35 Best Toys and Gifts for 9-Year-Old Boys Now That They're a Tween

It's hard to describe what a ZipString is, but when we broke it out during the Good Housekeeping Institute in-Lab testing, kids lined up to take a turn. The long piece of glow-in-the-dark string wafts out into a rigid loop, and then kids can try to learn to do tricks with it. "I was very satisfied how smoothly the string flies out of the gears," said one 9-year-old tester. "It's easy to learn new tricks and easy to use—makes me feel confident playing with it." Ages 8+

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Any remote-controlled car can tear down the sidewalk, but this one can actually drive up walls and even onto the ceiling! Use the remote control and the car will follow, even if it seems to defy gravity. Ages 4+

This wristband lets him throw and catch a ball by himself, without ever having to worry about chasing it down. It’s a unique fidget toy, as well as a way to practice hand-eye coordination. Ages 3-17

Traditional piggy banks aren't an option at this age because they just aren't "cool" anymore. But an electronic version, that can hold all of their money and keep it safe with a special code, will do the trick to help teach them about the importance of money. No age recommendation given.

For LEGO lovers, I always recommend the 3-in-1 sets, because they can be re-assembled into different figures to keep kids busy for longer. This 839-piece set can become a lion, lioness, or two cubs, plus there are habitat side builds. The heads, mouths, and legs are posable, so kids can play with the finished project. Ages 9+

This magnetic building set is the one to get when they’ve outgrown their Magna-tiles. It has more advanced options for connecting the pieces, even allowing them to swivel, as they make complex designs. Even the colors seem to be a fit for older kids. Ages 8+

Him and his friends can turn the house into a laser tag arena. The laser guns can shoot up to 130 feet, and the vests will vibrate every time they get hit. Ages 8+

For boys who like to tinker, get them a Crunchlabs subscription. Each kit includes everything they need to build a gadget with an engineering concept (for example, a disc launcher that uses a flywheel). Testers say that this previous Toy Award winner offers just the right level of challenge for the age range. Ages 8+

Turn any table into a ping pong tournament with this retractable net. Everything (two paddles includes) fits neatly in the storage bag, so he can bring it wherever he goes. No age recommendation given.

Regular paper airplanes might be fun to make, but kids can take them to the next level with this kit, which makes paper planes fly by using an app-controlled device. It's easy for kids to build and connect via Bluetooth, and there are several kits available. It'll help promote STEM learning by teaching your 9-year-old the basics of flight, lift, and aerodynamics. Ages 8+

There's no soldering needed for this electronics kit, which has pieces that just snap together to make anything from a musical doorbell to a voice-controlled lamp. There are enough parts and pieces to make 100 projects, but the UFO was a clear favorite of the Good Housekeeping Institute kid testers. Ages 8+

This gift is for the kids who are always bouncing a basketball in the house, and for their parents who need a break from that very specific noise. Made of foam, this one bounces like a traditional basketball, but without the sound. Another benefit: It never needs inflating. Ages 6+

This UFO-shaped drone certainly looks cool, with LED lights illuminating it as it flies. But operating it is even cooler because you don't need a remote control—you just use hand gestures to push it up, send it sideways, or toss it forward. It also projects lights onto the ceiling. Ages 8+

This game will test their quick thinking skills, and how well they know their friends and family. Based on a prompt card, everyone writes the first word that they associate with it. However, the goal is to predict what others will say and make as many matches as possible. It’s a fast-moving, funny game. Ages 8+

With this twist on the classic game, kids can control all the transactions through an app, including buying properties and paying rent. (That means no stuffing bills under the game board to hide them, the way my sister did when we were little.) The board also has a fun new look—kids chose the available properties to buy, so instead of Marvin Gardens they can get the moon! The app "saved the players the time and effort of handling and counting out the dollars,” and made the game go faster, one parent tester noted. Ages 8+

Give your 9-year-old a set of grown-up walkie-talkies, and watch his imagination take off. Amazon customers say that these are a good value, and report that kids as young as 7 years old were easily able to use them. They’re rechargeable (no batteries to keep track of), and have a built-in flashlight. No age recommendation given.

This graphic novel has been compared to other popular animal-focused series, like Warriors or Wings of Fire. In it, an unlikely trio of a white wolf, a wild cat, and a snow leopard have to team up to fiind out what’s causing the mysterious disappearance of both predator and prey. “This is a great graphic novel with lots of surprises and excitement throughout,” said one kid tester. Ages 8 to 12

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We've come a long way since bean bag chairs were just blobs that sat there on the floor. He'll love lounging in this one, which comes with a back and armrests, plus a handle so he can drag it around his room. Best yet: It even has a drink holder and a pocket where he can stash his books or devices! It comes in a bunch of different colors. No age recommendation given.