Buying gifts for 8-year-old boys is an experience in itself. With so many passions and interests that appeal to boys of this age, from dinosaurs to ninjas to spies to creepy crawlies, there are endless opportunities to give him a gift he’ll absolutely love.
In my experience, boys around the age of 8 love toys that teach them things and keep them stimulated, even if they don’t know they’re learning! There are so many brilliant STEM toys on the market that teach children crucial skills while also letting them have a ball as they design, create, build, and play. So if you’re wondering what 8-year-old boys are into right now, anything that will help him to discover something new or learn a new skill will go down an absolute treat. Check out these brilliant gifts that 8-year-old boys in the UK will adore.
1. Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course Line
One of the best toys to buy an 8-year-old for their birthday
For an active little boy, there’s no better gift than an obstacle course line. These come with fun and challenging activities that are said to help develop coordination while also keeping the mind and body active. It’s the perfect opportunity for him to have fun in the fresh air away from the screen!
If you’re looking for other outdoor gifts for an 8-year-old boy, you could also consider some portable football goals to set up in the backyard. Or even a good vintage seesaw is guaranteed to make him smile!
2. Go-Karting Race Experience
A thoughtful present an 8-year-old will remember
Go-karting is the ultimate experience for the adrenaline-seeking child! By getting him a gift voucher to go karting, you’ll guarantee a day of fun that he’ll be talking about for months after. There are locations to use your voucher all over Britain, making this one of the best presents for 8-year-old boys in the UK.
You could get a voucher for two if you or someone else would like to go go-karting with him. Or if you like the idea of go-karting but want to keep the gift at home, you could even consider an outdoor racer.
3. Smartphone-Controlled Paper Airplane
Guaranteed to impress any 8-year-old
Paper airplanes have been bringing joy to children for generations. These days, you can see a similar smile on your son’s face with a smartphone-controlled airplane. User-friendly and fun to operate, these will get him having fun outdoors while also learning about flight and technology.
This paper plane is one of the easiest to use, making it a great choice for a beginner and one of the best presents for an 8-year-old boy. You could also gift a night flight kit with your plane so your 8-year-old can fly it in the dark and watch it glow!
4. Slam Dunk Laundry Basket
A truly great gift for an 8-year-old boy
Yes, every parent in the UK wants one of these for their child! A slam dunk laundry basket is a gift made in heaven. Not only will it give your 8-year-old the chance to practice his basketball skills and challenge himself on the regular, but it’ll also encourage him to actually put clothes in the laundry basket! Win-win.
If he does love basketball, there are plenty of other gifts that are sure to please him too, from his very own basketball to an outdoor basketball hoop.
5. Dinosaur Projector
One of the most unusual gifts for 8-year olds in the UK
A dinosaur projector is guaranteed to please the little dino lover in your life. These gadgets project a fearsome dinosaur onto the wall to protect and watch over the room. Because of this, they also make great sleeping aids for children who have trouble going to bed at night or who are afraid of the dark.
There are also plenty of other gifts for boys the age of 8 who love dinosaurs, from a gigantic dinosaur yard sprinkler to a glow-in-the-dark T-rex model to assemble.
6. LEGO Robot
The best LEGO STEM gift for an 8-year-old boy
Educational and super-exciting, a LEGO robot is the type of gift an 8-year-old boy will rave to all his friends about. Most of these robots are controlled by easy-to-use apps and can do everything from walking to talking. As well as teaching him about building, a LEGO robot can also be a friend to your 8-year-old!
The LEGO Robot Inventor Robotics Kit is the perfect birthday gift for an 8-year-old boy which will help him to build essential STEM skills. There’s also the LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox, which allows kids to build and control multifunctional robots.
7. Portable Drum Mat
An awesome musical gift idea for an 8-year-old boy
Do you know an 8-year-old boy with an aptitude for music? Then he’ll love a portable drum mat! These prepare kids for a real drum kit and often come with pre-set tones, rhythms, and songs that kids can practice to. It’s the first step to becoming a rock star and teaches essential musical skills such as coordination and timing!
If you feel that a child is ready for a real drum kit, they also make wonderful birthday and Christmas gifts. Otherwise, a tambourine is another percussion instrument that can help him to develop a love of music.
8. Nerf Blaster
A super-cool birthday gift for an 8-year-old boy
Let your 8-year-old’s imagination run wild with his very own nerf blaster. These toys allow him to engage in creative make-believe play while also being active. And despite being blasters, they’re totally safe for play alone or with others!
Any little boy would love this blaster thanks to its cool T-rex design. Otherwise, for boys who like toys that allow them to run around outside, you could also consider a sports vortex.
9. Throw Throw Burrito
A super-fun game for 8-year-olds
Throw Throw Burrito is one of the best games to gift an 8-year-old boy. What little kid wouldn’t love throwing burritos while playing a competitive card game? This is a particularly great gift to buy for a birthday since it makes for a very amusing party game!
