41 Amazing Gift Ideas for Tweens

Taco vs Burrito is a fun, fast-paced card game that allows players to build their own tacos and burritos. The object of the game is to build the most valuable meal by collecting ingredients such as chocolate-covered shrimp, month-old sushi, or cotton candy by playing cards from their hands.

The game includes 56 cards with humorous illustrations of ingredients like "a can of beans" or "somebody's left elbow." There are also special cards like the Hot Sauce Boss or Tummy Ache that allow players to multiply their own points or reduce those of their opponents.

Herd Mentality is like Would You Rather? but with a strategic component. Players are asked a series of would you rather-type questions. Sometimes these are multiple-choice questions, other times, players can fill in their own responses. The goal is to fit in with the herd and not be the odd one out. Those whose answers are in the majority earn cows, and those who stand out get the dreaded pink cow.

Playable by 4-20 players, Herd Mentality is perfect for both family nights and larger social gatherings where a good, quick game is needed.

Apparently, food-related games are a big hit with the tween age group. P for Pizza is another newer addition to the board game market. It's a fast-paced game in which players try to collect triangular cards to make a giant slice of pizza. Category cards have three category options. On the back side, they have three letters. Players match the categories with words starting with one of three given letters. The first person to build their pizza slice wins.

Adored by tweens, teens, and adults alike, P for Pizza is the perfect addition for your home game cupboard.

Designed by McMiller, a carbon-neutral board game company, Uproar is an award-winning party game for 2 or more players ages 8 and up. Game play is simple: two cards are flipped, each containing several phrases. Players must locate the matching phrase on each card and then sound it out. Sample sounds include baby goat, slurping soup, and opera singer. The first player to find the phrase and make the sound gets the points.

If your tweens love making silly sounds and cracking up everybody around them, Uproar is the perfect game for them. This game is simple but outrageously fun.

If you're looking for a board game with a little more depth and complexity, take a look at What's Next? Reminiscent of a Choose Your Own Adventure novel, What's Next challenges players to work together and pick a unique path through a series of challenges. The game, which can be played solo, or with up to four players, features more than 60 mini-games that must be mastered as you go.

Another carbon-neutral game, What's Next is a challenging, story-driven adventure perfect for tweens who prefer collaborative rather than competitive options

Sleeping Queens is one of our family's favorite games. My daughter received it for her 8th birthday and we've played it multiple times a day in the months since. It's fast, addictive, and engaging for the whole family. (It's listed as 8+, but my 5-year-old wins more than anyone else in our family).

Each player has a five-card hand containing a set of number cards, kings, attack cards, and defense cards. Twelve queen cards of varying values are up for grabs. Players work to get a set number of queens or points before their opponents do, but the attack and defense cards keep everyone on their toes. It's a fast-paced game, but be prepared to play multiple rounds, One is never enough.

Apples to Apples is a pretty famous game that now comes in a variety of editions, including Junior, Disney, and Marvel. (Be sure to check the age rating for each edition as they vary).

Each round, a different player takes on the role of Judge. They flip over a descriptive Green Apple card containing a word such as Magical or Annoying. Each player plays a Red Apple card from their hand that they feel best fits the description. In this version, players have to convince the judge that their card is the best one. As one would expect, the Junior Edition contains only kid-friendly cards and is the perfect way to build both vocabulary and persuasive skills.

Five Crowns is a fun and entertaining rummy-style card game that appeals to a wide variety of players, from kids to adults. The game is played with a unique double deck featuring five suits—spades, clubs, hearts, diamonds, and stars. As the game progresses round by round, from three cards with 3s wild, to four cards with 4s wild, and so on until the Kings go wild, excitement builds with every draw. Plus, the revolving wild card feature keeps everyone on their toes.

Five Crowns is an addictive game of strategy that rewards skillful play and fast thinking. Popular with players of all ages, this fun game is sure to become a favorite in your home.

If you have a tween whole loves to get the whole family hooked on her latest game, Play Nine: The Card Game of Golf is just the thing. This strategic card game takes the classic game of golf and turns it into an easy-to-learn, fast-paced game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages.

