While looking for a toy for an 8-year-old, parents need to consider several factors, including their interests and abilities. In this article, we will be sharing some of the best educational toys for 8-year-olds that make learning an enjoyable process. Children of this age usually go through an exponential growth spurt mentally, physically, and cognitively. And introducing them to these games can boost their critical thinking, problem-solving skills, intelligence, emotional skills, and reasoning. Moreover, the toys can encourage children to challenge themselves and keep them entertained for longer. You can also introduce your child to various science kits, crafts, construction kits, and solar system models through these toys. These toys help garner their interest and attention and make an excellent educational tool. To help you pick the right one, we have compiled a list of some popular educational toys apt for eight-year-olds.

13 Best Educational Toys For 8 Year Olds

1. Best Award-Winning: Osmo Genius Starter Kit For Fire Tablet – Classic

The award-winning educational game allows children to interact with actual handheld pieces and a Fire Tablet, which needs to be bought separately. It enables hands-on learning through five different apps— in Tangram, puzzle pieces have to be arranged to match shapes on the screen, while in Newton, items have to be placed in front of the screen, or lines are drawn to solve physics puzzles. Creative drawing skills are encouraged in Masterpiece, spelling, and vocabulary are enhanced in Words, while tiles are counted and multiplied to pop bubbles in Numbers. This educational toy for eight-year-olds has games that graduate from beginner to expert levels and give audio and visual feedback to children. Here’s a video to help you know more about this product. Pros

Doesn’t require a wifi connection Includes Osmo base and reflector Real-time audio and visual feedback Stackable storage Stress-free learning

Cons

Some may find the directions difficult to follow May experience slight technical glitches

 

2. Best For Nature Learning: Dan&Darci Light-Up Terrarium Kit

Children are amazed by this miniature garden growing in a container and learn to appreciate the wonders of nature, science, and life. This all-inclusive kit helps them create their own terrarium that glows at night and grows by the day, thanks to the LED light under the lid. Just switch on the light and watch your terrarium turn into a beautiful lighted garden. The kit includes a 4×6 inches terrarium jar with a light-up jar lid, vermiculite soil, river rocks, chia seeds, blue sand, wheatgrass, a micro USB charging cable, an instruction booklet, small mushroom and bunny miniatures, a spray bottle, removable stickers for decoration, and a wooden stick for planting the seeds. Pros

Can be used as a night lamp Ideal for ages six and up Fast-growing grass Easy to set up Suitable for room decoration

Cons

Some may find the terrarium hard to maintain Length of the charging cable may be small

3. Best For Fine Motor Skills: Hahaland Race Tracks

The toy for eight-year-olds helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination and helps children understand the relationship between cause and effect. It comprises a large track with three mini toy cars— an ambulance, police car, and fire engine that must be guided through obstacles and eight challenges. This set has an in-built mechanical linkage track and six buttons to help you pass the challenges. It is designed with bright colors to stimulate children’s color perception and visual skills. Made of premium, non-toxic ABS plastic material, non-toxic water-based paint, and smooth corners and edges, it’s safe for children. Pros

Doesn’t require batteries Lightweight Easy to assemble Suitable for group play

Cons

Some may find the cars a bit flimsy Some may find it noisy

 

4. Best Weather Experiments: 4M Weather Science Kit

Challenge your child’s mind and help them understand how the weather works with six enthralling activities. Children can make clouds in their palms, understand how lightning is caused by static electricity, study acid rain and the greenhouse effect, build a water cycle model on the desktop, and watch wind produced by air currents. This toy for eight-year-olds gives them a fun, hands-on way of learning about the intriguing world of green energy as they record weather patterns by building a workable weather station. This toy of the award-winning Green Science line familiarizes children with green concepts and includes tools for weather experiments and instructions. For a more detailed review of this product, here’s a video. Pros

Easy to set up Ideal for school projects Accredited by STEM.ORG Easy-to-follow instructions

Cons

May require adult supervision Some of the pieces may be small

5. Best For Developing Spelling Skills: Liwin Let’s Go! Spelling Game

This educational toy for eight-year-olds comprises 52 colorful lowercase letters and 28 double-sided word cards to develop children’s right and left brains and strengthen their ability to recognize lowercase letters. Children learn through games, cartoons, and vivid and vibrant illustrations as they see a picture and try to spell the word. It cultivates an interest in learning and also enhances word recognition and hand-eye coordination. Cognitive skills, reading and spelling skills, concentration, and color recognition are all boosted with this game. It’s made of high-quality cardboard with a wooden core, and soft paper has rounded edges, can be easily grasped, and is non-toxic and safe for children. This wooden puzzle comes with a storage bag so that no pieces go missing. Pros

Develops vocabulary Thick wooden blocks Dashed letters for reference writing Large flashcards

Cons

Some may find the paint chipping off Some may find the letters small

 

