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I used to think that teenagers were the ultimate challenge in gifting: I was wrong. In fact, it’s tween girls. Not quite yet a young adult, but no longer a kid, tween girls’ interests vary widely. While some love playing with dolls, others are longing for a Stanley cup, or know more about the latest Drunk Elephant releases than I do. With so much to get wrong, my position as the cool older cousin is precarious.
But according to James Zahn, senior editor at the Toy Insider, lots of kids continue playing with toys through their tween years. “Due to the influence of toy content on social media and the rise of the kidult market of adults that still play with and collect toys, we’re seeing more thoughtful expansion of the category,” Zahn says, explaining that, with dolls in particular, some kids will shift from playing with them to collecting them instead (a wall of Squishmallows, for example.)
To help you navigate this divide while shopping for the tween girls in your life, I asked child-development experts, shop owners, toy-trend forecasters, parents of tweens, and lots of actual tween girls — most of whom are between the ages of 9 and 12 — what’s at the top of their must-have lists.
And if you’ve got kids of different ages to shop for, don’t miss our other gift guides, including for teenage girls and teenage and tween boys, and the meticulously curated Strategist Toy Store, filled with all our greatest hits.
Toys, crafts, and hobbies gifts for tween girls
Tween Quinn Copeland has this to say about roller skates among tweens: “Basically they are just cool in general.” She’s been coveting these sky blue-and-yellow skates from Impala — which also happen to be one of our picks for the best roller skates for beginners — since watching a girl do tricks at her local rink: “It would be so fun to pick up my skates, put them on, and go for a spin around the street.” She adds, “basically they are just cool in general.”
Slime is still a favorite among the under-12 set. Tween Aya Spence finds that slime “really helps me when I am feeling stressed or doing my homework.” Bonus: “They smell really good.”
In other slime news, this particular goo has flecks of glitter inside; it’s also sculptable, bounceable, and never dries out.
After trying crochet for the first time, 9-year-old Ava T. says she’d get a ton of use out of a yarn kit. Though it’s a challenging hobby to master, Ava says she plans to keep practicing until she gets the hang of it. This beginner-friendly kit has everything you need to get started, including crochet hooks, a needle, seven colors of yarn, and step-by-step instructions to create projects like a coaster, place mat, and belt.
If they’re more into sewing — perhaps they watch thrift-flipping videos online, or have tried hemming their jeans — then this machine from Singer is inexpensive, and user-friendly.
The 3Doodler pen offers a kid-friendly introduction to 3-D printing. This “essentials” set comes with the pen, 72 strands of filament in a rainbow of colors, and ten stencils to get them started. Jennifer Lynch, content developer and toy-trends specialist at the Toy Association, told us it’s a beginner-friendly kit that will allow crafty tweens to “create anything from jewelry to desk décor.”
A faster-paced version of the traditional Rubik’s Cube, Speed Cubes have a fluid, easy-to-twist design for quick spins. Not only are they great practice for any kid who wants to get better at solving a Rubik’s Cube, they can also function as fidget toys. This three-piece set comes highly rated on Amazon with one reviewer noting that her “daughter has been playing nonstop with them since she received them,” and she loves that “they have smooth movement.”
For the adventurous tween girl, try a gift that’ll let her explore a new hobby, like aerial arts. “Who doesn’t want to be upside down and spin all around at home?” says Gia G. “Aerial silks are my favorite thing to do!”
LOL Surprise! dolls are also still among tween girls’ favorite toys. Model Lizzy Kern and Tessa D. both say they love to play with them because you can get creative as you style the dolls’ outfits. Kern particularly likes collecting the OMG series.
A few years ago, musician Madeleine Valencia started a band with her sister, Caroline, and her friend Claudia. “We cover the Go-Go’s as well as other ’80s and ’90s female artists,” she says. She has her eye on this ultramarine drum set because it “happens to be my favorite color and matches my room.”
This murder mystery sees players attempt to discover who killed Mia Star, a fictional social-media star who is mysteriously murdered mid-livestream. “While murder-mystery games are quite trendy right now, I love this game because it combines physical and digital evidence,” says Michalik. “Players will use their smartphones to hack into Mia’s texts, watch videos of the crime, and examine tons of realistic-looking evidence.”
