30 Gift Ideas for 12 Year Old Girls
The transition from age 11 to 12 is a significant one as it marks the passage from “child” to “tween”. Suddenly the preteen girl is no longer excited by glow-in-the-dark stickers and ice-cream scented lip balm. Instead, the focus of this age group is on establishing their individualism, keeping up with their peers, social media popularity, and the latest tech gadgets. This might seem overwhelming to those of us who had a very different experience of being (or witnessing) a teen girl, but thankfully we have curated the perfect gift guide packed full of unique gift ideas to appease even the most challenging tween girl.
By Lisa Blake • Published Jan 2 2023
1. Nail Style Studio Book Kit
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Perfect for a birthday or Christmas gift, a fun nail art kit is a great way to encourage a young girl's creativity. Our top pick not only includes six practice polish colors, a custom dotting tool, and more than 250 stick-on stencils but also comes with an instructional book with easy-to-follow steps to create 25 stunning nail art designs.
2. Bluetooth Speaker
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Whether to enjoy their favorite music, podcast, or audiobook, you can't go wrong with a Bluetooth speaker. With options in a variety of different colors with a range of different features, there are speakers to suit every budget. Our top pick is not only waterproof but also boasts 24-hour playtime and LED lights, adding some funky flair to the listening experience!
3. Kids Against Maturity Card Game
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This hilarious card game is easy to understand and offers a ton of age-appropriate humor to keep all players engaged and laughing from beginning to end. Whether giggling with friends at a sleepover or guffawing with the whole family, this is a great gift idea to encourage less screen time and more belly-laughs!
4. Crystal Growing Science Experimental Kit
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If you are looking for a gift to stimulate the preteen mind consider an educational STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) gift. This DIY crystal growing kit is the perfect gift for a budding geology enthusiast or to inspire the less enthusiastic scientist-in-the-making. Discover how to grow seven different beautiful crystals and then enjoy the final product in a special display case.
5. Build Your Own Doodling Robot
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Staying with the STEM toy ideas, this Doodling Robot kit is not only great for young science and robotics enthusiasts but it has a creative element that is guaranteed to appeal to any tween girl. Build your own adorable robot friend and watch it come to life as it produces stunning art patterns.
6. Instant Camera
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A firm favorite for any teenage girl is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera. This polaroid-type camera boasts a built-in macro mode and selfie mirror to ensure the perfect selfie every time. Our top pick not only allows you to choose from six different colors but also comes with a bunch of awesome extras, including a matching camera case, decoration stickers, and 60 Fuji Films.
7. Exploding Kittens
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This Game Of The Year award winner is the purr-fect gift for boys and girls of all ages. Now offering the party pack, this card game can be played with up to 10 players, making it a great gift idea to be enjoyed by the whole family. (And don't worry, no kittens are harmed in the game!)
8. Milestone Birthday Bracelet
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Celebrate her 12th birthday with a beautiful personalized charm bracelet. The expandable stainless steel bangle features a disc custom-stamped with the birthday girl's name, a Swarovski birthstone, a #12 charm, and a second charm of your choice.
9. Selfie Stick
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Who doesn't love getting that perfect selfie angle? With an extendable selfie stick, you are guaranteed Instagram-worthy shots every time! This is a budget-friendly gift option that will appeal to any social media-obsessed tween.
10. Fairy String Lights
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Perfect to add a beautiful dreamy effect to her bedroom décor, these 66-foot warm-white LED string lights are a cool gift option for any preteen girl. With a multifunctional remote and a variety of lighting modes, these lights can be adjusted to suit every mood.
11. Earbuds
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Whether a mobile gaming enthusiast or a (loud) music lover, wireless in-ear headphones are a necessity for any tech-loving teen! We love this option as it offers up to seven hours of listening time and the wireless charging case can extend playtime for up to 35 hours. Offering five different eye-catching colors, these earbuds fit comfortably in smaller ears which make them the perfect gift choice for a 12-year-old girl.
12. 12th Birthday Party Decorations
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When considering the perfect way to help someone celebrate their birthday, not many people think of buying the celebrant party supplies. This party decoration pack has got to be one of the best gifts for 11-year-old girls about to hit their 12th milestone. With rose gold, silver, and white balloons, photo props, a cake topper, a photo backdrop and a foil banner, this selection of party decorations has everything you need for the ultimate 12th birthday bash!
13. Water Bottle Craft Kit
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This water bottle craft kit allows for both creativity and functionality, making it a great gift option for tween girls. The BPA-free bottle can be customized with sparkly rose gold stickers and colorful shrink designs which allows for the design to change up to 18 times.
14. Harry Potter Books Boxset
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If your pre-teen girl has not yet discovered the magic of Harry Potter then now is the perfect time to introduce her to these magnificent books. The first book in the series introduces us to the 10-year-old boy as he starts his journey into the world of witchcraft and wizardry and is pitched at the perfect reading level for an unforgettable 12th birthday or Christmas gift.
