The Best Gifts for Tween Girls, According to Tween Girls

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

If y'all thought shopping for the teen girl in your life was hard, try finding the perfect gift for a tween girl. Tween girls, who are between the ages of ix and 12, are exceptionally tough to please considering their tastes can oscillate between the realms of childhood and proper teenage-hood. To make things easier, we asked 22 girls — most of whom are between the ages of 9 and 12 — what's at the meridian of their must-have lists. (Because of their ages, some requested we withhold their full names.) Read on for the 41 clothing items, art supplies, and other gifts they say are sure to impress the tween in your life.

Apple Pencil

Later she served equally the flower girl in her older sister's wedding, model and thespian Reed Harlow-Grayce LaRocca says she received two of her favorite gifts ever: an Apple tree 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 information technology to text.

Movo Smartphone Video Rig Kit V7

"I spend a lot of time watching YouTube and TikTok," says musician Madeleine 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 at that place.

Apple AirPods Pro

For her altogether this year, Aya Spence received a pair of AirPod Pros customized with her proper name. You can engrave anything from a date to an emoji for free at Apple. If you don't want them personalized, Amazon sells them, besides. She says they take "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 but "put them on noise-canceling way." They're on actress Laurel Emory's list too: "I would really love to be able to walk abroad from my devices and still be able to listen to music or be on the phone."

Ziumier Z20 White Gaming Headset

Spence says these are "so keen" for making YouTube videos and gaming with your friends. "They have noise cancellation, a bang-up microphone, and the super-fun LED lights brand them extra cool."

Crosley Cruiser Deluxe Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable

While lots of the stuff on this listing nods to the '90s, musician Dallas Knight'southward preferred way to listen to music dates to an even older era. She told u.s. she'd love to receive a vintage record player because "I am very into music and, as a vocaliser and guitarist, beloved listening to classic rock and popular songs." Since shopping at vintage stores can be a bit of a crapshoot, we suggest this Crosley record actor. It has that vintage await while yet being compatible with more modernistic technologies like Bluetooth.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera and Accessories Kit

Spence says this kit makes for a great gift because it includes a Fujifilm Instax Mini Camera (which topped our list of the all-time instant cameras), along with all the accessories you need to accept a picture — including a selfie lens, carrying case, and colored filters — as well as stuff to display the instant photos you take like sticker frames, hanging frames, clips, and cord. She calls the camera "easy to apply" for snapping pics of her family unit, friends, and puppy Gus. A Fujifilm camera is on Emma Cason'due south wish list too: "I desire this considering it would allow me to take photos anywhere, but instead of it existence online like a telephone, it would be a physical photograph."

Hydro Flask 32-Ounce Wide Water Bottle

Three of the tweens nosotros spoke to say a Hydro Flask — the perennial VSCO-girl accompaniment — is another failproof idea. Ane of them is Ariella Maizner, the designer and founder of lifestyle brand Theme, who says the Hydro Flask is the "water canteen all of my friends want or bear right now, so it'due south definitely the perfect gift for a tween." She adds that they're durable, keep water ice cold for long periods, and are good for the environs (iii points of praise we've heard from countless others who accept recommended Hydro Flask water bottles to the states).

Yonanas 902MN Nondairy Frozen-Fruit Soft-Serve Dessert Maker

Of all the products on her list, Spence is "most excited to get this for Christmas." The machine turns frozen fruit into nondairy sorbet within minutes. She is planning on experimenting with different flavors like mango and banana. "And so much fun!"

Lovesac Gamersac Beanbag Chair

"I have been begging my mom for this for a long time," says competitive athlete Ellie Blue. She would sit on this beanbag chair "all day, every day" if she got it as a souvenir, she says. To the unfamiliar, Lovesac is dear for its luxury beanbag chairs filled with the brand'southward signature Durafoam, which folks (including the writer of this story) compare to being cuddled past a cloud. While pricey, the chairs do come with a lifetime warranty.

NewCosplay Supersoft Faux-Fur Throw Blanket

"I spotted this tie-dye supersoft throw on TikTok," says LaRocca. "You tin can't crush it on chilly mornings sitting through virtual schoolhouse." While she loves this cotton-candy-colored one, there are lots more options to choose from.

GPED LED Strip Lights

Another popular piece of décor among tweens, co-ordinate to tween actress and model Veronica Lopez, are LED lights that tin be hung in a chamber. "They fancy upward the room and are great for basically annihilation: hanging out, sleeping, filming TikToks — you name information technology," she explains. Lopez particularly likes this app-controlled, color-changing set, saying it's a "really fun thing to have in your room because you lot can choose your favorite colors."

