I think tween girls are hard to buy gifts for, and Christmas is no different from the rest of the year. They aren't really into toys any more (for the most part). Even though they might acquiesce and play Barbies or Lego with a younger sibling, it's just not their thing anymore. On the other hand, they aren't really grown up and still want lots of presents under the tree. It's a tough place to be, both for the girl and for the gift giver.
So I got together with my 12-year-old daughter and made up a list of all the things she wants and then added to it based on some things she didn't say but I know will love. (The list she came up with was very short, and I know she would want more than that.)
Note: While I do go overboard on presents for Christmas, my daughter is not getting all these things this year.
Also note: While most of the links below are affiliate links where I get a commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you), I spent my own money to buy a sample of almost everything listed. I am only recommending them because I believe they are truly great gifts for the tween girls in your life.
Visit the Christmas gift guide for families for hundreds more gift ideas!
Doodle Crate - This is the gift that I am most excited about this year. It's a subscription box from KiwiCo for kids ages 9 and up, and it is all about arts and crafts. I got Grace a sample box, and it is all about soap making. I think she will really like it. Use this link and the code SHARE10 to get $10 off your first-month box.
Kindle fire 8 - This was Grace's #1 requested Christmas gift in 2017. She used to have an old style Kindle that wasn't lit at all, but it broke over the summer. She loves to read, and she especially loves to read in bed after her sister is asleep, so the Fire seemed like a perfect choice. I ended up getting her the Fire 8 because it was only $10 more than the Fire 7 with 16 GB of memory. Don't forget a nice case and a warranty on this.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls - 100 Inspiring Young Change Makers - My teen has loved the Rebel Girls series since the first one came out. Each of the books features 100 women and girls who have changed the world. There is a one page biography of each person, along with a full-page painting of her. The biographies are written in a way that makes them accessible to young children but also interesting to tweens and even teens. I highly recommend any book in the series, but the newest one (100 Inspiring Young Change Makers) is Grace's favorite because it's written by and features women between the ages of 11 and 30.
An instant camera - These are all the rage this year, and I bought one for my teenage girl (although I know my young lady would love it too). They are basically new versions of the Polaroid camera that we remember from the 80s and 90s except with much better picture quality.
A light strip kit - My tween told me that these are the other big thing this year, and that everyone on TikTok has one. Plain old twinkle lights are okay, she said, but LED lights that can change color are way better. This kit includes a hub that works with Alexa and Google. Pair this with a string of photo LED lights for the ultimate in cool Christmas gifts this year.
Both of my girls are getting a Munchpak Mini subscription this year. Munchpak is a weekly, biweekly, or monthly subscription box where you get a mix of savory and sweet snacks from around the world. The Mini contains 5 snack-sized items, and I opted for the monthly option. Learn More about Munchpak
I'm really into the subscription boxes this year, partly because we do a 100% debt-free Christmas and it will allow me to spread out the cost via monthly payments over the next 3-6 months. In addition to the Doodle Crate and Munchpak above, I'm also looking into these:
SketchBox - This one is a little different than Doodle Crate above. Doodle Crate is a thematic craft and you are sort of told what to do with it, whereas SketchBox is just open-ended art supplies. I know Grace is going to be super excited about SketchBox because it will give her the opportunity to test out different art supplies than she might otherwise have chosen, and she'll get new ones every month. Also, there is an instructional video each month to teach you how to use the supplies you've received.
A pretty bracelet from Luc and Bell - These bracelets have the best message. Each one contains a silver heart so that girls know that they are loved, an animal bead so that girls know that they are part of a larger pack that has their backs, and a red bead reminding them that they are strong and protected. Each bracelet comes with a card that says "You are strong, kind, and you are note alone." I think they are a beautiful reminder to our girls that, even though mean people will always come along, they don't have to give in to the meanness. They can stand strong in the face of whatever they face.
