What should i get for my 12 birthday

Pindaloo

$30

$30

While your preteen may initially scoff at Pindaloo, “once they get off the couch and try it, they’ll be addicted,” promises Lori Jepsen, who reviews and blogs about toys for Toysenberry. She says it’s always fun to pull out after a long day of studying, because the game “actually helps hone their focus, coordination, and balance skills.” Plus, it can be a great confidence booster. “They’ll love the sense of accomplishment they get once they master getting the ball to do a continuous loop through the tube.”

$30 at Amazon

Buy

$30 at Amazon

Buy

‘Pop It!’ Pro Game

$18

$20 now 10% off

$18

Pop Its, with their satisfying bubble-wrap-esque sensibility, are among the most ubiquitous fidget toys for kids (or adults) who need an outlet for releasing pent-up jitters. But Mary Couzin, founder and CEO of People of Play, recommends this “next level” edition for older kids who may have lost interest in more basic versions. It adds three game modes to the basic bubble-popping setup, with lights that dictate which bubbles to pop next and 20 levels of difficulty. The screen-free toy can also be an entertaining addition to a family road trip or plane ride.

$18 at Amazon

Buy

Original Tamagotchi

From $18

$20 now 10% off

From $18

Toy Insider senior editor Jackie Cucco says that toys from a few decades ago, like the Tamagotchi, are making a U-turn and trending again. This OG version features the same gameplay as it did when it launched in 1997, allowing tweens who have never heard of a Tamagotchi to enjoy feeding and caring for their new digital pet.

From $18 at Amazon

Buy

From $18 at Amazon

Buy

‘Clue: Treachery at Tudor Mansion’ Board Game

$12

$17 now 29% off

$12

James Zahn, senior editor at the Toy Insider, says “escape rooms have been really popular,” and this version of Clue puts a cool twist on the famous board game to combine the trend with the traditional mystery gameplay. With the expected elements like figuring out who killed the victim with what weapon, players also have to work together to figure out how to get out of the mansion first.

$12 at Amazon

Buy

$8 at Walmart

Buy

Squishmallows Winnie the Walrus

$40

With more than 1,500 characters to choose from (and more on the way, according to Zahn), Squishmallows are big, soft, tween-approved plushies. According to Lynch, the seemingly endless options means that “kids can use them to customize their space,” and their “collectibility” makes them a hot gift item year-round.

$40 at Etsy

Buy

‘5 Second Rule’

$19

$22 now 14% off

$19

Cucco suggests three or more player game 5 Second Rule. “Each player takes a turn in the hot seat with only five seconds to name three things based on a card prompt,” she explains. Those card prompts, she adds, can range from cereals to book series to items in grandma’s purse. While “it sounds easy, you never know what kind of wacky answers you’re going to spit out,” she says.

$19 at Amazon

Buy

$18 at Nordstrom

Buy

Monopoly Deal

$7

$8 now 13% off

$7

Jepsen says her 12-year-old niece and nephew got hooked on this game as soon as she introduced them to it. “Monopoly Deal packs all the competitiveness and strategy of the board game into a much shorter card game,” she explains, making it a great option for fidgety kids who can never sit through a marathon session of the classic. “Tweens love the scheming it takes to win,” she adds.

$7 at Amazon

Buy

$7 at Amazon

Buy

‘Magic: The Gathering’ 2022 Starter Kit

$15 now 27% off

$11

Gus, who had just turned 12 when we talked to him, told us that 12 is the age when kids really start getting into this ever-popular card game. If you think your giftee would prefer a strategy-based game that’s a little more complex and consuming than Monopoly Deal, Gus recommended a core set or any starter set, like this one, to provide an introduction to the game.

$11 at Amazon

Buy

$11 at Best Buy

Buy

NERF Elite 2.0 Motoblitz Blaster with Scope

$45 now 40% off

$27

Richard Gottlieb, founder and CEO of Global Toy Experts, says this motorized dart blaster by NERF is a great choice for siblings to play with together or with friends. It can launch ten foam darts at a time, and it’s suitable for both indoor and outdoor play.

