Gifts for Tweens: What Do You Get a Kid Who Isn't Little Anymore?
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 21 hand-picked ideas
Somewhere around nine, a child starts rolling their eyes at things they loved six months ago. The stuffed animals get moved to a high shelf, the bedroom door gets closed, and "that's for little kids" becomes the most damning review in the house. At the same time, they're not teenagers yet. They still want to play, they just don't want anyone to see them doing it.
Buying for tweens is mostly about respect. The gifts that land treat them as capable and give them a bit of independence: a real craft rather than a kit with three steps, a room that feels like theirs, a way to get around with friends. This guide starts with a few thoughts on that in-between stage, then covers the makers, the bedroom, getting out and about, and small gifts for sleepovers and friends.
For younger kids, our main gifts for kids guide is sorted by age. If they're already acting like a teenager, see gifts for teens. Shopping for family? We have pages for gifts for niece and gifts for nephew too.
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The in-between years, briefly explained
Tweens are caught between two worlds, and they know it. They want privacy and independence, and they want to be taken seriously, but they also still love making things, playing games and being surprised. The trick is to give them the grown-up version of what they've always liked: not a toy kitchen, but polymer clay that can be baked into real earrings. Not a picture book, but a locked diary. Avoid anything with cartoon characters aimed at younger kids, unless you're sure they still love them.
Tech is the big question at this age. Many tweens want a phone, headphones or a game console, and every family has different rules. If you're not the parent, never buy a device as a surprise; ask first, and respect the answer. The good news is that the best tween gifts often have nothing to do with screens. Tweens are at a great age for a new hobby, and they have more patience than younger kids for something that takes time to learn.
For the maker
Lots of tweens are in a crafting phase, often with friends: bracelets, clay charms, crochet animals, art for their walls. Give them proper materials and they'll surprise you with what they make.
These kits go beyond the beginner level, but they're still approachable for a nine- or ten-year-old.
- Our favorite1
Polymer Clay Starter Kit
~$20
Dozens of colors of oven-bake clay with tools and jewelry findings for making charms, earrings and tiny food. Unlike play dough, the finished pieces bake hard in a home oven and last for years, which is exactly what makes it feel grown-up. Many tweens end up making gifts for friends or even selling at a school fair. The baking step needs a grown-up and the temperature printed on the package, nothing hotter.
- 2
Beginner Sewing Kit for Kids
~$22
Felt, thread, blunt needles and patterns for hand-sewing small stuffed animals and pouches. Sewing is a genuinely useful skill, and the first finished plush is a proud moment. It's a quiet, absorbing project for a tween who likes to make things with their hands. A natural next step is a simple sewing machine if they fall in love with it.
- 3
Crochet Amigurumi Animal Starter Kit
~$22
A kit with yarn, a hook and patterns for crocheting small stuffed animals. Crochet has taken off among young people, and amigurumi animals are a popular starting point. It takes patience to learn, so it's best for a tween who likes a challenge. Point them toward video tutorials for the basic stitches.
- 4
Alcohol Marker Set
~$40
Dual-tip markers that blend smoothly, the kind serious young artists and comic-drawers want. A set signals that you take their drawing seriously. Pair it with a pad of marker paper, since the ink bleeds through ordinary paper. Best for the tween who's always sketching in the margins of their homework.
- 5
Friendship Bracelet Making Kit
~$14
Embroidery floss, beads and letter charms for making bracelets to trade with friends. It's a cheap and social craft that takes off at sleepovers and summer camps. A good choice if you're buying for a group of friends or need a smaller gift.
A room that feels like theirs
For a tween, their bedroom is their whole world, and decorating it is a way of figuring out who they are. These gifts make the room feel more grown-up and more theirs. Check with the parents before anything that sticks to walls.
- 6~$30
Galaxy Star Projector
Fills the ceiling with stars and swirling nebula colors. A cozy way to wind down, and a big hit at sleepovers.
Science NerdsHomebodiescozy - 7~$30
Smart LED Light Strips
Color-changing light strips they control from a phone or remote. Tweens love them; ask parents first, as the adhesive can mark paint.
Tech LoversGamersfun - 8~$30
Oversized Wearable Hoodie Blanket
A giant sherpa-lined hoodie that's half blanket, half sweatshirt. Worn for movie nights all winter, and nearly impossible to get a wrong size.
