Shopping for kids can be stressful! I always write my gift guides for the aunt (or cousin, or grandma, or friend) out there like me. The one who knows exactly what her own kids would love at their current ages but feels lost when it comes to any other age. So if you have an 8 year old girl in your life, this list of gifts for 8 year old girls is for you.

These are things we’ve had success with first hand when my girls were 8, plus a few well-researched picks. Kids have different interests, and some lean artistic while others dig athletics, so pick the one that feels like the best fit and feel confident it will be met with a smile!

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Shop by category:

• Outdoor and Active
• STEM and Learning
• Art and Crafts
• Cozy Gifts for Her Room
• Books and Brain Games
• For the 8 Year Old Who Has Everything

The Best Gifts for 8 Year Old Girls

Outdoor and Active Gifts for 8 Year Old Girls

Spider Web Tree Swing

Whether she prefers to sit or stand, this tree swing has a roomy nest of braided webbing with plenty of space for a kid (and even a couple of friends) to lay back, sway and spot cloud shapes.

Razor A5 Lux Scooter

Also known as the only scooter you’ll ever need to purchase. This scooter is tough and solid, but it easily folds and unfolds as needed. It rolls smoothly and is easy to maneuver. I highly recommend it for the kid who likes to play outside!

Kids Walkie Talkies

Walkie talkies are a classic for a reason. Siblings and neighborhood friends can send messages back and forth from the backyard to the bedroom, and they’re simple enough for kids to use on their own.

Kids Waterproof Camera

Your child will get a lot of use out of this durable waterproof camera. Kaitlyn used hers for pictures and videos, and it has silly filters and picture add-ons. It can go into the tub, the pool or the lake. A lot of fun for a good price.

STEM and Learning Gifts

STEM toys are some of the best gifts for 8 year old girls because they keep her busy and learning at the same time.

Osmo Genius Starter Kit

Osmo turns an iPad into hands-on learning games. We had Osmo Coding for over a year and both girls still loved playing with it. The Genius Starter Kit is a great place to start, with games for math, spelling, drawing and problem solving.

KiwiCo Kits: This monthly delivery of STEAM projects and crafts is a mom’s dream because everything you need is included in a single box. With a new project each month, kids stay excited about learning how things work. You can read my full KiwiCo review here.

MEL Science Mousetrap Car Kit

MEL Science kits were at the very top of Kaitlyn’s wish list at this age. They’re high-quality kits with easy step-by-step instructions, and this mousetrap car is a fun way to learn about physics by building something that really moves.

Light-Up Terrarium Kit

She can discover the beauty of nature by creating her own terrarium with this all-inclusive kit. It grows by day and glows at night with the LED light under the lid.

i-Poster Interactive Talking Map

This interactive map makes learning fun. You can lay it on the floor or hang it on a wall, and it works like a giant touchpad for learning about the states, cities and more.

LEGO Harry Potter Flying Lessons Set

For the Harry Potter fan, a LEGO set is the perfect mix of building and pretend play. This Hogwarts set is a great size for an 8-year-old and fun to play with once it’s built.

Art and Craft Gifts for 8 Year Old Girls

Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad

This is a great item for budding artists and designers. The evenly lit surface makes tracing easy to see, even in pillow forts or tents with low lighting. It’s battery operated, so it’s great for travel on planes or in the car!

Rainbow Scratch Art Mini Notes

This box of 125 rainbow mini notes is perfect for jotting down notes, etching doodles and creating cool designs.

Crayola Inspiration Art Case

Crayons, colored pencils, markers and paper, all stored in one carrying case. It’s an easy gift for the kid who is always drawing.

Rainbow Loom Bracelet Kit

A loom like this is what kicked off my girls’ entrepreneurial pursuits in the neighborhood, selling bracelets and rings. It’s an engaging pastime that they can do on their own without your help.

Friendship Bracelet Maker

This clever kit makes it easy for crafty kids to create friendship bracelets to wear and share.

Learn to Sew Kit

She’ll learn the basics of hand sewing while making a few simple but cute projects. A new skill makes a great gift idea!