$27 at Amazon

Buy

$15 at Walmart

Buy

Monster Jam Official Megalodon Storm All-Terrain Remote Control Monster Truck

$45

$45

Chris Byrne, who also goes by the Toy Guy, says “remote-controlled cars and other vehicles are always good ideas for this age group.” Of the many out there, he particularly likes the “hilarious” Megalodon, which he describes as “a high performance shark-slash-vehicle.” It can drive on both land and water, so “there’s lots of great play in this,” Byrne adds.

$45 at Target

Buy

Gel Blaster SURGE

$50

$50

Couzin suggested this outdoor toy as an alternative for kids “who are not quite ready for the full impact that comes along with paintball” — though it’s still crucial to wear the safety goggles that come in the box. It shoots eco-friendly gel beads called Gellets, which ship dry but expand when you soak them in water. Over time, the Gellets dry out and are biodegrade, so you don’t need to clean them up post-battle.

$50 at Walmart

Buy

Funko Pop! Gold NBA: Warriors - Steph Curry

$12

Kids who are into collectibles will know all about Funko Pop, which makes squat, bigheaded vinyl figures for seemingly every pop-culture property in existence, from Pokémon to Marvel and hundreds in between. The brand has also launched a line of vinyl figures “to appeal to tweens with fandom interests of sports and music,” explains Zahn, noting that they come in two sizes, five inches and 12 inches, and represent “NFL, NBA, and a litany of music stars.”

$12 at Amazon

Buy

$10 at Gamestop

Buy

American Girl Hogwarts Uniform with Skirt for 18-inch Dolls

$55

$55

According to Zahn, tweens don’t age out of their toy phase as quickly as a lot of adults might assume. “What we’re seeing more of is a movement toward thoughtful expansion of the doll category as kids move from playing with dolls to collecting them instead,” Zahn says. For tween Harry Potter fans who already have a beloved American Girl doll, this wizard uniform will let them switch up the doll’s style with Hogwarts-ready flair. Zahn says that by this age, kids have likely moved away from imaginative role-playing with dolls, but “they can re-dress them for display in the tween, teen, and adult years.”

$55 at American Girl

Buy

Bonnyco Cinema Light Box

$33

$50 now 34% off

$33

As our experts pointed out, this age is when kids start to look for more ways to freely express themselves and their interests. Which is exactly why Jepsen recommends this light box. “It has so many options for kids to express their creativity,” she says, including “colored letters, emojis, and a background light that changes color with a remote.” The fact that it doubles as bedroom décor will make it an even bigger hit.

$33 at Amazon

Buy

$33 at Amazon

Buy

Lite-Brite Stranger Things Special Edition

$30 now 13% off

$26

Another spin on a retro toy, Zahn says that Stranger Things is superhot right now with tweens, and the throwback ’80s vibe of classic Lite-Brite lines up perfectly with the vintage aesthetic of the show. The set includes 16 templated designs for young fans to create, including a Demogorgon and a Hellfire Club logo, and four different lighting options that will bring their art to life.

$26 at Amazon

Buy

$26 at Amazon

Buy

Abacus Professor Maxwell’s VR Magic Kit

$55

$55

If your 12-year-old is looking to pick up a new hobby, Byrne says he has several friends who are magicians “and they all started learning and performing around this age.” This VR Magic Ket from Abacus, he explains, “really helps kids learn to do tricks. It’s a great jumping-off place (even if the kids don’t end up on America’s Got Talent).”

