Best Gifts for Tweens

Puzzle Bright

Brand new toy alert: this like if Tetris, Simon, and a logic puzzle had a baby. Kids have to find the correct placement of shapes to solve each puzzles. There are more than 300 puzzles to solve.

Pinball Game

HOLD UP. This is the most fun pinball game we’ve ever played – and so stinking affordable compared to others. This was a recommendation from a close friend, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it takes the honor as most played with and impactful toy of 2025. This is a kit to build. My kids did it on their own. It’s durable wood, not in any way flimsy or cardboardy.

One Night Ultimate Werewolf

THE GAME OF OUR YEAR. My kids have played this for months straight with their friends. If you ever played Mafia as a kid, this is very similar EXCEPT there is a narrator on a downloadable app to run the game for you. It’s werewolf/fantasy based. It requires so much higher thinking skills for kids. It’s awesome with 4 people. It’s amazing with 10.

Tamagotchi

Oh Tamagotchi. Did you have one? They’re back and the EXACT same as you remember. We’ve all loved having “Tomi” as a part of our family.

Fashion Design Kit

Tween perfection!! If you have a budding fashion designers, oh is this the kit for you. It’s everything your child needs from patterns and forms to fabric and fringe. This is a NO SEW kit, but your child absolutely can hand sew or use this kit to help them learn. There are other kits like this that sell for cheaper. They are not as good or high quality. This is the only version of this toy I recommend.

Music Player

This is NOT A PHONE. This is an MP3 Player – the modern walk man. I bought this for my music obsessed tween last Christmas and I’m so happy I did. He has access to his Spotify playlists and that’s it. We deleted Internet search engines and social media from it (put them behind parental controls) and it’s been so fun for him to have “his” music the way I did when I was a kid. I know the reviews aren’t strong for this – that’s typical of this sort of device. We’ve had great luck with it.

Shashibo

I never expected these to be the hit they’ve been, and yet… here we are. They’re fancy fidget cubes but oh man, so much more. My kids each have one (and so does my husband – we have four) which has been fantastic since you can combine them.

Mythical Creature Drawing Prompts

Have an artist? Kids pick a series of cards that dictate what they will draw, like a wolf/rabbit combination in a mythical forest. It’s giving Liger from Napoleon Dynamite vibes, and the 9-12 year old in our neighborhood and friend group have loved it. They gather around, pull cards, draw, and giggle at their creatures.

Color Your Own Stickers

Have a sticker kid? They need this book of color your own stickers. My 9-year-old was tipped off about these by her 11-year-old bestie, because they’re awesome. Both gals take these with them on road trips or to places they’ll be sitting for a while. It’s a great, unique gift.

Wheel of Fortune

Wheel. Of. Fortune. I know you said it like the crowd! This is very similar to the old school version of the game and has been a life saver in our car (and at home too). The kids have actually improved their spelling skills from this game and… I’ll take it! We love it so much – I’ve already gifted it twice this year.

Gravitrax

Marble runs are fantastic for kids to build with and Gravitrax takes it to a big kid level. This is complex engineering and needs some serious planning, trial and error, and critical thinking. It’s a great toy for 9-12 year olds that my oldest has loved.

Ribbon Ninja

A neighborhood favorite! The kids on our street love this game and have played it on repeat since 2022. Each kid gets a wrist band with Velcro ribbons. The goal is to be the last player with ribbons. This one works on so many levels and for so many kids.

Rainbow Loom

What a great craft kit. This is super doable and makes a great final bracelet – but really, emphasis on doable. I’ve listed it in the 9+ group, but 5-8 year old neighbors love it too. Oh and a lot of middle school and high school friends jump in as well. It’s a real crowd pleaser.

Rock Tumbler

My third born’s “big” gift from us last year. For all those rock hound kids stuffing their pockets or your bags with rocks they find and love – please consider a rock tumbler. Here’s the caveat: this is a delayed gratification gift. Each round of rocks takes 4-6 weeks to polish. You check on them after a specific amount of time throughout the process, add different grit to smooth them, and seal it up. The pay off is epic!