Sims4 - Both my tween and teen are over the moon for this computer game. As far as I know, it can only be played on a laptop or desktop computer (as opposed to a tablet/iPad or phone). If you have never heard of the Sims, they are people you can create, and then you manage their lives and jobs and families and everything. I had Sims in the early 2000s, and I thought it was lame, but my kids play it every single day.
Photo blanket - Collage.com sent us two of their amazing blankets for review in 2018, and I am 100% sold on them. Grace ordered a 60"x80" Sherpa blanket which has a wool-like fuzzy side and a smooth fleece side with the photos printed on. Allie ordered a 90"x90" blanket that was soft fleece on both sides with the photos printed on one side. I cannot gush enough about these blankets. They both have put their blankets on their beds instead of their old comforters, and they are plenty warm but not sweaty and perfect for chilly fall and winter nights. I lay down with Allie every night (and usually fall asleep), and I am totally jealous of her big, soft blanket. The pictures look great, lots of vibrant colors and details, and it is so nice to sleep under. I want one for my own bed! I've asked Joe to get me one for Christmas. I promise that your tween girl will be over the moon for one of these.
A light strip kit - My teenager told me that these are the other big thing this year, and that everyone on TikTok has one. Plain old twinkle lights are okay, she said, but LED lights that can change color are way better. This kit includes a hub that works with Alexa and Google.
A tie dye kit - Both of my girls (the tween and the teenager) LOVE tie dying. Every summer, we buy a giant kit and tie dye shirts and socks and scarves in the backyard. It's fun, and we wear the shirts for years after, remembering the good time we had together. Tie dying is super fun and girls love the whole process.
Art supplies - In addition to the SketchBox and Doodle Crate above, Grace is getting some big time art supplies that she asked for. One of the items is a large set of Ohuhu markers which are apparently alcohol-based markers similar to Copic but cheaper. She didn't ask for but is also getting a large set of glitter gel pens. I looked on Amazon to find the highest rated set, and it was relatively inexpensive which was a nice bonus. I picked up a really neat set of watercolors (and got one for myself too). Finally, I got her an assortment of sketch books as she usually only uses the ones that I can get at Walmart for under $5, and I thought she might appreciate some nicer, artist-quality ones.
Grace isn't into journaling so much, but when I asked for suggestions on Facebook, a couple of people said their tweens would like pretty journals and nice pens. I personally adore pretty journals and pens and have about seventy bajillion of them, so I included a couple of my favorites here. The journal that I linked has many different covers including one with a cat and one with a dog and also a sloth and a llama, to cover all the different tween fascinations.
This journal is like the ones above but actually very different. It's a dot-based journal which doesn't have lines - only grids of dots. Bullet journaling is HUGE among women today, partly because of its artsy slant and customizability. I think tweens and teens would get into it just as much if they had the opportunity. This is the journal I use for my bujo, and it is the second one I've had of the same brand from the same maker. I love this journal so much. If you get this, spring for some premium colored pencils, a sharpener, a mini ruler, and a couple of nice pens to get her started.
Paint by number with a tripod - Paint by number is not what it used to be. There are intricately detailed and gorgeous canvases that your tween can unroll and paint. Allie and I can make it through a painting in about two weeks, working on and off but always together. I especially like this Disney inspired painting. I think it's grown up enough for our teens but still whimsical and a little bit child-like.
Harry Potter is, and perhaps will always be, hugely popular among tween girls. If yours is also part of team HP, you should check out my Harry Potter Amazon page - there are well over 150 additional Harry Potter themed gifts over there. The items above are a time turner necklace, a HP earring set, a set of illustrated HP novels, and a replica of the Elder Wand from the movies.
All the above are heat-sensitive, color-changing mugs, so when you pour something hot into them, the design appears. I think they're really neat, and I think Grace would really like one (especially the Harry Potter ones above). Even Allie gets excited about heat-sensitive mugs. And actually, so do I, come to that.
Stick Together kits - These mosaic kits are very large and very cool. Basically, you get a poster board sized template, and you stick 4,000 small square stickers to it. For my girls, I removed the completed picture so that it would be a surprise when they assemble. I am excited about these kits because they will take a very long time to put together, and they are something that I can do together with my daughter for an easy and fun, screen-free, low key time together.
