11 & 12 year old girls - gift ideas

[CloudBee]

My nieces will be 11 & 12 at Christmas.

In the past I have given them American Girl Doll clothing/acessories, as I bought them dolls about 6 years ago.  I think it's time for that to come to an end, though.  They have SO much stuff now, and are about out of that phase, right?

I don't want to send clothes, gift cards, or makeup.  I am always known for sending "cool" gifts, so I need some input.  I often send the kids in their family active toys like pogo sticks, moon shoes, stilts, scooters, and stomp rockets.  Those have always been big hits in addition to the AG Doll items.

Suggestions?  I really like fun childhood items vs the clothes/gc's/makeup ideas.

[ijack]

rainbow loom? do they have a video system that you could do a dance or band game for?
That's hard - most 12yo I know aren't as much into "childhood" items as they are clothes, jewelry and makeup.

[CloudBee]

They do like to read, sew by hand kits, learn to knit, etc.

Any Palm Beach, FL "experienc" gifts, like a family membership to somewhere?

[CloudBee]

Nov 6, 2013 12:38:03 GMT -5 minniemouse said:

That is such a tough age. Some still act like kids and others are more teenager-like. I would ask them, or their parents, for ideas.
Do they like crafts? Or board games?

Their mom already buys them so many clothing items and accessories, which is why I like to get them something they can "do".  Whatever I get, they always use, and often have out when I visit.  That's why I really want to keep up the trend.  So often at this age people start doing just clothes, makeup, and body wash.  I want to keep them playing with age appropriate stuff, and if it gets them outside that's a big plus.

[sjh722]

I loved reading at that age. Would they be interested in Kindles? You can borrow books from most libraries, and Amazon seems to be running a lot of sales this year.

As they get older, you could think about a bracelet or jewelry item that could be added to each year, like a charm bracelet or the like.

What are they into? Art? Any kind of crafts, like painting or beading or photography? I feel like 12 is kind of a hard age for toys.

[sjh722]

I just saw your update, someone came into my office while I was posting.

A sewing machine? Knitting needles and a nice stash of cool yarn to make scarves? (I am wearing a cozy infinity scarf my mom knitted for me - I have had at least 10 people ask me where I got it. She's made several for my friends, SIL, my sister's friends, etc.)

Older board games, like Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, Dominion. Fluxx is a fun card game if you want a small item to add.

I'm still thinking about outside ideas. A nice bike would be something that would get a lot of use and get them outside (especially with nice weather) but that is $$$.

[CloudBee]

Nov 6, 2013 12:42:08 GMT -5 sjh722 said:

I loved reading at that age. Would they be interested in Kindles? You can borrow books from most libraries, and Amazon seems to be running a lot of sales this year.

As they get older, you could think about a bracelet or jewelry item that could be added to each year, like a charm bracelet or the like.

What are they into? Art? Any kind of crafts, like painting or beading or photography? I feel like 12 is kind of a hard age for toys.

Ohhh, I should see how much Pandora bracelets are these days.  They don't have them and I know they are still trendy amongst teens.  Smart idea.

Maybe I will see if T&Co has anything like studs or pendants in the $50-100 range right now.

[sjh722]

Also, this game is really fun. We've played it with adults (it becomes PG13 rated) but it's totally appropriate for kids. I know my cousins that age love it:
www.amazon.com/Telestrations-Telephone-Game-Sketched-Out/dp/B001SN8GF4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383760022&sr=8-1&keywords=drawing+game

Are they interested in cooking or baking at all? I liked making cookies and stuff at that age.

[CloudBee]

Nov 6, 2013 12:44:13 GMT -5 @meepmeep said:

I'm getting my 11-year-old niece another pearl for her add-a-pearl necklace (side note: NOT MM - each pearl is $60-ish, and my mom and I have been getting her one or two every year since she was born; that necklace is going to be worth a mint by the time it's completed), a bicycle helmet to go with the new bike my parents are getting her, and I'm knitting her a gray, turquoise, and green chevron-striped scarf.

Can I have a link to the necklace?  I've never heard of these.

[CloudBee]

Also, they have Kindles.

[sjh722]

Nov 6, 2013 12:48:16 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Nov 6, 2013 12:42:08 GMT -5 sjh722 said:

I loved reading at that age. Would they be interested in Kindles? You can borrow books from most libraries, and Amazon seems to be running a lot of sales this year.

As they get older, you could think about a bracelet or jewelry item that could be added to each year, like a charm bracelet or the like.