Homebodiescozy - 9~$15
Locking Diary with Pen
A hardcover journal with a lock and key, for private thoughts and doodles. The lock matters more than the paper; tweens crave privacy.
Writers & Journalerspersonalized - 10~$80
Giant Memory Foam Bean Bag Lounger
An oversized bean bag for reading, gaming and hanging out with friends. A big gift, so check there's floor space for it.
Movie LoversHomebodiescozy
Getting out with friends
Tweens are starting to roam a little further: to the park, a friend's house, around the block. Gifts that give them a reason to get out, ideally with friends, are a healthy balance to time indoors.
- 11
Beginner Skateboard for Kids
~$50
A complete board with softer wheels that suit learning on sidewalks and driveways. Skateboarding is as much about friends and style as the sport itself, which makes it appealing at this age. Expect falls in the first few weeks, and add wrist guards along with the helmet. Best for tweens who've shown an interest, not as a surprise for a cautious kid.
- 12
Instax Mini Instant Camera
~$80
A pocket-sized instant camera that prints small photos right away. Tweens love taking pictures with friends and sticking them on bedroom walls or swapping them. Film is the ongoing cost, so add a pack or two to the gift and mention the price to the parents.
- 13
Foldable Kick Scooter for Kids
~$50
A lightweight scooter with an adjustable handlebar that folds for carrying. It's a way for a tween to get around the neighborhood or to a friend's house without a bike. Choose one rated for their weight, and include a helmet.
- 14
35mm Disposable Film Camera
~$20
A single-use film camera with a flash, the kind their grandparents took on vacation. Not knowing how the photos turned out until they're developed is a novelty for kids raised on phones. Fun for a trip, a sleepover or a summer at camp. Developing costs extra.
For the tween who wants to know how things work
Some tweens would rather take a radio apart than decorate a bedroom. These are slow, satisfying projects for a curious mind, with real results at the end, and none of them need a screen.
- 15
Rock Tumbler Kit
~$65
A small electric tumbler that polishes rough stones over a few weeks, one grit at a time. Tweens have the patience younger kids lack, and the payoff is a jar of glossy stones to keep, trade or turn into jewelry with that clay kit. It hums steadily as it runs, so the garage is a better home for it than a bedroom.
- 16
DIY Crystal Radio Receiver Kit
~$26
A build-it-yourself radio that runs with no battery at all, pulling in AM stations through a wire antenna. It feels a bit like magic, and it teaches more about how signals work than any textbook. Reception varies by area, so treat the first faint station as a victory. Best for ages ten and up with an adult nearby for the fiddly parts.
Small gifts for sleepovers and friends
Under $35, these are good for birthday parties, holiday gifts from a friend, or adding to a bigger present.
18.Kids Bluetooth Headphones with Volume Limit ~$30
Wireless headphones with a built-in volume limit for young ears. Parents usually approve, and they're good for long car rides.
19.Codenames Party Game ~$20
A word-guessing game for groups that works brilliantly at sleepovers. Tweens can play it as equals with adults.
20.Sticker Journaling Scrapbook Kit ~$18
Stickers, washi tape and a blank notebook for journaling and scrapbooking. Great for tweens who love planning and decorating.
21.Bath Bomb Making Kit for Kids ~$25
Molds and ingredients for making colorful bath bombs at home. A fun group activity at a sleepover, and they can give the results as gifts.
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
How to win over a tween
Ask them, or their parents, what they're into right now. Tweens' interests change quickly, and current obsessions matter.
Avoid anything that looks like it's for little kids. When in doubt, choose something a teenager might also use.
Never buy a phone, tablet or console without the parents' agreement.
Real materials beat kids' versions: proper markers, real clay, a complete skateboard.
Stuck? Try our gift finder with their age and one or two interests.
Tween gift FAQs
What age is a tween?
Generally nine to twelve. Tweens are past early childhood but not yet teenagers, and their gifts should reflect that: more grown-up than toys, but still playful.
What is a good gift for an 11-year-old?
A real craft kit like polymer clay or crochet, an instant camera, a galaxy projector for their room, a skateboard, or a locked diary. Eleven-year-olds want gifts that make them feel older.
What do tweens want most?
Independence, privacy and things that let them express themselves. Room decor, creative kits, ways to get around with friends and gifts they can share with friends are all popular.
Is a tween too old for toys?
Not at all, but they may not call them toys anymore. Games, LEGO sets, craft kits and outdoor gear all count, and many tweens still enjoy them, just with a little more privacy.