Players are dealt 8 cards from which they draw, discard, or trade their cards for the lowest-value ones. As in golf, each player competes to achieve a lower total score than their opponents. Perfect for a night in with friends or casual gaming get-togethers, games like Play Nine make great stocking stuffers or gifts for tweens.

If none of the above appeals to you, how about a classic set of UNO or one of its many newer iterations, such as UNO Pixar, UNO emojis, or UNO Star Wars? Easy to learn, play, and carry with you wherever you go, UNO has been a perennial favorite in the tween crowd for over 50 years.

For those who aren't familiar with it, UNO is a Crazy Eights-style game where players try to get rid of all their cards before everyone else does. Options for play include matching the color or suit of the upturned card, changing the suit or direction of play, or making opponents pick up cards. No matter how many times you play it, UNO never gets old.

Today's tweens need more positive role models than ever. They face countless challenges both in their day-to-day lives and in the world around them, and the messages they receive from the people around them can make all the difference. The sooner we can show them what is possible for kids like them, the more they will believe in themselves and their ability to make an impact on the world.

Making a Difference is the first in a new series of books called Young Change Makers. Each book in this series highlights 12 young change-makers from around the world who are following their dreams and making a difference in the world. The profiles offer fun facts about the change-makers, the story of how they made their dreams a reality, and beautiful illustrations. As a bonus, the books also offer ideas on how young readers can become change-makers too.

The climate crisis is a looming threat that tweens likely hear about every day. But rather than letting this information overload frighten or overwhelm them, we serve them best by harnessing the narrative on climate change and showing them not only the threats but the opportunities it presents. After all, there is no use in filling our children with fear and hopelessness when we can arm them with inspiration, hope, and the drive to take action.

Old Enough to Save the Planet does just that. Again in this book, we meet twelve young activists who are changing the world. This time, we're focusing specifically on climate change activism. Although the age rating on this one is slightly older than that of Making a Difference, Old Enough to Save the Planet is shorter and follows more of a picture book format with shorter chunks of text, making it an ideal gift for younger kids.

The Growth Mindset Workbook for Kids provides an easy way to nurture kids’ natural talents and abilities. This book also offers creative approaches to everyday problems that ultimately help kids develop their ability to think independently. Storytelling is integrated throughout the workbook, making the lessons come alive while helping them remember a growth mindset in much the same way they remember tales from childhood. 

Parents will appreciate this resource as much as their children do. It helps families come together as teams to tackle problems and encourage one another in pursuit of their goals. With easy exercises and open-ended questions, the Growth Mindset Workbook is a great way for parents to bond with their kids while teaching them the power of a growth mindset.

While not everyone who reads this blog is not in the market for a new children's Bible for their tweens, this one is so good that it bears mentioning for those who might be on the hunt for something different. The Action Bible is one of the bestselling children's Bibles. Presented in a gripping graphic novel format, the Action Bible tells more than 230 Bible narratives in chronological order highlighting key texts from the Bible in a way that kids find both entertaining and easy to understand.

The breathtaking illustrations, created by Sergio Cariello, who has illustrated comics for both DC and Marvel, draw the reader in and help them follow the sweeping arc of the story. For those who have an earlier edition, note that the 2020 edition features 25 additional stories, 23 expanded stories, and 128 new pages of illustrations. If your child's copy is in a state of disrepair, it might be time to grab the new one.

With great recipes, clear instructions, and helpful illustrations, The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs is the perfect companion in the kitchen. Every kid chef can make great dishes they'll love. In addition to 100 kid-tested and approved recipes, tweens will learn how to create hearty meals in no time flat as well as new cooking techniques tailored just for kids.

With a variety of breakfast tacos, cupcakes, snacks, and more, this cookbook can provide a great challenge even to those with a decent amount of culinary experience. Seasoned chefs will enjoy the chance to improvise their concoctions through the Make It Your Way sections and parents will love being the guinea pigs for all their kids' creations.

Winter is the perfect time for cuddling up inside with warm blankets and good books. If you’re searching for the best fuzzy blanket out there for your tween's bedroom, check out Bedsure's Dual-Sided Super Soft Blanket. This unbelievably soft and fuzzy blanket is the perfect unique design philosophy, with one side featuring a classic fleece face and the other a plush sherpa fuzzy reverse, providing different senses of softness to help improve sleep and relaxation.

