Best picks for Ages 8–12

Family board games, STEM kits, first TCG decks, model kits, and the gateway to lifelong hobbies.

Other age ranges:Teens (13–17)Adults (18+)

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Board Games16 Cards & Party12 Tabletop & Wargames3 Puzzles & Brain4 Collectibles & Stickers10 STEM, Model & Maker19 Heritage & World Games10 Screen-Free Audio & Sleep9 Outdoor & Active10

Board Games16 picks

Ticket to Ride

Board Games - Gateway & Family

$49

Azul

Board Games - Gateway & Family

$36

Splendor

Board Games - Gateway & Family

$32

7 Wonders Duel

Board Games - Two-Player

$35

Carcassonne

Board Games - Gateway & Family

$35

Patchwork

Board Games - Two-Player

$28

Jaipur

Board Games - Two-Player

$22

Wingspan

Board Games - Heavy Strategy

$60

Hive (Pocket Edition)

Board Games - Two-Player

$25

Under Falling Skies

Board Games - Solo Mode

$28

Sky Team

Board Games - Cooperative

$15

Spirit Island: Base Game

Board Games - Solo Mode

$60

Terraforming Mars

Board Games - Heavy Strategy

$70

Azul Duel

Board Games - Two-Player

$20

Wingspan

Board Games - Gateway & Family

$55

Final Girl: Starter Set (Core + Happy Trails)

Board Games - Solo Mode

$70

Cards & Party12 picks

Codenames

Card & Party Games

$20

Skull

Card & Party Games

$22

Steve Jackson Games Zombie Dice

Dice Games

$19.95

Disney Lorcana Starter Deck

Trading Card Games

$25

TENZI Party Pack Dice Game (6 Sets of 10 Colored Dice)

Dice Games

$28.95

Gamewright Qwixx Fast Family Dice Game

Dice Games

$11.99

Just One

Card & Party Games

$25

Hasbro Yahtzee Classic Dice Game

Dice Games

$21.80

Monikers Party Game

Card & Party Games

$36

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Elite Trainer Box

Trading Card Games

$59

Yu-Gi-Oh! Starter Deck

Trading Card Games

$10

Magic: The Gathering Foundations Beginner Box

Trading Card Games

$129

Tabletop & Wargames3 picks

Dungeons & Dragons 5e Starter Set

Tabletop RPG (D&D & More)

$20

Pathfinder 2e Beginner Box

Tabletop RPG (D&D & More)

$36

Shadowdark RPG Quickstart Set

Tabletop RPG (D&D & More)

$50

Puzzles & Brain4 picks

GAN 356 M Magnetic Speed Cube

Brain Teasers & Mechanical Puzzles

$35

ThinkFun Gravity Maze

Brain Teasers & Mechanical Puzzles

$32

Rubik's Cube (3x3 Classic)

Brain Teasers & Mechanical Puzzles

$12

Unidragon Wooden Puzzle Nature Mountain (500pc, King)

Premium Jigsaw Puzzles

$85

Collectibles & Stickers10 picks

Squishmallow 12-Inch Flagship Character

Plush - Collector Grade

$25

Funko Pop Star Wars: Grogu

Funko Pop & Designer Vinyl

$11

Steiff Classic Original Teddy

Plush - Collector Grade

$150

Jellycat Bashful Bunny (Large)

Plush - Collector Grade

$50

Funko Pop Marvel: Iron Man

Funko Pop & Designer Vinyl

$11

Build-A-Bear Workshop 16-Inch Bear

Plush - Collector Grade

$35

Topps NHL 2024-25 Hockey Sticker Collection Album

Sticker Albums & Trading Stickers

$9.99

Jellycat Amuseables Happy Boiled Egg

Plush - Collector Grade

$28

Panini NBA Basketball 2023-24 Sticker Album + Card Holder

Sticker Albums & Trading Stickers

$44.00

Klutz Make Your Own Puffy Stickers Craft Kit

Sticker Albums & Trading Stickers

$18.57

STEM, Model & Maker19 picks

Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100

STEM Kits - Ages 8-12

$32

Elmer's All-in-One Cloud Slime Kit

Craft, Slime & Sensory Kits

Bandai RG Strike Freedom Gundam

Model Kits - Gunpla & Plastic

$32

Crayola Inspiration Art Case (140 pieces, Space Theme)

Craft, Slime & Sensory Kits

$26.99

Perler Beads Assorted Multicolor Fuse Beads (11,000 pcs)