Beauty gifts for tween girls
Tweenhood is about the time kids get into skin care — and some may even start dealing with skin complaints such as acne. While I don’t advise gifting skincare products that are too strong for young skin, like retinols, these pimple patches are a good place to start. My tween cousin is obsessed with these ones from Starface. (Tweens told the Cut recently that they like to wear the Starface patches, even when they don’t have a zit).
Another pick that works well with tween skin is this mist from Glow Recipe. It’s packed with hydrating hyaluronic acid and watermelon extract, meaning it smells divine and adds a gentle, glowy boost to the skin’s barrier.
Nyx is a great beginner brand for tweens. “Buy her multiples of this Dior Lip Oil Dupe,” says Strategist writer Arielle Avila. “It’s a super-shiny pigmented gloss that she won’t feel precious about reapplying throughout the day.”
Tween Aya Spence has these Static Nails, which were featured in our roundup of the best press-ons, on her must-have list. “These nails are so fun to wear,” she says. She loves to pop them on for the holidays or a birthday party: “They come in so many sizes and lengths with so many in each set. You can pop them off after you are done so you can wear them again.” With proper application, they can last up to 18 days.
A towel turban is like a rite of passage gift for tween girls — I still remember unwrapping one on my 12th birthday. This fast-drying option comes in a two pack, so she’ll never get caught out while one is in the laundry.
We love the sheet masks from K-beauty brand Tony Moly containing soothing ingredients like avocado and tea-tree oil. This option comes in a pack of ten, meaning your tween can divvy them out among her friends at a slumber party (or, of course, hoard them all for herself).
If the tween in your life has started to wear makeup to cover hormonal acne, Strategist beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton says this tinted serum is an excellent option for tween and teen girls looking for something that offers medium coverage and won’t irritate their skin. She notes it’s chock-full of good ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane for extra hydration as well as SPF to protect their skin from the sun.
Drunk Elephant is popular with tweens, but several of its products — like its retinol — are formulated for far older skin. These bronzing drops are more than okay, though (and very popular).
Chances are good that most tween girls will recognize this beloved blow-dry brush that is also famous on TikTok. According to TikTokers we spoke to, it’s one of the things people buy most after seeing it there. Because it’s a hot tool, it’s probably best for someone on the older side of tweendom who is just learning how to style their own hair.
“Lush bath bombs are super-fun to use, and they smell amazing,” says Ella M. “I love them because there are so many different varieties in lots of colors and scents to try.”
Books for tween girls
Rediscovering coloring in my teens was a game changer for me. It helps with anxiety, inspires creativity, and helped me get away from my phone screen. This book in particular is designed for tween girls and has plenty of cute doodles they can illustrate while passing the time.
If your tween loved The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and has finished the entire Hunger Games series, We Set the Dark on Fire should be next on their list. Another fiery YA dystopian novel, it’s the first installment of a duology (so if they race through it, they can cue up the sequel too).
This is the newest release from Ellen Oh, who’s both an author and the founder of We Need Diverse Books. The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee is a sweet, fantasy romance for any tweens who are big fans of K-drama.
11-year-old Regan T. developed a love for baking as a way to pass time at home during the early days of the pandemic and enjoys trying out fancy recipes. The next one on her list is a cronut, a flaky donut-croissant hybrid created by chef Dominique Ansel. Regan says she’s had her eye on Ansel’s cookbook for that reason: “I’m thinking it must be very challenging to get the recipe right, but it looks so fun to make,” she says.
Books Are Magic event coordinator Kristina Rivero recommends The First Rule of Punk, which centers on a 12-year-old girl named Malú, because its main character is totally captivating. Malú doesn’t fit in with popular kids at her school but finds a group of “like-minded misfits” who appreciate her punk-rock style and love for skateboarding and zines. She and her friends must stand up to a fun-busting school administration for the right to express themselves, and Rivero notes that the book is “a great bridge for those more comfortable with graphic novels” thanks to the black-and-white zines printed throughout.
For tweens who love a good origin story, consider this enticingly illustrated history of desserts. “If your kid is hooked on cute graphic novels with fluffy plots, you’d be shocked to see how quickly they’ll take to this nonfiction title,” Rivero says. “Nestled in the same aesthetic they’re always begging for, they’ll learn the delicious story of desserts through facts, legends, and even a few recipes.”
