We researched the best options on the market that are age-appropriate, educational, and contain no mature content or potentially dangerous components. Our favorite picks include a retro polaroid camera from Fujifilm, a Disney villain board game from Ravensburger, and quick dry nail polish from Olive & June. Here, the best gifts for 12-year-old girls. Overall, owners love the old-fashioned feel of this camera, saying that although it doesn’t take DSLR-level photos, it’s a fun way to commemorate an event and create memories that will last a lifetime. Consider purchasing some string lights and clothespins to hang on the wall or even a scrapbook to paste in all of her new photos. Price at time of publish: $70 Price at time of publish: $48 The high-quality thick pages are perfect for any type of pen or marker, and though you cannot rip the pages out it, it’s easy to quickly flip through the sketchbook. Overall, the Pentalic is a great gift for the artsy preteen in your life. Price at time of publish: $14 Price at time of publish: $50 Price at time of publish: $24+ Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $29+ Price at time of publish: $23 Price at time of publish: $34 Price at time of publish: $35 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $8 Price at time of publish: $74 Price at time of publish: $14 Price at time of publish: $60 Price at time of publish: $80 Vans Old Skool sneakers are comfortable and fit true-to-size. Plus, Zappos offers free shipping and returns within 365 days, so you will be protected if your 12-year-old needs to exchange sizes or styles. The canvas upper can be cleaned with a shoe cleaner or you can throw them in the wash (just don’t put them in the dryer). Price at time of publish: $60 Price at time of publish: $40 Price at time of publish: $23 Price at time of publish: $8 Price at time of publish: $50 Price at time of publish: $20 Price at time of publish: $50 Price at time of publish: $60 Price at time of publish: $35 Price at time of publish: $100 Price at time of publish: $19 Price at time of publish: $25 Price at time of publish: $50 Price at time of publish: $169 Price at time of publish: $13 Price at time of publish: $30+ Price at time of publish: $24
Safety
This is a great opportunity to talk to the 12-year-old girl in your life about taking care of her gifts appropriately. While none of the gifts on our list have obvious safety concerns, they can be broken or made unusable if not handled with care. Take the time to set expectations about how she should handle her new gift, especially those that are fragile.
Educational Value
Learning doesn’t have to only happen inside the classroom and finding a gift that will spark her interests is a great way to incorporate education and skill building into her fun. Think about the things that she loves to do (or wants to learn), then choose a gift that will allow her to practice. You can also look for a local class or club that will help her perfect that skill.
Creativity
Twelve-year-old girls love to create, whether it’s in a science lab or at an art easel. Consider art supplies, new tech, or a kit that will help her make and enjoy her very own creations. These can be tailored to a hobby that she already has or a way to explore something new. This is also a great way for girls to build self-confidence. “Letting them publish their work—with monitoring—is great,” says teacher and literacy coach Alicia Drozd. “Allow them the chance to create and put themselves out there.”
Why Trust the Spruce?
This article was written by Julia Fields a lifestyle writer for The Spruce covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, and the holidays since October 2021. Before that, she covered similar topics including toy reviews, product round-ups, expert-focused articles, and more.
