104 Gifts for 12 Year Old Girls

12-year-old girls are in the early stage of adolescence and are experiencing physical and psychological changes. They also have changing preferences and what appealed to them in the past may not do so now. We understand the challenge that comes with shopping for girls at this stage and have compiled this gift guide to give you some ideas.

Choosing the best gifts for 12-year-old girls

Child development experts say as hormones flood their systems, 12-year-old girls typically start to experience prepubescent changes in their bodies and become moodier. Being physically active, especially in activities that involve their friends, helps to release plenty of feel-good hormones which will help them deal with these changes. So getting them a gift like rollerblades is a creative way to get them interested and engaged in such activities.

12-year-old girls are at a developmental stage where they become more dependent on their peer groups for support. They want to be liked and will want to involve their friends in their hobbies. It is ideal to give them gifts that encourage group engagements such as board games, jigsaw puzzles, or craft kits.

How we identified the best gifts for 12-year-old girls

At this stage in life, 12-year-old girls generally have a greater ability for complex thought. They also have a better sense of what is right and wrong and are better able to express their feelings. To help develop these skills we picked gifts, such as board games, that will boost their mental development. We also picked items that require engagement with others as tools to teach teamwork and healthy interaction with peers.

12-year-old girls gravitate more toward friendships with their peers and these relationships become absolutely important. They want to fit in, to be liked and considered cool. They also show more concern about body image, looks, and clothes — anything that makes them feel ostracized can affect their mental health. We, therefore, picked items that fall within the trendy and cool category to help them navigate these choppy waters. We picked gifts that covered all the bases with everything from girly gifts to fresh outfits, toys, gadgets, journals, and beauty kits among others.

Tips for buying the best gifts for 12-year-old girls

1. Do your research
   Don’t assume you know what a 12-year-old girl will like even if you have shopped for 12-year-old girls before. Times are changing and what was appealing in the past may not be in vogue anymore. So do your research, ask questions, and dig around in order to determine what is considered a great gift now.
2. Consider her interests
   Everyone is different and one girl may enjoy spending time outdoors while the other is more of an indoors type of person. Some enjoy working with their hands while others are into sports and other physical activities. Any gift you get her should be one that is in line with her preferences.
3. Get age-appropriate gifts
   Since 12-year-old girls are straddling childhood and puberty, ensure that the gifts you buy are not too mature for her or better suited for a much younger child.