6 to 10 years

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, which may lead to an increased interest in sports. At this age coordination and fine motor skills also improve which makes many artistic activities much more enjoyable and complex construction sets more appealing.

We’ve put together a list of the top 30 best toys and gift ideas for 8-year-old boys 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 boy’s personality, whilst all of the options focus on building skills that are important for 8-year-olds.

Being 10 is a time of change and transition; children of this age are beginning to welcome the approach of adolescence and are firmly in the ‘tween’ age bracket.

Self-identity and self-esteem become much more important around this age as children develop more of a sense of who they are and how they fit into the world. For some children this age there will be a change in school, depending on the schooling system where they live, for others they will begin to experience different social settings in clubs and extra-curricular activities. Social interaction is increasingly important at this stage and children will become more skilled socially; being more able to navigate conflict, control their emotions and negotiate solutions with peers.

If you’re searching for a gift for a 10-year-old boy, this list may help you to find something special. We’ve put together a range of options, catering to different interests and skills so you will get plenty of ideas of what to buy.

By age nine, boys are a bit too old to be considered children, but a bit too young to be teenagers, and are instead somewhere ‘in between’. They have almost reached adolescence and the term ‘tween’ or ‘tweenager’ is very much applicable. Some parents find this a very challenging stage of parenting whilst others cruise through it with very few problems.

In many ways 9-year-olds still need the support, comfort and structure that they had from their families as children but they are also becoming much more independent and able to carry out a wide range of activities without so much adult support. When you are buying a gift for a 9-year-old this new-found independence means that an even wider range of options are available as they are able to have a go at more complex tasks by themselves. This list has been put together to support you in choosing a gift for a 9-year-old boy.

6-year-old boys can be a mass of contradictions; on the one hand they start to go to parties, play dates and school events by themselves, and on the other hand they crave the security and comfort of home and parents. It is a time of change.

Whilst many 6-year-old boys will develop some kind of hobby or interest indoors, such as board games, video games, or construction activities, they also still have tonnes of energy and will crave and need time outdoors. As school steps up and becomes more classroom-based this time outdoors becomes even more important. Around this age lots of parents seek to involve their child in sports to keep them physically active and healthy.

If you’re looking for a gift for a 6-year-old boy there are plenty of options based on indoor and outdoor interests. We’ve put together a list that incorporates a variety of these ideas so that you can find the perfect gift for a 6-year-old boy that will also benefit his development.