Snap Ships
Snap Ships The home stretch to the holidays is upon us and that means the hunt for great gifts is in full effect! One of the hardest ages to buy for is the 8-year-old crowd, and I know because I have one in the house. It can be a delicate balance as kids enter the age that’s not quite a little kid and just on the cusp of those tween years. The good news is that there are plenty of great choices out there and they run the gamut from cool craft kits and construction sets to awesome action figures and great games that these not-so-little-ones will love as they continue to grow up too fast. Scroll down for some of our curated picks for the best toys for 8-year-olds this holiday season!

The home stretch to the holidays is upon us and that means the hunt for great gifts is in full effect! One of the hardest ages to buy for is the 8-year-old crowd, and I know because I have one in the house. It can be a delicate balance as kids enter the age that's…

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TILE LOCK SCRABBLE

Families' Scrabble words won't be slip slidin' away, thanks to this board's clever tile-lock” design. There are also soft pads on its bottom that allow players to effortlessly slide the board across a table or rotate it for a better view. The compact size of the board, tiles and racks, make the game ideal for…

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  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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ALTER NATION

Alter Nation is a new collection of 6-inch action figures based on an original story about the GK Delta Project and its human-animal hybrid heroes. Each figure comes packed with a mini comic book and accessories. Alter Nation is a new collection of 6-inch action figures based on an original story about the GK Delta…

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  • MSRP:
  • $21.99 DELUXE, $24.99 SUPER-DELUXE
  • Age:
  • 6+

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ARCADE1UP COUNTERCADES

Featuring a tabletop design with commercial-grade construction and coinless operation, the Countercades include original artwork; immersive, full-color, high-res displays and sounds; and full-size joysticks and controls. New games include Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Space Invaders, and Centipede. Featuring a tabletop design with commercial-grade construction and coinless operation, the Countercades include original artwork; immersive, full-color, high-res displays…

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  • MSRP:
  • $199.00
  • Age:
  • 14+

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1:8 R/C APP DRIVER FORD BRONCO

This 22-inch R/C vehicle has features including terrain-dominating suspension, oversized tires, and working lights. Drive with the included joystick-style transmitter OR with the free New Bright App Driver app (free to download) on your wireless device. The app unlocks extra features like speed, light & sound controls and music options. This 22-inch R/C vehicle has…

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  • MSRP:
  • $69.97
  • Age:
  • 8+

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AMERICAN GIRL OF THE YEAR: JOSS

Joss is a fierce surfer girl who never backs down from a challenge and trying something new, like trying out for cheer. The doll includes a paperback book that tells her story and a hearing aid that comes with a carrying case and a brush. Joss is a fierce surfer girl who never backs down…

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  • MSRP:
  • $30-$140
  • Age:
  • 8+

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ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS

Players can create their own paradise on a deserted island with a wealth of natural resources that can be used to craft everything from tools to creature comforts. The time of day and seasons in the game reflect real life so there is always something different to experience and explore.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99; $79.99 CAD
  • Age:
  • 8+

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BATTLEBOTS RIVALS 5.0

Designed as replicas from the TV series, Rotator and DUCK! have motorized weapons, such as discs and a lifting arm, to break off opponents' pieces one by one in battle. The last bot standing wins.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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BEYBLADE BURST RISE HYPERSPHERE VORTEX CLIMB BATTLE SET

This customizable Beystadium has four sections for multiple ways to play. Comes with two Beyblade Burst launchers with Hypersphere battling tops that can climb up ramps and drop in from the Brick Plane for head-to-head collisions.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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BIG BOGGLE

The family-favorite for more than 30 years is back and bigger than ever. For the first time, a “Double Letter” cube makes it easier to form valuable words. Features more cubes and letters than the original game.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.95
  • Age:
  • 8+

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JUST ADD BAKING SODA

This STEAM kit features more than 20 science and arts activities including bath bombs, ornaments, and a baking soda volcano. Kids can discover chemical reactions, states of matter, and more. This STEAM kit features more than 20 science and arts activities including bath bombs, ornaments, and a baking soda volcano. Kids can discover chemical reactions,…

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  • MSRP:
  • $25.95
  • Age:
  • 8+

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KANOODLE COSMIC

Choose from one of the 200 challenges, place the pieces as shown, then use the remaining pieces to finish solving the puzzle. With six asymmetrical shapes that fit in four different ways, this game helps kids develop critical thinking and spatial reasoning skills. Choose from one of the 200 challenges, place the pieces as shown,…

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  • MSRP:
  • $12.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GLOW IN THE DARK MARBLE RUN – 80 PIECE

Kids build a twisting, turning marble run and race incredible glow-in-the-dark marbles! This construction kit features 10 sturdy bases, 55 action pieces, and 135 smooth-run tube pieces to make endless configurations possible.The six different colors of glow-in-the-dark glass marbles can be recharged quickly with the UV light. Marbles can easily be stored when not in…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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PENCIL NOSE

Party game of drawing pictures with your nose while your teammates guess what you're drawing. Encourages family bonding, cooperative play, coordination, creativity, quick thinking, communication skills. Pick a card, fit it into the slot on the board, put on the Pencil Nose, and try drawing the picture. Teammates try to guess what you're drawing -…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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PIKMIN 3 DELUXE

Players command a crop of different types of tiny, plant-like Pikmin to strategically overcome obstacles, defeat creatures, and more in the deluxe edition of the popular adventure game. Players can team up for multiplayer fun in Story or Mission mode or go head-to-head in Bingo Battle. Players command a crop of different types of tiny,…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $59.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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PLINKO

Play The Price Is Right's most popular game at home. Earn Plinko chips by playing pricing games, then take turns stepping up to the 26-inch Plinko board and dropping your chips to score.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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POKÉMON TRADING CARD GAME BATTLE ACADEMY

The latest version of Battle Academy introduces the Pokémon V gameplay mechanic and comes with an updated lineup of Pokémon, including Pikachu, Eevee, and Cinderace.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

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SHIMMER ‘N SPARKLE GLITTER MAKEOVER STUDIO

This collection includes more than 35 makeup colors, brushes, and more for eyes, cheeks, and lips. Comes in a metallic shimmer carry case complete with mirrors for makeovers on the go. This collection includes more than 35 makeup colors, brushes, and more for eyes, cheeks, and lips. Comes in a metallic shimmer carry case complete…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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SNAP CIRCUITS MYHOME

Your home, your power, know how it works! Kids can build real, working circuits and learn how electricity in their home works. Screen-free, tactile, educational, and fun! Whether you live in a city skyscraper or a house in the country, our homes are powered by electricity, and it's easy to learn about. Kids Build a…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $74.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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SNAP SHIPS

Snap Ships is a versatile building system for creating multiple crafts with action play, and all sets and pieces are interchangeable, so kids can build however they want. The Snap Ships set for Sabre includes instruction for three different builds that you assemble yourself and then engage in battle with real shooting weapon play! Sabre…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99-$39.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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WHAT DO YOU MEME? FAMILY EDITION – EXPANSION PACK

Families can create hilarious family-friendly memes with caption and photo cards with this game. Each What Do You Meme? Family Edition game contains 300 caption cards and 64 photo cards.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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YOUNIVERSE ULTIMATE CRYSTAL GROWING LABORATORY

Kids grow their own crystal magic. Learn the science behind nucleation, molecular reactions, and more. Discover how science and style come together by creating sparkling, crystal-growing accessories. Or learn how easy it is to make a rainbow that shines no matter the weather with a simple chemical reaction. Kids grow their own crystal magic. Learn…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $21.97-$29.99; $29.99 CAD
  • Age:
  • 8+

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About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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