I got my kids a karaoke machine a few years ago, and it was a big hit. We still love to sing and play with it, which leads me to think it would be a good gift for your tween too.
Diving gear - I know your girl is not currently thinking about swimming, but this diving set is amazing. I got one for my tween and one for my teen (be careful of sizing - check the charts) last year, and they love them. They got lots of action all summer long, and the fins really helped my struggling swimmer to improve her skills and gain some confidence in the water. I highly, highly recommend this set if your girl spends a lot of time in the water.
Diving toys - I got Allie this set of diving toys in May, and she played with them all summer long. If your girl spends any time at all in a pool, you need to get her this set of toys. Allie's favorite part is the set of six translucent sharks. They are light color and tricky to find in the pool (but not impossible).
Pancake Art Kit - This kit is fabulous. It is from the makers of the Blender Bottle which I have used for years, and it includes blender balls for both of the pancake batter bottles which ensures that your batter is well mixed and doesn't settle. The bottles have lids, so you can save your batter in the fridge if you don't use it all the first time. The kit comes with two heat-safe shapes, and you can also get a unicorn shaper if you order directly from the Whiskware website. Highly recommend this one for any girl who likes to experiment in the kitchen and wants to make meals more interesting.
Hair wrap - So this isn't a super sexy gift, but it might just be the most useful and helpful item on the list. I have had one for years, and I LOVE it. You wrap your wet hair in the thingie, and it keeps your hair from dripping down your back while you dry off. I keep mine on for a half hour or so, and then I unwrap and style my hair. It soaks up a lot of the water from the hair and makes it easier and quicker to style.
Happypop socks - These socks are cool and come in many different patterns and themes. Best of all, they intended for womens' shoe sizes 6-12 which is amazing for girls with big feet (like me and both of my tweens). Grace was super excited to get a pair of socks that say "Books turn muggles into wizards," and I was super excited that she could have cool socks like her friends who have smaller feet wear. Win-win.
You are my sunshine necklace - I have sung You Are My Sunshine to my sweet girls nearly every night of their entire lives, so as you might imagine, it is a very special saying to us. I also greet them every morning by saying, "Good morning Sunshine," even when they're grumpy and looking miserable. It's just our thing. So I love this necklace, but what I love most about it is that the "You are my sunshine" is on the back, so no one has to know that it's a sweet sentiment from mother to daughter. Everyone can just think that it's a cute sun, unless she chooses to share the meaning behind it. Perfect for a tween who's starting to test her independence a little.
Fujifilm Instax Camera with extra film - Grace has wanted one of these the last few years, but something else has always usurped it on her list. It's the Polaroid camera you remember, where you take a picture and wait for it to develop - except that the picture quality is so much better than it used to be. If you are getting one of these this year, make sure you budget for extra film. The film is a little pricey.
I got this rock tumbler for Grace in 2015, and it is still as cool as ever. It is a professional quality tumbler and will last your girl for many years to come. If you go this route, plan on getting some gemstone refills and grit refills either now or in a couple of months.
eos Shimmer Lip Balm - Grace loves eos, and she wears it almost every day. These particular eos balls are filled with shimmery lip balm which makes them nice for girls who are starting to experiment with a little makeup but not really ready for the whole shebang.
Unique nail polish in rose gold, holographic, or multicolor - What I love about this brand is that it is all vegan and cruelty-free. Grace loves nail polish. She loves to paint her nails, and the more unique, the better. ILNP's polishes are so cool and interesting, and they make great stocking stuffers by themselves or under the tree gifts in packages.
Unicorn leggings - Every tween girl I know loves unicorns, so these cute leggings are perfect. Grace is got a pair in 2017 and is still wearing them.
Gorgeous glitter washi tape - Grace covers everything in washi or duct tape. I prefer the washi because it is easier to get off after she changes her mind. This particular package is all silver and gold patterns, which makes it seem really fancy and sophisticated for our older girls. If you're looking for a set with more rolls of tape, take a look at these which we have. They're great, just not as fancy as the metallic ones.