Bow and Arrow Set

Got this for my 10 year old’s birthday and it’s been the talk of the neighborhood for almost 2 years. It’s so easy to use, shoots unbelievably far, and doesn’t hurt if you get nailed (I can say from experience).

Six Second Scribble

Ready for a great alternative to Pictionary?! This is it. In each round, every player has 60 seconds to make as many drawings as they can from the card they draw. At the end of the round, pass the sheet to another player, tell them the category, and see how many drawings they can guess (also in 60 seconds). Points are awarded for drawing and guessing, and it’s just a fantastic rebirth of drawing games.

“Just Checking In”

I always found a journal intimidating as a tween so when I heard that this book was being released (it just came out in September 2024), I couldn’t wait to buy it for my tween. The prompts are awesome, but there’s no pressure to write each day or go in any certain order. It’s a great option for thoughtful big kids.

Handheld Mastermind

We love old school Mastermind – and this new electronic version from Giiker is fantastic. You can play against the computer, against another person, and in lots of different modes. It’s a small game (really small) so it travels extremely well. This was a big hit for my kids in the car this year (they’re 9, 10, 12).

Magnetic Dart Board

A dart board that won’t put holes in your wall! While it’s definitely a big kid toy, it’s also a favorite of many little kids in my neighborhood.

Rollerblades

Roller Blades were all the rage on our street this year with the 6+ crowd. This is the brand I got my kids – and they grow with them (so you don’t have to keep buying new sizes). Also, related: here’s a link to the set of pads we like and coincidentally bought at the same time we bought these blades.

Outdoor Adventure Kit

I am so impressed with this kit. If you have an adventure kid in your life, these kits are really, really cool. There are a few different themes – I’m linking to the Navigation Trailblazer kit we have that my 12 year old is obsessed with. You can also find these kits on their website. This is a small business owned by a Mom in the Busy Toddler community.

Super Skills Game

This game is a 10/10 for big kids and adults. My then 9-year-old was gifted this from his favorite fun uncle and it has been a hit for years. The box is filled with “Minute to Win It” type games. It’s perfect for when big kids have friends over and can’t figure out what to do.

Flipslide

This single-player game is very Simon and Bop-It adjacent – and that’s a good thing. My 7 year old loves it. My 11 year old is still equally as invested.

Screen-Free Camera

I’m so obsessed with our CampSnap camera. It’s a digital camera but with no screen and no games, so it feels like an old 35mm. The pictures have a vintage filter too and have that feel of old Kodak prints (there’s a USB port to manual move them to your computer to print). We have loved our camera, letting kids take pictures, but also learn to stay present in the moment because there’s no screen to see if they got the photo “perfect.”

Junior Detective

This game is so much fun and came to us as a recommendation from 9- and 10-year-old neighbors. We got it and have loved it. A perfect twist on Clue for this age group with lots of fun tools for kids to use in their detective work.

Watercolor Set

This was a suggestion from an 11 year old friend, and my almost 9 year old loves hers. In fact, all her friends (ranging from 8 to 12 years old) have been gifted their own set too. It’s a really perfect gift for kids.

Whittling Set

Whittling was a huge part of our 2023 and this kit was great. My daughter developed an interest in it first and set our whole friend group on a whittling journey. While we did have 5-7 year olds whittling with these knives, I’m dropping the link in this 9+ list for liability reasons (wink). You decide what age is best for your kids.

Magic Markers

Did you have a set of markers like these when you were a kid? Look carefully at these: using the “magic” white marker changes the regular marker’s color. I had these and I can remember everything about them and how magical they were. This set is way better than what I had back in the day and my kids are smitten. 