Available in 11 colors and four different size options, this lightweight, stain-resistant throw blanket will look good in any room. Even better, the Dual-Sided Super Soft Blanket is Made in Green by Oeko-Text-certified, meaning it's been manufactured using processes that reduce environmental impact and that support socially responsible working conditions.

If your tween has been complaining of neck pain or allergies, one of the best gift ideas might be an allergy-friendly pillow. Made with 100% memory foam and super plush material, this pillow is designed to support all sleeping positions. Featuring a down alternative filling, your tween can breathe easy at night knowing their pillow has been tested for and cleared of containing more than 1000 harmful chemicals commonly found in textiles-based products.

For tweens who love a clean, modern look in their bedroom, these handmade hanging shelves are the perfect gift. Subtly boho-chic, made from reclaimed natural light wood, each shelf has a fun macramée cotton rope for easy installation and a waterproof protective clear coat for extra durability.

At 16x5x0.5 inches, these shelves are the perfect size—large enough to have room for plants or candles yet small enough not to overwhelm their space. While your tween styles their room with these sweet artisan-designed shelves, you can rest assured knowing Base Roots offsets the carbon footprint associated with production, so your purchase is carbon neutral as well.

Sleep is an important part of a tween's physical and mental well-being, yet it is often taken for granted. Fortunately, with the advent of advanced technology such as the Halo Rise Bedside Sleep Tracker, it has never been easier to gain insight into our kids' sleep habits.

The Halo Rise uses silent, no-contact sensor technology, measuring body movement and breathing to provide personalized sleep analysis and recommendations. It also works in the background, monitoring room temperature, humidity, and light so you can adjust your tween's sleep environment and help them get a better night’s rest.

The wake-up light feature simulates sunrise colors and gradually brightens to wake them up during an ideal stage of sleep. They can even incorporate their own music into their morning-wake routine. It also gives them a great wake-up experience and allows you to keep their cell phone out of their room at night. The Halo Rise is certified by the Carbon Trust, through which companies commit to reducing their emissions year after year.

Does your tween dream of traveling the world? If they can't wait to see the rest of the planet, you might want to give them a fun gift that lets them dream about their future destinations.

The Awesometik 3D Wall Art Travel Map offers superior craftsmanship and durability. Crafted from high-quality birch plywood and engineered with a range of colors, sizes, and map options, each 3D travel map comes with fun add-ons such as ocean names, wooden airplanes, and boats. This ready-to-hang masterpiece makes for easy DIY installation as well; all you have to do is use the special double-sided sticky tape included in every box.

With its stylish design activities, colorful aesthetics, and fun accessories, the Awesometik 3D Wall Art Travel Map is sure to bring charm to your tween's space.

For tween crafting enthusiasts who love woodland animals, this sewing kit is the perfect way to transform a little bit of felt and thread into a masterpiece. With 12 completely unique animal patterns included, tweens can create an entire forest of hand-sewn critters to display on shelves or give away as special gifts.

The Woodland Animals Sewing Kit includes 32 self-adhesive accessories so kids can quickly add noses, eyes, and ears to their creations. With frustration-free instructions and pre-cut shapes, this kit is the perfect introduction to sewing.

If you have a craft-loving tween who likes to personalize their space, a Hapinest Wall Collage might be a good fit. It allows kids to create a customized collage for their walls featuring pictures, quotes, and graphics.

With hundreds of cutouts and stickers, tweens can exercise their creativity and craft a design that is truly their own. Foam spacers give the collage a 3D effect and paint-safe, double-sided tape holds it all together. A lot of time could be put into this project, making it a fun way to keep kids busy over the holidays.

IlluStory is one of the top gift ideas for any budding author and artist. With IlluStory, children have the opportunity to write, illustrate, and publish their very own hardcover book. The special "Just Imagine" guidebook helps kids create their own story in a fun, easy way with plenty of tips and ideas to make it truly unique.

Once kids have completed their design and mailed it back to the company using the pre-paid envelope, they will get a beautifully bound 7" x 9" hardcover volume with up to 20 pages including a dedication page, title page, and an "About the Author" page. This award-winning gift helps kids develop their creativity and literacy skills and gives them the keepsake treasure of their own hardcover book (included in the purchase price). IlluStory provides a great chance for kids to explore the publishing process and it's also just so much fun.

