Best Gifts for Tweens

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.

Pixicade

A TOTAL STAND OUT: Yes, this is screen based, but it’s so much more. On white paper, kids draw a video game. Using the included app (you need a iPad), they take a picture of their drawing and it becomes an animated, playable game. It’s incredible. It takes so much problem solving, planning, trial and error. It really stretches kids. If you have a gamer, this knocks it out of the ball park.

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).

“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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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. 

Star Wars Paper Plane Book

I recognize that this is an oddly specific niche present, but if you are shopping for a child who loves Star Wars – this is my kid’s favorite. The book comes with really cool paper, but once he’d used all that, he just used regular paper to make his own Millennium Falcon, X Wing, etc. It’s an awesome book.

Hook and Ring Game

You want a simple game? This is it. Laugh all you want at how simple this looks… give it a go… circle back to 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.

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.

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.

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.

Erector Set

The classic erector set. I gifted this to my then-10-year-old last year. It’s complex, difficult, and raises the challenge bar for kids who love engineering. It’s been awesome to watch his skills grow this year. This is a very “real” working toy so make sure the kid you’re gifting to is a builder.

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.

Paracord Jig Bracelet Maker

Do you remember making paracord bracelets as a kid? These took my kids by storm this year. We bought this jig and a bunch of ribbon, and we are swimming in bracelets. This is perfect for the 9+ crowd and makes a very cool bracelet that’s different from the normal kid friendship bracelet.

Knitting Set

Have a big kid who wants to knit? This is a great option to start them on their knitting path. They learn so many skills with this set and create really awesome knitwear from the easy instructions. 

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.

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.

3D Wooden Puzzle Kit

The coolest, most intricate puzzle ever: these 3D wooden kits took the 10-12 year old crowd by storm this year in my neighborhood. They’re advanced, and awesome. If you have a builder who also like creating and crafting, this is a high-level gift (and there’s lots of styles of these so look around).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Karaoke Machine

Oh wow – have we had fun with this! It was a 9th birthday gift for a neighbor friend and all the kids gather around. Note: this does NOT come with pre-loaded music. We search YouTube on an iPad or phone for karaoke songs (Taylor Swift 4 Ever on this street) and it works great because the kids aren’t limited to a certain catalogue.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Mini Electric Griddle

Continuing the steps into independence in the kitchen, this mini griddle has been great for my big kids. It’s perfect for pancakes, eggs, and single serve cookies – my kids have mastered eggs over easy (which means making their own breakfast). It’s an awesome little find for kids even thought it’s marketed for adults.

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.

Mythical Creature Drawing Game

Have an artist? This “game” has kids pick 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 have loved it. They gather around, pull cards, draw, and giggle at their creatures.

DIY Fairy House

My daughter had this on her wish list for years… I’m so glad I finally got it for her. It was a joy to watch her build this and makes playing with it even sweeter. **Not an affiliate link

My First 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.

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.

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.

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.

Microscope

For kids 9+, I recommend this real and very well-made microscope for their science exploration. It’s meant for older kids (this isn’t a toy). Giving the gift of curiosity is always a good choice.

Kindle Paperwhite Kids

A kids Kindle and the gift of reading. This is not a tablet and it doesn’t let kids play games. It’s no different than an adult Kindle (except cheaper). This has been so great for my older kids and being able to take books easily on the go.

To access books, look at gifting a subscription to Amazon’s library. You can also check and see if your local library can connect to the this e-reader.

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.

Beading Kit

We all know beading is HOT right now (thanks Taylor Swift). This is my daughter’s favorite beading kit. The finished bracelets are really cute.

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 Rubik’s cube as you solve the ball maze. Mind-blowing.

Hanging Swing

My friend has this swing for her 10 year old and it’s a tween wonderland. It has fabulous privacy, sensory, and relaxation elements. All our kids argue over it at her house.

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 7-11 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. 

Friendship Bracelet Kit

This is such a fun set (and it comes with the string to start right away). It also comes with instructions to teach kids how to make string friendship bracelets, which was my favorite hobby in 5th grade.

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.

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).

Shoot the Moon

Do you remember this toy? It was a hit in the 1960s (no joke), I had one in the 1990s, and now my kids are loving it today. Proof that basic toys have longevity.

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.

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.