PBTeen Himalayan Faux-Fur Lounge Around Pillow Cover

"I beloved picking out stuff for my bedroom," says Grace Keane. "This pillow looks very comfortable and is and then soft that you tin study and rest." In add-on to the pink cover she picked out, the pillow comes in other "pretty," shades like white, gray, and multicolored.

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Throw

If your tween daughter is up on her cozy blankets, she will definitely appreciate one from Barefoot Dreams. Its throws are beloved by everyone from VSCO girls to Delilah Belle Hamlin to Brie Larson, who told us she bought one after hearing about information technology from her 13-year-quondam neighbor.

YorzAhar Bohemian Summer Smiley Face Pearl Necklace and Bracelet

Model Alex Beairsto loves "the combination of pretty pearls and emoji" on this necklace, which is available as a bracelet too. Beairsto is really hoping to find information technology under her tree this year and has this plea: "Santa, please, delight, delight!"

Etsy Custom Name Necklace

According to model Parys B., "Word necklaces are so stylish — girls beloved them." This custom pendant comes in gold and silver finishes and a range of concatenation lengths, from 12 to 24 inches. "It really just makes your outfit pop."

Ana Luisa Heritage Necklace

If she prefers manifestly chains, teens we spoke to named Ana Luisa every bit the it jewelry brand right now because of how easy its pieces are to layer. This two-strand piece makes layering necklaces even easier considering information technology will do the piece of work for her.

Nike Air Force 1

Actress Caitlin Shorey calls Nike Air Force 1s "a must-have in every child'due south wardrobe" because they are "stylish" and "comfortable" and go with everything from jeans to skirts and dresses.

Vans Classic Slip-on Core Classics
Vans Old Skool Original Sneaker

Vans sneakers will also be a hitting, say three of our tweens. Nia Gisselle is a large fan of the brand, saying both the checkerboard slip-on skate shoe and the original sneaker are popular styles. Abigale Meehan agrees: "Vans are always my go-to sneakers because they are supercute and comfortable." Actress and vocaliser Charlize Tuozzo loves the Old Skool sneakers in detail. "They accept a flat sole, so they're perfect for skateboarding," she says, describing the shoes as having a "fun skate, surf, California vibe."

Dr. Martens 1460 Original 8-Eye Leather Boot

Thespian and model Brooklyn Ajjan and Alex Grand. want some archetype Dr. Martens leather gainsay boots. The shoes not only fulfill the tweens' love of all things '90s, only they are durable and comfortable enough to last for years.

Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask

Maizner says she hasn't really started wearing makeup, but "my friends and I always practise face masks." She uses Glossier'due south Moisturizing Moon Mask because it'south "good for sensitive skin and cruelty complimentary."

Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser

For a more affordable skin-care gift, you can't go incorrect with dermatologist-recommended Cetaphil. "This is the gentlest cleanser I found that doesn't irritate my pare," says performer Arwen Monzón-Sanders.

Static Nails Thorns & Roses Round

Spence has these Static Nails, which were featured in our roundup of the best press-ons, on her wish list this year. "These nails are and then fun to wear," she says. She loves to popular them on for the holidays or a birthday party. "They come in so many sizes and lengths with so many in each set. You tin can pop them off after y'all are done and then yous can wear them again." With proper application, they can terminal up to xviii days.

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

If the tween in your life has started to vesture makeup to comprehend any hormonal acne, Strategist beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton says this is an splendid 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 similar hyaluronic acrid and squalane for extra hydration besides as SPF to protect their skin from the sunday.

Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer

Because she's sure to exist on TikTok, chances are your tween girl will instantly recognize this blow-dry castor that has become somewhat famous on the app. Co-ordinate to TikTokers we spoke to, information technology'southward 1 of the things people purchase almost afterwards seeing information technology at that place. Because it'southward a hot tool, this is probably a ameliorate gift for anyone on the older side of tween-dom only would be great for someone who is merely learning how to style her own pilus also.

Caboodles On-the-Go Girl, Pink Shimmer

As for a identify tween girls can store their beauty products, Spence suggests a Caboodle (the iconic '90s accessory is trendy again). She loves hers, telling us the instance can also part as a Dopp kit when she has sleepovers with her best friend. "They are supercute," Spence says.

Bath & Body Works Cactus Blossom PocketBac Hand Sanitizers

For a souvenir that's as useful as information technology is delightful, actress and model Hendley Williams recommends Bath & Trunk Works hand sanitizers. "They are like shooting fish in a barrel to put in your bag," she says. The Cactus Flower sanitizer has a sugariness odour of cactus flower petal, coconut, and lemon.

