Remember when a stuffed animal was a guaranteed hit? At twelve, gift-giving has become an art form requiring insider knowledge of current trends, social dynamics, and individual passions.
Our gift guide takes the guesswork out of shopping for this tricky age. We regularly update our picks to include items that are both “cool” enough to impress and practical enough to actually use.
1.Pandora Pavé Heart Hoop Earrings
These sweet hoop earrings from Pandora’s Signature collection feature cut-out heart designs along the sterling silver hoop. The open hearts are accented with pave-set cubic zirconia stones that add subtle sparkle.
Pandora is known for its use of sterling silver and cubic zirconia in feminine designs. These earrings have an understated elegance perfect for a 12-year-old girl. The polished silver and petite size give them versatile wearability for both casual everyday and dressier occasions. They come presented in an official Pandora gift box, making them an easy jewelry gift to give for a birthday, holiday or other special event.
- Sterling silver, pave cubic zirconia
- Dainty, petite hoop size
- Romantic heart cutout design
- Versatile wearability
- Versatile portability
- Requires pierced ears
2.FjÀllrÀven Unisex's Sports Backpack
This FjÀllrÀven backpack is thoughtfully designed for students and athletes. It features padded shoulder straps, a padded laptop compartment and plenty of pockets to keep school supplies or sports gear organized.
Available in versatile neutral colors, this backpack makes a practical gift for a 12-year-old girl. It’s perfect for school yet sporty enough for practices or weekend activities. The quality materials and construction ensure it will be useful for years to come.
- Padded shoulder straps
- Foam padded back panel
- Durable, sustainable fabric
- Roomy main compartment
- Padded laptop sleeve
- Limited color/style options
3.Shaggy Rainbow Area Rug
This gift is going to instantly give the 12-year-old girl youâre shopping for a bedroom makeover. Made of shaggy faux fur, this 4Ă6 rainbow rug is the perfect bedroom accessory for comfort and style. The super soft texture makes it the ideal place to lounge on the floor to write in her journal, draw in her sketchbook or read her favorite books. The memory foam padding means it will provide more comfort than sitting on a bare floor or using traditional rugs with thin mats.
The rug comes in multiple sizes, up to a massive 8Ă10. This would also be a great rug option for a playroom where she can have all her friends over for a sleepover. While it canât be machine washed, it is easily spot cleaned with a gentle detergent. If sheâs asking for a bedroom upgrade, this amazing gift will do the trick.
- Multipurpose and unique design
- Memory foam under padding
- Creates a cozy atmosphere
- Reflects personal style
- Not machine washable
4.Ralph Lauren Perfume
As girls get older, they tend to develop more quickly than boys and you may find that a 12-year-old girl is starting to take an interest in hair, beauty and style. Ralph Lauren is a popular sports and luxury casualwear brand that tends to be popular with this age group. This Ralph Lauren perfume is an Eau de Toilette so it gives a lighter fragrance that may be more suited to younger girls.
With a light, clean scent and easy to use spray bottle this perfume is ideal for 12-year-old girls who are starting to take an interest in beauty and will help to encourage self-care and independence, as well as making a lovely âgrown-upâ gift option.
- Eau de Toilette for lighter fragrance
- Easy to use spray bottle
- Popular brand
- Light, clean scent
- Encourages self-care
- Needs to be used sensibly
5.Ravensburger Escape Puzzle Space Observatory
If youâre looking for an unusual gift to encourage a whole host of skills then the Ravensburger Escape Puzzle Space Observatory might make the ideal gift for a 12-year-old girl. With 759 pieces this puzzle is suitably challenging for a 12-year-old and is also a high-quality product.
The puzzle is not only a jigsaw but also offers a host of escape room style challenges within the picture itself. This promotes problem-solving skills and critical thinking as well as encouraging perseverance. The Ravensburger Escape Puzzle Space Observatory is also ideal for completing with others as a social activity.
- 759 pieces; suitably challenging for a 12-year-old
- Improves spatial awareness
- Encourages perseverance
- Social activity; can be done with others
- Promotes problem-solving skills
- Lots of pieces; requires careful storage
6.Instax Mini 90 NEO Classic
At 12 years old most girls love experimenting with photography, taking pictures of nature, landscapes, themselves and their friends. They tend to love capturing moments and preserving memories and this in turn boosts creativity and allows for some artistic expression and experimentation with photography skills.
The Instax Mini 90 NEO Classic is a camera that produces prints instantly and is available in a range of colors so thereâs sure to be one that fits the personality of the girl you are buying for. It has a built-in flash and comes with a selfie mirror and close up lens which is ideal for a 12-year-old girl.
- Promotes creativity
- Available in a range of colors
- Produces instant prints
- Built-in flash
- Selfie mirror and close up lenses included
- Requires batteries
- Requires film
7.Lego Ideas Ship in Bottle Construction
A ship in a bottle is a classic modeling set design, representing challenge, skill and perseverance. This Lego version of the classic ship in a bottle set offers all of this alongside the opportunity to improve Lego construction skills, concentration and dexterity.