$55 at Amazon

Buy

$55 at Amazon

Buy

Comgrow Creality Ender 3 3D Printer Aluminum DIY with Resume Print 220x220x250mm

$269 now 26% off

$199

In our gift guide for tween boys, 12-year-old Joshua told us that receiving this 3-D printer would allow him to further hone the skills he’s learned in his after-school robotics club (where he uses a similar gadget). “You never know what you can make out of your ideas, especially with Tinkercad (a free app that lets you 3-D print your own designs),” he says of the imagination-expanding power of 3-D printers.

$199 at Amazon

Buy

$199 at Amazon

Buy

Apple AirPods 2nd Gen

$120

$130 now 8% off

$120

Part of the freedom that 12-year-olds seek of course includes the ability to tune people (especially parents) out, so it’s not surprising that one of the most popular ways to do that — Apple’s AirPod headphones — come suggested by kids themselves. Twelve-year-old Sasha told us, “I think they’re nicer than over-ears because they’re not as bulky, so I can just put them in my pocket.”

$120 at Best Buy

Buy

Sennheiser HD 559 Open Back Headphone

$80

$150 now 47% off

$80

While AirPods are eternally popular, they’re not the only tween-approved headphones. Gus also called out this traditional over-ear pair from Strategist-approved Sennheiser, which has a velour-lined headband and an “open back” design for added comfort. They’re also a bit cheaper than AirPods, making them a good choice if you’ve got a tighter budget.

$80 at Amazon

Buy

Xbox Series X

$499

Byrne, who told us that the Xbox Series X would be at the top of many 11-year-olds’ gift lists, says it will be equally popular among 12-year-olds. It’s definitely expensive, but as we pointed out in our 11-year-old gift guide, Tom Warren, a writer for our sister site the Verge, says the console is worth the price. “Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox comes the closest I’ve ever witnessed to re-creating the superior PC experience of playing games,” Warren says, adding that “this is quieter and far easier to use and maintain than the $3,000 gaming PC I built.”

$499 at Amazon

Buy

$499 at Walmart

Buy

‘Madden NFL 23’

$30

$60 now 50% off

$30

Maybe the 12-year-old in your life already has their preferred gaming system. If so, 12-year-old Mateus recommends the latest edition of Madden NFL. “As soon as they release the new game, they stop updating the old one,” he explains. Madden NFL ’23 came out in August and is available for PlayStation and Xbox. One of its new features is FieldSENSE, which is designed to make players look more realistic when they are catching and throwing.

$30 at Amazon

Buy

$30 at Best Buy

Buy

‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Pokémon Violet’ Double Pack

$120 now 8% off

$110

When we talked to Pokémon fans of all ages, many of them were impatiently awaiting the release of the two newest Pokémon games for Nintendo Switch, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. Both games have new creatures to discover and a reformatted, open-exploration style of gameplay that allows players to trot around freely. While you can buy the games separately for $60 each, this combination pack will satisfy all the fans who want both — which is most of them, as each game offers different characters and regions to explore.

$110 at Amazon

Buy

$120 at Best Buy

Buy

Snap Circuits ‘My Home’ Science Kit

$83 now 10% off

$75

According to Cucco, “This is a great STEM item for children who like to build stuff.” Kids can use the kit to create a 3-D house or tower and brush up on their science skills in the process, because it includes “real circuits to learn about how electricity works,” she explains.

$75 at Fat Brain Toys

Buy

$88 at Amazon

Buy

K’NEX Architecture London Eye

$60

$60

For kids with an interest in travel, Cucco says the K’NEX Architecture series will let them experience world views without leaving home. The series includes buildable versions of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Eiffel Tower, and the London Eye, with the latter “even including a motorized component that makes it spin like the real thing,” she adds. Seventh-grader Kellen saw the London Eye on his favorite cartoon and says he would love the K’NEX version: “It’s cool because you can build it like a Lego.”

