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Nine- to 12-year-old girls, also known as tweens, unsurprisingly vacillate between childlike interests and adult-esque sophistication. (As the parent of a 9-year-old, I see this up close.) They’re opinionated about their clothes and accessories, they’re starting to explore skin care, and they’re excited to be experiencing first concerts, sports games, and shopping trips. The ones I know are also enthusiastic about customizing the world around them to their ever-growing interests, whether that’s expressing themselves through arts and crafts, elevating their room décor to reflect their identity, or collecting stickers and patches for their water bottles and backpacks.
This makes tween girls extremely fun to give gifts to. There’s so much joy in their everyday creativity and personal expression. They’re old enough to be able to do more complex craft kits and take care of their belongings. And, as they figure out their taste, they’re trying out a lot of new styles, looks, and ways of being out in the world. For this gift guide, I talked to over a dozen tween girls around the country to understand what they thought would make a great gift.
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.
Update on December 20, 2024: Noted products that won’t arrive in time for Christmas and what products will only arrive with express shipping; checked stock and updated prices on all products.
Arts and crafts
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?”
[Editor’s note: This exact kit is sold out, but there are other kits from the brand — including the Rainy Day Bracelet Kit and the BB Bracelet Kit — available for the same price from Beads Inc., both of which will arrive by Christmas with expedited shipping.]
“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.”
“I love to make my own jewelry,” said Nell, 10, based in San Francisco. “I make a lot of it — for myself and for everyone I know. This Magic-Do set is cool because you can design your own beads and jewelry. It’s easy to do and it looks really nice.” The set comes with five tubs of air-drying clay, glitter glue, gold string, and modeling tools.
[Editor’s note: This item is now only available for in-store pickup, but if you have a store near you, it will arrive before Christmas.]
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!”
[Editor’s note: This crochet kit won’t arrive by Christmas, but it still makes a cute gift, even if it arrives late.]
“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.
Toys and games
This Texas-based slime company has won over the tween set as the crème de la crème of slimes, making limited-batch offerings with themes based on boba, cute animals, and holidays. They come in a range of textures, so if you’re more of a snow-fizz kid or a cloud slime kid, there are drops for every preference. “The one I really want right now is the Baby Axolotl Slime. It comes with this tiny mini figure, and you can see how it has a different texture to some of the others,” Nell said. “Also, it’s scented! Slime is really fun. You squish it. You collect it. It’s great.”
[Editor’s note: The Peachybbies store is currently out of stock but restocks at 7 p.m. ET.]
The classic ’90s Tamagotchi has evolved with the times, and this version comes with a full-color screen and the ability to take photos with your 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 of Exploding 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 Kittens also 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.”
[Editor’s note: These skates won’t arrive by Christmas, but they’re still a very nice gift!]
Fashion and accessories
The oversize look is cool while also being pretty cozy. “I love baggy jeans and sweaters,” Talula said. The wide-leg jeans come in a variety of washes and can be sized up to be extra baggy, or if you’re not sure of a tween’s exact sizing.
[Editor’s note: The Milk Teeth sweater won’t arrive by Christmas.]
There’s a good chance the tween in your life already has a pair of Crocs, making Jibbitz, the tiny charms you push through the holes in the shoes, a likely hit. “I have Olivia Rodrigo ones. But you can get all sorts of different ones depending on what you or your friend is into,” Elodie said. Crocs doesn’t make official Olivia Rodrigo-themed Jibbitz, but there are plenty of inspired options online.
[Editor’s note: These won’t arrive by Christmas.]
Rosa is a fan of the illustrator behind the site Mustard Beetle. “I have bought my friends gifts from this website before, like pins, patches, and washi tape,” she said. “You can put the patches and pins on your backpack, jacket, hats, and stickers on your water bottles and notebooks.”
[Editor’s note: The pins, stickers, and patches below won’t arrive by Christmas.]
“How awesome are these hair clips?,” asked Claire and Amy. These colorful, acrylic claw clips from Jenny Lemons come shaped in the style of various foods, including a pickle, a croissant, an ear of corn, and Swiss chard. “They’re totally fun to laugh about with friends,” the sisters told me.
[Editor’s note: The hair clips below won’t arrive by Christmas.]
“Bag charms are pretty popular right now,” Nell said. “I have a bunch of them on my backpack. The Jellycat ones are so fluffy and so adorable. I want them all, but my favorite is the Blossom Jasmine Bunny. Purple is my favorite color and I love the flower pattern.”
