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The Spruce / Amelia Manley
The best toys for 8-year old boys are tailored to their age and maturity, ensure their safety, and teach them a new skill or fact.
We researched and tested the best toys on the market, considering the age range, educational value, and safety features. Based on these factors, our favorite picks include an educational science kit from Scientific Explorer, a cool blaster from NERF to burn off some energy, and Crayola's Make a Beast craft kit to help express his creativity.
Here are the best toys for 8-year-old boys.
Scientific Explorer Mind Blowing Science Kit
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Courtesy of Walmart
STEM-based
Experiments are easy to follow
Great bonding activity
Extra products needed that are not included
With the My First Mind Blowing Science Kit from Scientific Explorer, young boys can learn STEM skills through exciting hands-on experiments. This kit comes with 20 pieces, including test tubes, plastic cups, measuring scoops, cotton swabs, and more. There are also supplies like citric acid, baking soda, vegetable oil, and red cabbage powder—everything kids need to complete 11 scientific activities.
Our tester found this toy educational without being boring and able to capture her children's attention. The realistic-looking materials add to the appeal of this set, making kids feel like real scientists. Guided by straightforward instructions in the activity booklet, kids learn the basics of conducting scientific experiments, chemical reactions, and more. The learning continues with extension questions to keep young ones engaged.
The packaging makes cleanup easy, and the affordable price point makes this a no-brainer buy. However, our tester noted that this set does require additional items that aren't included. She also wished the ingredient bags were resealable for easy repeated use.
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The Spruce / Sarah Vanbuskirk
ThinkFun Gravity Maze Falling Marble Logic Game
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Courtesy of Amazon
Lots of play potential
Fun and challenging
Pieces can be hard to keep track of
Smaller than it looks in photos
Challenge your 8-year-old boy to this fun and challenging series of marble mazes that is sure to test their problem-solving skills. Completing each task requires a series of skills including spatial reasoning, visual perception, and more. The challenge continues with 60 different mazes to solve. Be sure to leave extra time after each win to celebrate!
Diggin DodgeTag Game Set
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Amazon
Safer alternative to dodgeball
Suitable for various ages
Vests run small
While dodgeball can be an exciting game for young boys, the objective of the game can often lead to injury. With this safer alternative, kids throw soft balls at the targets on the mesh vests to gain points. No rough (and often dangerous) rubber dodgeballs needed. Play indoors or outdoors without risk of breaking valuables. Eight year olds will love playing with friends, family members, or even parents.
LEGO City Police High-Speed Chase
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Courtesy of Amazon
Multiple builds included
Perfect to combine with other Lego city sets
Long play time
Can be difficult for young builders
Lego sets are a great toy for young boys, especially if they already have a collection of these popular building blocks. If you’re looking for a specific set to keep an 8-year-old entertained, the Lego City Police High-speed Chase is perfect. It combines the fun of building Lego vehicles with the excitement of a dramatic car chase.
This set comes with nearly 300 pieces that children ages 5 to 12 can use to build a police helicopter, a police car, and a sports car. Once kids have put all the vehicles together, they’ll be able to act out car chase scenes, trying to help the robber get away as he’s pursued by the authorities. This set is a great addition to any Lego collection, and it will be especially fun for young boys who love action movies.
It is a perfect gift for young boys who enjoy police toys and that it goes well with other LEGO city sets.
Lucky Doug Solar Robot Kit 12-in-1 Science STEM Robot Kit
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Courtesy of Amazon
STEM-based
Multiple different builds included
Can be difficult for young kids
Kids age 8 to 12 will flip for this robot kit. The kit comes equipped with almost 200 pieces to build 12 different types of robots. Once the ‘bot is constructed, it operates on solar power so it can move. This is sure to be a fun toy but also one that teaches kids about science and how things work.
Betheaces Flying Ball
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Durable
Budget-friendly
Suitable for various ages
Battery depletes quickly
The Betheaces Flying Ball is an awesome helicopter-style drone that will provide hours of entertainment both indoors and out as long as you watch out for birds outside. It has an LED light inside that will shine dazzling colors and its two remote-controlled propellers lift it up into the air. There are no batteries in this cool drone—just plug it into a USB port for 20 minutes to charge, making it a perfect option for 8-year-olds searching for a cool electronic toy.
Stomp Rocket Dueling Rockets
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Courtesy of Walmart
Durable
Easy assembly
Two kids can use at once
Some reviewers were disappointed by rocket height
This classic toy will provide ample entertainment for young kids as they compete to see who can launch their rocket the highest! The Stomp Rocket comes with four rockets and a special “dueling” base, which launches two rockets at the same time. Kids just have to stomp on the launch pads to send the rockets soaring into the air—up to 200 feet with the right force, making this a perfect outdoor toy.
Watch Ya' Mouth Family Edition Game
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Courtesy of Amazon
Great bonding activity
Screen-free activity
Some reviewers found the game too easy for older kids
Get kids to turn off their electronics for a few hours with a fun family game like Watch Ya’ Mouth. This hilarious family game is perfect for players ages 8 and up, and young boys will love trying to speak phrases while wearing the game’s signature cheek retractors. Watch Ya’ Mouth can be played with three to 10 players.