The Lego Ideas Ship in Bottle Construction set includes full instructions which will allow a 12-year-old girl to master the skill of following instructions and seeing projects through. The sense of pride one feels in finishing a project is encouraged with this set which includes a special display stand so that the finished project can take pride of place in her bedroom!
- Improves construction skills
- Encourages concentration and perseverance
- Display stand included
- Full instructions given
- Lots of small parts; careful storage required
8.JBL Flip 5
12-year-old girls have often developed their own taste in music and enjoy listening to their own favorite bands or artists. A Bluetooth speaker is the ideal way to allow her to play her own music and develop a sense of independence.
The JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker is waterproof, portable and durable enough to be used by a 12-year-old. Using a wireless connection to connect to a compatible device and play music, audiobooks or podcasts, this speaker would make a great gift for a girl with her own taste in music, or enjoyment of listening to books, stories and discussions.
- Waterproof
- Portable
- Wireless connections
- Encourages interest in music
- Promotes independence
- Requires charging
9.Nike Womenâs Gym Club Sports Bag
As 12-year-old girls become more independent they often begin to fill their time with extra-curricular activities, sports, and friends and begin lugging sports kits and spare clothes around with them. A nice, gym bag can be a great practical present to encourage this growing independence and an interest in sports.
The Nike Womenâs Gym Club Sports Bag is made with durable, water-repellent fabric and is available in a range of colors to suit different tastes. From popular sports brand Nike it also features zipped compartments to keep kit organized and makes a great gift for a busy 12-year-old girl.
- Practical gift
- Popular sports brand
- Encourages participation in sports
- Available in a range of colors
- Durable, water-repellant fabric
- More expensive than other brands
10.Vlando Princess Style Jewelry Box
The Vlando Princess Style Jewelry Box is the ideal size for young girls who donât own too many pieces of jewelry yet. At 9.1 x 6.7 x 6.3 inches, it provides enough storage space without being oversized.
This box comes in four different colors, so she can pick her favorite to match her style. The high-quality PU leather exterior and velvet lining give it a luxurious look and feel. A cloth bag is included to prevent dust when storing. Overall, this is a great jewelry storage solution for girls that will keep special treasures safe. The princess theme and color options make it a perfect gift for birthdays, holidays or other special occasions.
- Medium size great for girls
- 4 colors to choose from
- Luxurious materials
- Protective dust bag included
- Smaller storage capacity than larger boxes
11.Acrylic Desk Organizing Caddy
This all-in-one organizer is the perfect desk accessory to keep a 12-year-old girl organized while she does her homework. Made of durable acrylic and available in multiple colors, this would look great sitting on her desk at home. It features multiple sections to hold pens, pencils, highlighters, scissors, paperclips and sticky notes. It also has a pull-out drawer to keep small miscellaneous items organized.
The size of this organizer makes it perfect for small desks, as it wonât take up too much room. On summer breaks when itâs not being used to organize homework supplies it can also double as a makeup organizer. This organizer is also part of a line of desk gear so the set can be expanded to dress up her desk into the perfect workspace. A gift like this will not only make a young girl feel more at home in her workspace but will also show the value of staying organized for the purpose of productivity.
- Durable and long-lasting
- Available in multiple colors
- Separated organizational compartments
- Promotes a productive workspace
- Compartments not adjustable
12.Fashionable Clear Resin Watch
Make sure the 12-year-old girl youâre shopping for is always on time and always on trend with this gift. This very cool watch by Tonnier is sporty while still looking feminine and grown up. The easy-to-read watch face features a nebula design, made up of a beautiful display of colliding colors. The stick hour markers and white dial accents keep the aesthetic minimalist so all the focus will stay on the unique face design.
What really sets this watch apart though is the completely clear case and watch strap. Made of a durable resin that is soft and flexible, this watch will hold up through daily wear while still staying comfortable. It runs off of a typical watch battery and is powered by quartz, so the time will always be reliable. Just like sheâll be when sheâs wearing this watch. A gift like this is a fashion accessory sheâll love but also one that will teach her the value of time management and responsibility.
- Unique design
- Comfortable resin strap
- Encourages time management
- Age appropriate through teens
- Not water resistant
13.Intex Beanless Bag Chair
As 12-year-old girls start to take control over their own space and care more about the interior design and décor of their bedroom, they may want to invite friends over to spend time in this space. If seating is short the Intex Beanless Bag Chair is an ideal addition to her space. Without the need for bean filling (and the mess that goes along with this!) this chair is easy to inflate for guests and deflates to be stored away.
This chair is ideal for the bedroom or a kids âdenâ playroom or lounge room and can be purchased in three different colors to suit the space itâs being put in. With waterproof flocked material the seat is both comfortable and practical. This would make a great gift for a 12-year-old who enjoys spending time in their own space, alone or with friends.
- Available in 3 different colors
- Waterproof flock material
- Inflatable, no bean filling
- Deflates for easy storage
- Ideal for bedroom or kids lounge room
- Needs inflating
