Choosing a gift that will please your preteen can be tough. This GiftinGlory article provides a list of some good gift ideas for kids aged 10 to 12 that they are sure to like.
Tweens love experimenting and making their own stuff. DIY kits such as a model car kit or a chemistry kit are something that your kid will love.
They are neither little kids, nor are they teenagers; hence, pleasing tweens with the right gift can be quite a difficult task. In fact, shopping for a ten-year-old or a twelve-year-old can bring a fair amount of panic. Unlike toddlers who are delighted with just about everything (even the packaging), tweens are quite choosy about what they like and what they vehemently dislike. Moreover, you are always faced with changing moods and changing trends. So, even if you have decided to buy a gaming console, you would be flummoxed at the store when faced with a host of new versions in the market.
If you are worried about what to shop for kids aged 10 to 12, we have put forth a list of some great ideas that will help you choose the perfect gift for your tween. From the cool remote-controlled cars to the best adventure and fantasy novel, this gift list is sure to enthrall your kids. Brace yourself!
Tablets
If you are looking for a tech gift for your tween, then tablets are just perfect. The screens are bigger, there is no need for an extra keyboard, and your tween will take to a touchscreen faster than a duck to water. The tablets with features, such as Wi-Fi, are great for surfing the web, playing games, checking e-mail, watching movies, and listening to music. Moreover, for your young learners, there are a host of educational apps and textbooks.
Some amazing tablet options for tweens would be the ultra-portable Apple iPad mini, Amazon Kindle Fire HD, and the Google Nexus 7.
Magazine Subscriptions
Is your tween girl passionate about celebrity gossip, news, and interviews, or does your 12-year-old son love things related to science, nature, and history? A perfect gift for tweens who are avid readers would be a magazine subscription. Obviously, the magazine you choose should interest your child. Avoid subscribing to fashion/lifestyle magazines that are marked for tweens/teens, but do not provide age-appropriate content.
Some excellent magazines packed with quality content that your child is bound to love include New Moon Girls, American Girl Magazine, andDiscovery Girls. For boys, checkout the Boys’ Life magazine.
Music Lessons
If your child loves music, then enrolling him/her in music classes would be a great gift. Music helps in the development of the child’s self-esteem and social skills while also increasing his/her patience and discipline. Before choosing the instrument that the child has to learn, consider his/her opinion. Ensure that the child is excited about learning the instrument and is interested in a particular music style. The child’s temperament should also match the instrument. Additionally, you should be able to afford the instrument and the maintenance that comes with it.
Most music teachers would agree that it’s hard for kids to go wrong with the piano, drums, guitar, or violin.
Portable Music Players
In connection with the above idea, if not for music lessons, tweens would love to own a portable music player that can help them relax while they do their homework or keep them occupied when they are bored. The MP3 players for tweens should be easy to use, lightweight, and ultra-portable models. Look for low-end models that may not provide access to a lot of entertainment apps and games, but are sturdy and have a good battery life.
Some good options are the Apple iPod Shuffle, SanDisk Sansa Clip+ MP3 Player, and Cowon X9.
Tween Books
Unlike a kiddie book with simple stories, tweens need books with stories that are challenging and fun to read. Dragons, vampires, mighty tween heroes, these are some of the popular characters that your voracious reader will love. Book selection at this age is important as you want your child to progress beyond kiddie books, yet not venture into teenage novels.
Apart from the Harry Porter series which I am sure your kid has read (if not, please do get it for him/her!), you can gift your child books such as the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz, and Eragon by Christopher Paolini.
RC Toys
If you are planning to buy toys for your kid, then remote-controlled (RC) vehicles are your best bet. There is an impressive selection of RC cars, helicopters, and other toys in the market that are sure to delight your kid. From dirt-spewing monster trucks to beautiful robots, there are RC toys that appeal to every taste. Before buying an RC car or other toys, do check the specified age limits and warning labels that indicate whether the car has small parts that cause choking, cutting, and other hazards for young children.
Check out the iPhone or iPod controlled robot, WowWee RoboMe or get an awesome remote-controlled car such as the Tyco RC Stunt Psycho Vehicle.
Bean Bags
Choose a comfortable bean bag for your child to lounge and relax in while they watch movies, play games, or read a book. Bean bags are functional and extremely comfortable chairs filled with foam or polyurethane. They are available in a range of colors and designs. They are a great addition to the entertainment areas and play spaces of your child’s room. Ensure that the bag is made from a durable material and is safe and comfortable for your kid.
Some great bean bags for kids are Newco International Football Bean Bag and Elite Furniture Spider Web Kids Bean Bag.
Bike
Adventure lovers will love a mountain bike. Choose geared kids’ bikes with 20″ and 24″ wheels that are best for 10- to 12-year-old kids. Look for features such as an adjustable seat height along with a durable, corrosion-resistant aluminum frame and front suspension.
Bikes such as the Jamis X.24 and GT 2013 Aggressor 24 are some great mountain bikes for kids.
Camera
Want to introduce your child to the world of photography but cannot really trust them with a heavy-duty DSLR? Gift your tween a simple point-and-shoot camera that is not too bulky and big to hold and can help the child take pictures with ease. Whether he/she is taking pictures of friends or selfies, the camera should allow the child to do these with ease. Look for ones that are waterproof, dustproof, freezeproof, and shockproof.
Some excellent cameras for pre-teens would be Fujifilm FinePix XP60 and the Nikon COOLPIX S01.
Portable Video Game
A portable video game or a hand-held game console is something that every tween enjoys. It is cheaper, easier to carry around whether it is at a supermarket or on long car trips, and the best part is that you do not need to hook it to a TV, like you do for large game systems. Most portable video games do more than just play games. You can browse the Internet, make Skype calls, and tether with Bluetooth. If your tween does not own one already, he/she is probably yearning for one.
Choose a Nintendo 3DS XL or a Sony PS Vita for your tween.
You can also choose something specific for girls or boys such as a nail polish set for a trendy tween girl or a chemistry set for a nerdy tween boy. If you are confused about getting something cool for your impossible-to-please kid, then this list of gifts is sure to make an impression.