If you’re an adult, you probably have vivid memories about what it was like to be 12. It’s such a “fun” age — and by “fun” we mean confusing, dramatic ... but also, yes, sometimes pretty fun, indeed! It’s complicated, and so is trying to buy a gift for a 12-year-old girl. They don’t want toys anymore — they’re far too mature for that — but a lot of the things they do want can be far too mature for them. Where’s the balance? Don’t worry, we’re here to help.
When it comes to 12-year-old girls, our advice is to think of something you’d want for yourself and then scale it down just a little bit to be kid-appropriate (because, despite what they think, they’re not actually adults yet). Pampering items, accessories, clothes, crafts, books, electronics? All 12-year-old-approved — this might just be easier than you thought! We’ve rounded up 30 of our favorite ideas to get you started. Happy shopping!
For more than 100 years, everyone’s favorite Anne (with an E) has been charming readers. The melodramatic, bold orphan girl has adventures in the fictional town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. The idea of “extra” didn’t exist in 1908, but that’s what Anne is.
Tangible proof that bees are our friends! This collection of tinted lip balms is made with their honey, giving lips a hearty dose of moisture and just a kiss of color your 12-year-old girl will love. Choose from the natural set (copper, coral, and blush tones) or red (pink-red, blue-red, and orange-red).
All the aroma and calm of a bath bomb in the convenience of a shower! Just place the steamer in the corner of your shower and let the soothing fragrance whisk them to a place where middle-school stress doesn’t exist. Scents include lavender, eucalyptus, vanilla, watermelon, grapefruit, and peppermint.
From social media to friendships to just figuring everything out, being a 12-year-old girl isn’t easy, and we can’t overstate how important encouragement and affirmation are in this time. This deck of mindfulness cards gives them a daily (or as-needed) dose of calming, reassuring self-esteem. A great and easy self-care practice!
Burt’s Bees has been a byword for “hippie beauty” for decades, and your 12-year-old girl will enjoy this assortment of all-natural products that promote soft, healthy, glowing skin (and a little bit of daily pampering) from lips to hands, cuticles to toes.
There’s a good chance your 12-year-old girl has gotten more into accessories lately. There’s also a good chance that, being a 12-year-old girl, they misplace their jewelry all the time. No more, with this hand-shaped jewelry organizer, with space for rings, bracelets, watches, and more in the marble basin below!
Perfect for hanging out in the park, backyard, or parties on the go! The super cute, sleek design of this Bluetooth speaker is matched by excellent sound quality, and the simple touch system at the top allows you to Play, Pause, or Skip your music as well as answer phone calls.
It’s not the frame but what’s inside it that counts — but this set of three certainly makes a statement of its own. Gallery-style hanging frames are suspended from sturdy metal chains that attach to a matching wall-mounted knob. Two frames float a 4x6-inch image, while the smaller frame floats a 4x4-inch image.
Your 12-year-old girl will have the opportunity to fall asleep under the stars from the comfort of their own room! Galaxies and nebulas will dance before their eyes, creating instant ambiance. Simple button controls make it easy to cycle through light effects, adjust brightness, and more.
Inspirational and pretty, this canvas print of painted mountains with a quote from Confucius is a great addition to the bedroom of a 12-year-old girl who already has big dreams and ambitions. What better way to let them know you’re behind them no matter what adventures lie ahead?
If your 12-year-old girl has shown an interest in getting in the kitchen, this book is the perfect place to get started. Includes tips on the best kitchen practices, user-friendly tutorials on basic technique, and dozens of delicious recipes to instill a lifelong love of baking.
Your 12-year-old girl will love expressing themselves on (just about) any fabric with this screen-printing set to make unique T-shirts, tote bags, and much more! The simple manual process is safe and mess-free, with a step-by-step guide and all the supplies they’ll need, including graphics to add to their own designs.
Has your kid ever wanted to hug a Yeti? Probably not. But if they have, this delightfully soft, white, faux-fur throw blanket is just the thing. If they haven’t dreamed of hugging a Yeti, they’ll still love snuggling up under all this fuzzy warmth.
Who among us hasn’t looked at a historic document and wondered, “How do they write like that?” Well, with this calligraphy kit, specially made for beginners, your child will be able to try their hand at this endlessly entertaining (and surprisingly useful) art form. Includes pen tips, ink, a book of projects, and more.