$60 at Amazon

Buy

$60 at Amazon

Buy

‘The Tryout: A Graphic Novel,’ by Christina Soontornvat

$11

$13 now 15% off

$11

Recommended by Books Are Magic bookseller Margaret Gill, The Tryout centers on Christina and Megan, two besties and self-professed nerds. But as they enter seventh grade, the pair are ready to climb their school’s social ladder — and decide to start by trying out for cheerleading. As the only two girls of color in their school, making the squad would transform their middle-school experience. Gill describes this cute, light-hearted tale as a “page-turner” and “a pitch-perfect coming-of-age story.”

$11 at Amazon

Buy

$11 at Barnes & Noble

Buy

‘The Underland Chronicles: Gregor the Overlander,’ by Suazanne Collins Box Set

$23

$40 now 43% off

$23

A favorite of soon-to-be 12-year-old Maelle Hauck, this fast-paced series from the author of The Hunger Games is full of adventure, and tweens who like fantasy and action will zoom through the five-book series. Full of otherworldly creatures, mysteries, and missions, the complete box set is under $30, making it an especially robust and affordable gift.

$23 at Amazon

Buy

$23 at Amazon

Buy

‘History Smashers: The Mayflower,’ by Kate Messner

$8

$8

Recommended by Books Are Magic kids department supervisor Anna Milliken and bookseller Camryn Garrett, this nonfiction series debunks the most common misconceptions about real-life historical events, from the American Revolution to the sinking of the Titanic. Garrett calls it a “fun and educational series” that is “perfect for fans of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales or the I Survived books.”

$8 at Amazon

Buy

$7 at Bookshop

Buy

‘Hey, Kiddo,’ by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

$15 now 33% off

$10

Jarrett Krosoczka may be known for his picture books and graphic novels for younger readers (like his popular Lunch Lady series), but this, his first book for older kids, is a little heavier: It’s a memoir about his life growing up with an addict mother. Goldstein recommends it, noting that while 12 is on the younger end of the book’s age range, the story will appeal to kids who may see themselves in it. “It’s written from his viewpoint as a teenager, and it definitely works for kids working on that idea of identity,” she says. “If you’re struggling, something you’re good at, like art, can be your way out.” It contains letters, drawings, and photographs from when Krosoczka grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, creating “a cool mixed-media” experience, she adds. “For kids who like graphic novels, the book is a way for them to move on to somewhat heavier work with heavier content. It is very serious but it’s also something that a lot of kids experience themselves.”

$10 at Amazon

Buy

$27 at Barnes & Noble

Buy

‘Fake Blood,’ by Whitney Gardner

$15 now 7% off

$14

If you think your 12-year-old would prefer a graphic novel that’s lighter in content, Goldstein suggests Fake Blood, which she describes as “kind of like Twilight meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” It’s about A.J., who has a huge crush on Nia, who is obsessed with vampires. In order to get her attention, he decides to become a vampire, but then he finds out that Nia is in fact a vampire slayer, putting his whole plan — and life — in jeopardy. “This book fits in with the idea of identity and speaks to kids who feel like they’re not enough and feel that they need to be more than who they are,” says Goldstein. “This actually tells them that you don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not; you’re actually great as you are.” Plus, “it’s also really, really funny.”

$14 at Bookshop

Buy

$15 at Barnes & Noble

Buy

‘The Prince and the Dressmaker,’ by Jen Wang

$18 now 22% off

$14

Goldstein calls The Prince and the Dressmaker “a frothy, fun, and joyful fairy tale that also deals with the subtlety of gender identities.” The way she explains it, the title sounds like a great choice for any kids who may be grappling with the complex social norms that middle school (and then high school) can bring. The story centers around Prince Sebastian, whose parents are searching for a bride for him. But he would rather wear dresses and be Lady Christalia, his alter ego. Luckily, his best friend and dressmaker Frances shares his secret, but that means putting her own dreams aside to protect her friend. “The book is full of acceptance and beautiful fashion, like frilly dresses, and colors that are like rainbow sherbet,” Goldstein adds.

$14 at Amazon

Buy

$16 at Barnes & Noble

Buy