BrainBolt Genius
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How good is their memory? How fast are their fingers? This game tests both recall and reflexes in one fun package. The game lights up a series of colored lights, and players have to try to repeat the sequence. One Good Housekeeping Institute parent tester loved how it encouraged her kids to do independent play. Ages 7+
ZipString Luma
It’s hard to describe what a ZipString is, but when the Good Housekeeping Institute broke it out during in-lab testing, kids lined up to take a turn. The long piece of glow-in-the-dark string wafts out into a rigid loop, and then kids can try to learn to do tricks with it. “I was very satisfied how smoothly the string flies out of the gears,” said one 9-year-old tester. “It’s easy to learn new tricks and easy to use — makes me feel confident playing with it.” Ages 8+
Air Hogs Zero Gravity RC Wall Racer
Any remote-controlled car can tear down the sidewalk, but this one can actually drive up walls and even onto the ceiling. Use the remote control and the car will follow, even if it seems to defy gravity. Ages 4+
These picks were selected and tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute, combining hands-on lab evaluations with feedback from real parent and kid testers to identify the best options for 9-year-old boys.
