Gift ideas for a kid, 9 to 12

Narrow these down by budget and occasion with the gift finder.

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Typically under $15

Gift ideaFast family card gameShort enough for a school night, and kids can beat adults fair and square. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaOrigami kit with instructionsPaper and step-by-step folds; quiet, cheap and surprisingly absorbing. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaFriendship bracelet kitThread and a simple loom; they'll make one for everyone they know. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaFill-in-the-blank story bookWord games where kids pick nouns and verbs, then read back a ridiculous story. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaSpeed cube setA few sizes of twisty cubes; online tutorials make solving them a real goal. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaJournal with a lockA private place to write things down, which matters a lot at this age. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaKids' LED headlampFor camping, reading under the covers or exploring the yard after dark. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaPaper airplane bookTear-out paper and folding plans for planes that fly farther than the usual dart. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaFuse bead kitPixel-art sprites made with fuse beads; easy for kids, fun for adults. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaMetal brain teaser puzzlesTwisted-wire puzzles that look impossible until they aren't. Good desk toys. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaRiddle bookRiddles and lateral thinking puzzles for car rides and dinner tables. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Typically $15 to $25

Gift ideaCrystal growing kitReal chemistry with a sparkly result after a few days of waiting and checking. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaKids' walkie-talkiesBackyard missions, sleepovers and camping trips all get better with a radio. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaSlime making kitMixing their own colors and textures is the whole appeal. Best done at the kitchen table. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaWooden mechanical model kitLaser-cut wooden pieces snap into a model with moving gears; no glue needed. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaSketching pencil setGraded pencils, erasers and a sketchbook for a kid who is always drawing. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaMagic trick kitA set of tricks with instructions; they'll be putting on shows by dinner. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaBeginner sewing kit for kidsPre-cut projects teach basic stitches; they end up with something they made. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaCraft activity book kitBooks that come with the supplies built in, from paper crafts to string art. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaOver-the-door mini basketball hoopBedroom basketball with a soft ball; it hangs on a door without screws. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaWater rocket launcherA foot pump and a water bottle send it flying. Strictly an outdoor toy. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaEscape room game for familiesSolve puzzles together to "escape" in about an hour, at the kitchen table. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaGraphic novelGraphic novels win over readers who don't think they like reading. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaBrush pens and sketchbookFor lettering, doodles and art; brush tips do thick and thin lines in one pen. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaSingle-player logic gameChallenge cards from easy to expert; a good screen-free puzzle for one. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Typically $25 to $50

Gift ideaKids' digital cameraTheir own camera makes every walk a photo hunt. A shockproof case is worth having. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaClassic brick building boxA big mixed box of bricks with no single model to build means endless new ideas. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaMarble run building setBuilding the track is half the fun, and every run is different. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaAdjustable roller skatesAdjustable sizes last through a couple of growth spurts. Add pads and a helmet if they don't have them. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaScreen-free coding robotKids plan a route and watch the robot follow it, learning coding logic without a screen. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaTwo-wheel kick scooterAn adjustable handlebar means it fits for years. Add a helmet if they need one. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaBeginner microscope kitPrepared slides plus blank ones, so they can look at whatever they find. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaSnap-together electronics kitKids build working circuits (lights, alarms, fans) with no soldering. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaFamily strategy board gameA game that rewards planning keeps older kids and adults at the table together. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaMiddle-grade book series box setA whole series in one box keeps a reader going for weeks. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaModel rocket starter setA real launch in an open field, with a parachute to bring it back. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaRoundnet game setA fast, portable outdoor game for the park or the beach. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaWooden chess setA good-looking set gets left out on the table, which means it gets played. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Typically $50 to $100

Gift ideaBeginner telescopeA small refractor shows the Moon's craters and Saturn's rings on a clear night. Typically $50 to $100 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaRock tumbler kitRough stones go in, polished gems come out a few weeks later. A lesson in patience. Typically $50 to $100 Search on Amazon →

Budgets are what these kinds of gifts usually cost, not prices; Amazon has the current price.

Made by FitzTopPicks: printable party games, puzzles and activity pages.