a set of characters with back-stories that children can identify with and use to act out lots of different social scenarios and stories. 8-year-old girls enjoy this kind of play as it allows them to explore a range of different social skills.

The Lego Friends Bus Toy is sufficiently challenging for 8-year-olds, improving their fine motor skills as they build.

28. Aerobie Pro Flying Ring

Around about age 8, children develop much better physical skills and coordination making it easier and more enjoyable for them to play a range of different sports. The Aerobie Pro Flying Ring is a new way to play frisbee, encouraging plenty of outdoor physical play, keeping children fit and healthy. More aerodynamic than a traditional frisbee the Aerobie Pro Flying Ring is easier to throw, and catch and even holds the Guinness world record for longest throw.

The aerodynamic design makes games flow more easily, creating a more enjoyable and rewarding experience for an 8-year-old so that they are likely to play for longer. This kind of sporting activity is brilliant for improving hand-eye coordination skills and is popular to play with family and friends of all ages.

29. Hot Wires Electronics Kit

The Hot Wires Electronics Kit is a brilliant scientific toy for 8-year-old girls to develop and improve problem-solving skills. The kit includes over 100 experiments with light, sound and movement components to allow experimentation and understanding of electronics and circuits.

The Hot Wires Electronics Kit has easy, snap-together electronic components so that an 8-year-old can manage them independently, improving their fine motor skills along the way. Scientific industries are traditionally male dominated so encouraging girls into scientific subjects is really important. This Hot Wires Electronics Kit is a great way to encourage and improve scientific skills.

30. Crazy Forts

Crazy Forts is a fun toy that allows children to build their own forts indoors or outdoors. The pieces connect together easily but produce a sturdy structure that allows children to create a den safely. This encourages construction-based skills, forward planning and creativity.

Crazy Forts is also very portable and can be taken along on a trip away, camping, or just to a friend’s garden. Made with durable materials Crazy Forts is built to last and expansion packs can be purchased to extend play and create even bigger structures!

Final words

As you search for the perfect gift for an 8-year-old you are likely to be bombarded with a whole range of options, making it difficult to know what’s best. Add to that the increasing maturity of 8-year-olds and their wide-ranging interests and it can be difficult to know what’s best.

The products here span a wide range of interests, personalities and maturity levels so that you can select something suited to the 8-year-old you are buying a gift for. All of these gifts help to develop skills that are important in this stage of life and development so you can rest assured that whichever you pick has value to an 8-year-olds skill development. We hope that you are able to find something you look forward to giving!

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