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
Apple AirPods
These will be a hit with any tween! If your 12-year-old girl is like mine, they LOVE listening to music 24/7.
Sofa Chair / Gaming Lounger
What tween wouldn’t love this soft chair that provides great support for reading, meditating, watching TV, or playing games?
Starfish by Lisa Fipps
Heartbreaking and inspiring, this poignant story in verse shows a girl who learns, after years of fat-shaming and bullying, to define herself not based on what others say but on who she really is. Ellie’s nickname is Splash because of her size but Ellie loves swimming; it’s her safe escape where she feels the most comfortable. Her biggest bully? Her mother–who won’t buy her new clothes because she thinks it encourages Ellie’s weight gain and is pushing for gastro-bypass surgery. Not even Ellie’s dad stands up to her mom’s cruel treatment of Ellie. Fortunately, Ellie finds an understanding therapist who helps her move from powerless to powerful. “As I float, I spread out my arms and my legs. I’m a starfish, taking up all the room I want.“
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!
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.
Boolean Box
This amazing build-it-yourself computer kit will teach kids how to create games and animations, teach them engineering concepts, and help them learn new coding using Scratch and Python! This box, created with children who know very little about coding in mind, is the perfect gift for any child looking to learn STEM and have a lot of fun at the same time!
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Fantastic fantasy world-building, excellent writing, a strong female heroine of color, and a surprise plot twist ending are just a few of the reasons you’ll love this book. Amari is an exciting action-packed, suspenseful story about Amari whose beloved older brother has vanished. But, she gets a virtual message from him revealing that she’s a magician like him and at his bequest, gets to attend a secret school. There, she discovers she’s actually a dark magic magician (which is outlawed) but she’s determined to prove she isn’t evil, stay in the school, and find her brother.
Easy-To-Do Crochet Kit
This great beginner’s gift teaches any child the basics of crocheting and allows them to create awesome things like handbags, placemats, belts, etc.!
MacBook Air
With online learning, these are a must for almost everyone.
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!
Wireless Headphones
These aren’t just highly-rated, they’re really a good price, too! We also love that they have good sound, LED lights, and volume control.
Kids use to pop, tilt, wrap, prop, collapse, and grip their electronic devices. Available in other styles and colors, too! And if they already have one, consider getting a new one — they get really dirty.
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.
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.
Mia and her parents have struggled ever since moving to America from China. When her parents take a new live-in job at a motel, they end up working around the clock for very little pay. Mia helps out by working at the front desk. She befriends the weekly tenants and uses her English skills to write letters advocating other people in tough spots— like her uncle whose sweatshop boss has taken his passport and weekly, Hank, who needs a letter of recommendation to get a job. This book is more than a memorable coming-of-age immigrant story, it’s also about tolerance and diversity and a must-read story you won’t soon forget.
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!
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!
Get ready for a wild ride of suspense, action, adventure, science fiction, and coolness!! Bloom tells the story of three kids who are not affected by the strange-looking plants that appear out of nowhere and take over land all over the world, covering houses and streets, swallowing animals and people but doing nothing to these kids. Scientists figure out that the plants are an alien invasion…and think these kids may be the only chance they have to stop them. To avoid spoilers, I’ll just tell you that it’s an AWESOME story…and ends on a crazy cliff hanger.
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.
Soft Sherpa Blanket
Soft and cozy, this throw blanket will be a cozy vacation necessity.
Fitbit
My daughter LOVES her Fitbit! Get one for your kids that will tell time and help you calculate steps, calories, distance, and sleep. It’s a great way to motivate healthy living.
Wireless Headphones
These aren’t just highly-rated, they’re really a good price, too! We also love that they have good sound, LED lights, and volume control.
Make Things Happen Journal
That’s What Friends are Thor nail polish
Island nail polish collection in many cool colors.
Record Player
My music-obsessed daughter loves her record player. Would your 12 year old girl want one, also?
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!)
Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad
This pad comes with over 100 images that kids can trace by putting their blank sheets over the awesome light-up pad and drawing away!
I absolutely love this beautifully written story about two orca siblings separated from their families, trying to find food and their seasonal home. Alternating perspectives between the older sister Vega and little earnest, trusting brother Deneb, their voices express a uniquely imagined orca’s perspective. When a Tsunami hits, they both are lost from their pod. They travel together towards recognizable landscapes and hopefully, food. The story, an adventure with danger and suspense, shows the importance of keeping nature in balance.
Charging Station
This will be so popular — 11 outlets plus 3 USB chargers!! Add in a few extra long charger cords, 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!
Twinkle Star LED Window curtain String Lights
These make a bedroom beautiful and cozy. These look amazing!
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!
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.
Chunky Soft Stretch Cable Knit Beanie
We have two of these — they’re adorable.
Gift Guides by Age
Best Gifts for 3 Year Olds
Best Gifts for 4 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 4 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 5 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 5 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 6 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 6 Year Old Girls
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 12 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 12 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 13 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for Teen Boys
Best Gifts for Teen Girls
5 Responses
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 ?
It’s a tricky age, right? I’m glad these ideas helped!
Can you give suggestions for boys and girls from 12 to 25 years of age
Thank you
Great list for grandparents
I love those gifts.
this helped my daughter find everything she wanted on her christmas list!