The Best Gifts for Tween Girls, According to Tween Girls

Olympia, a 10-year-old in Jersey City, recommended a pack of puffy paint, the squirtable paint that dries with a 3-D effect and can be applied to both paper and fabric. “I like using it for scrapbooking and making paintings. Sometimes I like to use it for school projects; it can be fun to just add a little pop, literally.”

“These clay beads make really cool friendship bracelets,” said Elodie, a 12-year-old in Brooklyn. “The bracelets can take longer to make than with other kinds of beads, but they look really good when you’re done,” she adds. Rosa, 12, who lives on the Lower East Side, also expressed a preference for kits with clay beads: “If you want to get more unusual beads, I love this Japanese bead store,Tojo Shoji, in midtown Manhattan.”

Nine-year-old Talula, in San Francisco, recommended this colorful kit that comes with a wide assortment of stylish beads, including letters, hearts, stars, gold balls, and clay beads. “It’s fun to make cards to send to an old friend and it’s also really fun to make a simple bracelet,” she said. “Plus, it’s always great to have jewelry, right?”

“Posca markers are great creative tools with many uses” because they work on a variety of surfaces,said cousins Ruth, 12, and Daphne, 11, in New York and San Francisco, respectively. “They are very satisfying!” Sisters Claire, 12, and Amy, 10, in Victoria, British Columbia, also recommended them: “They’re waterproof and water-based and can be layered really nicely.”

Another set of markers that achieves a satisfying effect are Marvin’s Magic Markers, recommended by Ada, 9, who lives in Brooklyn. “They can change color with a magic marker that transforms other colors when you draw.”

Louise, an 11-year-old in Brooklyn, recommended this kit from The Woobles, a company that makes kits to create cute crochet animals, while teaching techniques with beginner-friendly yarn. “There are step-by-step video instructions, and it comes with all the materials in the kit. I love this bunny! Look how cute!”

“Wax is a really nice material to work with, and you can make many different shapes with it. Candles are also a great gift on their own,” Ruth and Daphne said. This candle-making kit offers a dozen 8-inch-by-8-inch sheets of beeswax in different colors, along with almost 14 feet of cotton wick. Colors can be rolled, layered, and cut into shapes to create unique candles.

Toysandgames

The classic ’90s Tamagotchi has evolved with the times, and this version comes with a full-color screen and the ability to take photoswithyour digital pet. “I like that there are so many things you can do on it, and it doesn’t die easily. You can connect with somebody who has the same Tamagotchi, save Tamagotchi coins, and earn fun stuff in the game,” said 9-year old Tessa, who lives in Seattle.

Tessa also recommended this good old joke toy, which can play 15 different sounds for passing gas. “This is really, really funny, and you can play pranks on each other — especially on your dad.”

A spinoff of the classic board game, Monopoly Deal is one of Nell’s favorite card games. “My family brings it with us when we go out in the city for a snack or to a cafe,” she said. “It’s easy to learn and it’s just really fun to play.” Her mother noted that one of the perks of this game is that it “wraps up in 10 to 15 minutes — there are no endless rounds or bargaining stand-offs!”

Another game both Nell and Ada recommended is Blokus, a strategy game for up to four players, where each player starts with 21 uniquely shaped pieces of a single color. “You have to fit as many of your pieces on the board as possible,” Nell said. “It gets really competitive at the end which is so good.”

Another highly portable card game that makes for a great gift is Sleeping Queens. “It has fun strategy where you’re trying to get as many queens as possible,” Ada said. “You can play with all different numbers of people and challenge your friends.”

“This is a great, silly game that’s also fun,” said Tessa ofExploding Kittens, the strategy game in which you try to avoid the namesake kittens. “An example funny card says, ‘See the future, summon the mantis shrimp.’ And then the mantis shrimp says, ‘With these eyes, I see all things regardless of space or time. Time is but a vessel for blood-soaked rainbows.’ And then you get to draw the top three cards off the pile and look at them and then put them back.”Exploding Kittensalso has a spinoff, Zombie Kittens, that has been a hit in my own house.

For those learning to roller skate, or looking to level-up from adjustable skates, Story’s Quad Roller Skates, made of a soft shell boot and an aluminum blade, are a quality pick. “You can have a fun time going around your neighborhood or a rink, and these ones are really fast and smooth,” said Ada, an avid skater. “The colors are pretty and the style is a lot more comfortable than the ones you can rent at the skating rink.”