Lush Intergalactic Bath Bomb

"Lush bath bombs are on my wish list — they are super-fun to use and they odour amazing," says Ella Yard. "I love them because there are so many different varieties in lots of colors and scents to effort."

Luckyunicorn Butter Slime Kit

While some trends come up and go, slime is a perennial favorite among the under-12 set. Spence finds that slime "really helps me when I am feeling stressed or doing my homework" and notes that any tween on your gift list "will dearest this soft, fluffy slime!" Bonus: "They aroma actually good."

RadBizz Push Pop Bubble Fidget Toy

Nora A. told us popular-its are "everywhere." While you could go for a "starter shape" like a elementary square or circumvolve, Nora prefers hearts and ice pops.

'Amulet' Eight-Book Collection

"I similar graphic novels because they combine really good stories with great artwork," says Shorey. She recommends Raina Telgemeier's books or the Amulet volume series past Kazu Kibuishi, which she says are "fun, quick, enjoyable reads."

Bubbleboxshopuk Bubble Tea Home DIY Kit by Bubble Box

"Grabbing a bubble tea on the get is one of my favorite things to do," says model Lauren Nelson. "But grabbing one from domicile is fifty-fifty better," which is why she is hoping to exist gifted this DIY kit that includes everything you need including straws, toppings, and tea.

Mapex Armory 5-Piece Shell Pack With Ultramarine Gloss

During quarantine, Valencia started a ring on Zoom with her sis, Caroline, and friend Claudia. "We cover the Go-Go'south also as other '80s and '90s female artists," she says. She has her centre on this ultramarine pulsate set because it "happens to be my favorite color and matches my room."

Impala Quad Skate, Sky Blue

Quinn Copeland has this to say almost roller skates among tweens: "Basically, they are just cool in general." She added these sky blue-and-yellow skates from Impala — which also happen to exist our option for the best roller skates for beginners — later on watching a girl do tricks at her local rink. "It would be so fun to pick upwardly my skates, put them on, and get for a spin around the street."

Z-Flex Skateboards Surf-a-Gogo 29-Inch Cruiser

Meehan currently rides a shorter Penny skateboard but has this longboard on her wish list so she can do some "awesome cruising." Z-Flex'due south prebuilt complete cruiser skateboards were recommended by experts in our beginner's guide to skateboarding, making it a skillful pick if your tween is just starting out.

Swagtron Swagskate NG3 Electric Skateboard

Perhaps your tween would adopt a skateboard with a petty more than power. For that, twins Leah and Ava Clements, who have more than 1 million Instagram followers, recommend this electric skateboard. "We've recently gotten into skateboarding, and we actually love this mini east-lath," they say. Its smart-sensor system allows a boot-to-cruise experience that requires far less legwork and detects weight and motion, "automatically stopping the board in seconds when yous dismount," they told us.

Aerials USA Royal Blue Aerial Silks

For the audacious tween girl, consider gifting something to help her explore a new hobby like aerial arts. "Who doesn't want to exist upside down and spin all around at dwelling?" says Gia Gaulke. "Aerial silks are my favorite thing to do!"

Copic Markers 12-Piece Basic Set

Jada B. told us she always wants "lots and lots of art supplies" to draw and paint with, naming Copic Markers as one of her preferred ways to putter.

Arteza Professional Colored Pencils

Or attempt this 120-piece fix of colored pencils. "I am a huge fan of cartoon, and the pretty shades are and then inspiring," says Gaulke.

American Girl Customizable Gift Trunk

If your tween is actually into dolls and doesn't have ane from American Girl however, the Clements twins say the classic toys still tin't exist beat. "We absolutely dear American Daughter and were and so excited when nosotros saw that they offering a customizable gift trunk." Each decorative trunk comes with a doll, 2 hand-selected play packs, and an illustrated story called after y'all consummate a brusque quiz. The body also includes extras like a heartfelt letter (which can exist personalized by the gift-giver) and a doll-ear piercer. "It's basically the best gift e'er," say the twins.

LOL Surprise! OMG Series 3 Roller Chick Fashion Doll

We were not that surprised to hear LOL Surprise! dolls are nevertheless amidst the favorite toys of the tween set. Model Lizzy Kern is one girl who says she loves to play with them considering you can change out the dolls' outfits and go artistic. She peculiarly likes the toys from the "OMG" series because the brand is always coming out with new ones to collect.

The Strategist is designed to surface the almost useful, skillful recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best women'due south jeans , rolling luggage , pillows for side sleepers , ultra-flattering pants , and bath towels . We update links when possible, but note that deals tin can expire and all prices are subject to alter.

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The Best Gifts for Tween Girls, According to Tween Girls