New York Magazine senior visuals director Stevie Remsberg says her tween daughter is “absolutely obsessed with the warrior cat series.” Book one of six — Into the Wild — follows the story of warrior cat Rusty who rises up in the midst of a war between several cat clans.
Room décor and household gifts for tween girls
With 400 letters and expressive emoji to choose from, seventh-grader Mackenzie H. says that a light-up cinema box is a great gift that allows “kids to show their emotions on it or use it for decoration.” This tabletop-size display box works with AA batteries or the included USB cord.
“I spotted this tie-dye supersoft throw on TikTok,” says model and actress Reed Harlow-Grayce LaRocca. “You can’t beat it on chilly mornings.” While she loves this cotton-candy-colored one, there are lots of options to choose from.
Spence told us she would be the “most excited” to get this machine that turns frozen fruit into nondairy sorbet within minutes. She wants to experiment with different flavors like mango and banana: “So much fun!”
While they might no longer need one to sleep, nightlights are still popular with tweens, teens, and adults of all ages. This one in particular is a favorite among Strategist readers and editors. “During the day, it looks like a little toadstool sprouting from my wall, but at night, when I turn off the rest of the lights, is when the thing really shines,” writes former Strategist senior editor Anthony Rotunno. The mushroom nightlight changes between seven colors (and mushrooms, much like ribbons and bows, are having a big moment right now).
Soft, supercute, and available in dozens of designs and sizes from mini to extra-large, Squishmallows are a plushy crowd-pleaser; Tessa D. says they are cozy enough to sleep with, and she uses them to decorate her room. “My favorites are the avocado and the blind-bag axolotls,” she says. “Some of them are scented, too!” And Ava T., who is a Sanrio superfan, dreams of decorating her room with pillows like the Squishmallow version of the character Pompompurin. (She also has her eye on Kuromi and My Melody.) Remsberg, who has both an 11-year old and a 13-year old, says it’s all about Squishmallows right now, both when she’s buying for her kids and when her kids are buying for other people. Her younger daughter also owns Rosie the Pig, one of Squishmallows’ most popular teddies this year. As Tessa said, some Squishies are scented, while others are available in a blind bag, and some are just plain adorable plushies.
Previous versions of this story have recommended a Hydro Flask as the best water bottle for teens — but it has been usurped by the Stanley cup. Behind the craze, the Stanley is solid: It’s an insulated, stainless-steel tumbler with a built-in straw. (Just double check that the tween’s school is allowing Stanleys in class, as recently some teachers have been putting their foot down.)
“I love picking out stuff for my bedroom,” says Grace Keane. “This pillow looks very comfortable and is so soft.” In addition to the pink cover she chose, it comes in other “pretty” shades like white and gray. Don’t forget to grab the pillow insert, which is sold separately.
If your tween girl is up on her cozy blankets, she will definitely appreciate one from Barefoot Dreams. Its throws are beloved by everyone from tween TikTokers to Delilah Belle Hamlin to Brie Larson, who told us she bought one after hearing about it from her 13-year-old neighbor.
Jewelry and clothing gifts for tween girls
Nine-year-old Valentina P. highlighted Lululemon’s ever-popular belt bag as one of the things that all her friends are into right now. The small yet sturdy bag can fit day-to-day essentials like lip gloss and a cell phone, and since it is compact, your tween can still carry their backpack without feeling like a bag lady. Strategist editor Maxine Builder — one of the bag’s grown-up fans — says that, despite its miniature size, it is spacious enough to fit her phone, wallet, keys, and sunglasses. There are 15 colors available to choose from right now.
Much like Swifties, fans of Olivia Rodrigo have already started dressing up for her Guts world tour, which kicked off in late February. If they’re attending, or if they’re simply a fan, these diamanté star tights are a great start — they’re almost identical to the ones that the singer has worn for her opening shows.
My tween years were when I started really thinking more about the clothes that I wanted to wear — that meant the usual five packs of briefs from the supermarket had to go. Instead, I wanted something I’d feel more comfortable in, like this set of briefs from Lucky and Me. The cute days-of-the-week stitching, doodles, and gift box make them a great choice for tweens.
If your giftee prefers plain chains, many teens we’ve spoken to have said Ana Luisa is a go-to jewelry brand because of how easy its pieces are to layer. This two-strand style makes layering even easier.