Jonas’ world, a community in the not-so-distant future, is perfect. There’s no pain and everyone knows what is expected of them… but it comes at a cost, borne by the “Receiver of Memory,” and it’s the job Jonas has been chosen to take on. This dystopian series is a must-read for any 12-year-old girl.
Perfect for outdoor adventuring on spring days or back-to-school season! We love the ceramic-blue color of this midweight-fleece, zip-up-style hoodie, and we think your 12-year-old will, too. (If they don’t, it also comes in black, and who doesn’t like black?)
A kalimba, also known as a “thumb piano,” is a simple instrument that makes a sound when the player slides their thumbs along several metal tabs. Its simplicity means your girl can get the hang of making it “sing” relatively quickly — but there’s an instruction book and labeled keys, just in case.
There are few pleasures in this life more satisfying than wandering the aisles of a Sephora and finding that perfect shade of lip gloss, ideal perfume fragrance, or that mascara you’ve been looking for everywhere. Give your little big girl that experience with a Sephora gift card.
All the panache of painting in the convenience of markers, these paint pens are perfect for whatever art projects or creative endeavors your kiddo wants to attempt. Vivid, water-based paint dries quickly, making it ideal for working on a variety of surfaces — rocks, canvas, plastic, wood, terracotta — not just paper!
20
A Digital Age Must-Have
‘Think For Yourself’ by Andrea Debbink and Aaron Meshon
Critical-thinking skills and basic concepts of logic and rhetoric are crucial not just for a 12-year-old girl, but for everyone. This book will teach your child by building and deconstructing bad arguments, making them savvy and able to —you guessed it — think for themselves.
Say goodbye to disposable water bottles for good (your eco-conscious tween will appreciate it) and hello to this sleek, stainless steel bottle that keeps drinks cold up to 24 hours and hot up to 12! Available in six sizes and more than two dozen colors.
They’ve probably outgrown dolls, but they’ll love the bimonthly Hey Doll! Box, uniquely curated with four to six themed items that provide motivation, direction, and support for girls in this formative (and often confusing) stage of life. They’ll receive things like books, jewelry, shirts, and body products and have access to the Hey Doll interactive website.
Tie-dyeing is super fun and it’s never been simpler with this set of two varieties of dye (traditional and “celestial” colors) — just add water to the bottles to activate dyes. A step-by-step guide shows over eight different looks and includes everything they’ll need for up to 12 projects, except the garments.
There’s nothing quite like coming home from a day of middle school, kicking off your shoes (anywhere, don’t worry, mom will clean them up), and pulling on a fluffy, cozy pair of slippers.
This adorable bunny pair has anti-slip soles, which means the only thing slipping will be her foot into these comfy critters! Comes in four chic neutrals: pink, light gray, white, and khaki.
Here’s the cool thing about Lego: No one ever really outgrows them because there’s always an age-appropriate set available. This build from the company’s Architecture collection features the iconic structures that make up the London skyline, including National Gallery, Nelson’s Column, London Eye, Big Ben, and Tower Bridge.
A little while back, some genius discovered that coloring, once considered an activity just for little kids, is super soothing and fun (no wonder little kids always seem so happy). Of course, your 12-year-old kid is up for busier designs and more complicated patterns, so they’ll love this set of three books of 72 designs.
This set comes with everything your 12-year-old girl will need to not only learn how to knit but create six different projects as well, including a long skinny scarf, a cozy hat, a sunglasses case, a cell phone holder, and more. Easy-to-follow instructions make the process simple and fun!
Give them the gift of a massive library at their fingertips. With the Kindle, they’ll literally have thousands of books at their fingertips! Buy more with the touch of a button through Amazon or even borrow from libraries (see librarian for details). The glare-free display reads like real paper, but can be backlit when it gets dark out.
This truly unique box comes with a twist: The various book-themed gifts that arrive with your new book are meant to be opened at certain moments in the story for an immersive, interactive reading experience. You never know when you’ll turn the page and find it’s time to open a gift!
Jamie KenneyJamie Kenney is a freelance writer for BestProducts.com; Her other work has appeared on Bustle, Parents, Playboy, McSweeny's Internet Tendency, the Takeout, and Romper, where she covers parenting, news, entertainment, and likes to help readers see the ridiculous (and hilarious) side of motherhood.
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