For the more advanced tween artist, a complete premium-quality art set might be in order. If your tween prefers to dabble in multiple art forms, the 103-piece Deluxe Art Creativity Set from the US Art Supply Store should satisfy their creative needs.

This set includes an 82-piece wooden case with 24 watercolor cakes, 24 oil pastels, 24 colored pencils, 2 erasers, 2 graphite pencils, a pencil sharpener, an eraser, and a ruler. In addition, the set features a watercolor painting pad, 2 sketchbooks, 15 paintbrushes, 3 mixing trays, a plastic painting palette, and a solid wood, tabletop desk easel. Portable and lightweight, this kit will hopefully last them into their teen years.

Createures is an exciting drawing game that provides plenty of inspiration for kids to unleash their imaginations. Each player is supplied with five cards that contain instructions for creating their very own mythical creatures. They will have to mix and match features from three different animals, as well as a unique detail and habitat for their creation. Examples of details could include two-headed or futuristic and habitats could range from outer space to a theme park.

A major benefit of the game is the non-competitive environment, allowing children to focus on having fun while also learning valuable lessons in art and creativity. Createures can be played solo or in groups, offering endless possibilities with plenty of replay value. With 150 art-generating prompt cards, every experience with Createures can inspire kids to create epic imaginary creatures they’ve never seen before. It's truly a one-of-a-kind game that offers hours of imaginative play.

National Geographic's Ultimate Rock, Mineral, and Fossil Activity Kit is an excellent tool for budding geologists. Utilizing high-quality samples of minerals such as aventurine and rose quartz as well as genuine fossils such as prehistoric gastropods and ammonites, kids can dive into the study of earth sciences with ease.

The kit also comes with two unbroken geodes just waiting to be cracked open. Paired with a magnifying glass and identification sheet, tweens can properly document their finds before classifying them according to type and origin. This kit provides all the resources necessary for passionate hobbyists and casual learners alike to explore the exciting world of rocks and minerals.

The OKK Robot-Building Toy is a perfect Christmas gift idea for kids looking to explore the worlds of robotics and STEM topics. With 635 pieces and step-by-step instructions to build a functioning robot, they'll be able to practice their STEM skills in the most creative way possible.

The best part? After assembling the robot, your child will have the opportunity to customize it and control its motions with an accompanying app or remote control. This not only allows them to develop coordination and critical thinking skills, but it sparks their interest in robotics and coding as well. Plus, the robot runs on built-in rechargeable batteries so that kids can enjoy playing with it for hours.

In today's world of digital technology, introducing children to robotics early on is more important than ever and this robot-building toy is a great place to start.

ThinkFun's Gravity Maze is an exciting and innovative STEM toy that challenges players to think logically, strategize, and work out spatial logic. It is a built-in combination of a marble run and a logic game as it requires kids to build structures that will allow the marbles to move from their starting points to desired targets.

The different colored towers are designed with unique ramps and ridges to create the specific patterns needed for the marble's movements from tower to tower. The kit contains 60 puzzles varying in difficulty. In mastering each task and level of difficulty, children build their critical thinking skills as well as strengthen their capacities for spatial reasoning and logical planning. The Gravity Maze is an educational and fun way for children to experience engineering and design challenges through play.

Snap Circuits are the perfect toy for tweens who want to explore the wonders of electrical engineering without the need for soldering or tools. The pieces snap together quickly and easily, allowing kids to build dozens of electronic projects with ease.

The kit also includes all the pieces they need to make a variety of interesting projects, such as a musical doorbell, a voice-controlled lamp, a flying saucer, and a police siren. Not only are Snap Circuits fun and engaging but they also help to teach important skills like problem-solving and small motor skills.

Best of all, these kits can help to reduce screen time while promoting creative thinking capacity. All in all, Snap Circuits make learning about electricity fun and easy for tweens of any age.

The Tinker Lab from Butterfly Edufields is a great way to introduce children to the fascinating worlds of engineering, electronic systems, and mechanical principles. Through building mini machines such as a vacuum cleaner, motor boat, egg beater, and massager, children will develop their practical skills and gain an understanding of various construction concepts in real-life scenarios.