What are they into? Art? Any kind of crafts, like painting or beading or photography? I feel like 12 is kind of a hard age for toys.

Ohhh, I should see how much Pandora bracelets are these days.  They don't have them and I know they are still trendy amongst teens.  Smart idea.

Maybe I will see if T&Co has anything like studs or pendants in the $50-100 range right now.

We talked about getting my MIL a Pandora bracelet for Christmas with grandkid charms - my SIL said to look for specials where you get a free bracelet with the purchase of x charms or similar this time of year.

Also, my mom really liked my Tiffany silver bead earrings and kept mentioning how much she liked them, but she did NOT want $150 earrings. (She is very, very simple with jewelry.) I found her a pair on Blue Nile for mother's day and she loves them.
www.bluenile.com/sterling-silver-ball-stud-earrings_25301

I know the Tiffany box, etc would make an exciting gift for a girl that age, though.

[CloudBee]

Okay, they have Pandora bracelets. I thought that would have been a great gift. I just texted my sister to ask if charms might be a good ongoing gift.

[Deleted]

A sewing machine and accessories would be awesome. Even the cheapest Brother machines are pretty solid. I've had mine for 14 years.

Art supplies? I loved drawing and painting at that age. Maybe you could start getting some of the nicer real supplies.

Do they play instruments? I liked sheet music at that age.

[Deleted]

How about a class of some sort? Sewing? Knitting?

Tickets to a concert?

[dragonfly08]

My oldest is 10 and definitely outgrowing the AG thing.

These days, she's very into iPad/computer apps, the Rainbow Loom, journals for both writing and drawing, cooking/baking. She's always been a huge reader so books are never a wrong choice. She also really likes the Lego Friends building sets, first to create and then to put together into a big city (we have quite a few of them). While she isn't huge on jewelry, she does wear a watch every day that my parents gave her, and she loves her few special pieces (a Pandora bracelet, a pendant that was mine when I was her age) for what she calls "dress up occasions".

[Deleted]

Tickets to something? I always felt very grown up at that age when someone got me tickets to an event.

I know you want to stay away but I bet things like nail polish and a mani/pedi GC would be a hit.

[nonsenseabound]

I did activities with my cousins at that age. I bought tickets to shows, professional sporting events, etc. We had a great time.

[magdala]

Movie passes were a hit with my nieces (9 and 13).

[aprilsails]

At that age I enjoyed doing cross stitch - you can usually get a kit that has everything included so it's easy to get started with.

As far as art supplies go my Grandma would buy me the nice black leather bound art books and I had a really good set of calligraphy pens and charcoals that she gave me. I loved that stuff. I would draw pictures from my National Geographic magazines and was working on an art portfolio. Felt super professional.

As far as stuff to keep them active outdoors - scooters, skates, and good skipping ropes if you can find them. My Aunt gave my cousin and I a horse riding lesson when I was 10 and I loved it.

You could also do tickets to a concert. I liked getting dressed up and going to the theatre with my Mom when I was that age (still do!). She would take me to musicals usually, but on occasion an Agatha Christie play or something else that was age appropriate.

[kadams767]

I second the movie tickets for the "experience" gift. That is right about the age kids start getting dropped off at the movies with their friends, right?

Are they into any sports? Fun extras for sports might be a nice idea, even though some of this is clothing related. But extras of stuff like fun socks, headbands/wraps, duffel bags and water bottles, etc. were always a big hit with me.

[skib]

The kids that age around here are really into making these bracelets:

www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Loom-loom100-Twistz-Bandz/dp/B00DMC6KAC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383784236&sr=8-1&keywords=rubber+band+bracelet+kit

[Deleted]

Magazine subscriptions? I think I loved magazines by that age.

[newhomeowner]

I have 10 & 12 year old daughters and rainbow loom is the big thing. My 12 year old just got htis for her birthday and liked it: Loopdedoo Spinning Loom Kit www.amazon.com/Loopdedoo-LUEEAA-Spinning-Loom-Kit/dp/B0060LLICC/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1383790482&sr=8-11&keywords=bracelet+loom

She also would have loved if someone took her shopping and she could pick whatever she wanted...

[newhomeowner]

Oh yeah, my girls love when I've bought like Teen Beat or whatever it is these days! I've done that for long car trips...

[Deleted]

I third the idea of movie tickets/ coupons. My dad gave them to my sister one year for Christmas when she was about that age and it was a total hit.