Looking for the perfect present for your favorite tween but feeling a bit lost? We get it; finding gift ideas for 12-year-old girls can be tricky. They’re neither teens nor toddlers, even though they can sometimes act like both!
All this can make shopping for them feel like an uphill struggle. Luckily, we love researching gifts for your kids almost as much as we love giving them to our own. Here are ten gift ideas for your tween girl.
Our picks of the best toys & gifts for 12-year-old girls
#1
Our opinion
Great for STEM learning, this toy also allows your girl to flaunt her creativity by making little figurines. The 3Doodler Kit (check price on Amazon) includes several molds to guide her artistic vision, as well as four packs of plastic that melt inside the pen.
Don’t let the thought of melted plastic scare you away, though. This pen poses no burn risk to your child as it uses low heat to melt the non-toxic, BPA-free plastic. Your girl can safely design her character however she wants without you worrying about a thing.
At a glance
- If she’s a fan of the Powerpuff Girls, she’ll have a blast bringing its characters to life. She can display her creations in her bedroom, or even use them as locker decorations at school.
#2
Our opinion
The Oculus Go VR (check price on Amazon) offers your tween an immersive universe of possibility, both educational, entertainment, and gaming. Within this stand-alone unit lies hours of wild and engaging virtual reality experiences. The Oculus Go is a portable, all-in-one system; no PC, phone, wires, or other equipment is necessary.
To enhance the experience, built-in spatial audio drivers give immersive sound without the need for separate headphones. State-of-the-art 3D graphics and top-quality optics provide your daughter with a personal theater experience. If she wants to meet up with friends around the globe, watch concerts, TV, or sports together, the Oculus Go Controller is just the vehicle.
At a glance
- The Oculus Go gives your teen girl all the power she wants in a simple, easy-to-operate personal theater.
#3
Our opinion
This STEM Computer Kit (check price on Amazon) teaches your young lady the fundamentals of computer coding and electronics. Nor does she need to be a science or maths whizz to get hooked. Thousands of girls in coding camps and classes helped develop the Boolean Box for educational value and, most importantly, for fun and excitement.
She’ll build a computer from scratch, while the Boolean Box contains several computer languages, complete with lessons. After beginning on Scratch, she can move on to Minecraft, Python, and Java. She can even build electronic gadgets and circuits. All that’s necessary is an HDMI-capable monitor or television.
At a glance
- Once your girl has built the computer, the fun begins. She will have hours of educational fun exploring engineering, technology, and coding. The Boolean University, an online classroom, will guide her further than you’d think possible.
#4
Our opinion
Don’t let this speaker’s adorable appearance fool you; it can project plenty of rock-worthy sound into a room. Capable of more than three hours of battery life, this My Audio Panda Speaker (check price on Amazon) gadget can wirelessly connect to any device with Bluetooth, and because it’s rechargeable there’s no need to worry about constantly buying batteries.
The speaker can be easily attached to purses or bags with the included lanyard if your girl is always on the go. It even has a camera that can be remotely activated to capture that perfect dance selfie.
At a glance
- Aside from the enjoyable sound quality, this speaker comes in seven different characters. She can pick her favorite or create her own menagerie by collecting them all!
#5
Our opinion
Anyone who ever says gaming is just for boys needs a swift kick in the…well, you know! Nintendo is the system that never goes out of style and has been a staple with every generation since the 1980s.
The 3DS XL (check price on Amazon) features upper and lower screens that measure 4.88 inches and 4.18 inches respectively. The improved CPU allows for quick download speeds and seamless gameplay. Face tracking provides a more innovative experience with Nintendo’s 3D games, and the system can still play all your tween’s favorite 2DS games.
At a glance
- Whether your girl enjoys the classics, like Mario Brothers, or is into more modern releases like Style Savvy: Fashion Forward, she’ll never run out of things to do on this handheld gaming system.
#6
Our opinion
Okay, so Boon may have designed these LED Portable Light Pods (check price on Amazon) for babies because they’re afraid of the dark. Well, it turns out these Glo Nightlights have become something of a smash hit with young people, too! So while your 12-year-old may scoff at the darkness, she’ll still love the soft, magical vibe created in her room.
The nightlight contains three removable light balls that can be strewn around a bedroom, used as a flashlight outdoors while camping, and even be the object of a fast-paced game of catch or hot potato. The glow gradually fades after 30 minutes away from the nightlight. The balls don’t get warm and won’t break. Your girl can even sleep with one.
At a glance
- Some girls get tired of ghost stories at night, and they aren’t ready to sleep yet. Playing with these glowing orbs whether alone or with friends, provides a new and creative experience. After half an hour, the balls quiet down into darkness and so do the girls.
#7
Our opinion
As a Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner, the Chem C1000 Activity Set (check price on Amazon) won’t disappoint a girl who wants to delve into chemistry. With over 125 different experiments, she can learn about air pressure, how to dissolve metal with electrochemical reactions, and much more.
