Our Favorite Gifts for 12-Year-Olds

Nearly every parent, teacher, and toy-store owner we’ve talked to over the years has recommended Lego. And while the open-ended, free-build version of the toy is preferred by many child-development experts, the creator series sets make excellent gifts for older kids. This set comes recommended by now-13-year-old Benny, who likes that you get three builds in one, all of which “would look really cool displayed on a desk,” she says.

When I asked Benny and her mom about thebest gifts for tweensand 12-year-olds specifically, she pointed me to thisGood Luck, Babe!seven-inch vinyl record. “I love Chappell Roan’s music, and to me there’s something so special about listening on vinyl versus Spotify,” Benny says, adding that the album cover looks cool, so the record can double as room décor.

Speaking of room décor, string and fairy lights remain popular among tweens, teens, and even college students as an easy way to customize their spaces. This 3-D lantern kit in the shape of a dog, recommended byToy Insidereditor-in-chief Marissa Silva, takes that idea one step further. Once all of the shimmery pieces are assembled, simply insert the included LED string lights and you’ve got a twinkly lamp.

James Zahn, senior editor at theToy Insider, noted that escape rooms have been really popular and highlighted this version ofClue, which puts a new twist on the famous board game. In addition to navigating the expected elements like figuring out who killed the victim with what weapon, players also have to work together to figure out how to get out of the mansion first.

The Game of Lifemoves faster thanMonopolybut uses many of the same core concepts, like counting money and decision-making. It’s a great game for increasingly independent tweens who will delight in “trying out” a variety of different career and life paths, from buying a waterfront beach house to becoming a video-game designer or a secret agent.

Gus, who had just turned 12 when we talked to him, told us that it is the age when kids really start getting into this ever-popular card game. If you think your giftee would prefer a strategy-based game that’s a little more complex and consuming thanClueorLife, Gusrecommendedacore setor any starter set, like this one, to provide an introduction to the game.

As we noted in ourgift guide for 11-year-olds(and ourgift guide for 10-year-olds, and ourgift guide for 8-year-olds, and ourgift guide for 7-year-olds),Squishmallows remain popular with kids of all ages, including tweenswho aren’t as interested in stuffed animals as they used to be. According to Lynch, the seemingly endless options mean “kids can use them to customize their space,” and their “collectibility” makes them a hot gift item year-round. They come in hundreds of styles and range in size, from small enough to dangle from a backpack to two-foot-tall giants. This 20-inch bright red dragon with spiky black horns and little red wings will appeal to 12-year-olds with a touch of goth or fantasy flair.

When we asked her about her favorite art supplies for kids,writerand mom Alexandra Lange suggested this Paint by Numbers kit she recently gave to her tween son. “I got the ranch house, and he got the succulent array from the same company. I have his painting on my bureau because he did what the kit said and then gave it something extra,” she says.

Lori Jepsen, who reviews and blogs about toys forToysenberry, recommends this light box that would fit in alongside the Prismic 3-D dog lamp above. “It has so many options for kids to express their creativity,” she says, including “colored letters, emojis, and a background light that changes color with a remote.” The fact that it doubles as bedroom décor will make it an even bigger hit.

Benny’s mom, Regan, says she’s noticed tweens “turning back to lo-fi, Luddite ways to keep track of tests, homework, and appointments.” Benny is requesting this weekly planner from Papier because “it’s aesthetic,” but she’s currently using one fromMuji.

For kids with an interest in travel,Toy Insidersenior editor Jackie Cucco recommends the K’NEX Architecture series, which she says will let them experience world views without leaving home and features buildable versions of theGolden Gate Bridge, theEiffel Tower, the London Eye, and theEmpire State Building.

While your preteen may initially shrug at Pindaloo, “once they get off the couch and try it, they’ll be addicted,” promises Jepsen. She says it’s always fun to pull out after a taxing study session, because the game “actually helps hone their focus, coordination, and balance skills.” Plus, it can be a great confidence booster. “They’ll love the sense of accomplishment they get once they master getting the ball to do a continuous loop through the tube.”

If they don’t already have a record player, this one, which Benny received as a gift when she was 10 years old, is a good option. It’s relatively affordable but not cheap, and the sound quality is good.

According to Cucco, “This is a great STEM item for children who like to build stuff.” Kids can use the kit to create a 3-D house or tower and brush up on their science skills in the process, because it includes “real circuits to learn about how electricity works,” she explains.

For thrill-seeking 12-year-olds, Silva recommends this lightweight remote-control stunt jet that can fly up to 35 miles per hour. She says it’s remarkably easy to fly and can do loops and barrel rolls at the touch of a button. It also has removable landing gear and can be flown up to 600 feet away.

According to her mom, Benny and her friends love baking and elaborately decorating cakes for special events — like their own birthdays, or Taylor Swift’s birthday. She recommends gifting a decorating set from professional baking brand Wilton; this one comes with 16 piping tips, piping bags, angled spatulas, and a multilevel storage caddy.

Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahonsuggests the Tiny Pod for kids who already have an Apple Watch: You just slide the watch into the flexible window to transform it from a wearable device into a tiny phone with a physical scroll wheel like the one on the original iPod. The wheel will let your recipient scroll through apps, music, and more, and if their Apple Watch has cellular (or is connected to Wi-Fi,) they can use the Tiny Pod to take calls and respond to texts.

Zelda,Echoes of WisdomforNintendo Switchis the newest game in theZeldafranchise. According toPolygon, fans have been begging for the chance to play as Princess Zelda, rather than Link, for years — and now they can. Instead of a sword, Zelda uses a magic wand with echo powers that let you copy and paste objects like chairs and tables to climb over walls, solve puzzles, and fight bad guys.

Though it’s not as new,Super Mario Bros.Wonderisinnovativebecause of its lack of a time limit for each level, so kids can practice moves and explore the colorful worlds within the game rather than rushing through to fight the big boss.

According toMcMahon, this mobile game controller is a fantastic and affordable gift for 12-year-olds who already have an iPhone. It’s compact and easily snaps onto a phone, letting you play a host of downloadable games through the App Store and Apple Arcade — from basic solitaire to more in-depth titles likeSonic the Hedgehog,Minecraft, andThe Last of Us.

Similar to the standard Kindle Paperwhite, the kids’ version can hold all of your young reader’s favorite titles. It features a parental dashboard that lets you check in on your kid’s progress and manage age filters. It also comes with a free one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription, which provides access to age-appropriate games, books, and educational content (games and apps can be viewed on otherFire devices and Fire TV). Extra avid readers will like the press-to-define feature, so they can just click a word to show the definition, and the ability to access their books on the go.

Chris Byrne, who also goes by theToy Guy, says remote-control cars and other vehicles are “always good ideas for this age group.” Of the hundreds of options available, this extra-large all-terrain model is my top pick for 12-year-olds. I got to test one out at the Toy Fair, driving it over the body of a public-relations person and eventually crashing it into a nearby wall. It’s incredibly rugged and fun to drive, with a tight turning radius and massive grippy wheels. It even comes with working LED headlights.

Sasha likes that this GoPro is waterproof and comes with a protective case so you can use it anywhere without being too precious. “I taped it to the RC car once and did jumps with it,” he says. It also comes with a bunch of attachments including one for your helmet, which makes him and his friends feel like the main character in a video game.

They may not officially be teenagers yet, but 12-year-olds need a cozy place to lounge, read, play video games, and occasionally sulk just as much as any high-schooler does. This beanbag chair from Yogibo took one of the top spots on our list of the verybest beanbag chairs; in addition to being satisfyingly squishy, it comes in over a dozen colors and has a convenient handle so kids can easily drag it around.