Like Throw Throw Burrito, Throw Throw Avo is another hilarious choice for boys who have jumped on society’s avocado-loving bandwagon. You could also look at the funny A Game of Cat and Mouth for a unique party or family board game.
10. Sleuth & Solve History Book
One of the most addictive books for 8-year-old boys
For mystery-lovers and budding detectives, the Sleuth & Solve history book will provide endless hours of entertainment and stimulation. This book teaches fascinating historical facts while also letting kids work on their investigative and problem-solving skills.
If you like the idea of a history book, you could also look at the Quick History of the Universe, which is bursting with captivating facts. Otherwise, the spooky edition of Sleuth & Solve makes a brilliant gift for an 8-year-old boy too!
11. The Genius Star
The best single-player board game for kids
While family board games make great gifts too, single-player board games are sometimes necessary for when a child has no one to play with. One of the most popular logical single-player board games is The Genius Star, a challenging yet exciting puzzle game that helps to develop logical thinking!
Similarly, The Genius Square is another single-player board game you might like to consider for a present. Alternatively, a geography puzzle will encourage logical thinking and problem-solving skills.
12. Remote-Controlled Snake
One of the best toys for 8-year-old kids
Imagine the pranks he can play with this! A remote-controlled snake is the perfect toy for an 8-year-old boy who loves to scare people, but it’s also pretty neat for the kid who just wishes he could have a real snake.
Just like snakes, dragons are also high on the priority lists of many young boys, so a remote-controlled dragon pet often makes the perfect gift too. If you can stand to look at it, a battery-powered spider is another option!
13. Maps of the United Kingdom Book
A great present for 8-year-old boys who are curious
Curious minds need lots of stimulation! With a Maps of the United Kingdom book, your 8-year-old can learn about his surroundings with bite-sized pieces of information. This book will soothe his appetite for knowledge and help him to develop an appreciation of his home, making it one of the best presents for 8-year-olds in the UK.
For an 8-year-old boy who loves reading about Britain, you could also look at the Big Book of UK. And for a more interactive book, you could consider a geographical colouring book!
14. Magic Tricks Set
One of the best gifts for 8-year-old boys who love playing pranks
Magic tricks will never go out of fashion. With his own magic tricks set, your 8-year-old will spend hours discovering new tricks and impressing his family and friends with what he’s learned. Most kits come with a combination of the classic gags and some new favourites.
This magic set is a bestseller thanks to the whopping 225 magic tricks it comes with. A card trick set also makes for a brilliant gift that any 8-year-old boy will be addicted to.
15. Space Lab Science Kit
A creative STEM toy for 8-year-old boys
If your 8-year-old is already taking an interest in science, he’ll be addicted to a space lab science kit. The perfect introduction to the solar system, this kit will allow him to launch his own rocket, make slime, and even create his very own solar system! A few hours with this present and he’ll have all the names of the planets memorised!
Alternatively, you could look at the Giant Science Lab or even a robot STEM toy for other gifts that encourage scientific thinking.
16. Coding Robot
A fun and educational toy for 8-year-olds
Coding robots are among the best educational toys for kids because they can help kids to develop critical thinking skills. They also introduce other coding concepts which may be useful later in life. The best part is kids won’t see this as an educational toy–just a lot of fun!
This coding robot is among the highest sellers and can be programmed for up to 80 steps in one single sequence. You might also like to look at a robot dog or another robot pet as an alternative gift idea for an 8-year-old boy.
17. Kids Vs Parents Game
A fast family board game
Sometimes, the best gift you can give a child is family time. I still have the fondest memories of playing board games with my family, and a game like Kids Vs Parents is the perfect choice to foster some family time. The card game is set up around two teams who compete against each other to answer questions, paving the way for lots of laughs!
Alternatively, there are also plenty of other family board games and card games on the market, two of the most popular being Meltdown and Articulate.
18. Personalised Backpack
The type of present an 8-year-old boy will always keep
Backpacks are essential for kids, whether they’re taken to school or on vacation. While an 8-year-old boy might be too old for backpacks aimed at younger children, he will love a personalised backpack with his name on it. Most of the backpacks on Etsy are a great size and will allow him to carry all the necessities to and from his destination without putting strain on his back or shoulders.
This corduroy retro backpack is a particularly unique style that an 8-year-old boy would love. You could complement this gift with a personalised drink bottle to fit right inside the backpack!
19. Kids Edition Tablet
An impressive Christmas gift for 8-year-old boys
Tablets can provide endless entertainment for children, and are probably one of the most sought-after presents for 8-year-old boys in the UK. While they’re a lot of fun thanks to the programs on offer, they also teach kids vital technical skills that they’ll need for using devices later in life.
This kids tablet is one of the most popular and is suited to children over the age of 6, making it an ideal present for an 8-year-old. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a device-like gift that’s a little more retro, you could consider some old-fashioned walkie talkies.
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