“Tweens are at the age where they no longer want to play with toys,” explains Christia Brown, PhD, an author, researcher, and professor of developmental psychology. “They’re not kids in that way, but they’re not old enough to act like 16-year-olds, either.” When a birthday or the holidays roll around and it comes time to buy a tween a gift, search for something that encourages their interests, whether it’s a hobby, a sport, or games that allow them to socialize.  No matter what the tween in question’s interests are, you’ll want to look for a gift that’s age-appropriate so it will engage and entertain them. Trending items are another great place to look for gift ideas, too. Plus, these Beats headphones offer exceptional sound quality, have Bluetooth connectivity, and are compatible with iOS and Android devices. The ear cups are padded for comfort, and the length of the headphones can be adjusted to find the best fit.  Price at time of publication: $200 Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $299 Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $75 Price at time of publication: $500 Price at time of publication: $160 Price at time of publication: $170 Price at time of publication: $599 Price at time of publication: $30 Price at time of publication: $200 Price at time of publication: $40 Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $199 Price at time of publication: $60 Price at time of publication: $34 Price at time of publication: $23 Price at time of publication: $59 Price at time of publication: $15 Price at time of publication: $35 Price at time of publication: $55 Price at time of publication: $50
Price at time of publication: $25 Price at time of publication: $13 Price at time of publication: $79 Price at time of publication: $84 Price at time of publication: $39 Price at time of publication: $37 Price at time of publication: $35 Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $15 Price at time of publication: $40 Price at time of publication: $25 Price at time of publication: $17 Price at time of publication: $17 Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $89 Price at time of publication: Starting at $28/month Price at time of publication: $33 Price at time of publication: Starting at $21
Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $30 Price at time of publication: $40 Price at time of publication: $170 Price at time of publication: $170
Price at time of publication: $30 Price at time of publication: $40 Price at time of publication: $60 Price at time of publication: $19

What to Look for in Gifts for Tweens

Age-Appropriateness

Tweens fall at a particular age where many items are a little too mature and many are a bit too young, so it’s important to carefully consider the age-appropriateness of a gift for a tween. They’re at an age where public perception and peer opinion matter to them, but they also still require some parental guidance, too. When purchasing trending items like tablets, it’s important to establish guidelines to encourage appropriate behavior, says Brown. “[Tweens] tend to gravitate older [on social media] because that’s what’s cooler. It’s not cool to go down to kid’s stuff. And even when it’s not inappropriate, it still definitely tends to be older than they are,” she explains. As such, caregivers shopping for tech gifts may want to opt for devices with parental controls.

Tweens are often drawn to items that are trending online or within their peer group. Even though trends come and go, it’s important to listen to your children and respond to their interests. Things like Harry Potter, Marvel, and LEGO are massively popular, as are many electronic products. While it’s important to foster individual interests, it’s also important to understand that fitting in is one of the most important feelings at this age. 

Interests

The tween years are an important time for kids to explore their interests. “That middle school age is where the foundation is laid for their later interests,” says Brown.  “Leaning into some of those burgeoning interests can lay a pretty powerful foundation for who they’ll become.” At this age, encouraging skills like art, sports, crafting, and more can set up a child’s interests for the rest of their life. When looking for gifts that fit tweens’ interests, we looked for a variety of products while thoroughly researching them to ensure the user experience and skill level are appropriate for a tween.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Elizabeth Kocan is a mother of two boys who love pickleball and LEGO sets. As a writer and parent, she spends much of her time trying to keep her kids occupied while she works and has used several of the items on this list to do just that. She has written for publications such as USA Today, Reviewed.com, Vulture, Decider, Mommyish, and SheKnows, and she believes that you haven’t lived until everyone in the family has taken a hammer to a geode on the driveway. Brown also explains that since tweens are on the cusp of adolescence, they are developing a sense of self as well as a sense of the world around them. While she believes it’s important to lean into the interests of tweens, it’s also essential to consider whether items promote sexualization, aggression, or other themes that are not appropriate for the age group. “The beautiful part of that age is they are really developing into who they’re going to be,” Brown tells Verywell Family. “They do start to show interests that I think have more staying power than some of the interests they might have had when they were younger.” “If you know that a kid has a particular interest or hobby, gifts that encourage that passion are great—including lessons or related gear,” Lederman says. At this age, you might find that many kids are ready to learn more adult tasks, too. “All kids learn through play and trial and error. New skills that they need to practice as they get older may be linked to adult skills like cooking.” Whether the tween you’re buying a gift for is interested in gaming, making food, art, or just hanging with friends, the items on this list span a wide variety of interests for this age group.