Fashionandaccessories

“I also love the mismatched earrings from Yellow Owl that have fun themes,” Ada said. “I have a pair where one is scissors, and one is a bottle of glue.” Other combinations includetaco and hot sauce, aburger and fries, andmusical notes.

“I also really would love more dangly earrings andhoops,” Ada said. “The ones I like are colorful with beads from JillMakes on Etsy.”

“I’m obsessed with these sunglasses,” said Kyle, 11, who lives in NYC. “They are so cute and inexpensive so if I lose them I won’t feel bad.” The glasses come in several shades and are available at the online boutique Cider.

Visible athletic socks are another understated accessory, and Louise recommended aclassic white Nike sock. “If you wear them with leggings, you have to wear them up and over the leggings. It’s a great gift because they’re simple and cute and comfortable,” she said. As a parent, I love when all of my kids’ socks look the same, because if one gets lost in the laundry, there are ample back-ups to pair the other one with.

Water bottlescontinue to be a popular tween gift, and although the oversized Stanley Cup is often a go-to, Elodie recommended this 24-ounceOwala. “I think these are cooler than Stanleys. They have fun colors and they have a sip spout, but you can also tip it up to drink out of it.”

The other shoes much-requested and coveted by tweens are these versatile high tops, which come in an array of colors and sole heights. “They make you a bit taller, they’re fun, and you can get them in a bunch of colors,” Ada said. “I have these white ones with a chunky heel and a zipper on the side.” Claire and Amy also recommended theConverse Lift Platform Weatherized Leather High Top“because you can wear them with anything, and the leather keeps your foot warm, so they’re good for winter.”

Sambas, which have made an all-ages revival and now come in a seemingly endless array of colors, are also a hit with the tweens, including Louise: “I like these white ones with the green stripes. They’re very stylish and would go well with the Nike socks,” she said.

Hokas are a popular athletic shoe choice, ideal for gym days at school, or for after school and weekend sports. Like their adult counterparts, Hokas for kids have a chunky foam padded sole, making them cushy to wear all day long. “I want pink or blue Hokas,” Stella said. “I just did a 5K run yesterday, and these are really great if you need shoes to run in.”

Finnish brand Reima makes these waterproof cold-weather boots with a cozy fleece lining. “These boots are really warm, but easy to run around in and get on and off,” Ada said. “I wear them over leggings, and mine are the dark purple color.”

“This is a very suspenseful and well-written murder mystery,” Elodie said. The three-book series follows a girl named Pip as she digs into the murder of a high school student and how it affected the entire town. For any kids who are worried about getting too spooked, Elodie had some words of reassurance: “It’s nottooscary; you can still read it before bed.”

Somewhere between anactivity book, journal, and diary, this book encourages kids to literally destroy it in the process of creating it. “It’s fun because you can mess it up, and the prompts are really fun,” said Ada, who received it for a recent birthday. “You can do stuff like draw with coffee or frosting, and poke holes in the pages.” There’s acoloredition as well as this black and white one.

“I’ve read all of Judy Blume’s books except for the really adult ones,” said Cami, 11, in Los Angeles. “I love that she writes from the heart and really seems to understand teens and tweens — and this set is made up of her classics, which are all my favorites.” This collection includes seven of Blume’s middle grade novels, includingAre You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret; Blubber; Deenie; Iggie’s House; It’s Not the End of the World; Then Again, Maybe I Won’t;andStarring Sally J. Freedman as Herself.

“These graphic novels make you want to keep reading them,” Elodie told me. The five-part series by Alice Oseman follows Charlie, an anxious, openly gay teen, and Nick, an upbeat rugby player. They become friends, and romance buds, but not without other ups and downs in their own lives and in their relationship. “The Netflix show” — now in its fourth season — “is a good adaptation of the book that seems very true to the characters,” Elodie adds.

Another recommendation from Elodie, Jasmine Warga’s Newberry Honor middle-grade novel deals with having to leave one home and embrace another. “This is a novel written kind of like a poem about a girl moving from Syria to the US,” Elodie said. “It has short chapters and I read it very quickly.”

“This is a really fun graphic novel about this girl named Vera, who figures out how to have a good time going to a place she really hates,” Ada said.The place is a Russian summer camp, where she has to navigate girl drama, Russian classes, and gross bathrooms, among many other misadventures. “It’s really well-written. I’ve read it so many times,” Ada said — the ultimate praise for a kids’ book.

