Best Gifts for 12 Year Old Girls (That They’ll Love)

Tweens are the hardest age to buy for — so what gifts for 12 year old girls will they like best?

This age is tough because kids are in between being a little kid and a big teenager. I hope these gift ideas help you shop for the right gift for whatever your 12 year old girl likes!

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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Gifts for 13-Year-Old Girls
Cool Gifts for Teen Girls

Gifts for 12-Year-Old Girls

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? My daughter says it’s so comfortable.

Opal Stud Earring
Made with surgical steel, we prefer this kind of stud because they aren’t too long and won’t pinch your head while you’re sleeping. This opal matches with almost everything.

The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett
Kemi adores her close-knit family, her African-American artist mom, her baby sister, a baby sibling on the way, and most of all, her beloved Nigerian dad. When an asteroid threatens everyone on Earth with imminent death, Kemi and her family leave for her cousins’ house, where she starts a time capsule. The exceptional storytelling is emotional (I cried SO MUCH) and important with themes of family, racism, and values. A must-read, must-experience-for-yourself-kind-of book.

MacBook Air
With online learning, these are a must for almost everyone. Plus, this is a necessary tech tool for high school.

Faber-Castell Dual Tip Watercolor Markers
Your artist will LOVE these beautiful markers because they blend smoothly and beautifully. (My artist daughter loves hers.) Use them with heavyweight mixed media paper like this one.

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.

PopSocket

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 loves swimming; it’s her safe escape where she feels the most comfortable and safe from 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.

Create This Book
Color, imagine, write, and create in this book of prompts and activities.

Owala Water Bottle with Straw
Kids love this popular stainless steel water bottle with a built-in straw.

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!

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.!

NYX Butter Lip Gloss Creme Brulee

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.

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.

Echo 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.

Learn to Knit
Learn to knit a scarf with yarn included and step-by-step directions.

The Van Gogh Deception by Deron Hicks
Written like an adult suspense novel, this is one of the best edge-of-your-seat mystery books for middle grade that I’ve ever read. The author jumps around showing various incidents and people. You’ll have no idea what is going on or what will happen next. A boy with no memory is found at the National Gallery staring at a Degas sculpture. Strangely, this boy does know a great deal about art and artists. Soon we learn he’s being hunted by a team of professional bad guys. The boy, Art, and his foster sister escape from several kidnapping attempts and begin to unravel who he is and what’s going on.

Clip-on Ring Light

Skyriders by Polly Holyoke
Kie is a courier for the kingdom, riding on her skyrider, a small but fast winged horse. Her Uncle taught her the old ways of fighting the chimerae. Fearing a full chimarae invasion, her uncle sends Kie to the capital to convince the leaders to use the old ways of fighting. But she’s dismissed by the leaders who insist on their new ways — which will eventually get them killed. Meanwhile, Kie learns she can mindspeak to all skyrider steeds which helps when she and her friends (including the prince and princess) must save the city themselves. Readers will love this exciting story with an interesting plot and a brave but reluctant heroine. (I couldn’t put it down!)

LEGO Yoda
Build a Yoda model has a posable head and eyebrows, movable fingers and toes, and a great big green Lightsaber that will impress any Star Wars fan.

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.

BOOP
Put your kittens on the bed (boop), and it pushes the other kittens one space away. The object of this logical herding cats game is to line up three kittens in a row to become a CAT! Get three cats in a row to win.

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

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.

Pure Vida Bracelet

Shashibo Shape-Shifting Box
Magnetic puzzle box for sensory stimulation, relaxation, and imagination.

Good Vibes Coloring Book
30 activities help kids learn patterning, shading, and coloring while coloring inspirational words of wisdom.

Fleece Knit Christmas Slipper Socks

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!

Knitted Touchscreen Texting Gloves

Escape Puzzle
Put together the puzzle, read the instructions, and guess before you open the sealed envelope with the solution.

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!

Bloom by Kenneth Oppel

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 cliffhanger but there are two more books in the series.

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.

Make Things Happen Journal

Record Player
My music-obsessed daughter loves her record player. Would your 12 year old girl want one, also?

Without Fail
If you’re looking for a party game, this is a great option with challenges that will crack you up.

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!

UGG Boots

Cat Lamp
My daughter loves this gifted cat lamp so much that she brought it to college with her and still displays it proudly.

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!

Escape from Atlantis by Kate O’Hearn
Don’t miss this wildly inventive, exciting, and thought-provoking adventure. Riley, her dad, her cousin, and her aunt are sailing in the Bermuda Triangle when they’re attacked by a leviathan. Riley and her unpleasant cousin, Alfie, wake up on an island with overly-friendly, rule-centered people including half-animal people. They soon learn the sinister truth of the rule-centric community and are determined to escape.

Charging Station
This will be so popular — 6 outlets plus 3 USB chargers!! Add in a few extra long charger cords, too!

Lego Art World Map
Build and display this unique, ocean depths-inspired world map with 11,695 pieces!

A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser
A powerful story with complex, three-dimensional characters about grief, family, community, and homelessness. When their family becomes homeless after her dad dies, June helps her little sister and non-speaking mom get settled at Huey House. Despite the shock of their new situation, June finds kindness from many of the people at the shelter. But when Mrs. G, their social worker gets fired for not agreeing to the city’s new homeless policies, June helps organize a protest and discovers that home isn’t a place and family isn’t always blood.

Llama Pillow
Sew your own pillow with a book of directions and supplies included. Adorable!

Blue Murano Glass Beads Silver Charm Bracelet 
DIY charms bracelet with 14 beads and barrel clasp.

Chunky Soft Stretch Cable Knit Beanie
We have two of these — they’re adorable.

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.

Mythology Trivia
We love this game with multiple-choice questions cover worldwide myths and folklore–from gods and heroes to magical beasts and monsters.

Crystal Growing Experimental Kit
Put those science skills to use by growing these amazing, eye-catching crystals that come with their own display cases!

Violets Are Blue by Barbara Dee
Wren’s mom is skipping work, sleeping more, and not eating. Despite her mom’s strange behavior, Wren finds purpose in doing special FX makeup. At school, her new friends convince her to do the makeup for the school musical, Wicked. Then, her mom’s situation reaches a breaking point and Wren discovers the secret her mom’s been keeping — she has an opioid addiction. As usual, Dee writes about difficult topics, in this case, addiction and divorce, in a compelling, relatable story with complex, sympathetic characters, and an interesting plot.

That’s What Friends Are Thor nail polish
Island nail polish collection in many cool colors.

Literary Notepad
How cute is this book-shaped notepad filled with blank, lined pages?

Pocket Pals Mini Journals
Give this set of 5 pocket journals with brightly colored covers and lined pages. The perfect gift for your kids who like to write on the go.

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