Tweens are the hardest age to buy for — so what gifts for 12-year old girls will they like best? Here’s a list of books, games, crafts, and other gift ideas that your kids will enjoy for a birthday, Christmas, or any occasion.
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NYX Butter Lip Gloss Creme Brulee
Alexa Dot
The Alexa Dot was our successful compromise with our daughter who still wanted to listen to her music in her room but wasn’t allowed to have screen time in her bedroom. Now it’s become a favorite way to play music for both our girls. It’s voice-controlled and you can use it as an alarm, speaker, timer, and more.
Apple AirPods
These are sure to be a hit with any tween!
Sofa Chair / Gaming Lounger
What tween wouldn’t love this soft chair that provides great support for reading, meditating, watching TV or playing games?
One by Wacom Digital Drawing Tablet
The original Wacom tablets cost $500+ so this is a more affordable option at $60 for kids who want to get started with digital art. Plug into your computer and start drawing!
Instax Mini 9 Camera Bundle
Tweens love this cool camera PLUS in this set, they’ll also get a carrying case, filters, albums, a selfie lens & MORE. Such a fun thing to do with friends.
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
In this Wizard of Oz remix, Dorothy is evil and Amy Gunn. That’s when another girl from Kansas is recruited to help the freedom fighters free all of Oz from the evil Dorothy. Great writing plus an unexpected plot make this series hard to put down!
Hydro Flask
As you might know, these are the hottest water bottles for teens these days. And you don’t have to be a VSCO girl to love these either.
iPad Pro + Apple Pencil
Both the Pro and the Apple Pencil have been much-used, favorite gifts for both my girls. They’re loving the pencil for drawing apps and think that the functionality of the Pro rocks.
littleBits Avengers Hero Inventor Kit
Marvel fans, make your own gauntlet! Snap together the electronics to build circuits the customize your gauntlet. Videos for over 18 in-app activities, wearable Tech sensors, in-app block coding, customizable LED Matrix light design, and authentic Marvel Avengers sound effects.
EOS Lip Balm
My daughter got these for all her friends last year — and they were a big hit!
Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker
My kids LOVE their portable mini-speakers and so will yours. Something about kids — they need their music, right? This Bose provides amazingly high-quality sound in a waterproof, silicone exterior. Charge up to give yourself 8 hours of play time on the go. (It’s compatible with Google Now and Siri.)
Nintendo Switch
This cool gaming system can be taken on the go for tabletop mode or connect it to your TV. You’ll get two Joy-Con controllers for multiple players. If you have kids who like gaming, this is a top gift choice.
Good Vibes Coloring Book
30 activities help kids learn patterning, shading, and coloring while coloring inspirational words of wisdom.
SPRK+ Robot from Sphero
Your kids can do so much with Sphero’s new app-enabled robot that inspires not just coding but also learning STEM / STEAM topics in creative ways. SPRK+ from Sphero caught my kids attention from the get-go and held it as they began to explore the various learning possibilities with it. Read my full review here.
Lokai Bracelet
Infused with elements from the highest and lowest points on Earth. The white bead carries water from Mt. Everest, and the black bead contains mud from the Dead Sea. Very popular!
Scratch Art Rainbow Notes
Draw or write on these rainbow note squares.
Knitted Touchscreen Texting Gloves
Twinkle Star LED Window curtain String Lights
These make a grown-up tween bedroom beautiful and cozy. They look amazing!
3 Speed Turntable with Built-In Speakers
Kids love these cool record players. You’ll love the price. You’ll have plenty of money to spend on vinyl to go with it.
Squishmallows (Cat)
Trust me when I say Squishmallows are THE SOFTEST, CUDDLIEST plush toys we’ve ever owned. And we own like a million. My kids LOVE these and want all of them. 🙂 I’m highly, highly, highly recommending these amazing toys. There are different animals, too — a llama, a frog, a unicorn, a cow, … My girls love these!
Foldable Hi-Fi Wireless Headphones
These aren’t just highly-rated, they’re really a good price, too! We also love that they fold up and come in 7 colors! Other features: stereo sound, ear cushion, wireless mode or wired, and a built-in mic.
Cozmo
Code your own personality-filled robot, play games, and explore Cozmo’s world. This high-quality learning toy remains a hot gift for any gift-giving season. I bet this will become a favorite toy for your young STEM learners.
XBox One S
Get the latest in disc-free gaming with digital games. This newly-released bundle includes your Xbox One S plus Minecraft, Sea of Thieves, and Fortnight. If you don’t have one already, this is a top gift for 12 year old gamers.
Tinkering Labs Electric Motors Catalyst
This is quite the cool educational Maker kit! It’s filled with parts and challenge cards so that kids can explore, experiment, and learn.
Body Shop Strawberry Body Lotion
That’s What Friends are Thor nail polish
Island nail polish collection in many cool colors.