For tweens who like the stacked look, these handmade Pura Vida bracelets are made of waterproof colorful threads connected by an adjustable closure. Tessa D. likes them because “they are comfortable, and they are something to fidget with, and come in a lot of colors” (she has a pink one).
Like many of the teens in our “Back to School” survey, Caitlin calls Nike Air Force 1’s “a must-have in every kid’s wardrobe” because they are “stylish” and “comfortable” and go with everything from jeans to skirts to dresses.
Vans sneakers will also be a hit, say three of our tweens. Nia Gisselle is a big fan of the brand, and pointed out both the checkerboard slip-on skate shoe and the original sneaker as popular styles. Abigale Meehan agrees: “Vans are always my go-to sneakers because they are supercute and comfortable.” Actress and singer Charlize Tuozzo loves the Old Skool sneakers in particular. “They have a flat sole, so they’re perfect for skateboarding,” she says, describing the shoes as having a “fun skate, surf, California vibe.”
Actress and model Brooklyn Ajjan and Alex M. want some classic Dr. Martens leather combat boots. The shoes not only satisfy tweens’ love of all things ’90s, but they are durable and comfortable enough to last for years.
Tech gifts for tween girls
More of an accessory for their existing tech, three tweens told us a brightly colored phone case was a must for their back-to-school ensemble. Seventh-grader Tess said all of the kids in her school have one from Wildflower, and Ellie, a teen, told us it actually works to keep her phone safe when she drops it. The cases come in sizes for iPhones 11, 12, 13, and 14 and an array of colors, patterns, and designs.
Protect their most prized possession on pool or beach days with this stylish waterproof pouch. Available in four bright and shimmery colors, the plastic case locks snugly, floats, and allows tweens to scroll, text, and take selfies through its touchscreen-friendly surface. It also has an adjustable lanyard so it can be worn as a cross-body.
After she served as the flower girl in her elder sister’s wedding, Reed says she received two of her favorite gifts ever: an Apple iPad and an Apple Pencil she can use with the tablet. She says the Pencil is great because it allows her to write on the iPad and convert it to text.
Spence says this kit makes for a great gift because it includes a Fujifilm Instax Mini camera (which topped our list of the best instant cameras) along with all the accessories you need to take a picture — including a selfie lens, carrying case, and colored filters. It also comes with stuff for displaying the instant photos you take, such as sticker frames, hanging frames, clips, and string. She calls the camera “easy to use” for snapping pics of her family and friends and puppy, Gus. A Fujifilm camera is on Emma Cason’s wish list, too: “I want this because it would allow me to take photos anywhere. But instead of it being online, like a phone, it would be a physical photo.”
“I spend a lot of time watching YouTube and TikTok,” says Valencia. Watching videos has inspired her to make more of her own. This kit from Movo, she says, would allow for a “better setup for recording” because it turns a smartphone into a “mobile studio.” Included are a grip rig, stereo microphone, LED light, and wireless remote — everything an aspiring TikTok star needs to put herself out there.
Spence recommends customizing a pair of AirPods Pro with your recipient’s name — a nice touch she appreciated when she received a set of the ubiquitous earbuds as a birthday present. You can engrave anything from a date to an emoji for free at Apple. (If you don’t want them personalized, Amazon and many other retailers also carry them.) She says they have “great sound quality,” whether she’s using them to “listen to music and podcasts, FaceTime with my friends, or dance to TikTok.” And when she wants to chill out, she can just “put them on noise-canceling mode.” They’re on actress Laurel Emory’s list, too: “I would really love to be able to walk away from my devices and still be able to listen to music or be on the phone.”
Since its release in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has held its top spot on many a kid’s wish list. Whether your tween is into classic games like Mario Kart or excited to try out newer releases like Pokémon Violet or Pokémon Scarlet, there are options for everyone. When we talked to Jamin Warren, the founder of TwoFiveSix, about the best gifts for gamers, Warren said the console’s seamless docking, consistent stream of new games, and overall versatility make it “a perfect device.”
Several tweens told us they like Pikmin – the fourth game in the series came out late last year.
Spence says these headphones are “so great” for making YouTube videos and gaming with your friends. “They have noise cancellation, a great microphone, and the super-fun LED lights make them extra cool.”
Additional reporting by Dominique Pariso and Latifah Miles.
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