And don’t worry; there are full instructions on how to conduct these tests along with extensive guidance for proper safety measures. Your girl will be able to hold her own in any chemistry class after working her way through this science kit!
At a glance
- It poses challenging questions, provides plenty of food for thought, and has projects ranging from creating invisible ink to experimenting with everyday household items.
#8
Our opinion
This series of card games is proving to be hugely popular with Middle School kids. FLUXX (check price on Amazon) starts simply: draw one card, play one card. Then things get quickly interesting as new cards enter the mix, changing the rules of the game. Controlled chaos ensues with gameplay ranging from 5 to 30 minutes.
At a glance
- This is a fast-paced, exciting game that she can play with her younger sister or up to five girlfriends at a slumber party. This game has a good reputation, and most girls will love to play the newest version.
#9
Our opinion
Who doesn’t love being able to wear the end result of their hard work? With eight pendants, chains, and glass covers, along with over 200 images, your artistic tween can craft unique jewelry to wear herself or give away as a gift.
She can choose between square, oval, circular, and heart-shaped pendants as her necklace base while continuing to customize on from there.
At a glance
- If there’s one thing twelve-year-old girls love to do, it’s hanging out with their friends. This jewelry kit is perfect for parties, sleepovers, or even just a rainy day spent inside with a buddy or two.
#10
Our opinion
There’s nothing quite like being active and young on a sunny day. This lightweight scooter (check price on Amazon) can switch from street to skate park with little trouble. The handles are large and lined for comfort, the brake is a custom nylon and steel design, and the wheel is connected to the base with a sculpted steel fork. Assembly is minimal, and after tightening a few bolts, your girl is ready to ride.
At a glance
- She’ll love the independence that having her own “vehicle” can give her. And you’ll get to safely tuck away the car keys for another few years. It’s a win-win.
#11
Our opinion
Singing along to their favorite tunes is already a favorite pastime of many 12-year-old girls, and a wireless bluetooth karaoke mic like this pick from BONAOK will put them at center stage.
The settings are easy to master, and it can be used as both a wireless and wired karaoke mic depending on your home setup. It supports microSD cards up to 32 GB and features easy song switching, helping them stay in the moment.
It’s a perfect pick for parties and sleepovers, and the audio output is high quality, so no one will be left covering their ears!
At a glance
- It’s a fun way to sing along to her favorite tunes that all her friends will have a blast joining in on.
#12
Our opinion
If your girl is on the road to becoming a social media maven, you know that keeping devices charged up can be a major problem. Why not give her the only charging apparatus she needs? The BONAI Portable Charger (check price on Amazon) has four USBs, two input, and four output ports.
This portable unit can go anywhere and charge not only iPhones X, XS, Max XR, 8, 7, and 6s, but also Galaxy S8, S7, and Note 8.
At a glance
- Your girl can charge the BONAI charger once and then have plenty of power on hand to tote to camping trips, sleepovers, parties, wherever devices need charging on the fly.
#13
Our opinion
We’re pretty sure there is a proverb somewhere that states, ‘When chocolate meets art, the children will cheer’. If not, then this Chocolate Pen toy (check price on Amazon) suggests that there clearly should be!
The included premium confectioner’s chocolate comes in several colors, so your girl will have plenty of bright hues to choose from as she draws her delectables. Whether she uses one of the included molds or freehands her own food art, she’s sure to stretch her imagination along with her ever-developing fine motor skills.
At a glance
- If she is ever looking for a fun girls-night activity or just feels like making a clever confection for herself, she’ll love this gift.
#14
Our opinion
Is your special girl a budding tech buff? If so, here is a present that is so educational we almost hesitate to call it a toy. But we will because this little computer kit is loads of fun.
By wirelessly linking the Kano Pixel Kit (check price on Amazon) to a computer, your tween can learn how to code and see the results of her work light up in over sixteen million colors! She doesn’t need to know how to code; this kit is perfect for beginners and comes with easy-to-follow instructions.
At a glance
- She will be guided through tutorials that will show her how to make virtually any kind of light show her mind can think up. Whether she wants to focus on making a fun color palette, an image, or even an animation, we can’t think of a better way for her to wow her friends with her tech skills.
#15
Our opinion
To say this board game has developed something of a cult following is a huge understatement. Betrayal At House On The Hill (check price on Amazon) is a new breed of game that blurs the boundaries between horror fiction and classic board gameplay.
This semi-cooperative game, designed for three to six players, is full of spooky suspense and will have a 12-year-old girl and her friends squealing with delight and laughter.
As the name suggests, one player amongst you is not who they seem… but is the Betrayer! As you all make your way through this creepy, haunting game the other players must oust the Betrayer, with the game finishing in an epic battle between good and evil.
For a better idea of what’s involved, check out the video below.
At a glance
- It’s full of beautifully written and conceived horror moments, and involves both cooperation, deceit, and a battle to the death!
