119 Gifts for 12 Year Olds

12-year-olds are on the cusp of becoming teenagers. They’re at the age where their abstract thinking and problem-solving abilities improve, they begin to experience many physical and emotional changes, and seeking the approval of their peer groups becomes important. Their shifting interests open up a new world of gift possibilities.

Choosing the best gifts for 12-year-olds

Great gifts for 12-year-olds will consider their evolving interests. Tweens are inching closer to becoming fully-fledged teenagers. Children this age experience many physical, emotional, social, and cognitive developmental changes as they approach their teen years.

According to experts, they show improvement in reasoning and information processing, and this continues to develop as they get older. Challenging games and activities that flex their cognitive muscle and put their problem-solving abilities to the test will appeal to them. It’s also an age characterized by many physical changes as some children, particularly girls, begin puberty. They gravitate towards spending more time with their peers as opposed to their families as they start to explore their sense of personal identity. Gifts that play on their interests, whether it be music, physical activity, or creative self-expression, are ones to consider. Because of the important influence their friends have on them, they’ll have a natural desire to fit in, which is why accessories, gadgets, stylish items of clothing, and other popular or trending items are also a hit with this age group.

How we identified the best gifts for 12-year-olds

When selecting gifts for 12-year-olds, we identified the major developmental milestones they experience at this age and chose gifts that will appeal to their evolving interests. 12-year-olds use logic and reasoning very well and they appreciate activities that are mentally stimulating. We chose games of logic, building sets, and exploration kits that will test and strengthen their mental agility and encourage them to seek solutions on their own, which they’ll be eager to do.

They’re at the age where they want to explore topics of interest in-depth as they begin to understand their personal identity and assert their independence. For this reason, we selected a variety of gifts that they can use to showcase their personal style, whether it be an item of clothing or unique decorative items they can use to customize their personal space.

And we can’t forget that children this age have grown up with social media. They know what’s trending and popular, as do their friends. For this reason, we included some of the trendiest gadgets, games, and activities that are currently available on the market.

Tips for buying the best gifts for 12-year-olds

1. Understand their interests
   Because this age is characterized by so many developmental changes, it’s safe to assume that their interests are changing too. Things they may once have loved will likely be discarded now, so it’s important to understand how they currently enjoy spending their time. This will make it easier to avoid any kind of gifting blunders.
2. Ask them
   12-year-olds know what they like and they won’t be shy to tell you. If you want to avoid disappointment, the simplest way is to ask them what they want. If you’d like to still maintain a level of surprise, you can ask what interests them instead, and you can take it from there.
3. When in doubt, keep it cool
   Popular and on-trend — these types of gifts will always be a success in the eyes of a 12-year-old who’s keeping up with all that’s cool. They’re at the age where it’s important for them to fit in, so it’s likely their friends will also have the latest gadgets, accessories and style items.