The Best Gifts for 12-Year-Olds

Looks weird, right? That's because this handles like a snowboard, requiring tweens to exert actual effort to control it and stay upright. Also, it's seriously fun.

It's a colorful battery-operated bird that's a drone. Or a drone that's a bird. Call it whatever you want, but this thing is cool. A simple remote lets kids control the creature, and it has autonomous obstacle recognition and will automatically turn around six feet away from a wall. Disaster averted.

Apologies for the pun, but this is a slam dunk of a gift. It's an LED-illuminated backboard, a 9.5 inch metal rim that's equipped with a hardy eight loop net, and can even handle three-point shots and, oh yes, slam dunks. It fits any regular-sized door.

For your budding green thumb, this comprehensive gardening kit is all he or she will need to fall deeply in love with horticulture this growing season. Including a trowel, shovel, hand rake, garden shears, watering can, kneeling pad, six nursery pots, and more, all you'll need to add are seeds and soil.

A smart science kit, this one combines the app experience with real-world data. First, kids use the included sensor pods to collect data about light, sound, and temperature in their surroundings, and transmit the data to the app. Then, they use the data they collect to hatch creatures that can thrive in that specific environment. So, if it's cold outside, they might get a hairy creature that keeps itself warm. A pretty dope blend of the virtual and the real.

Get your tween outside, and keep them captivated, with this starter telescope. It's easy to set up, has a 70mm objective lens, a lightweight frame, and a custom backpack. Best of all, they can use the app to help identify stars and planets.

A hands-on STEM toy, this robot is deceptively easy to use. Once kids assemble it, they code it to move by snapping the coding buttons onto the coding wheel. It can move forward, backward, and rotate 360 degrees, plus it can kick, lift, throw, or even draw.

Budding scientists will be obsessed with this USB microscope, which delivers up to 250x magnification. You simply pick what you want to look at, put it under the scope, and see it on your computer screen. It's magnificent. The perfect gift for an aspiring NASA employee, the microscope is compatible with Windows and Apple operating systems. But more importantly, it recently captivated a group of area 12-year-olds, who spent hours checking out detailed leaves and other objects, while ignoring their gaming consoles.

Knitting, yes knitting, is an easy way to calm the mind and give your hands something to do. This cool kit is perfect for tweens who are knit-curious, because it comes with every single thing they need to knit their very first hat. Video instructions as well.

Almost as gorgeous as the real thing, these Lego flowers is a brick bouquet of blooms modeled after roses, snapdragons, poppies, asters, daisies and grasses. At 756 pieces, it's ideal for more experienced, and patient, builders.

Wheatgrass grows fast and is actually good when eaten by your pets, making it one of the best house-started plants on which your child to learn. KiwiCo's kit includes a pot which your child decorates, a journal for observations, and everything else your child will need to bring forth life. Bonus: It's also reusable.

This color-changing LED lightbox encourages self-expression with 100 letters, numbers, and symbols. It's USB powered, or you can use batteries.

Personalized jewelry never loses its appeal, and this kit allows kids to create unique metal-stamped jewelry for their friends. Self-expression at its best: The kit includes a 27 piece letter stamp set, hammer, metal stamping block, nine metal charms, a key ring, 21 jump rings, an earring wire set, four chains, four lobster clasps, and mini pliers.

If your tween, like most tweens, is suddenly into tie dye, here's a kit that's perfect for summer days spent outdoors. Everything is pre-mixed and ready to use; the set contains eight bright colors and dyes 20 shirts.

Flour Shop cakes are second to none in terms of creativity. Now, with this kit, your tween can make those famous rainbow-colored push pops at home. The kit yields 12 pops and comes with food coloring, cake mix, frosting, gels, and sprinkles, plus pop molds.

Journaling is a wonderful way for tweens to express their fears, frustrations, and fantasies without being judged. And this 176 page smart notebook works with the Moleskine Pen and the Moleskine Notes app to transfer all freehand notes from page to screen in real time. Where today's musings become tomorrow's memories.

Generations of kids have loved remote-controlled cars, boats, and planes. This new generation of toy drones adds video to the mix, which means kids can capture and relive their aerial expeditions — or experience them in real-time with live-video monitoring using a phone or tablet. This model has a video game–like controller, altitude hold, and three skill settings, so it's perfect for beginners — but lets young pilots grow.