#16
Our opinion
This is no dubious toy for creating questionable cosmetics — No, Sir! The DIY Lip Balm Making Kit (check price on Amazon) is a serious piece of kit that women, as well as maturing girls, can use to create organic and natural lip balm unique to their needs and style.
As well as tubes, tubs, and mixers, this kit comes with 100% pure essential oils including lavender, rose, geranium, peppermint, and lime. Moisture-giving ingredients are provided by top-quality shea and coconut butter.
At a glance
- This kit provides a wonderful craft project as well as a lovely end product that she’ll love to keep in her tote and show her friends. She’ll have fun by herself or getting a friend or two involved in the lip balm alchemy.
#17
Our opinion
Hearing Things (check price on Walmart) is a hilarious lip-reading game that will challenge her to guess the funny and random phrases that other players will be saying to her. The speech-canceling electronic headphones make it almost impossible to hear, resulting in some rib-aching laughter moments.
There are 150 cards with 600 phrases (she and her friends can add extra ones of their own). The winner is the player who guesses correctly and wins the most cards.
At a glance
- Quick and easy to play, so friends and family can be crying with laughter in no time.
#18
Our opinion
Your budding photographer won’t want to leave the house without their trusty, credit card-sized instant camera. The Kodak Digital Camera & Portable Photo Printer (check price on Walmart) device enables her to capture, edit, and print pictures while on the go.
It has a 1.7-inch LCD viewfinder, auto-focus, and more. At WeTheParents, we love any gift that promotes creativity. Your daughter can use this camera to create art, capture candid moments, and document events. She’ll treasure the opportunity to hold her personally created images in her own hands.
At a glance
- This handheld camera is easy to operate and offers incredible results. Your daughter will enjoy instantly printing photos for displays, memory books, and gifts.
#19
Our opinion
Your tween will adore this lengthy roll of Copper Wire Fairy Lights (check price on Walmart). The warm LEDs create a Pinterest-worthy ambiance. They can be wrapped around almost anything, including walls, bedposts, Mason jars, and bookcases. This inexpensive lighting will raise your girl’s room to another level.
At a glance
- Your girl can use this 66-foot coil of LED lights to illuminate every corner of her room. The cozy lighting will help her create an inviting environment that she can unwind in after a long day.
#20
Our opinion
This cube aquarium is the perfect environment for a few low-maintenance fish. Your tween will love showing off her exotic pets with the help of the built-in LED light. The tank is equipped with a Tetra 3i filter (check price on Amazon) as well as a discreet feeding hole. The clear cube looks charming alongside modern furnishings.
At a glance
- You’d be hard-pressed to find a child that doesn’t dream of owning a few fish. Aquariums spark the imaginations of most children. What’s more, they promote responsibility and curiosity. This cube-shaped tank offers an excellent viewing experience thanks to the glow of its soft white LED light.
#21
Our opinion
This sky blue writing journal is the perfect place for your girl to document the details of her trips. The Maleden Spiral Writing Notebook (check price on Walmart) is 100% refillable, enabling her to use it as both a journal and a sketch pad.
The cover is made from buttery soft leather and features an engraved compass. The rustic leather straps can be used to tie the journal shut. The ship wheel and anchor pendants are two charming details that any nautical tween girl can appreciate.
At a glance
- The Malden leather notebook is the perfect gift for a preteen with an upcoming trip. Your child will be thrilled to document their journey in this luxurious leather-bound notebook, and even more pleased when they realize that she can reuse it even after the original pages have been filled up.
What to expect from your 12-year-old girl
If it hasn’t already done so, puberty will change your sweet little princess into a lovely young lady…with a few bumps on the road.
You might notice her becoming moody or distant, likely preferring to spend time with a group of her peers or one girl with whom she has formed a close bond. Remember, as social and school pressures grow, she will need you even if it seems as though she doesn’t want you.
Here are some milestones to keep an eye out for (source):
Body, hand and finger skills
- Intermittent growth spurts may lead to temporary clumsiness (no laughing when she fumbles things!);
- Small muscles continue rapid stage of development.
Emotional development
- Often thinks in absolutes;
- Will sometimes have difficulty accepting praise;
- May have self-esteem issues due to the physical effects of puberty;
- Develops a keener interest in boys (sorry, Dad, it was always going to happen!)
Cognitive development
- Engages in more abstract thinking;
- Is able to plan ahead with more accuracy;
- Wants to be considered an adult;
- May prefer to go to bed later and sleep longer in the morning.
Wrapping up
As you soak up that last year before your special girl hits the big One Three, don’t feel hurt if she wants to spend more time with her peers and less time with you!
She actually needs you now more than ever as she continues to find herself and her place in an ever-expanding world.
When looking for that perfect gift, remember that group activities are always a hit, intellectually challenging games will help expand her mind, and anything that can keep her active will be a vital addition to keeping her healthy.
There are plenty of activities and toys for 12-year-old girls, and we hope this list has given you some great ideas. Happy shopping and remember, you’re still a significant influence in your girl’s life. Be sure to remind her that she’s never too old to play.