15. Personalized Name Necklace with Birthstone
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A truly memorable gift for any 12-year-old girl is this sterling silver snake necklace personalized with the birthday girl's name and birthstone. A bonus is that the "12" charm can be removed as the girl ages allowing her to enjoy the beautiful piece for years to come!
16. Nintendo Switch™
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If you truly want to watch your tween's eyes light up with delight then you can't go wrong with a Nintendo Switch™. This gaming console can be used as a portable device and can be connected to a TV, allowing for hours of gaming fun with family and friends.
17. Nintendo Switch™ Lite
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A more affordable gaming console option is the compact, lightweight Nintendo Switch™ Lite. This hand-held system still offers an awesome gaming experience for all ages and comes in a range of different funky color options.
18. Cat Color-A-Puzzle
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Encourage a healthy break from screen time with some creative and stimulating fun. This awesome 285 piece puzzle is challenging enough to stimulate the mind and then the final image can be colored in any way you like! Our top pick is this adorable cat design but the Etsy store offers a range of different images to suit any taste.
19. Never Have I Ever Party Card Game
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If you are looking for a fun card game that the whole family will enjoy then you can't go wrong with Never Have I Ever, Family Edition. Offering hundreds of hilarious cards this game will have everyone LOL'ing for hours!
20. Soap Making Kit
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Encourage their crafty side with this all-natural soap-making kit. With four reusable silicone molds, high-quality ingredients, and a selection of different colors and scents, this kit includes everything you need to make beautiful soaps that are even safe for sensitive skin.
21. LED Selfie Ring Light
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Another great budget-friendly gift option is this rechargeable portable ring light, perfect to amp up any teen girl's selfie game! With 2.5 hours of battery life, adjustable light modes, and a wide clip, this 3.5-inch ring light will fit most devices and guarantees flawless selfies every time.
22. Clue Harry Potter Board Game
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The original Clue is a board game that has been enjoyed for generations, and now the game offers a unique Harry Potter edition that takes the fun to new, unexpected heights! Play as your favorite character and move around the board as you try to figure out who vanished, what spell was used, and where the crime happened. With a moving board, secret passages, and changing staircases, this board game is a must-have for any fan of the Harry Potter book and film series.
23. Razor A5 LUX Scooter
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Although most 12-year-olds no longer want to be considered kids, this is a great gift option to encourage innocent, tech-free, outdoor fun. With two bold color options and funky light-up wheels, this foldable kick scooter can comfortably support weights of up to 220 lbs, meaning that it can, and will, be enjoyed for years to come.
24. Charm Bracelet Making Kit
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For the creative young girl who loves all things bling, this DIY charm bracelet kit is the ultimate gift! With three premium metal alloy bracelets and 60 different high-quality beads and charms, this kit allows the recipient to flex her creativity to create beautiful bracelets that she can enjoy herself or give to friends as unique gifts.
25. Personalized Mosaic Portrait Maker
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For a truly unique gift idea, how about a custom mosaic portrait maker. This awesome DIY kit allows you to create black and white mosaic artwork with Lego-type bricks. Simply upload the photo or image of your choice in the web app and then build the design by following the detailed instructions. Recreate gorgeous custom mosaic artworks over and over again for endless creative fun!
26. Nail Art Pen Set
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Amp up her pamper-party sleepover game with a fun set of nail art pens. This is a great gift for the budding artist who loves all things glam! Each set offers six gorgeous colors, a classic nail polish brush, and a thin metal tip for creating unique and fun nail art.
27. Unstable Unicorns Card Game
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Another must-have for any successful sleepover has to be the People’s Choice Award winner for Toy of the Year -- Unstable Unicorns! This savage but adorable strategic card game has over 20 magical unicorns to collect and promises hours of unforgettable fun!
28. Tie-Dye Kit
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In today's rapidly evolving digital age it is somewhat comforting to know that some things never change. Tie-dying clothing items to create funky bold designs first rose to popularity in the 1960s and is still a well-loved craft activity today. Give the gift of creative fun with this awesome tie-dye kit, complete with everything required to create uniquely vibrant tie-dye designs. This kit is beginner friendly and offers detailed instructions on how to tie-dye colorful patterns on everything from t-shirts to tote bags.
29. Friendship Bracelet Making Kit
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One of the most notable shifts that happen during the transition from child to adolescent is the increased importance of friendship. Suddenly their family is no longer the center of the tween's universe and they would rather spend their time with friends and peers. Help to build meaningful friendships by giving the gift of a crafty friendship bracelet kit. Our top pick offers five different color kits to choose from to create beautiful, fashionable beaded friendship bracelets.
30. Amazon Gift Card
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And finally, when in doubt, go for the easiest option guaranteed to be a winner every time -- an Amazon Gift Card. Ranging from eGift cards, physical cards, and print-at-home options, you can even customize the design to add a personalized touch. Specialty gift cards generally range from $25 - $200 and include options from Starbucks to Apple and almost everything in between.