Educational Toys for 8-12 Year Olds

Fun educational toys for 8 to 12-year-olds

What do 8- to 12-year-olds want for their birthday? This question can stump even the most seasoned gift-giver. Most people appreciate the challenges faced by working parents who balance raising children with all the other demands of a busy schedule. Children need something more engaging than binge-watching television and playing video games for hours on end. If you’re the fun relative that wants to give a gift that will delight a child and satisfy their parents at the same time, look no further than tech toys. These gifts are more than capable of capturing a kid's attention and imagination. Tech toys combine fun with education and often promote getting outside with cool gadgetry. Best of all, children can explore these toys on their own or with friends and family.

STEM toys

You might be wondering, "what toys does an 8-year-old boy like?" or "what is a good gift for a 12-year-old girl?" The answer for both is STEM toys. These toys reinforce the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) principles that kids are studying in school. STEM toys are among the best educational toys for 8-year-olds as well as their middle school peers. They're challenging, stimulating and entertaining all at once. Many operate without a connection to devices, so they're a brilliant choice when it's time for a screen break.

Tablets

Tablet computers are toys and educational tools in one portable device. The best kid's tablets feature durability to handle your child's active lifestyle. The range of fun and educational websites and apps keeps growing. Plus, there are educational games specifically designed for tablet use that teach foundational skills. Mastering these interactive games can help lead to academic success in school.

Since you might not be right next to your children while they play on their tablets, built-in parental controls offer peace of mind, ensuring your child won't stumble across content that is not age appropriate. Another weight off your shoulders is knowing that your investment has protection against drops and bumps, which are an inevitable part of childhood. Sturdy cases and other tablet accessories like stylus pens extend the life of the device and help enhance the overall experience of interactive apps.

Robotics

What do you buy an 8- to 12-year-old child who has a creative imagination? Many kids who played with building blocks when they were young will probably enjoy robotics kits now that they are older. These popular toys let kids create different robots and bring them to life.

Some robots include coding elements that enable the robots to move. Kids may not realize they're learning key concepts while programming their robot to complete tasks and challenges because they're happily engrossed in the fun activity. The best part about these high-tech toys is that their designs have kids in mind. For example, many models are scratch- and impact-resistant, which is ideal for high-energy kids.

Outdoor toys

Encouraging kids to spend time outside can be easier than ever with the wide variety of remote-control toys. Children can design courses for their RC cars and trucks to traverse while soaking up that vitamin D. Racing around the driveway or backyard not only burns energy, but also promotes movement. It also exercises their brains while they steer and strategize new obstacles for their vehicles to attempt.

Another outdoor option for adventurous kids is a toy drone. These tech toys can strengthen fine motor skills. They're also a great introduction to more intricate drones that feature crash-resistant construction and sharp cameras for capturing images. However, you might have to remind the kids to let you take a turn in the pilot's seat as you may love these fun flight toys as well.

If you have a budding explorer that craves seeing the world outside of their gaming platform, showing them the rings of Saturn should do the trick. A new telescope is a great gift idea for this age group. You might even find that the entire family enjoys stargazing after the child has become enthralled with the activity. For kids who have interests in what's happening right here on our planet, binoculars are not only fun to play with but useful too. Junior explorers and mini ornithologists alike will be thrilled to use their new gear on fact-finding excursions.

Whether you're birthday shopping for 8-to 12-year-olds or you're tackling holiday wish lists, any of these suggestions are popular gifts for girls and boys. If you're still stumped about what preteen present to buy, many kids who are growing more independent appreciate picking it out themselves. Most kids already have their eyes on something special, which might make it feel harder to figure out what to buy a child in this age range. If all else fails, get them the same thing that you might choose for the grown-ups in your life: a thoughtful gift card in any amount. With the plethora of education tech toys that are available, finding something to make everyone happy should be no problem.