Chunky Soft Stretch Cable Knit Beanie
Kindle Fire HD Tablet
Reading and writing take practice. Good writers are avid readers. Keep your kids reading with a Kindle loaded with books.
Lockwood & Co The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
In historical London, dangerous ghosts and spirits aren’t just stories — they’re real and murderous. But, only kids can see and fight these ghosts. We follow the perilous adventures Anthony Lockwood who owns his own agency (with no adults in sight) to combat the supernatural with his teen team of Lucy and George. Creepy and exciting!
Qwixx – A Fast Family Dice Game
Qwixx is a simple but fun strategy dice game where the more numbers you cross off, the more points you score. With no downtime between turns, you’ll have a chance to gain from each and every roll.
Wise Words to Color: Inspiration to Live and Color By by Zoe Ingram
My daughter started this beautiful coloring book of quotes and mandalas when sick. And I’ve been enjoying coloring it myself. The quotes are lovely and inspiring. (Great for travel, too!)
Fitness Tracker
My daughter LOVES her Fitness tracker! It helps kids tell time and calculate steps, calories, distance, and sleep. It’s a great way to motivate healthy living.
Yummy Scented Glitter Gel Pens
My kids LOVE to write with these yummy smelling and sparkly colorful set of 12 pens. These last forever, too!
Blue Murano Glass Beads Silver Charm Bracelet
DIY charms bracelet with 14 beads and barrel clasp.
Origami Chic: A Guide to Foldable Fashion by Sok Song
We think this is the best origami book ever — the directions are very clear, the designs are amazing, and the oversized papers are gorgeous!
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
REALISTIC
LIFE-CHANGING! Seriously. This incredible story grips the coward in us all as we relate to Leo who shares how he loves and fails to stand up for Stargirl, the most unique, ukulele-playing girl that Mica High has ever seen. Her strangeness at first is delightful to other students including Leo, but when she cheers for both basketball teams, even the opposition!!, her classmates shun her. Even Leo. Leo regrets his behavior when Stargirl disappears. This is one of my favorite stories for this age group because it deals with kindness, peer pressure, acceptance, and individuality.
Snap Circuits 203 Electronics Discovery Kit
Over 200 projects will teach kids about electronics and develop analytical skills with snap-together electrical circuits.
Live for Today Coloring Book
Positive sayings with affirming and empowering art activities of patterning, shading, and coloring. Great for rainy days and sick days.
365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Book of Precepts by R. J. Palacio
If you’re like us and love quotes, this is the book for you. Even if you haven’t read the book Wonder, you will still find the quotes chosen in here (precepts) meaningful and thought-provoking.
Slackers Slackline
The slackline stretches between two trees like a tightrope but is stretchy and bouncy. You can ratchet the line so it fits the distance. It’s great for core strength and balance!
Perfume Science Kit
This kit is a complete perfumer’s laboratory, including eight perfume oils, finishing solution, decorative flacons and important tools of the trade. The perfume oils are the same as those used in high-quality designer perfumes. The 32-page, full-color book blossoms with information about the biology of smell, the chemistry of scents, the fine fragrance industry, and the history of perfumes.
Codenames
This is an exciting word game (think Password) for 2 – 8 players, even better with 4 – 8 players. The gist: two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their codenames. Teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first.
Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation adapted by Ari Folman, illustrated by David Polonsky
The diary bits and dialogue are well-balanced into a cohesive graphic novel story that feels seamless, well-written, and insightful. Anne’s personality really shines through as she sets the historical context and describes her daily life in hiding which isn’t always very exciting but does result in a romance with the boy her age who lives there, too.
Monster Kickboard Scooter
The best scooter for older kids to adults with a long, wide deck and folding T-Bar.
Awesome Achievers in Technology by Alan Katz, illustrated by Chris Judge
Kids will zip through this excellent middle-grade biography because the author makes the information relevant and relatable. The writing is conversational, the author is totally hilarious (especially when he talks about his own ridiculous inventions or the questions he asks Siri) and there are illustrations, quizzes, fast facts, and activities plus a wealth of fascinating information about each inventor’s life. You’ll read about the inventors of video games, the television remote control, the cell phone, windshield wipers, the first web browser, and the microwave oven.
Gift Guides by Age
Best Gifts for 7 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 7 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 8 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 8 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 9 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 9 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 10 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 10 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 11 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 11 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 13 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for Teen Boys
Best Gifts for Teen Girls
Amanda says
I didn’t know what I wanted for my birthday this really helped me give my family some ideas plus all these products are great 👍
Melissa Taylor says
It’s a tricky age, right? I’m glad these ideas helped!
Patricia Gash says
Can you give suggestions for boys and girls from 12 to 25 years of age
Thank you
Great list for grandparents
Destiny says
I love those gifts.
Avery Smith says
this helped my daughter find everything she wanted on her christmas list!