The Best Gifts for 7-Year-Olds and Their Growing Independent Streak

Being 7 years old is such a memorable and exciting time in a kid’s life. They’re hitting new milestones all the time, from honing their fine motor skills to focusing more on their friendships with peers. They’re also really getting the hang of academic life and learning a ton in school. To find the best gifts for 7-year-olds, it’s important to take these major milestones and life changes into account. It’s always a good idea to look for presents that help support these major moments in a kid’s life.

Whether you’re shopping for something to bring to a birthday party, a holiday present, or just because, these are the best gifts for 7-year-olds. We created this list through tons of research on trending products, surveying over 700 parents and 100 members of Parents staff, and consulting guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. These are the gifts that are sure to garner plenty of smiles and heartfelt thank yous.

Our Favorite Gifts for 7-Year-Olds

Sports and Active Play Gifts for 7-Year-Olds

Encourage lifelong healthy habits and help kids get some age-appropriate exercise with a sports-inspired gift. Kids can enjoy the great outdoors by going for a ride on a new pair of roller skates. Or, future NFL stars will get a kick out of an easy-to-hold, kid-sized football.

Dolls and Pretend Play Sets 

Pretend play is an excellent opportunity for kids to practice social-emotional learning and express their feelings. Kids can find comfort in a soft plushy of their favorite animals, like an axolotl or a precious black lab.

Arts and Crafts Gifts for 7-Year-Olds

Seven-year-olds have wild imaginations; why not inspire that creativity with an art kit? Just like any other hobby, arts and crafts follow trends. For example, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour made friendship bracelets popular again, so we included a few beading and bracelet-making kits.

Building Toys

Blocks and building toys are a great way to teach STEM concepts in an easy-to-understand way. Budding engineers will love the freedom and creativity that magnetic building toys inspire. And, of course, you can never go wrong with a good Lego set.

Puzzles and Board Games for 7-Year-Olds

As 7-year-olds become more interested in friendships with their peers, it’s a good idea to opt for toys that they can play with their friends, like puzzles and board games. We also love family board games to encourage some quality time.

Books for 7-Year-Olds

While many 7-year-olds are capable of reading independently, they still enjoy having a loved one read to them. It’s good for their growing literacy skills and it’s a nice bonding experience, too. We love how the “Magic Tree House” teaches history in a fun and fantastical way. Or, for little fans of nonfiction, National Geographic’s 5,000 Awesome Facts is great for introducing kids to a variety of new subjects, from animals to robots to outer space.

Sensory Toys for 7-Year-Olds

Sensory play still has tons of benefits for 7-year-olds. Many sensory toys encourage fine motor skill development and finger dexterity. Additionally, sensory play can be incredibly relaxing and help kids better regulate their emotions during stressful or frustrating situations.

Unique Gifts for 7-Year-Olds

For a gift as unique as the kid you’re shopping for, we like these out-of-the-box options. Since many 7-year-olds are getting better and better at reading, they’re finally ready to begin their Pokemon battling adventure with an introductory card deck. Or for animal-lovers that aren’t quite ready for a pet, a digital dog is a fun, unconventional pet with a technological twist.

Our Review Process

In our quest to find the best gifts for 7-year-olds, we started by researching the top trending toys right now. From there, we surveyed 774 parents and caregivers and over 100 members of our staff to see what toys their kids enjoy and how they played with them. This helped us see which gifts were actually popular IRL and which were only trending online. To finalize our list, we consulted guidance from the CDC regarding 7-year-old developmental milestones to make sure each product is age-appropriate and developmentally beneficial.

Factors to Consider When Buying Gifts for 7-Year-Olds

• Interests: At seven, kids have specific, developed interests. Take into consideration the types of shows, sports, activities, and hobbies they like when picking out a gift. For example, if you know the kid you’re shopping for isn’t into Marvel, then going for a Spider-Man figure probably won’t land. 
• Developmental Milestones: At 7 years old, kids are becoming more socially aware, are starting to think about more complex topics, and are building confidence in their skills. Prioritize toys and gifts that support this development. For example, as kids become more interested in friendships with their peers, look for toys that can be played cooperatively, like sports equipment or board games. 
• Safety: Always follow age recommendations on packaging and ensure that gifts don’t have sharp edges or potential pinch points. For ride-on toys like bikes and rollerskates, ensure that they’re properly sized based on the child’s measurements rather than age. This is because improperly sized ride-ons can be harder to control and thus more of a safety risk.
• Educational Value: Kids are learning a lot in school, so a gift that reinforces those lessons is a great idea. As 7-year-olds get more comfortable reading, a fun book set can encourage a love of literature for years to come. Kids are also starting to expand their knowledge of STEM concepts, so a building toy can really cement those ideas.
• Pretend Play: Dramatic play is a healthy way for kids to explore their emotions and learn important social skills. Focusing on toys that inspire open-ended pretend play can give children more opportunities to work on social-emotional learning.
• Value: Consider the intersection between quality and cost, as well as how often the kid you’re shopping for will use the item. For a big-ticket item that will get a lot of use, like a bike, you’ll want to spend more money for better quality. On the other hand, you can save a few bucks on short-lived toys like slime, since those are often tossed once they’re sufficiently dirt-covered.

Who We Are

Laura Lu, MS, is a writer at Parents who has a master of science degree in health communication. With a 7-year-old son of her own, she has firsthand experience choosing gifts and toys that are entertaining, educational, and age-appropriate for him. 

Anja Webb is an associate editor at Parents. She has over eight years of editorial experience. Her educational background in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies and passion for smart media usage allow her to provide a nuanced analysis of issues relevant to modern families.