Finding a gift for an 8 year old is harder than it looks. Whether you need a gift for an 8 year old boy or a gift for an 8 year old girl, you soon notice they sit right between two worlds: the toys from a few years ago feel babyish, and the rest is still too difficult or comes with a screen. What nearly always works at this age is something they can make things with themselves. Below are seven ideas, each with a note on which child it suits.

What an 8 year old can do and wants

An 8 year old is in Year 3 or 4. They can read instructions on their own, work on one thing for half an hour or longer, and want a result that really looks like something. That makes this a good age for gifts you build, draw or solve things with.

Two things to keep in mind. Don't buy too easy: something that is finished in ten minutes ends up in the cupboard. And look at what the child already does. A child who is always drawing gets more out of drawing supplies than a construction set, however nice it is.

7 creative gifts for an 8 year old

1. A 3D pen

With a 3D pen you don't draw on paper but in the air: the filament hardens and afterwards you can actually hold your drawing. For an 8 year old that is just the right level of difficulty. The first shapes work out the same afternoon, and there is enough to keep them going for years. The wireless 3D pen starter kit uses PCL filament at low temperature, is suitable from 6 years and is CE-marked. It comes with a video course of twenty videos, so your child can get started on their own.

2. Drawing and racing in one

For children who love cars there is a version where you draw a vehicle with the pen and click it onto a little wind-up car. Then it really drives. Fun with friends, because everyone wants to know who drew the fastest bus. You will find the Race Kit with the 3D pens.

3. An add-on for a child who already has a 3D pen

If the child already has a pen, something to go with it is a safe choice. A template book with tracing sheet offers new examples to trace. With the moving animal stencils your child builds animals that can really move. A box of new filament is always welcome, just check the type: the wireless pens use PCL.

4. An LCD drawing tablet

An LCD drawing tablet is a screen without apps: you draw on it with a stylus and wipe everything with one button. Handy in the car and at the grandparents' house, because you don't need to bring pens or paper. A good small gift for a child who draws everywhere.

5. A logic game that grows with them

8 year olds like puzzles that have a real answer. Look for a game with challenges in increasing levels, so the child can carry on without you sitting next to them. Check the age on the box: many logic games are meant for ages 4 to 8, which puts an 8 year old at the top end.

6. A craft box you put together yourself

This is the gift for anyone who wants to give something personal. Take a sturdy box and fill it with things you don't normally have at home: googly eyes, washi tape, a good pair of scissors, coloured card, pipe cleaners. For little money you have a box that keeps a child busy for weeks. For ideas on what to make with it, see autumn crafts with children.

7. An afternoon of making something together

Write on a card that the two of you will spend an afternoon building, baking or doing woodwork. 8 year olds often like that attention more than the gift itself. Add something small to unwrap and it is complete.

Birthday or Christmas

For a classmate's birthday a small gift is enough, such as a drawing tablet or a template book. For Christmas, or for your own child, a starter kit with a 3D pen can be the main present. You will find more ideas for the festive season in our collection of Christmas gifts.

Frequently asked questions

What is a nice gift for an 8 year old?

Something the child can make things with, such as a 3D pen, a drawing tablet or a craft box. At this age children want a real result and can follow instructions on their own.

Is a 3D pen suitable for an 8 year old?

Yes. The wireless 3D pens from Fits4Kids use PCL filament at low temperature and are suitable from 6 years. An 8 year old can draw with it largely on their own, with an adult nearby.

What do you give an 8 year old who already has everything?

Something that gets used up or something you do together. A box of craft supplies, new filament for the 3D pen or an afternoon of building something together.

Is there a difference between a gift for an 8 year old boy and one for a girl?

Less than you might think. Look at what the child likes doing: drawing, building or puzzling. Creative gifts like a 3D pen suit both.

Do you know which child you are buying for: a drawer, a builder or a puzzler? Then you also know which gift it will be.