Hobbies And Interests
Flowboard
Most kids will enjoy riding and showing off on their flowboards during summer. Similar to a skateboard, a flowboard is supposed to feel like surfing and snowboarding on concrete. It has 14 wheels attached to two arcs, one at the head and the other at the foot of the skateboard-style deck. The flowboard is a great toy for an 8-year-old because, according to the Great School website, age 8 is when a child "seeks to understand the reasons for things." When given along with a skateboard the child can begin to reason why the flowboard turn in a different way than a skateboard.
NightVision Video Camera
For boys who want to be spies, check out the NightVision Video Camera. The hand-held recorder switches to infrared when the lights go out and can see up to 40 feet away. It comes with movie-editing software and has 2 GB of storage. Most boys this age already are tech savvy and interested in videos, and this camera will allow them to make their own. They are young enough to enjoy play acting, but old enough to take pride in showing off their computer skills in the form of a movie.
Mindflex
Most 8-year-old boys will love playing Mindflex. Players wear a headset with sensors on the forehead and ear lobes while concentrating on an obstacle course gameboard. The purpose of the game is to get a small foam ball through the hoops of the course by using the mind. A list on the Great School website includes impatience under the emotional milestones of an 8-year-old. Playing Mindflex will force the child to work on being patient when they want nothing more than to win the game.
Bakugan
Bakugan toys are based on a television series about kids who collect and play a game with balls and cards that fall from the sky; the balls contain creatures from an alternate world. The toys are about the size of a ping pong ball. When dropped on a magnetic card, the creature's head, arms, legs and tail pop out. Bakugan is a mathematical game, well suited to this age when kids are learning to add three-digit numbers. Players "battle" by adding and subtracting power levels listed on the cards. It is a simple way to encourage a child to pursue math without giving them a math book.
Vectron Wave
Boys interested in remote-controlled cars, planes and boats may enjoy the Vectron Wave, a UFO they control with the palm of their hand. Obstacle sensors built into the UFO prevent it from crashing into the ground. The Vectron Wave a wonderful toy for 8-year-olds boys because they have the dexterity to control it and will want to understand how it works; searching for answers is a developmental milestone for 8-year-olds learning different ways to reason and think.