Although 72% of Americans plan to celebrate the holidays with just their immediate households in 2021, gift-giving is as strong a tradition as ever.
It’s important to give an awesome present to your tween daughter, granddaughter, or niece whether or not you’ll be seeing her physically this season.
But what are the best gifts for tween girls? How can you pick something that you know they’ll love? Read on for some ideas on what you can get the tween in your life to have her jumping for joy.
Trendy Jewelry
Jewelry is a go-to gift for tween girls because pretty much all of them want it. Looking stylish is a priority at this age because tweens are still discovering their own sense of style. Many girls also want to look great to fit in with peers and start conversations with them.
Charm bracelets are really en vogue right now among people of all ages. These are especially awesome because the recipient can build on the design by adding more charms to it. This gives them the chance for repeated self-expression (and a lot of fun.)
Many tween girls who don’t have their ears pierced dream of doing so. They want to keep up with (or keep ahead of) their peers as they undergo this rite of passage. With their parent’s permission, take them to get safe and hypoallergenic kids’ earrings.
This is a great bonding exercise between family members and will leave the tween extremely happy to have spent time with you. Earrings are a great gift choice for those who already have piercings as well, so consider them regardless.
Also, keep in mind that jewelry isn’t the end-all-be-all when it comes to buying the best gifts for little girls. In fact, it isn’t even the only option that you have within the accessories niche. Many tweens are looking for hats, scarves, and sunglasses that stand out and complement their wardrobe.
Awesome Outfits
Speaking of tween’s wardrobes, you also can’t go wrong getting an outfit for the girl in your life. Just make sure that you check on her size with a parent. It’s important that you don’t accidentally hurt her self-esteem.
Buying outfits is a great choice because it encourages tweens to find their own sense of fashion. In getting them something that you know is in line with their sense of style, you encourage them to continue experimenting with new looks. This can help them to discover and validate their own identities.
You can also do this by providing them with a gift card to a trendy retailer. Send them and a friend to Old Navy or Forever 21 so that they can choose a look that they like. This is ideal for those who want to give an experience for the holidays rather than just an item.
Enlivening Books
Tweens are still developing a love of reading, and it’s important to nurture that. With the right books, stories, and characters, anyone can connect to what they’re reading. That’s why you should consider the types of stories that your tween will enjoy so that you can gift them with a series that expands their love of books.
The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan is ideal for girls who like fantasy and adventure. If you’re looking for something with a female protagonist, though, nothing can beat the School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani. The Aru Shah series by Roshani Chokshi also features a strong tween girl and some amazing humor.
If your tween girl prefers realistic fiction that they can relate to, the Love Ya Bunches series by Lauren Myracle is sure to delight them. This series- along with the fantasy novels discussed earlier- all have strong characters, relatable plotlines for tweens, and age-appropriate thrills.
Merch From Their Favorite Media
Every tween girl has something that they’re unreasonably obsessed with. This might be a certain music artist, it might be anime, or it might be a specific movie or TV show that people your age have never even heard of.
It’s fairly easy to find merchandise for most pieces of media out there. Sites like Redbubble and Etsy have dedicated fans who make custom items. Posters, both official and unofficial, are a great choice because they’re inexpensive and versatile.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can commission custom dolls of a tween’s favorite character. You can also buy buttons, pillowcases, tea mugs, and water bottles that feature lyrics from songs and quotes from books or shows. The sky really is the limit here.
Vinyl Records and Vintage Vibes
When you think of vinyl records, you probably have a throwback feeling to the 80s. But vinyl is making a huge comeback in 2021, and having something to put into a record player can make your tween the coolest kid on the block.
Make sure that you’re careful to get something that she’ll actually be interested in, though. Vintage vibes don’t mean that you should get her an old 80s record with music she and her peers have never heard of. You can buy records for current artists like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Olivia Rodrigo online.
If you’re unsure of what type of music the tween you have in mind likes, talk to her about it. Ask about her favorite artist. You can get her something from this artist or find someone similar that you think she’ll love.
Polaroid Cameras
Records are far from the only vintage item that’s making a comeback. Instax and similar brands have been bringing instant cameras back on the market.
These are pretty much polaroids that print images on film instantly. They’re fed out of the camera and develop in exactly the same way that polaroids did. They also are easy to refill with new film when the camera runs out.
The only real difference between these cameras and old polaroids? They’re far easier to hold. They also come in a ton of different colors including pastel blue and bright pink. Tweens love this improvement to early polaroid designs.
This is an awesome gift because you’re giving her the ability to document the best moments in life and share memories both with you and with others.
Bath Items
Assuming that your favorite tween’s parents are okay with it, bath items can be one of the best tween gift ideas out there. They smell great, feel great, and help girls to feel like they’re shining when their skin is moist.
Specifically, consider getting bath bombs for tweens. These are colorful and tint the water beautifully. They’re also extremely easy to use since all you need to do is dunk them in the tub and watch the magic happen.
Make sure that you’re getting all-natural products that won’t irritate the skin. Lush is a great retailer for bath bombs because its products use no unnatural or artificial ingredients. There are also tons of options to choose from including sweet scents and ocean-reminiscent bath bombs filled with soft seaweed.
Handmade Gifts
They say that handmade is heartfelt, and this is completely true. If you’re looking to get your favorite tween something from the heart this holiday season, consider making it yourself.
You can make a lot of the things on this list at home if you want to. Bath bombs are pretty easy to make and jewelry is so simple that you could make it in your sleep. If you’re creatively inclined, you can also make trendy clothes for any girl.
You can also make unique handmade gifts that couldn’t be purchased from any retailer. “Open when” notes are one of the best.
You write little notes for many occasions in the tween’s life. The next time she passes a test, middle school graduation, high school graduation, first job- you name it. These notes are a gift that can literally be cherished for years.
You also could make her a charm to put on their schoolbag. This is an awesome idea because it’s something that she will see every day and think of you. Plus, it could be a great conversation starter at school that makes her look and feel really cool.
More of the Best Gifts for Tween Girls
Choosing gifts for girls between the ages of 11 and 13 can be a challenge. Luckily, there are some common things that kids within these age groups will be happy to unwrap.
Now that you know some of the best gifts for tween girls, it’s time to find something that will make her holiday as special as possible. Check out the rest of our store for fashion and lifestyle tips that you can pass on to your favorite tween.