[Editor’s note: These items won’t arrive Christmas.]
If your kid has their ears pierced, Ada shouted out Oh Clementine as a good place to find “really cute studs, like tulips or cherries or holiday stuff.” It’s one of a handful of companies offering cute earrings made of high quality metals, intentionally designed for sensitive, younger ears.
[Editor’s note: These earrings will only arrive by Christmas with priority express shipping.]
“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 include taco and hot sauce, a burger and fries, and musical notes.
[Editor’s note: These earrings will only arrive by Christmas with priority express shipping.]
“I also really would love more dangly earrings and hoops,” Ada said. “The ones I like are colorful with beads from JillMakes on Etsy.”
[Editor’s note: These earrings won’t arrive by Christmas.]
For the tween who really likes to switch up their accessories, Claire’s offers a more-is-more approach to sets. “I like getting earrings that aren’t too heavy,” said Tessa. “My friend gave me a big card from Claire’s that had 20 pairs of earrings on it, so now I can wear a different pair every day for almost three weeks.”
[Editor’s note: These earrings will only arrive by Christmas with next-day shipping.]
“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.
[Editor’s note: These sunglasses might arrive before Christmas with express shipping, but it’s not guaranteed.]
Visible athletic socks are another understated accessory, and Louise recommended a classic 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.
[Editor’s note: These socks won’t arrive by Christmas.]
Water bottles continue to be a popular tween gift, and although the oversized Stanley Cup is often a go-to, Elodie recommended this 24-ounce Owala. “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.”
For those who covet a Stanley Cup, there’s a wide array of colors and styles. “This one is so cute,” Kyle said. “I love the color and that it’s shiny, not matte. You can buy an accessory that attaches and holds your lip gloss to the handle.”
“These hearts and the red color of these clogs are super cute and would look good with a lot of my outfits,” Nell said. “It is so fun to wear heels with my jeans or my green knit skirt.” Nell’s mom is also a fan: “These shoes are officially the perfect middle ground. They’ve got just enough heel to make Nell feel grown-up, but still pass the ‘practical shoe’ test for me. And I have to agree with her — they’re very cute.”
[Editor’s note: These clogs won’t arrive by Christmas.]
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 the Converse 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.”
[Editor’s note: These shoes will only arrive by Christmas with express shipping.]
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.
[Editor’s note: These shoes won’t arrive by Christmas.]
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.”
[Editor’s note: These shoes will arrive by Christmas with express shipping.]
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.”
[Editor’s note: These shoes will arrive by Christmas with expedited shipping.]
Books, magazines, and journals
“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 not too scary; you can still read it before bed.”
Somewhere between an activity 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 a color edition 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, including Are 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; and Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself.
“I looove YA books and my favorite is Better Than the Movies,” Kyle said. “The relationship between Wes and Liz is magical, and I love their unexpected romance. There are so many great add-ons, such as the soundtrack of Wes and Liz. The soundtrack has real-world songs that are mentioned throughout the story and in important moments in the progress of their relationship. The author includes a soundtrack playlist in the book, which I love. For the holidays I’m excited to keep the story going with her new book, the sequel, Nothing Like The Movies.”
“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.
[Editor’s note: This book will arrive after Christmas.]
This series starts with The 13-Storey Treehouse, then expands with each edition by a multiple of 13. There are now 13 books, the latest being The 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.
[Editor’s note: This book set will arrive after Christmas.]
“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.
“This is fun and is a great, really personal gift,” said Ada of Papier’s personalizable notebooks and planners. “I keep mine by my bed and write lyrics and lists. I have this checkerboard notebook, but they have lots of cool designs, depending on what you’re into. You could also give one with a photo of you and your friend on it.” Most of the notebooks come with options for lined, dotted, or blank paper.
[Editor’s note: These notebooks will only arrive by Christmas with next-day delivery.]
Room décor
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.”
[Editor’s note: This garland might arrive before Christmas with standard shipping, but you’ll have to choose second-day shipping or in-store pickup to guarantee it.]
“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.
[Editor’s note: This item will arrive after Christmas.]
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.”
“Who doesn’t love a stuffie?,” asked Cami, 11, in Los Angeles. “These are so adorable and I just love that they’re a cozy version of random things like a pickle or a macaron!” The line also includes holiday and seasonally specific options like a peanut-shaped reindeer, a stuffed gingerbread house, and hot chocolate, complete with whipped cream.