The kit comes with 50 pieces that can be used to build more than 20 different DIY projects. This allows kids to use their creativity while being challenged by the complexity of some of the projects. Not only does it spark an early interest in engineering principles and foster problem-solving abilities, but it also encourages creative thinking and exploration.

The LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Medieval Castle building set is a fantastic way to enchant any imaginative kids. Featuring three models in one–a Medieval Castle, castle tower, and medieval marketplace–as well as three mini-figures, every kid will be ready for daring adventures with this toy set.

The castle has two floors and hinges so it can fold open at the back for different play options, along with an opening gate, smithy, water mill, king's room, prison, and more. The castle tower comes equipped with a working catapult toy while the medieval marketplace features a water mill, guard tower, and prison.

With 1,426 pieces, the LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Medieval Castle building set is both an enriching and rewarding building task for kids ages 9 and up.

Kanoodle offers a variety of stimulating and engaging puzzles that require logical problem-solving skills to complete. With over 200 challenging brain-bending single-player challenges, Kanoodle is the ideal game for travel and leisure activities. It includes both 2D and 3D puzzles of various difficulty levels, giving players an array of options to test their strategic thinking.

As they organize a set of colorful balls in different arrangements, users develop valuable mental capabilities such as logical reasoning, critical thinking skills, and hand-eye coordination. Kanoodle can be played solo or with family members, making it both versatile and entertaining. Whether they're beginners or skilled puzzlers, Kanoodle offers an immersive experience with enough challenges to keep tweens busy on long road trips or in waiting rooms.

Getting an adequate amount of exercise can be a challenge when stuck indoors, especially for kids. Fortunately, this six-piece indoor playground presents an innovative solution for families to stay fit without the need for bulky or expensive items.

With its professional-grade steel frame that can hold up to 300 pounds, the convertible kit provides ample athletic challenges for both adults and children. In just a few minutes, users can switch out different components such as a swing, gymnastics rings, trapeze bar, rope ladder, and knotted rope to create their own customized workout routine.

With easily installed and rearrangeable pieces, this versatile indoor playground is an ideal choice for those looking to promote physical well-being while staying comfortably at home.

The Solitary Bee Habitat from Toysmith is an exciting and educational DIY project that allows tweens to experience the joy of building while contributing to the conservation of nature’s most important creatures. Contrary to popular belief, not all bees live in hives—some species, like mason bees, are solitary and do not swarm like honey bees.

Providing a safe place for them to lay and rear their young can greatly contribute to preserving their populations. The habitat presents an excellent opportunity for learning about conservation and biodiversity in a fun way. To make its use even more convenient and sustainable, the materials it includes are FSC-certified wood products and support responsible forestry that helps preserve forests for future generations.

Furthermore, the bee habitat can be easily disassembled for cleaning when necessary. With so many benefits, the Solitary Bee Habitat from Toysmith is much more than a toy—it’s a tool that teaches while inspiring sustainable actions.

The CraftZee Large Soapmaking Kit is a fantastic way for tweens to exercise their creativity and awaken their inner artisan. Not only does it provide them with all the ingredients and tools they need to make basic melt-and-pour soap, but it also allows them to customize their creations with colorful dyes, scents, and additives. With the flexibility of this kit, your tween can play around with different combinations of ingredients, creating one-of-a-kind soaps they can keep for themselves or give away as gifts. 

Making soap is a fun activity that imparts lifelong lessons on using safe and natural products while creating opportunities for you and your tween to connect over a shared passion. It's also an engaging glimpse into the crafting traditions that have been passed down through centuries, providing a sense of connection between our present lives and the “good old days”. What better way to introduce the next generation to something they can treasure forever?

With this kit, you'll be able to equip your tweens with the means necessary to explore the wonderful world of soapmaking, providing them with an unforgettable experience that won't fade away.

The Horiki Plants Kids Organic Garden Kit offers a unique opportunity for children to explore the world of horticulture through educational and entertaining activities. The all-in-one kit includes everything needed for safe, easy, and eco-friendly gardening—with organic seeds and soil and containers made from post-consumer recycled paper pulp. Everything complies with USDA Organic standards so families can relax knowing their kids are growing food of the highest quality.