PLAYMOBIL® Back to The Future Delorean
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Courtesy of Amazon
Recognizable characters
Great bonding activity
Detailed
Can be difficult to maneuver after building
Though your 8-year-old wasn’t born when Back to the Future came out, they can learn all about the classic movie through the DeLorean toy. The time traveling car has fun lights and winged doors that open and close. Of course the car also comes with Marty McFly, Dr. Emmett Brown, and their fury friend Einstein.
NERF N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster
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Courtesy of Amazon
Great bonding activity
Lightweight
Users found it smaller than expected
For a toy that will keep young boys entertained for hours, you can’t go wrong with the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster. This affordably priced nerf gun is a battery-free toy that 8-year-old boys will happily run around with for hours. The cool auto-advance rotating barrel makes the toy gun seem high-tech, and it flips open for easy loading. It also holds up surprisingly well, and you’ll likely get several years of use out of it.
LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Monster Burger Truck
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Courtesy of Amazon
Unique design
Great bonding activity
Comes with three different builds
Can be difficult for younger kids
This Lego set comes with an impressive 499 pieces. It’s actually a 3-in-1 toy as the pieces can make a monster burger truck (complete with massive wheels and foldable stairs), an off-roader, or a tractor. There are also two mini figures and even a dog. The versatility truly allows kids to have fun and be imaginative.
Ravensburger Disney Hocus Pocus: The Game
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Courtesy of Amazon
Fun for the whole family
Detailed board and pieces
Instructions can be difficult to follow
Here’s a game for kids that encourages collaboration and cooperation. The team must work together to protect the people of Salem. The game takes about 30 minutes to play and accommodates two to six players.
Crayola Build A Beast Craft Kits
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Courtesy of Amazon
Easy to assemble
Customizable
Fosters creativity
Only suitable for one time use
This kit comes with step-by-step instructions so kids can craft their own shark, alligator, and chameleon. After building the molds, they can use the clay to customize their colorful animal. What’s really awesome is that the animals’ tails move back and forth.
VTech KidiZoom Creator Cam
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Courtesy of Target
Fosters creativity
Multiple ways to play
Suitable for a variety of ages
Some reviewers found picture quality disappointing
Creative kids will absolutely love receiving this VTech Creator Cam. The HD-camera comes with everything so they can create movie magic. There are more than 20 animated backgrounds, a green screen, built-in editing software, and a USB cable to upload any clips. There’s even a tripod so the camera can be securely placed on a tabletop.
Educational Insights Design & Drill Bolt Buddies Pick-It-Up Truck
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Courtesy of Amazon
Suitable for various ages
Educational
Interactive
Reviewers found one of the doors on the truck does not stay closed
Operating tools isn’t exactly a kid-safe activity, but it is thanks to this toy. It includes a kid-friendly drill and 18 bolts that can be used to build a recycling truck. And the drill can even operate the truck’s lift arm. There are even two mini figures that can be placed in the truck.
What to Look for in Toys for 8-Year Old Boys
Recommended Age
Eight-year-old boys tend to have a longer attention span than younger children, so they may be able to handle toys and games that require greater concentration. You can find everything from simple toys that require some hands-on design or construction to complex games that they can play with friends and family. Just be sure to check out the recommended age as a guide while you shop.
Safety
This is the perfect time to start talking to your child about safety and giving them the chance to take some responsibility for meeting safety guidelines of their new toys, such as wearing eye protection when playing with a chemistry set or wearing a helmet or knee pads with an outdoor toy. You can even get them involved by letting them pick out their stylish protective gear.
Educational Value
Look for a toy that can introduce a new skill to your 8-year old boy. STEM toys that are tailored for a budding scientist or engineer are a great way to get your child excited about science, technology, engineering, and math. Look for something with hands-on components that they can manipulate and build for the greatest learning experience.
Educational toys should also be fun, especially for this age group. Teacher and literary coach Alicia Drozd recommends incorporating play and learning together. “Make the learning more playful,” she says. This can be anything from becoming word detectives to playing a game together.
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What are the most durable outdoor toys for this age group?
Durable toys are best for 8-year-old boys that like to play rough. Durable outdoor toys like the Stomp Rocket or the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster are great considerations.
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Where can you find an affordable toy for this age group?
There are plenty of affordable toys for 8-year-old boys. The Watch Ya’ Mouth game and My First Mind Blowing Science Kit are two great options for under $20. Other games and activity kits can be found at similar prices.
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How long do most 8-year-olds play with the toys they get at that age?
This will vary from kid to kid, but most 8-year-olds have longer attention spans than younger kids and may play with toys for longer. They are also starting to develop interests that may last into their teens or adult years. Kids at this age may play with their toys for hours. New toys may continue to entertain them for months to years depending on the child's changing interests.
Why Trust the Spruce?
This article was written by Julia Fields, a lifestyle writer for The Spruce and The Spruce Crafts, covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, crafts, and the holidays.
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