At 9, a girl wants toys for building and toys for experimenting: a miniature house model built over several evenings, crystals that grow, a resin workshop, a camera that prints, a Perudo to bluff with the adults. The gifts that work demand method and leave something to keep.

What a 9-year-old loves

This is the age of passions and projects: she picks a subject, horses, planets, jewellery, and wants to know everything about it. She can hold a project over several days, a model or crystals, and she shows it. Bluffing and knowledge games motivate her because she beats her parents at them. Her hands are precise, resin, beads, French knitting, and she makes things to give away. Soft toys stay on the bed, each with its name.

Our gift ideas

To build

The Mi House Mia and Mi House Stella kits are miniature house models with their furniture, the knitting mushroom makes endless cords. All our arts and crafts.

To experiment

The magic crystals grow in a week, The Solar System is built and learnt, Dig a Planet Moon is excavated with a chisel, and the resin inclusion workshop casts transparent objects with flowers inside.

To photograph

The thermal-print camera prints its photos on the spot, in black and white, without ink.

To play together

Perudo teaches bluffing with dice, the classic Monopoly enters the house for twenty years, Cookie Party and Bloops are played in ten minutes. The 3x3 Rubik's Cube is solved alone, with a tutorial. All our board games.

To think alone

The Ocean puzzle has 500 pieces, the format of a rainy weekend. All our puzzles.

To imagine and cuddle

Maileg's ballet dancer mouse has his stand, Schleich's American elk is true to life, and the ballet outfit dresses her 46-centimetre doll. The Oat fluffy rabbit, the black and white horse and Horatio the pistachio keep the bed. Our Maileg world and our soft toys.

What budget?

Under 20 euros: Dig a Planet, Bloops, the knitting mushroom, the bead box, the unicorn bracelets, the diary, the manicure kit, the friendship necklaces or the little heart bear. Between 20 and 50 euros: Perudo, Cookie Party, the Monopoly, the Rubik's Cube, the Ocean puzzle, The Solar System, the Mi House kits, the magic crystals, the resin workshop, the Maileg mouse and the Oat rabbit. Above 50 euros: the camera or the remote-control buggy, for a gift that leaves a mark.

Frequently asked questions

A Mi House model at 9, alone or with help?

Alone for the most part: the pieces are pre-cut, the glue is supplied and the instructions are in pictures. Allow four to six evenings, and keep an adult within reach for the finest pieces.

Which board game at 9?

A bluffing or negotiation game where she can beat the adults by reasoning: Perudo, Monopoly. Allow an hour per game, and accept losing.

Can the gift be wrapped?

Yes, gift wrapping is free: tick the box on the product page before adding to cart. Delivery to a pick-up point is free from 80 euros in mainland France, and you can collect your order in our shop at 211 boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris.

See also

• Gifts for a 9-year-old boy
• Gifts for an 8-year-old girl
• Gifts for a 10-year-old girl
• All toys for ages 8 to 12
• All our gift ideas by age

Advice from the team at L'Oiseau de Paradis, a toy shop in Paris since 1932.