Wreck this Journal - Grace got this for her birthday last year, at her request. She LOVED it. She did most of the pages and had a great time doing them. You really wreck the journal, putting pages in the freezer, ripping out pages and mailing them back to yourself, burying them in the dirt, etc. It's fun and interesting for kids. Grace's journal eventually broke in half, and she had to keep it in a gallon-sized zippered bag, and that made it all the better for her. She has since gotten herself a second one with her own money, and she's working on destroying it, too. She eventually repaired her first Wreck This Journal with duct tape, and she has asked for Keri Smith's other books for Christmas this year.
Hugglepod (for smaller bodies) or hammock chair (for larger bodies) - You may be thinking that this gift is a bit young for your tween, but hold on a minute. It's a single person hanging seat. That means that no little sibling can climb in and bug her while she's reading or drawing or listening to music, unlike when she's lying in her bed or sitting on the couch. This was my older daughter's #2 requested gift last year, right after her Kindle. She's almost five feet tall, so I went with the hammock chair for her even though the Hugglepod was on her Christmas list.
Cat makeup bag - This bag is so cute that it could easily be used for a brand new makeup collection, a set of colored pencils or markers, or even the my first period kit that was recommended in The Whole Story. Hey, maybe she needs more than one of these! While you're preparing a make up bag gift, you should consider some 7th Heaven peel off face masks. We tried the silver and the blue ones, and they were pretty good. The silver was much harder to peel off than the blue one.
Gumball machine and of course gumballs to fill it - These are just plain fun. Joe has an old jelly bean machine that Grace loves even though some of the parts are missing. I'm thinking about getting her this one to replace it.
Boogie Board - My sister got these for the girls years ago, and Grace has loved hers from day one. It's a tablet where you can write or draw with a stylus (so only one color), and when you're done, you press the button and it all clears. It's really neat and saves a TON of paper, especially for doodling or sketching.
Games - Emoji UNO would be a great choice for this age group as emojis are big right now. There's also a Despicable Me version that I think my girls would prefer. Electronic Guess Who is a big hit in our house right now (it's not the same as the traditional version, much sturdier and better), and Grace is finally old enough for Scattergories, 5 Second Rule, and Clue. She asked her grandparents for Despicable Me Labyrinth in 2017, but didn't get it, so we bought it a few weeks later. It's an awesome game that gets harder and harder the more players you have. I had my eye on Bounce Off because the first review on Amazon says it's like beer pong for kids, and that was one of my favorite hobbies in college. We got it for Valentine's Day in 2018, and the girls, Joe, and I all enjoy playing it together. Finally, Grace came home from a church event to say that she loved the game Suspend.
Razor scooter - Grace rides her Razor scooter almost every single day. She loves to zip by Allie and I as we do our daily walk. She recently got a concussion from falling off her scooter with no helmet though, so if you go this route, make sure to take her to a store, fit her for an appropriately sized bike helmet, and make sure she wears it.
A badminton/volleyball set - This set is super cool, and if I didn't already have the girls' Christmas gifts already ordered, I would be buying it for them this year. I love badminton and think it would be really fun to teach the girls. The set is great because it comes with the net, racquets, birdies, boundary lines, the works. It has great reviews, too.
Pusheen messenger bag and/or Pusheen unicorn stuffy - Grace (and I) love this super cute, super fat cartoon cat. I think the messenger bag is awesome and would be very useful, but I ultimately settled on the unicorn stuffy since Grace is still crazy about stuffed animals and unicorns.
Snoozies slipper socks - I got three pairs of Snoozies in 2017 because my feet are always cold, and I totally and completely love them. You can't go wrong with these if your girl likes to wear slippers or socks. The ones I've pictured are the pair Grace calls my ruby slippers because they're my favorite, but really, they are all warm and soft and comfy and amazing.