This series starts withThe 13-Storey Treehouse, then expands with each edition by a multiple of 13. There are now 13 books, the latest beingThe 169-storey Treehouse, and numerous spinoff joke and activity books. “There are mainly three characters, Andy, Terry, and Jill, who have tons of adventures and are always struggling to get a book written on time. It’s very humorous,” Ada said.

“This is a fun, informative magazine specifically for tweens,” Rosa said. “I love, love it.” A recent issue had interviews with kids across the U.S. who are leaders and activists for social change, street-style photos of kids in Missouri, a Q&A with a specialist in adolescent gynecology on periods, and tips from an 11-year-old baking entrepreneur on making cool-looking cakes. “They really cover a wide range of topics so there should be something in there for everyone (maybe even boys),” Rosa said.

Swifties will enjoy this encyclopedic 350-page book that comprehensively captures Taylor Swift’s fashion evolution over the years. “I like that it has my favorite singer’s different costumes,” Tessa said. “It’s such a pretty book.” With foiled accents and decorative endpapers, this is as much a nice-looking object as it is a fashion tome to be studied.

Roomdécor

A lot of the tweens I talked to were excited to transform their rooms to represent new interests, and put up photos of their friends. Elodie recommended these string lights, which come with clips to hang photos or other mementos. “They make my room seem more fun and cozy. I turn them on when I’m reading before bed.”

One versatile type of room décor Ada recommended is garlands of artificial plants. “Fake plants are great. You don’t have to water them or take care of them, but they look good around your room. You can hang them on your wall or from the ceiling too and make a canopy over your bed for a jungle effect.”

“Who doesn’t want to see their name in lights?” asked sisters Claire and Amy. Your recipient can get a favorite expression, band name, or their name written out in the neon color of their choice. They can also choose the font style, and add special characters for flair.

An easy way to jazz up a bedroom is with a mini disco ball, which they can hang from a hook on the ceiling. “It’s fun and decorative and sparkly and you can get them in some fun colors,” Ada said. “I have a pink one and shine my reading light against it at night.”

Hairandbeauty

Gadgetsandtech

“Instant and disposable cameras are also at the top of my list,” Rosa said. “These are fun to play with at parties or when friends are over.” Olympia, who has a smart watch, but no phone yet, said, “I’d like to take more photos, so this kind of camera would help me take photos with my friends.”

For tweens who have access to a smartphone or another digital camera, sisters Claire and Amy recommended this portable photo printer, which is also Bluetooth compatible: “It’s so fun to be able to print photos for your room!” The photos are peel and stick, and can be adhered to notebooks, cards, or a locker. They can also be hung up on fairy lights with clips, or on a bulletin board with the backs left on.

“I really want a Bluetooth speaker that connects to my bike so I can listen to tunes while we ride on trails,” said Stella.

For kids who revel in getting their stuff in order, Stella, 9, in Atlanta, recommended this label maker and printer. “I am a very, very organized person and love label makers because I can put my name on all of my notebooks and label my school journals with stuff like ‘Writing 2024.’”

For avid audiobook listeners, or for a non-phone- or tablet-based way to listen to music, the Yoto Mini “is great for car rides or plane trips,” Ada said. “They haveHarry Potter cardsnow, theRoald Dahl books, or you can get your parents to download other books and put them on the make-your-own cards.” The Yoto doubles as a bluetooth speaker, and has a headphone jack compatible with standard headphones or earbuds.

“Headphones are a good way to get some privacy from the family when we are all together,” said Rosa. “My brother and I will sometimes listen to music in the car when on longer trips.” This pair is an upgrade in terms of comfort and sound quality from styles made for younger kids, but it still has a volume-limiting function and can be used wirelessly or with an audio jack.

“Zara has a fantastic kid’s section. They have everything from evening outfits to casual sweatpants,” say Ruth and Daphne. “The experience of going to Zara with a parent or friend would be unforgettable.”

For tween athletes or sports fans, Louise recommends tickets to see a WNBA game. “They’re very fun to watch, and it’s fun to be there, especially if you’re a NY Liberty fan becauseElliewill hype you up. And there’s a T-shirt toss!” You can look up the team closest to you, and find seats at a wide price range.