Metal Detector

Yep, it’s a metal detector and it’s awesome. If you have a budding treasure hunter, this is exactly right for them. This is a gender-neutral, multi-age hit on our street really all kids over age 5. The big kids have a little easier time holding which is why I chose this list. This is a really fun gift for a kid to receive – gets them outside and moving.

Sewing Kit

This sewing kit is so perfect for big kids who are interested in learning a new skill. The kit has plenty of fabric, options, and easy to read directions for kids to sew on their own.

Cookbook for Young Chefs

This is the absolute best cookbook for kids 9+. Where many “kid cookbooks” are very basic, this is a real cookbook with really good recipes that kids can cook. My son (now 10) started with baked cod and roasted potatoes. All made by himself with this cookbook. It also has lots of great cooking information so it’s a knowledge builder too.

Kid’s Chef Knife

If you have a budding chef, this is the next step up in helping them navigate knives in the kitchen. Adult size knives aren’t made for kid hands. This is. It’s exciting for big kids and unlocks more kitchen independence.

Book Nook Miniatures

These intricate craft kits are fantastic for the 10+ crowd. They need patience and dedication: everything has to be built. It’s fantastic quiet, concentration toy for older kids that they’ll be proud of building and want to display. There are lots of different variations and model so look around and find the right set for your tween. These are called a “Book Nook” for their book like size and that they fit in a row of books on a shelf.

Flow Art

The latest from Melissa Bernstein from the famed Melissa and Doug brand. Her latest project, Lifelines, is gorgeous. Though much of the brand is geared to adults, the Flow Art collection is a slam dunk for tweens. My almost 11 year old locks into these coloring pages (just like Melissa intended) to de-stress, find calm, peace, and regulation. This unique blend of art and social/emotional support is a beautiful gift for tweens.

Makey Makey

We’ve had our Makey Makey for a few years now and it is a crowd pleaser. You’ll need to click the link to learn more about this, but here’s the elevator pitch: With this set, kids can turn anything (from bananas to pencils) into musical circuits and video game controllers. This is a fantastic introduction to coding – please go learn more about it. Trust me!!

Turing Tumble

Really cool “toy” we got for Christmas last year: this is mechanical puzzle game where kids build marble-powered computers to solve challenges and logic problems. It also introduces fundamental programming concepts, but in a physical hands-on way. It’s a really cool, complicated toy to explain in a paragraph – definitely worth a look.

Pix Brix

FANTASTIC alternative to LEGO bricks for older kids. If you have an older child who maybe likes to build or craft, but never took on LEGO bricks as a passion: this might be the right toy for you (says my almost 11 year old who I just described perfectly). These are an interlocking building material and my kids are loving this during our read alouds. Keeps their hands busy, minds engaged, and we’re all just really impressed with them.

Pom Pom Kit

I’m not a huge fan of craft kits BUT this one was so impactful in our home this year, I had to include it. My 9- and almost 11-year-olds went full tilt into making these pom pom creations. The nice part is, these pom pom balls are a craft they can recreate with any yarn so once the kit materials are gone, the creating can continue.

Spintronics

We bought this for my middle child’s 9th birthday and it was an all around hit (we are still using it and working through the program). Spintronics is a hands-on kit that teaches kids about electrical circuits but using gears and chains instead of wires and electricity. It is awesome. It also uses a graphic novel as the “directions” where kids follow a story and solve logic problems to make the circuits work. This is a really interesting “toy” – I strongly recommend looking into it.

Bird Logic Puzzle

One of the most challenging logic puzzles I’ve ever played with. I had the chance to meet the designer of this game in 2024 where he explained his vision to create a logic puzzle that could work for kids to adults – and challenge everyone. He nailed it. This logic puzzle leans heavily into spatial awareness, and it’s tough!

Rubik’s Cube Maze

If you have a kid who loves a Rubik’s cube, level it up by adding a maze component. You need to solve the maze as you solve the marble run – it’s complicated, challenging, and perfect for tweens to fidget with.