This is the more portable and more affordable little brother (or sister) of the original Nintendo Switch. It won't connect to your TV and has no detachable controllers, but this Switch Lite is cheaper than the original version, designed specifically for handheld play, has a really long lasting battery life, and has fully integrated controls and a built-in control pad. It's great for gaming on the go — and for the clumsy gamer who might drop their handheld devices a little too often.

The tween audiophile will dig this turntable not only because it looks damn fine. But mostly because he or she can listen to music as the artist intended for it to be heard: With flawless playback. This particular stylus is designed to track the record grooves with superior precision and accuracy.

At this point, your kid has a phone. And it dies. All. The. Time. It provides two+ iPhone or Samsung charges. It weighs about as much as a cup of blueberries and fits right into a back pocket.

Earbuds in cool colors, with 24 hours of battery life, and built-in Tile tech so they don't go missing. Yup. Pretty damn great, for when your kid finally gets that coveted phone.

A camera that fits in their pocket and prints out photos that are actually stickers? Win-win. No ink needed, because this one uses ZINK (Zero Ink) technology to create prints that are smudge-free and water-resistant.

A mic perfect for tween gamers, this one has a cardioid pattern that captures sound sources that are directly in front of the microphone.

Connect this drawing tablet to a Mac or PC, and everything he or she draws gets transferred over. You just connect it via USB, install the driver, and then artists can draw shapes and express themselves however they want. It's also indispensable for photo-editing, allowing detailed retouching through Photoshop and other applications.

The coolest Lego set of 2021, this one pays fitting homage to the O.G. of Nintendo sets. At 2,646 pieces, it'll keep your tween busy for days. And the end result includes a controller and an opening slot for the buildable Game Pak; plus of course the '80s-style TV displaying the classic Super Mario Bros. game.

Not only is this headset one of the most comfortable ones on the market, thanks to its gel-infused ear cushions. But especially for the price, the sound quality is stellar and immersive. And it has a built-in noise-isolating microphone. It's compatible with the PS5 and latest Xbox.

Any 12-year-old will cooly inform you that all he or she wants is the latest iPhone. But this instant camera also hits that sweet spot of being so retro that it's actually cool. It's got autofocus, so the pictures just come out better. And your kid gets the instant gratification of having a physical picture in hand.

Just try dodging foam flying burritos while collecting matching sets of cards. It's insane, and also insanely awesome. A perfect game for the outdoors.

Nail salons are open in many places. That doesn't mean you want to send your tween to one for a manicure. Enter the Poppy. It's a universal polish bottle handle that makes painting your own nails easier, faster, and mistake-proof. Pop it on top of any polish for a secure grip and steady strokes.

A cool, classic, timeless, dirt-resistant backpack that lasts forever. Pick whatever color your tween loves. It has a main zippered compartment, a front zippered pocket, and two open side pockets.

This sterling silver necklace, with 100+ mls of 24k gold, spells out 10 characters. And each letter ranges from 4 to 6mm in size. It's cool, sweet, and timeless.

Tweens love all this personalized. This lovely square 18 X 18 inch pillow can be customized with names and color schemes. You can choose from cotton canvas or linen, or opt for a bigger size. The alternative down insert is included.

Speaking of all things custom, take the classic Vans. This style has weather-resistant uppers, warm textile linings, a heat retention layer between sockliner and outsole to keep feet warm and dry, and vulcanized lug outsoles for traction. Kids pick their shoes, colors, and patterns, and wear something totally unique to them.

Is your tween working on his or her sarcasm skills? This stylish letter board will let her practice without a device. Add this to the top of your gifts for 12-year-olds list. Whether he or she wants to use it as a photo prop or a silent means of communication, this felt letter board, which is available in more than 30 different bright or neutral colors, will win big points. It comes with more than 300 letters, numbers and special characters like hashtags.

Scrunchies are back, in a big way. But big scrunchies are a no-go. For the tween who loves ponytails, these are the perfect in-between hair ties. Plus, they're made of silk, so they're gentler on hair and reduce any frizziness.

A beautiful sterling silver ring that lets kids send secret messages. How? Each letter in the alphabet is replaced with a number.

Speaking of showers, this locker suctions onto the wall, can hold 40 pounds' worth of bath gear, and has a combination lock. So no one uses up your tween's precious products.

What's better than whacking the hell out of a piñata? Getting one filled with Fortnite loot, that's what. This specific llama comes loaded with one figure, 10 weapons, four pieces of back bling, and eight pieces of exclusive building materials. The Fortnite lover in your home will be thrilled, to say the least.