These Tees Let Kids Draw Their Own Glow-in-the-Dark Designs — Over and Over Again (2024)

Nine-year-old kids have really come into their own, and they know what types of subjects and hobbies interest them — and which ones do not. They want to be appreciated for their individuality, and it's often fun to pick out gifts for kids that celebrate what makes them unique. But you also have to meet them where they're at developmentally — they're on the brink of being ready for tween gifts and can master more complicated toys and games, but they're not always 100% in control of their emotions yet. "Games like Apples to Apples or What Do You Meme provide silly, structured fun where there is no definite clear, 'right' answer," says Jennifer Rothman, LCSW. "That promotes flexibility, taking different perspectives, handling different opinions and offering more nuance in cognitive, emotional and social gains at this age."

It's not just board games that work well for this age. And the best judge of what will resonate with 9-year-olds is, of course, 9-year-olds themselves. The Good Housekeeping Institute surveys the opinions of kids each year, calling in the newest and hottest toys and sending them out to real families to be tested. The experts simultaneously evaluate the same items to ensure safety and quality. After everyone's opinions were factored in, these rose to the top as the best toys and gifts for 9-year-olds in 2023.

• Educational Insights Kanoodle 3D, $10 on amazon.com
  
• WATINC DIY Squeeze Toys, $12 on amazon.com
• LOL 101: A Kid's Guide to Writing Jokes, $13 on amazon.com
• Force1 Scoot LED Hand Operated Drone, $24 on amazon.com
• Make It Real Mini Pottery Studio, $3o on amazon.com

What were the favorite items? Anything glow-in-the-dark is having a moment. So are DIY kits that let kids show off their newfound mastery, along with educational toys that let them delve deeply into a subject they're interested in.

Looking for more great gifts? Check out these Good Housekeeping guides:

Best Gifts for 9-Year-Old Boys | Best Gifts for 9-Year-Old Girls

Everyone — from elementary schoolers to teens and college kids to even parents and grandparents — can find themselves obsessing over the puzzles in Kanoodle 3D. So it's no wonder that the game is a TikTok sensation, with lots of players posting their #KanoodleChallenge. To play, challenge cards will start a 2D pattern or a 3D shape, and kids have to figure out how to fit in the rest of their pieces using their logic and spatial reasoning. Ages 7+

Sometimes, it's hard to put into words just how much you love your 9-year-old. This journal makes it easy, with fill-in-the-blank prompts that say things like, "Every year on your birthday, I think about ______." When you finish, they'll have a one-of-a-kind gift that'll make them feel special. No age recommendation given

Kids need to use their problem-solving abilities and creative-thinking skills to get through these 200 riddles. The book includes new puzzles along with famed historical ones, like the Riddle of the Sphinx, and if kids get stuck there are hints to help them. Ages 9+

What's better than getting a pack of new squishies? Getting to color in the squishies yourself! This comes with 10 cream-scented squishies that can be colored in and painted in however they like (though the paint and brushes are not included). They can make a one-of-a-kind creation! Ages 4+

The contest is on to see who can create the funniest meme by combining photos and caption cards. Rotating judges award points to the players, so it also helps if you know what makes your family laugh! Ages 8+

It's not just gum — it's science! This kit comes with everything kids need to make a whopping half a pound of bubblegum. They can see if the gum they make themselves helps them blow bigger bubbles. Ages 5+

This night light isn't just a cool lighting effect — it's 3D printed to look like the surface of the moon, giving their rooms spacey vibes. It also lights up in 16 different colors and comes in four different sizes. No age recommendation given

Tie-dye is big. Crocs are back. Why not put them both together? The clogs come in tons of groovy patterns (and also bigger sizes), and you can help kids personalize them even further by gifting them a pack of Jibbitz charms to go with them. Sized for kids 8 – 12

Kid who love figuring out how things work and want to explore the world around them will thrill to dig into this collection of a thousand science-themed facts. From way out in outer space to deep into the human body, this book gives kids insight into how scientists think about what's going on around them. Ages 8 – 12

Now they can practice their penalty kicks even after the sun goes down. LEDs keep this soccer ball illuminated so it's easy to see at night, and if soccer isn't their sport, you can get a football, basketball, tetherball or volleyball. No age recommendation given

Advertised as "photo tricks for your bricks," this kit comes with two LEGO figures and props like wigs, animals and sports equipment that kids can use to come up with different scenes. Along the way, they'll learn about photographic concepts like focus, depth of field and forced perspective, so they'll come away knowing what goes into making a great, dynamic shot. Ages 7+

Any Super Mario Bros. fan will instantly recognize the Piranha Plant design of these plushes — but that's not all they are. Pull them out of the "pipe," and they turn into a pair of fluffy slippers — a power-up if we've ever seen one! No age recommendation given

This is a tee that kids can design themselves — over and over again! It comes with a special light-up pen that kids can use to make a glow-in-the-dark image. After a few minutes, it fades and kids can draw another one. Sized for kids ages 3 – 14