6. Best For Hand-Eye Coordination: The Toy Pal Engineering Building Toys Set

The innovative toy for eight-year-olds enables them to build their own airplane, helicopter, racing car, motorcycle, construction truck, sling van, and robot. This seven-in-one toy comprises 163 pieces and has colored illustrations and instructions to guide you in your construction. It boosts interest in learning and fosters their analytical mind. This toy is specially designed to develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, and logical thinking. It also promotes collaboration and teamwork, social skills, imagination, and creativity through interactive play. It’s child and environment-friendly, easy to clean, and includes a sturdy storage box. Made of safe and high-quality material, you can buy this set for your child with complete confidence as it conforms to high safety standards. Pros

STEM learning toy Strong and sturdy models Non-toxic and BPA-free Flexible rubber parts Long-lasting

Cons

Some may find it difficult to follow the instructions Some bolts may not stay tight

7. Best Solar-Powered Design: Uustar DIY Educational Solar Robot Kit

This solar robot kit is an ideal STEM toy for eight-year-olds who can build 13 different kinds of robots which can move both on land and water. This toy is great for enhancing manual dexterity, teamwork, self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and the spirit of scientific exploration. This solar-powered toy comes with a solar power panel that collects solar heat energy to make the machine run smoothly and doesn’t require batteries. It includes stickers, a step-by-step instruction book, and all the pieces to make the robot. They are crafted with non-toxic and harmless ABS material and are sturdy and durable. It’s an ideal educational gift for children with a scientific bent of mind. Pros

DIY learning activity Helps to learn about renewable energy Develops interest in robotics Promotes parent-child interaction Enhances engineering and math skills

Cons

Some may find it difficult to assemble May have many small parts

 

8. Best Easy-To-Assemble: Kearui Robot Dog

This robotic dog is as close to a real dog if you don’t have one or you want your child to get comfortable with dogs. It barks when you touch its tail, and the light in its eyes changes with sound as it moves forward to interact with your child. This 35-piece smart robotic dog responds to commands and senses gestures— it can walk, slide, bark, sleep, yawn, move forward, and move backward. All the accessories to assemble the toy are available as per the manual, which makes it simple for children to assemble. This toy for eight-year-olds enhances eye-hand coordination, logical thinking, building skills, and creativity. Made with premium quality, non-toxic ABS plastic material, the pieces are sturdy, durable, and completely safe for children. Pros

STEM learning toy Powerful touch sensor Voice-control technology Smooth surface Interactive dance and patrol function

Cons

May require adult help to assemble Some may find the parts flimsy

 

9. Best For Improving Logical Thinking: SpringFlower Fort Building Kit

Foster the architect in your child as they build forts, castles, towers, tents, and tunnels with this fort-building kit. This STEM kit comprises 120 components— 64 long rods, 20 extend connectors, and 30 magic balls with holes to insert the rods. Children can build it alone or with friends or family and develop their imagination, creativity, and logical thinking, as they enjoy the challenge of construction. Once the structure is complete, children can put a sheet over it and create a hidden space for themselves. This toy for eight-year-olds can be used indoors and outdoors and comes with detailed instructions. Children can start with simple structures and move towards more complex structures. Pros

Lightweight and sturdy Made of durable ABS plastic Conforms to US toy safety standards ASTM F963 Doesn’t topple over

Cons

Connectors might be a bit flimsy May require adult supervision

 

10. Best For Brain Development: Tenhitoys Dinosaur Planet

Kids can get a clear understanding of Triceratops and T-Rex by assembling the parts themselves, and it also makes great crafts teaching equipment. It’s a hands-on activity that boosts their concentration, brain development, and imagination and reduces their screen time. The toy for eight-year-olds features three different dinosaurs with 51 pieces, and children can mix all the pieces together to make it more complex or to create their own unique dinosaur to hone their creativity and imagination. The parts are made of premium ABS material, have smooth edges, and are just the right size for children to build dinosaurs without hurting their hands. Pros

Ideal for multiple players Easy-to-turn screws Interchangeable parts Non-toxic material

Cons

Some may find them smaller than expected May be slightly complicated

 

11. Best For STEM Learning: Koviti Science Kit

Make science more real for your child with this educational toy for eight-year-olds that allows them to create magical and mysterious phenomena like volcanic eruptions, candle-absorbing water, milk animation, and rainbow rain, to name a few. It features 30 simple and kid-friendly instruction cards for budding scientists to build confidence and a spirit of discovery and exploration while performing experiments in seven exciting categories. All the supplies required for the 30 experiments are included— eight bottles of chemical materials, six balloons, seven measuring cups, four large test tubes with scales, five measuring spoons, three droppers, a funnel, a candle, a table tennis ball, and goggles. This STEM kit brings science to life as the kids would need to do everything hands-on. Pros