Bungee Table

Have you played this before? It’s intense and makes you smile. It’s perfect for the 9+ crowd (little kids can totally play it, it’s just a lot). You shoot pucks on sling shots… again, it gets intense.

Gravity Maze

Think marble run meets logic puzzle. This single player game has kids building small marble runs to complete each logic puzzle. It’s a very cool concept that my kids love, but it’s very much geared at older ages (aka I find this very challenging).

Flower Press

This is a very “big kid” present: a flower press. It takes time, a delicate hand, and patience to dry flowers. It’s a beautiful gift to give (my daughter has loved hers).

Nekojima

A total stand out – and no surprise! I found out about this new game when it won best board game of 2025 at a major toy expo. It’s kind of a reverse Jenga, but with a competitive or cooperative play option. You are building fake electrical towers and hanging cats off them. Sounds weird? I know. But trust me…. it’s literally a winner.

Marble Circuit

A single player logic game that I’m so impressed with. I bought this for my 9-year-old’s birthday and it’s one of the best “new to us” logic puzzles that I’ve seen in a long time. There are 64 really challenging puzzles to solve.

Diablo Yoyo

Next level yo-yo. This is a complicated and intriguing toy for big kids – it takes major skill and practice. It feels very circus performer.

Electric Circuit Kit

A fabulous STEM set for kids interested in electricity. Kids need hands-on learning with science and this makes it playful, engaging, and wonderful allows them to make electrical circuits with play dough.

Structures and Bridges Building Set

Super cool building toy for tweens. This is so much more than “just another way to build.” This comes with full instructions and background information for the child to teach themselves (or work with an adult) and learn about each structure/engineering principal. I linked to the bridge set which was so cool and informative about all the different types of bridges. This is a more engineering approach to standard building and very tween focused.

Sewing Machine

Ready to actually learn to sew? This was my 9 year olds big gift last Christmas and it’s been a joyful year of learning this skill. If you have a child interested in sewing, snag this small adult machine instead of a kids machine. It sews beautifully and is a much better place to start this skill.

Crunch Labs

This is a subscription box. I generally don’t love subscription boxes (they’re expensive and one size fits all) but I’ve made a rare except with Crunch Labs. Mark Rober created this unbelievably unique program of DIY toys to help kids “think like an engineer.”

What’s different from other kits is you have access to Mark’s video lesson where he walks kids through the engineering and physics principle the toy addresses. Then he spirals, loops back, and connects the lesson to past learning from previous builds. It is totally different than other toy-building kits and very much geared at kids 9-12 years old (although my 7 year old is hooked, too).

I am not an affiliate for Crunch Labs and receive no kickback for this review.

Hanging Swing

A total splurge. This was my daughter’s big Christmas gift last year. Thankfully, her usage of it has far outweighed the price. It is her sanctuary, her happy place, her quiet spot, her reading nook, her calm down corner. It has become everything.

Here is a link to a much more affordable hammock, owned and loved by two tween friends (for years) so I know and can speak for the excellent quality.

Motorola Walkie Talkies

Looking for a better, long range walkie talkie for big kids? The kind they could use for camping, hiking, skiing, or other outdoor activities? My kids (ages 9-12 years old) use these. The range is about 5 miles – we haven’t quite tested that but have used them on the mountain, a few miles apart. Total game changer, especial in areas without cell service. 

mBot Robot

Check out this robot if you have a kid into coding. This runs off of MIT’s Scratch program and it’s a fantastic “next step” in robots and coding. This is a big robot toy for kids who are ready (my 10 year old and 40 year old have loved it).

Laser Tag Game Set

This is THE SET. I know this is more expensive than other sets, but it’s the only laser tag set I recommend because it works so well. All ages, all genders love this game in my neighborhood.

Outdoor Games

I gifted this outdoor games set to a 9 year old a few summers back and it was one of a surprise hit for our whole neighborhood. It’s maintained its appeal. Kids set up carnival games all summer long with this. It comes with supplies for sack races, a spoon relay, and a three legged race.