Hair Chalk

Temporary hair color is a fun way for the fashionista 8-year-old to show off her style. It washes out, so it’s perfect for spirit days and sleepovers.

Cozy Gifts for Her Room

Gifts for 8 year old girls don’t have to be toys. These make her room feel like her own special space.

AirFort Inflatable Fort

Yes, I have this on my gift ideas for toddlers and preschoolers too, but if your 8-year-old is like mine and loves a fort-like space when she wants to play or read in peace, this air fort will be a hit!

Yoto Player

Kids use physical cards to choose the audiobooks and music they want to hear, with no screen needed. It’s amazing for bedtime or quiet time, and it’s the gift that keeps on giving since you can add new cards as your child grows.

Glow in the Dark Star Stickers

A classic! These stars are simple but bright, and they hold their glow for a long time. She’ll love creating her own starry night or constellations on her ceiling.

Mermaid Tail Blanket

A soft crochet blanket she can slip inside to feel like a real mermaid. It’s perfect for movie nights on the couch.

Cozy Fleece Robe

As the weather gets cooler, my girls both love wearing snuggly robes over their pajamas and after their showers. This one comes in lots of colors and sizes.

JBL Junior Kids Headphones

A good pair of kids headphones is so handy for road trips, audiobooks and school. These are volume limited to protect little ears, and the headband adjusts so they can grow with her.

Books and Brain Games

Books and brain games are great gifts for 8 year old girls who love a good challenge.

National Geographic Kids Why? Book

My goodness, this book has been well loved in our house over the years. It’s a great bedtime book for the curious kid, full of 1,111 answers shared through colorful pictures and illustrations. Your child might follow you around with “did you know…?” questions afterwards, but I found it just as interesting as my kids did!

Rubik’s Cube

A classic for a reason, this puzzle can go anywhere and provides a fun challenge everywhere it goes. Kaitlyn played with hers often and even watched videos with us to learn the fastest way to solve it.

Invisible Ink Pens

A big bang for your buck! She can share these with siblings and friends to write secret messages and then reveal them with the light on the end of the pen. So simple and so fun.

Board games that help with math: As a homeschooling mom, I want my kids to understand math and enjoy it, and the easiest way I’ve found to do that is with board games. Here are our favorite board games that build math skills.

What to Give the 8 Year Old Who Has Everything

As a mom of kids who went through this age, I can attest to the fact that we have a lot of stuff. Some of it is great and gets used all the time, but I’m not always thrilled about adding another thing that might end up collecting dust. Here are some clutter-free gifts for 8 year old girls who already have plenty:

• Gift card: to an ice cream shop, the movies, a climbing gym or Target. Eight-year-olds love the freedom of spending a gift card on whatever their heart desires.
• Magazine subscription: David’s mom got the girls subscriptions to Ranger Rick and it was a welcome surprise every month. Who doesn’t love getting mail? Highlights and National Geographic Kids are great choices too.
• A class or lesson that encourages a hobby: You can sign up for a kids cooking class at Sur La Table, or look into a sewing or painting class, horseback riding, a climbing gym or a golf lesson.
• Frame one of her original art pieces: Kids’ art often goes on the fridge and then into a drawer. An original piece in a beautiful frame on the wall is a thoughtful gift she can be proud of every day.
• An annual membership to a science museum, zoo, activity gym or botanical garden. For the same price as a few plastic toys, she gets a whole year of fun.

Gifts for 8 Year Old Girls: Common Questions

What are good gifts for 8 year old girls?

The best gifts for 8 year old girls match what she’s into right now. Craft kits like a bracelet loom, STEM gifts like a coding game or science kit, outdoor gear like a scooter and cozy room upgrades like a fort or star stickers are all safe bets.

What do 8 year olds like to do?

Most 8-year-olds love projects they can do on their own, games with friends, reading, being outside and anything that feels a little grown up. Gifts that build a new skill tend to get used the longest.

Shopping for a different age? I also have gift guides for 7 year old girls, 9 year old girls and tween girls, plus a list of stocking stuffers for girls ages 6-10.

I hope this list of gifts for 8 year old girls helps you find the perfect one! If you have any sure-fire wins, please share them in the comments.