There comes a moment in every parent’s life—usually sometime between your child rolling their eyes so dramatically you fear injury and them insisting you “just don’t get it”—when you realize you have no earthly idea what a tween wants for Christmas.
Or a birthday.
Or a random Tuesday.
Or ever.
Welcome to the land of the Almost Teen, where moods change faster than Wi-Fi signals in an old house and their taste in… well, everything… evolves at the speed of one viral TikTok per minute.
And yet, despite the mystery and the occasional melodrama (looking at you, Sadie), these almost-grown, not-quite-little kids are still ours. Still soft around the edges. Still secretly hoping for magic, even if they’ll never admit it out loud.
So here it is: The Tween Gift Guide No One Asked For (But Everyone Needs).
A guide born from the trenches. Curated by a mom who loves comfort clothes, good coffee, and the occasional “why is there a basketball inside the dryer?” mystery. A guide shaped by three tweens—each their own brand of wonderful chaos—who have taught me that the tween years are wild, dramatic, hilarious, and full of heart.
Pull up a cozy blanket. Let’s shop.
1. The Fashion That’s Not Cool Today (But Might Be Tomorrow)
Tweens are fashion chameleons. One day they want matching pajamas and a cozy flannel. The next day they want oversized hoodies in colors you’d swear were invented last week. Then, inexplicably, they want a vintage tee from a band they’ve never heard because the internet declared it aesthetic.
Gift Them:
- Graphic hoodies (the moodier, the better)
- Soft joggers (they’ll wear them for three days straight—just accept it)
- Beanies (bonus points if it hides a questionable hair day)
- Fun socks (because apparently socks are cool now?)
Fashion for tweens isn’t just clothing. It’s armor. It helps them say “this is who I am today,” even if who they are tomorrow is something else entirely.
2. Books That Meet Them Where They Are
Listen, the tween brain is a magical snow globe of emotions—sometimes shaken, sometimes serene. Books can be a grounding force. A refuge. A place where they find new ideas, new worlds, and themselves.
Gift Them:
- Graphic novels (the quickest way to pull in hesitant readers)
- Adventure series (Percy Jackson is practically a rite of passage)
- Cozy mysteries (when they want something gentle but gripping)
- Fact books about space, sports stats, weird science, or animals—especially if you have a Jase-type who casually drops trivia at dinner like he’s hosting a documentary
Books give them something screens can’t: quiet curiosity. And goodness, do tweens need some quiet.
3. Tech That Makes You Feel Old (But Makes Them Very Happy)
Tween tech is a world where you are forever behind. They know trends before you know the trend has a name. They know games you didn’t know existed. They know YouTubers who appear to be twelve but somehow own mansions.
But tech can be a wonderful gift, especially when it’s creative, social, or skill-building.
Gift Them:
- Wireless earbuds (they WILL lose them; buy the cheaper ones)
- LED lights for the bedroom (because ambiance is everything)
- A Bluetooth speaker so they can blast Taylor Swift or football hype playlists
- A digital drawing tablet for the artsy kid
- A gaming headset for the one who needs to holler at their friends while you pretend not to listen
They will, at some point, talk to their devices more than they talk to you. Breathe. This too is tweenhood.
4. Sports Gear They’ll Actually Use
Sports tweens are easy, right? Wrong. They are wonderfully picky. They love what they love—and when they love it, they love it with their entire soul.
And if you’re raising a Jase-type athlete, you already know: he will 100% notice the difference between “the right glove” and “a glove.”
Gift Them:
- Team gear (bonus points if it’s their favorite college team)
- New basketballs or footballs (they disappear like Tupperware lids)
- Training aids (speed ladders, cones, ball returns)
- Sports merch (jerseys, posters, room décor)
Sports kids are easy to shop for once you’ve accepted that a pile of sports equipment in the garage is the décor now.
5. Creative Kits for the Kid Who Makes Art Out of Everything
Some tweens doodle on their homework. Some build elaborate worlds out of clay. Some choreograph dances in the hallway. Some—like Henley—turn the entire living room into an impromptu stage without warning.
Creativity is a beautiful thing to nurture.
Gift Them:
- Painting or sketch kits
- DIY bracelet or bead kits
- Calligraphy sets
- Journals and gel pens
- Polaroid-style instant cameras
Give them supplies and watch the magic happen. (Also: prepare for glitter. So much glitter.)
6. Experiences They’ll Remember Longer Than Any Toy
Tweens may seem hard to impress, but deep down they still crave wonder. They still light up when you hand them memories instead of things.
Gift Them:
- Tickets to a basketball game
- A small getaway or hotel night
- A pottery or painting class
- A day trip to a museum, trampoline park, or indoor climbing gym
- A coupon book that includes a special “just us” meal somewhere slightly fancier than usual
Time is the treasure. Give them an experience and you’ll see a softness in them that reminds you of their younger days—the ones slipping farther behind you with each passing year.
7. Cozy Things for Their Growing Need to Cocoon
Tweens love their rooms. The room is the kingdom. The room is the sanctuary. The room is the fortress from siblings, schoolwork, and your entirely unreasonable request that they unload the dishwasher.
Help them build a cozy little world.
Gift Them:
- Plush blankets
- Fuzzy throw pillows
- A little lamp with warm light
- A bean bag chair
- Slippers they’ll shuffle around the house in
You may not see them for hours at a time. Knock politely. Respect the tween lair.
8. Games That Keep Them Off Screens (At Least for One Evening)
The secret to a good board game is simply this: something that makes them laugh, compete, and come out of their shells a bit.
Gift Them:
- Exploding Kittens
- Throw Throw Burrito
- Catan Junior
- Uno Flip
- Spot It (yes, even tweens secretly like it)
Moments of connection tucked between jokes, tiny victories, and the joy of saying, “No phones during game night.” They may groan, but they also lean in.
9. The Gifts That Speak to Who They Are Becoming
This is where gift-giving gets tender. Tweens are stretching. Searching. Figuring out who they are—who they want to be. A thoughtful gift can whisper: I see you. I love who you’re becoming.
Gift Ideas:
- Daily devotionals or mindfulness journals
- Water bottles or gym bags that feel grown-up
- A nice watch that says “you’re responsible enough for this”
- A necklace or bracelet with a subtle charm
- A room sign that declares their personality
For your sensitive kid, the anxious one, the dramatic one, the sporty one—these gifts speak louder than wrapping paper ever could.
10. And Finally: The Things Money Can’t Buy
Tween gifts aren’t always tangible. Some of the most meaningful ones take no space at all.
Give Them:
- A little extra patience
- A little extra praise
- A seat at the adult table when they’re ready
- A listening ear
- A soft landing
Our tweens will outgrow us before we’re ready. They’ll roll their eyes, then lean against us on the couch. They’ll argue, then ask us to watch a movie with them. They’ll grow, and grow, and grow—and still be our babies in the quiet moments.
Give them good gifts.
Give them small joys.
Give them memories and gentleness and grace.
The tween years aren’t easy—bless it all—but they are sacred in their own messy way. And if we can make these in-between years feel even a little bit softer for them?
Well. That’s the kind of gift guide we all need.
Fry, Party of Five 