Tween girls are mysterious creatures indeed. They’re still kids, but not really kids. Their interests seem to change daily… that is, of course, when they let you in on what their interests are. All this, of course, makes it hard to figure out gifts for tween girls. (OMG just tell us! We want to do something nice for you that you won’t roll your eyes at!)
Even the nature of tweenager-dom is confusing. I mean, what even does one consider a tween? (The consensus seems to be children between 9 and 12, though others consider tweenhood to run until the end of middle school.) But if it makes you feel any better, the reason we find all this confusing is that it’s even more confusing to actually be a tween.
On a bad day, this in-beTWEEN phase (get it?) can be really tough. On a good day, though — and, believe it or not, there are some really good days sometimes — this stage represents the transition into a new world of interests, discoveries, and fun. This is an age where a lot of kids start really trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in within their family, peer group, and even the world. Priorities shift, and their brains (and bodies) are constantly changing — it’s a trip.
This particular stage of your child’s growth can be incredibly exciting, and these gifts for tween girls can serve as little offerings that let your child know, “Hey you: We see you and we think you’re great.”
Tween girls getting a tarot deck is a rite of passage for some, which makes sense: It’s a great tool to promote thoughtfulness and self-exploration for a life stage all about exploration and self-discovery. This set is beautifully illustrated with a contemporary style and comes with a full deck and guidebook.
Fashions come and fashions go, but some items have some serious staying power. None more so, perhaps, than a classic denim jacket. We love this “ex-boyfriend” style from Levi’s. Classic and neutral, there are so many ways they’ll be able to style this for years to come, making it the perfect gift for tween girls.
Flowers are always a nice gift, but they never last more than a week or so. These flowers, however — so delicate and pretty, BTW — will last forever … and they’ll have a fun time building them as well! The adjustable stems make it easy to tailor the arrangement for any vase or container. It’s a fun project and room decor in one.
For the tween girl who has decided their bedroom is in dire need of an upgrade, this marquee-style initial (available in all letters, naturally) is perfect. Lights change to 16 different colors and four different modes to match their whim and can be managed via remote control (so no fiddling with it on the wall).
With a cozy hood and roomy pockets, this ridiculously soft robe is perfect for just stepping out of the shower or spending hours watching Netflix on a lazy weekend in. Available in four colors, this robe can also be personalized with a monogram or name.
Get their space Instagram-ready with these fairy lights. Spanning more than 30 feet, the dainty glow of 100 LED lights adds just the right amount of whimsy. And if they want to adjust that whimsy, they'll be able to control brightness and eight different twinkling modes via remote control.
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Cute and Practical
Pottery Barn Pottery Barn Teen Rainbow Phone and Tablet Holder
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Cute and Practical
Pottery Barn Pottery Barn Teen Rainbow Phone and Tablet Holder
A place for everything and everything in its place! That’s the idea behind this charming rainbow phone or tablet holder. They'll have a docking station for their device while it’s charging, a place to put it so it doesn’t get lost, or a stand for when they're watching a YouTube video or Facetiming.
Name necklaces are a right of passage for a tween girl; though, if they don’t want their name engraved, they could have any word of their choice made into a chic piece of jewelry instead. Made of sterling silver, this piece can be customized with four different types of metal plating (gold, white gold, or rose gold) and 12 different fonts!
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Perfect for Harry Potter Fans
Pottery Barn Pottery Barn Teen ‘Harry Potter’ Time-Turner Clock
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Perfect for Harry Potter Fans
Pottery Barn Pottery Barn Teen ‘Harry Potter’ Time-Turner Clock
Hermione used her time turner to take more classes, but what would your tween do with extra time? This time turner doesn’t actually add more hours to the day, but it is very pretty and is a lovely addition to the room of any die-hard Potterhead.
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Best for Family Game Night
Cards Against Humanity Cards Against Humanity Family Edition
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Best for Family Game Night
Cards Against Humanity Cards Against Humanity Family Edition
If you’ve always wanted to play Cards Against Humanity with your tween but aren’t prepared for some of the conversations the NC-17 cards of the original game might necessitate, you're in luck! You can enjoy this family-friendly version of the irreverent, off-the-wall game of wit and weirdness, now rated PG.
There’s something so romantic about vinyl, and your tween will enjoy listening to music the old-fashioned way with this portable record player. And if they ever want to listen to more modern music, fear not! It comes equipped with Bluetooth capability so they can stream as well.
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Includes Prompts, Quizzes, and More
Chronicle Books ‘Just Between Us’ Mother and Daughter Journal by Meredith and Sofie Jacobs
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Includes Prompts, Quizzes, and More
Chronicle Books ‘Just Between Us’ Mother and Daughter Journal by Meredith and Sofie Jacobs
Tween girls and their moms often find themselves on uneasy ground — they're going through so many changes, and mom doesn’t always know how to handle them. What do you say to each other? With this journal, you don’t have to say it; you can write it all down with the help of thoughtful prompts.
The premise of this card game is simple: Each team has two “spymasters,” who know the location of secret agents, represented by different cards. Each card has a word on it. Using one word only, the spymaster must get their team to guess the proper cards to find all their agents. But watch out for the assassin!
Your tween girl can use the Echo Dot to play music, audiobooks, podcasts, ask Alexa questions, set alarms, check the news, call friends and family, and much more. Multiple Echos can be used as an intercom (no promises about whether your child will actually listen, though).
Your tween artist will feel like a pro with this foldable, rollable, super portable easel. Made of wood with telescoping legs, spacious compartments, and an artist's palette, it’s perfect for painting outside or bringing along to school or art class.
As your tween girl begins to collect more jewelry and baubles, they’ll need somewhere to put them. Why not avoid tangling necklaces and keep everything easily accessible in style? This attractive stand’s three tiers make it easy to see everything at a glance, and the integrated accessory dish means there’s a place for all kinds of jewelry.
Your tween girl can make an announcement, inspiring message, joke, or any mood that needs to be shared with this letterboard. Available in a variety of colors and sizes, the board comes with 300 easy-to-place letters, characters, and shapes, so they’ll always be able to express themselves.
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Discover New Favorites and Authors
Now In Books Young Adult Monthly Book Subscription Box
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Discover New Favorites and Authors
Now In Books Young Adult Monthly Book Subscription Box
Does it seem like your tween bookworm has already burned through everything their local bookshop has to offer? Consider this monthly subscription box, which will send them a specially curated book every month. It comes complete with an accompanying playlist and book club guide that gives recipes, TV and movie recommendations, and thought-provoking questions to enhance the reading experience.
Think Pictionary — well, kind of — with a healthy sprinkling of potty humor. Draw the ridiculous prompts on the card (sometimes you’ll have to do this with your eyes closed or with your non-dominant hand), steal cards from opponents, and just try to do it all without laughing (you won’t).
Whether your tween is interested in yoga for mindfulness, relaxation, fitness, or just wants to try it out, they’ll get to practice in comfort with this luxe yoga mat. Cushioned for support in poses and comfort in Savasana, the warrior mat is also dry-wicking, slip-free, and anti-odor-formulated.
Jamie 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.