The included Hortiki Kids Activity Book is full of puzzles, jokes, games, and art activities, while the Hortiki Kids Reading Club 100% Cotton Drawstring Backpack makes moving their project around super convenient. This kit is an excellent way for curious minds to get outside and explore science, math, and earthy art projects. With this kit, tweens will have informative and educational experiences in the great outdoors.

The 3Doodler Start+ Essentials pen set is an innovative new way to combine art and design with cutting-edge technology for creative expression. Perfect for young learners, this pen allows them to unleash their creativity and further understand and grasp STEM subjects. This safe, easy-to-use tool extrudes plastic with a press of a button, allowing kids to create whatever sparks their imagination.

The 3Doodler plastics have passed all necessary safety standards required, giving parents peace of mind that their child is using a secure, child-safe device. Lastly, the kit includes a booklet of fun project templates that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

For young creatives who love to express themselves, the VTech KidiZoom Creator Cam is the perfect tool to unlock their inner filmmaker. This easy-to-use camera packs a multitude of features into one remarkable package. From exchanging animated backgrounds for added drama—where kids can be chased by a T-Rex or go to outer space—to special effects like green screen technology that allows them to make themselves invisible, this versatile camera makes for an exciting filming experience.

With 20+ backgrounds and multiple attachments, including creativity tools and a tabletop tripod, selfie stick, and wrist strap, children of all ages can craft original videos from any location. Uploading recorded footage is a breeze with the included USB cable and adults can rest assured with parental controls in place.

The action-packed camera also comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery so kids can start recording right away. Whether it's time-lapse videos or green screen adventures they're after, this feature-rich camera will keep children entertained infinitely while unleashing their creativity and storytelling potential.

Does the tween in your life love to take their music with them wherever they go? If so, this portable solar-powered Bluetooth speaker from Reveal may be the solution for their wireless audio needs. Not only does it boast the natural beauty of sustainable bamboo, but it is energy efficient as well. This eco-conscious piece of technology has monocrystalline solar panels paired with a lithium-ion battery, providing convenience and reliability.

The Bluetooth/Wireless feature allows users to sync their speakers easily to their phones, tablets, or computers without compromising on sound quality. The range is impressive too; roam up to 33 feet away with crystal clear audio on all compatible devices such as iOS, Android, Macs, and Windows 10. The 15-hour battery life ensures that music keeps playing even when there's no sun available.

If your tween's devices are always dying at the most inconvenient times, a portable charger could be the answer and the CHAMP Compact Lite Charger from Nimble stands out from the rest. NIMBLE is a tech company that pioneers sustainability while innovating its product offerings.

The CHAMP Lite Portable Charger is the perfect example of its commitment to reducing waste and its passion for innovation. It boasts a 72.5% post-consumer plastic construction, reducing its total CO2 footprint by 7.43 lbs, and is capable of charging two devices at once with double the speed of other similar models available on the market today.

NIMBLE also offers an impressive 24-month guarantee on all their products, indicating an emphasis on building quality products designed to withstand the test of time (and clumsy tweens). This level of commitment to design, sustainability, and customer satisfaction makes NIMBLE almost unrivaled in this sector as they are willing to take risks and strive where others have not gone before. In addition, NIMBLE believes in collaborating with ethical suppliers and providing free e-waste recycling services further underlining their uncompromising attitude towards protecting the environment while developing safe and high-quality consumer-grade technology solutions.

Finally, if your tween is music-obsessed but you're needing a bit of a break from the tunes, a good pair of headphones will deliver the sound quality you both seek. House of Marley's Positive Vibration 2 headphones provide exceptional audio clarity and comfort.

Crafted from sustainably sourced, FSC-certified wood, eco-friendly REWIND fabric, and recyclable aluminum, these headphones boast 40mm dynamic drivers for an exceptional listening experience. Luxuriously designed with plush ear cushions and extra padding on the headband for maximum comfort, Positive Vibration 2 guarantees hours of enjoyment without strain or fatigue.

Furthermore, the attractive tangle-free cord is connected to a noise-isolating microphone for convenient hands-free calling. Plus, an intuitively placed remote function allows users to easily control volume, play/pause, and skip through their music selections with ease.