A small but chic purse - As our girls grow up and start to get their periods, they will most likely need to start carrying a purse for necessary supplies (and probably the money they're amassing if they're anything like Grace). These super cute Vera Bradley bags are small enough to work for our girls but big enough for the essentials. If I didn't carry a duffel bag around (okay, kidding, but almost), I would want one of these, too.
Bearpaw boots - Grace and I both have Bearpaw boots for the winter, and we both LOVE them. She has natural tan, and I have black and dark red. They're our go-to shoes now, for every occasion from church to our afternoon walks. They are warm but not sweaty being made of natural wool inside, and they are very durable. The pair she had last year still look brand new despite being worn almost every day of the winter.
A real jewelry box - Our girls are starting to collect more jewelry, and they need a place to store it and keep it organized. I think this box is pretty and functional and would be a great starter piece that would hold lots of items for years to come.
A nice bean bag chair - These chairs are pricey, but they are amazing. My kids have had them for about a year, they sit on them every day, and they are not the least bit flattened. Sometimes, Grace lines them up side by side and sleeps on them. (Allie is still little enough to curl up on just one to sleep.) When we were bean bag chair shopping, we decided to go with this brand based on the recommendation of a friend, and we bought them assuming the girls would be able to use them for many years and eventually take them off to college some day. That's still the plan.
Fitbit - Both of my girls have Fitbits. They love to see how their steps stack up to mine (they always have more than me, which makes sense because they take smaller steps) and how they compare day after day. The girls' Fitbits were gifted to them, but if I were buying for them, I would get ones with heart rate monitoring as those are more accurate.
AirPods Pro - Both of my girls put these on their wishlists this year, and who am I kidding? *I* want a pair! I used my sister's a few months ago and fell in love. They have a noise canceling feature that really works, but they also have a transparency mode that doesn't cancel outside noise. It's the best of both worlds. And also, the sound is so much better than the original AirPods (which I do have). One more thing: they come with 3 sizes of tips, making them perfect for tweens, teens, and adults.
Bluetooth headphones - I have these and love them. I use them on my daily walk when the kids don't come along. They aren't specifically noise cancelling, but because they're big and cover your whole ear, they do a nice job of blocking out sound. The sound coming through the headphones is great, and I have listened to both podcasts (speaking) and music. No complaints at all.
Bluetooth speaker - I have an Anker bluetooth speaker and love it, too. We use ours in the car to play audiobooks, Sparkle stories, and music from my phone, but tween girls would love to use it in their bedrooms or the backyard or anywhere! Anker speakers have awesome, crisp, clear, loud sound that you can hear anywhere. If you girl isn't a pink girl, this one comes in silver, gold, and black, too.
Shower speaker - Along the same lines, a shower speaker is sure to tickle any girl who spends a lot of time in the shower. This is basically a bluetooth speaker, but it is waterproof for bathtub hijinks. If your girl likes to take long bubble baths or long showers, definitely consider one of these.
Prankopedia: The Funniest, Grossest, Craziest, Not-Mean Pranks on the Planet - Grace is obsessed with pranking everyone in our family, so I know she would love this book. Listening to her tweens craft class this evening made me realize that all tween girls are obsessed with pranks, so this is a safe bet for any girl. (Or probably any boy, too.)
Craft supplies and kits - Girls this age (um, girls of every age?) love crafts, and slime is an especially big hit right now. A gallon of Elmer's glue and some foam beads would be a huge hit, but if you're sick of baggies of slime all over your house, go for something like this string art kit which Grace thought was pretty neat. A bath bomb kit is really cool if you've never made them before (but refill supplies are much cheaper if you buy them at Walmart or the pharmacy), and a Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty Mixed by Me set is awesome. Grace got one of those for Easter this year and loved it, and she asked her grandparents for the holographic set for Christmas this year. She's also asked for Decorate this Journal by Klutz, and I'm pretty excited about that as well.
Just Between Us journal for Mothers and Daughters - I love this idea because girls at this age are starting to feel out their independence and often starting to distance themselves from their moms a little. This journal gives us mothers a no stress way to communicate with them without the pressure of a face to face conversation.