Hair and beauty
For kids excited about skin care and beauty products, it can be hard to know where to start. Pocket-size products to add a little pop, or with a scent, can be a less intimidating entry point. Cami says she can’t get enough of this lip oil: “It’s so hydrating and the Fenty scents are so delicious!” It comes in flavors like Black Cherry, Melon, and Dragon Fruit.
[Editor’s note: This lip oil will arrive by Christmas with expedited shipping.]
Louise recommended this moisturizing lip option that adds shine. “I just got this for my friend’s birthday. I like it because it doesn’t have any color, but my friends also like the pink one.”
[Editor’s note: This lip butter will arrive by Christmas with expedited shipping.]
For a smaller brush that fits easily in a bag, Louise recommended the Mini Tangle Teezer, which is “really good at getting your knots out and feels like a massage.”
This 30-color palette that toes the line between costume and makeup. “Some eyeshadow is fun for dressing up and hanging out with your friends,” said Ada. “Maybe also get this to go with some lip balm or blush for a great gift.”
For girls just getting started with skincare routines, having a go-to brand or set that works well with their skin can be helpful. Claire and Amy recommended Pamela Anderson’s brand Sonsie because “It’s clean, vegan, and cruelty free.”
[Editor’s note: This product is out of stock, but you can sign up on the product page to be alerted when it’s available again.]
Another line that appeals to tweens is Byoma. “It’s really cool packaging and there’s cool stuff you can get that’s like cleanser, toner,” said Stella. The products come in miniature sizes, making it a great way to try out a few different options at a reasonable price point.
Both Louise and Stella recommended Touchland’s hand sanitizers. “My friends have little pouches in their backpack they call ‘emergency kits’ with little things you might need during the day,” said Louise. “It could be fun to give this hand sanitizer” for something like that. “They smell really good, and there’s a holder that you can also clip on your backpack and bring to school,” Stella said.
“Bath bombs are always an elegant gift,” said Ruth and Daphne, and can be gifted as a box or one at a time. “The smell and feeling of a bath bomb would make a nice addition to anyone’s bathroom. The colors are also nice-looking.” This set comes with a variety of fruit-based scents and colorful designs.
Gadgets and tech
Olympia is a fan of this kid-oriented smart watch: “It’s pretty great. You can play music on it, you can send videos, you can send voice messages and texts.” It doesn’t have the full functionality of an Apple Watch or smart phone, which can be a plus. The watch comes in a variety of colors and allows parents to manage contacts, and also provides other safety-based measures.
“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.’”
[Editor’s note: Only the mini size of this label maker will arrive by Christmas.]
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 have Harry Potter cards now, the Roald 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.
[Editor’s note: This will arrive by Christmas with expedited shipping.]
“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.
Gift cards and experiences
The tweens I talked to recommended gifting experiences they could do together with family or friends. “We’d love to go to a climbing gym or get passes to a board game cafe,” Claire and Amy said. “Ice skating is one of my favorite things to do with friends. Even if you’re not very good, it’s still fun,” says Tessa. “I would love to see SUFFS on Broadway,” said Kyle. “So many of my friends have seen it and have told me it is very good. I really love Broadway and Off Broadway shows and think experiences like this make such good gifts,” suggests Kyle.
Zara shopping trip
“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.”
Tickets to a WNBA game
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 because Ellie will 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.
Gift cards
“Gift cards are an easy choice and I always appreciate getting them,” says Rosa. “I’d want them to Starbucks, a bubble tea shop, Target (because it has everything), and Barnes & Noble.” Elodie also recommends gift cards for the movie theater, “so I can go with friends” and a local “nail salon that does cool nail art.”
Snack boxes
“Themed snack boxes like Universal Yums or Tokyo Treat are a fun gift idea for the whole family,” said Rosa. These boxes offer a variety of snacks from a particular country and a way to learn about the world and try new things (though check for food allergies before you order). Universal Yums has boxes from Belgium (lots of chocolate and cheese), Korea (lots of sweet, spicy, and crunchy snacks), and Italy (lots of herby and citrus-y flavors), among others. Tokyo Treat offers Japanese treats including rare KitKat flavors, Japanese versions of sodas, and mochis and jellies, with a minimum subscription of three months. Bokksu also offers snack boxes from Japan that you can get à la carte, like a Seasons of Japan assortment of 22 snacks, or an adorable Cat Lover’s Box.
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