Craft, Slime & Sensory Kits

$26.99

Bandai HG Barbatos Lupus Rex

Model Kits - Gunpla & Plastic

$20

Adafruit Circuit Playground Express

STEM Electronics - Teen & Adult

$30

LEGO Education BricQ Motion Prime

STEM Kits - Ages 8-12

$110

Thames & Kosmos Kids First: Intro to Tools & Building

STEM Kits - Ages 8-12

$24/mo

Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB)

STEM Electronics - Teen & Adult

$80

Kinetic Sand Beach Sand Kingdom Playset (3 lb)

Craft, Slime & Sensory Kits

$32.94

National Geographic Mega Crystal Growing Kit

STEM Kits - Ages 8-12

$30

Sphero BOLT+

STEM Kits - Ages 8-12

$24

Marvin's Magic Made Easy Box of Tricks (225 Illusions)

Magic Kits & Tricks

$25.99

Ideal Magic Spectacular Magic Suitcase (100 Tricks)

Magic Kits & Tricks

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Solid-Wood Magic Set (10 Classic Tricks)

Magic Kits & Tricks

$43.86

Arduino Starter Kit (Official)

STEM Electronics - Teen & Adult

$110

Marvin's Magic 125 Amazing Magic Tricks for Children

Magic Kits & Tricks

National Geographic Mega Slime Kit & Putty Lab

Craft, Slime & Sensory Kits

$31.99

Heritage & World Games10 picks

AMEROUS 15" Magnetic Wooden Chess Set (Folding Travel Board)

Chess Sets

$29.99

Best Chess Set Ever 3X Tournament Modern Chess Set

Chess Sets

$44.99

AMEROUS Upgraded Wooden Mancala (Folding Board + Glass Stones)

Heritage & World Games

$26.99

American Mah Jongg Set - 166 Tiles + 4 Racks (NMJL-spec)

Heritage & World Games

$149.95

The House of Staunton The World's Greatest Chess Set (Quadruple Weighted, Black)

Chess Sets

$37.99

Parcheesi Royal Edition (Winning Moves)

Heritage & World Games

$26.99

Chess and Games Shop Muba Wooden Tournament Chess Set (Essen Staunton)

Chess Sets

$129.90

AMEROUS Magnetic Travel Go Set (19×19 Folding Board)

Heritage & World Games

$21.99

Carrom Co. Carrom Board (135-year recipe)

Heritage & World Games

$139.99

Wegiel Handmade European Professional Tournament Chess Set (21" Folding Wooden Board)

Chess Sets

$84.99

Screen-Free Audio & Sleep9 picks

Disney Baloo Tonie Character (Jungle Book Songs + Story)

Screen-Free Audio Players

$19.99

Yoto Player (3rd Gen) + Make-Your-Own Card

Screen-Free Audio Players

Yoto Mini (2024) + Make-Your-Own Card

Screen-Free Audio Players

$79.99

LectroFan EVO Non-Looping Sound Machine

Sleep Tech - White Noise & Sleep Aids

$65.95

Magicteam White Noise Sound Machine (20 Sounds)

Sleep Tech - White Noise & Sleep Aids

$21.99

Yogasleep Dohm Classic White Noise Machine

Sleep Tech - White Noise & Sleep Aids

$49.00

Toniebox 2 Audio Player Starter Set (with Playtime Puppy)

Screen-Free Audio Players

$132.97

Hatch Rest 2nd Gen - Baby Sleep Sound Machine + Story Player

Screen-Free Audio Players

Yogasleep Hushh Portable Sound Machine

Sleep Tech - White Noise & Sleep Aids

$25.99

Outdoor & Active10 picks

JOOLA Essentials Pickleball Paddles Set (2 Paddles + 4 Balls + Bag)

Pickleball Sets

$136.24

niupipo Wood Pickleball Paddles Set (2 Paddles + 4 Balls + Bag)

Pickleball Sets

Kan Jam Original Disc Toss Game (American Made)

Lawn & Outdoor Games

Franklin Sports X-40 Outdoor Pickleballs (Multi-Pack)

Pickleball Sets

GoSports 100mm Regulation Bocce Ball Set (8 Balls + Pallino + Case)

Lawn & Outdoor Games

$54.99

Spikeball Standard 3-Ball Kit (Roundnet Game Set)

Lawn & Outdoor Games

A11N SPORTS Portable Pickleball Net (22 ft Regulation, with Carry Bag)

Pickleball Sets

$49.99

SWOOC Games Kubb Yard Game Set (Premium Hardwood Viking Chess, with Wood Crate)

Lawn & Outdoor Games

$69.99

ONIX Graphite Stryker Pickleball Paddle

Pickleball Sets

GoSports 4 ft x 2 ft Regulation Wooden Cornhole Set (with 8 Bags + Case)

Lawn & Outdoor Games

$149.67