Books - Grace is a huge reader, and I imagine a lot of other tween girls are, too. Here are some of Grace's favorite books of recent:
- The Pokémon Deluxe Essential Handbook (She loves to play Pokémon Go.)
- Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson - This is a graphic novel for girls.
- Smile & Sisters by Raina Telgemeier - Also graphic novels.
An American Girl doll - Grace has been really into American Girl dolls for years, and her obsession does not appear to be letting up any time soon. They are very well made and our older girls will take good care of them for years to come.
Brain Teaser Gift Holder - I think this is super cool. Here's the premise: the gift giver sets a 5-letter word as the password for the gift. You will have to come up with some clues to help the recipient figure out the password as it could literally be any 5-letter combination. The bank part is see through, so she will be able to see the amazing thing inside. On Amazon, they show an iPhone, candy, and money. I'm thinking about getting one of these for Grace this year and putting the Rubik's Cube she asked for inside it (if it fits).
Snipe Hunt - Grace was excited about this little toy/game. It comes with two snipes, and the object of the game is to find them. So if two people are playing, they each hide one snipe in secret, and then the other person tries to find it. If the finding takes too long, the snipes' eyes start to blink, and if it takes even longer, they start to chirp. Grace loves to hide things for her sister to find, and she loves to find things that Allie has hidden, so this is perfect for her.
Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty - Grace is obsessed with slime and putty. She makes it almost every day, and she has asked for Crazy Aaron's the last two years for almost every holiday. She already has a bunch, but she always wants more. This year, she's asking for Super Scarab, Star Dust, and Jingle. Go for the 3.2 oz 4-inch container if you can. It makes a nice handful to play with. The smaller 2-inch tin is just a dab of putty.
Any geeky girl will love this super cool solar system bracelet. The beads represent the eight planets, including the rings of Saturn and the blue, blue waters of the Earth, as well as a couple of stars and sparkly black beads. It's gorgeous.
Why does Amazon insist on showing me the Happy Birthday gift card? UGH! Anyway.
I asked about good tween girl gifts on Facebook, and one reader said her daughter asked for a popcorn popper. I thought this was a brilliant idea - what girl wouldn't be excited about making popcorn for her and her friends, especially if the family doesn't already have a reliable way to make homemade popcorn? (Microwave popcorn is full of nasty chemicals, by the way.) I think a sleepover gift basket would be an amazing gift - a stovetop popcorn popper (this is the one we have and use weekly), a big bowl (A note - My family uses a Tupperware 8 quart Thatsa Bowl for popcorn because it's huge and amazing and goes in the dishwasher. However, it is more than $40, so you may want to go with a smaller one like Rachel Ray's 4 quart Garbage Bowl or this 6 quart popcorn bowl.), popcorn in bulk, some sweet or salty (or both) popcorn seasonings, and an Amazon gift card to stream a new movie or two. It's more like an experience than a bunch of stuff destined to become clutter.
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Stickers - I know, stickers are usually a little kid thing, but hear me out. My 12-year-old is in love with these vinyl stickers (outdoor theme and galaxy theme), so much so that she bought them with her own money. She puts them on everything. Her water bottle is especially plastered with them. They can also go on laptops, phone cases, and anything else that's smooth.
Fidget toys are still very popular, and my daughter has been really wanting this one. She is getting it in her stocking this year, and I am excited about it because it is heavy and seems to be well made. If you are looking for other fidget toys, check out my Amazon list.
So that's it. My tween is getting a lot of things that are on this list, as well as a few things I thought might be specific just to her. Comment below and let me know what you're buying for your tween girl this Christmas!
Donna Kellogg says
My Tween has been requesting Merchandise of her favorite Youtubers.
D says
What about “ALEX my sewing kit”? Or, if they are more advanced seamstresses, a cute sewing kit box?
Tara Ziegmont says
That's a great idea! My younger daughter is just getting into hand sewing, and she IS going to get a sewing box for Christmas. 🙂 I will add that to the list.
Isabel says
as a tween girl I can confirm that a lot of these are good Ideas.