Pre-teens are in an awkward place, too old to be little, too little to be old. This makes their lives a little confusing, and it also makes buying them gifts a little difficult. You need to find something that won’t insult them by being too babyish, but not so old that they won’t like it. That’s a hard balance to strike! But I can help. Having raised a pre-teen, I’ve put together this helpful list of 7 great gifts for pre-teens!
Price: $6.00 at urbanoutfitters.com
**Perfect for: **the scientist
These ice cream sandwiches are unusual, to say the least. They’re completely edible, but can be stored at any temperature, and for years. They’re freeze-dried and packed, and won’t rehydrate until you eat them. What kid, especially one who likes science, wouldn’t love these?
**
**
Price: $10.00 at urbanoutfitters.com
**Perfect for: **the prankster
Pre-teens may be outgrowing their fear and hatred of clowns, but they’ve still got a lot of love for balloon animals. These ones are made of glass, though, and measure a miniature 4 inches long. They come in four colors and “breeds,” so you’re sure to find one your pre-teen will like.
**
**
Price: $24.00 at urbanoutfitters.com
Perfect for: the musician
Trust me, there isn’t a tween on Earth who wouldn’t love this pocket-sized synthesizer, a remake of the 1960’s classic used by everyone from David Bowie to They Might be Giants. It’s more modern, though, so it’ll connect to a computer and serve as a speaker for an iPod or other MP3 player. Your little/not-so-little recipient will love playing with this, making all sorts of sounds. Cool!
Price: $14.00 at anthropologie.com
Perfect for: the little artist or decorator
These 7” by 7” cotton corduroy lower-case letters can be used to spell a name, a nickname, or just serve as an initial to make someone’s space truly their own. They’re all gorgeous, artsy, bright, and would make a wonderful one-of-a-kind gift for the young artist or interior designer in your life.
Price: $24.00 at anthropologie.com
Perfect for: the artist or budding eco-warrior
This gift is perfect for so many types of tweens, from the budding artist to the already-devoted eco-warrior. The set includes a pad of paper made from the dropped leaves and bark of the banana tree, and a set of colored pencils made of recycled newspapers, vegetable-based glue, and all-natural pigments.
Price: $24.00 at anthropologie.com
Perfect for: the culinary artist
Most tweens are still intimidated by the kitchen, but not your niece. She’s moved way beyond Easy Bake and can make all sorts of cookies, pies, and more. Encourage her talent with this pretty apron, one that’s made to fit her, and one that doesn’t say anything dumb (like “kiss the cook”)…
Price: $20.00 at urbanoutfitters.com
Perfect for: the devoted princess or unicorn fan
When I was a tween, I loathed parting with a few of my little-kid obsessions — my scratch and sniff sticker album, and my unicorn collection. If you know a girl like this, who still loves her unicorns, this spiffy ornament set would be a great gift for her! It features one unicorn and a sky-full of bright stars. Perfect!
There’s surely a gift on this list for every tween on YOUR list; the only question is which ones to buy! So… which of these do you think your own pre-teen would love, and why? Or do you have any other tips for picking the perfect gift for a tween?