Made with safe materials Easy to setup and use Comes with detailed instruction cards Helps to understand chemistry basics

Cons

Some may find the instructions confusing Some experiments may not be challenging enough

 

12. Best For Developing Practical Skills: Henoda Robot Building Kit

The STEM educational toy for eight-year-olds comprises 468+ blocks along with cool stickers and gives them the joy of constructing while promoting hand-eye coordination, imagination, motor skills, and practical skills. The robot can move in all directions, perform 360° stunts, and features glowing eyes and flexible rotating hand and head joints. The robot can be controlled by an app on a smartphone or with the included 2.4GHz remote control that has a range of over 20 meters. It features four remote control modes— voice control, path, gravity sensor, and programming mode that is easy and simple to use. It features a colorful step-by-step manual to assemble the robot with red boxes or arrows to mark each step. All the parts are made of non-toxic, sturdy, and durable ABS material and have smooth edges and surfaces for the safety of children. Pros

Built-in rechargeable batteries Works for 40min on full charge Powerful motor Can program routes for robot Easy to assemble Helps promote parent-child interaction Lightweight remote control

Cons

Some tiny pieces may be hard to connect Some may not like the voice-control feature

 

13. Best For Improving Memory: Zilloden 2-In-1 Educational Game

Specially designed for the educational requirements of children, this two-in-one matching game helps children recognize objects looking at pictures, or spell out words with letter cubes. This innovative educational toy for eight-year-olds enhances critical and logical thinking, and lays a solid language foundation for your child. The matching pictures and words build cognitive thinking, improve memory skills, social skills, and improve spelling and word recognition, as children are able to establish a connection between objects and their names. This game comes with one matching tray, 20 number blocks, ten letter cubes, five mathematical symbol blocks, and 32 picture cards so that children learn object identification, alphabetic recognition, and how to form and spell words. Children can have loads of fun while learning in the process. Pros

Durable plastic base Thick blocks with smooth edges Easy to use and learn Bright and colorful pictures

Cons

Some may find the picture cards thin May not be challenging for some children

  Now that you have been through our review of the 13 best educational toys for 8 year olds, let us give you a few tips on how to choose the right toy so that your child has both fun and a great learning experience.

How To Choose The Right Educational Toys For 8 Year Olds

Skill based and imaginative

At this age, children like toys that build skills, encourage imaginative and creative play, and introduce them to new hobbies. They also want it to be fun and enjoyable as that makes a new challenge less threatening. They like to spend a good amount of time playing games that develop skills and improve competency, and give them opportunities to interact with friends socially. Arts and crafts, music, team games, and social games all work well with this age group.

Keep them simple

Toys that don’t allow a child to use their own creativity and imagination tend to get boring for them. Stuffed animals and dolls that talk or sing don’t allow the child to direct the action and are limiting as far as the child is concerned. Toys like blocks allow children to be spontaneous, creative, and exercise their logical and critical thinking.

Avoid electronic toys and video games

It’s impossible to keep children completely away from computers and other electronic gadgets. Such toys do not encourage children to think independently and can affect their attention span. Children who have an excess of electronic toys are not able to focus on a non-moving toy or a book.

Review them properly

A lot of toys claim to be educational and play on parents’ fears that compel them to buy these toys as they fear their child may fall behind. Some of these toys are fine but many claim to enhance brain development and create language experts, scientists, and mathematicians. You need to review them properly and ensure that they promote creativity and not get carried away by gizmos and flashy gadgets.

Personal interests of the child

Try to get a toy which caters to the interests of the child. Children of this age usually like toys that encourage large muscle activities like roller blading, biking, and ball games, or fine motor activities like jigsaw puzzles, drawing or wood work. They also enjoy toys that make use of reading, writing and simple math, nature, drawing, music, dance, crafts, and simple science.

Learning toys

Toys that employ simple strategies and rules, word, match, and spelling games, puzzles, balance and scales, and mechanical models with levers, pulleys, and pendulums offer great learning opportunities to children. Science and weather kits, models of the solar system,  human body, and physical world, science and weather kits all arouse curiosity and are perfect as educational toys. A microscope, binoculars, or telescope, protractor and calculator, apps or hand-held games for teaching graphics, math, story or music writing also are a good balance of learning and enjoyment.

Safety

Make sure the toys adhere to the strictest standards of safety and are made of non-toxic materials, have no sharp points or edges, and carry the required safety gear.

Why Trust MomJunction?

Educational toys help to enhance the intelligence, critical thinking, and emotional skills in growing children. Based on the needs and interests of children, our in-house writer and product reviewer, Priti Bose, handpicked the best educational toys for eight-year-olds that will entertain and educate them. After an extensive online study, she described every recommended product in detail, discussing its features and benefits. Priti also provided a buying guide highlighting the factors to consider when purchasing these toys for your kid.

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