Lego for 12 year-old girl

[CoffeeAndCakeBringMeJoy]

DD’s 12th birthday is in a couple of months, so we’re starting to think about presents. She has asked for some Lego, but we’re struggling to find something which would appeal to her. She loved Lego Friends, but feels she has outgrown it. Lego City sets also seem a bit young, lots with age guidance of 6+/8+, and she has never been into the Ninjago range.

There are sets related to film/TV/gaming franchises (Minecraft, Fortnite, Pokémon, Harry Potter), but she isn’t into any of those. I’m surprised she hasn’t enjoyed Harry Potter, but she has read the first two books and watched the first two films, and didn’t enjoy them. There are the “adult” sets (flowers etc., not “adult” in that way!), but they all have age guidance of 18+. Some are also incredibly expensive.

I would be very grateful for suggestions, as we feel that we’re finding a gap between the end of Lego Friends and the sets aimed at adults. Thank-you!

Lego age ranges are a load of hooey and just a marketing thing really. The flowers, album covers, artworks, landmarks are good.

https://www.bluebrixx.com/en/ they've recently started shipping to the UK. Not all the bricks are compatable with UK lego but most are

My DD got Stitch Lego for Christmas, she was nearly 12 then.

The botanicals mini cactus set is lovely, also search 'QLT Street View Noodle Shop Mini Building Blocks' on Amazon - these mini lego' sets have also been popular.

Has she tried any Technic? I really enjoyed that from age 9 or so up. They can be great for rebuilding and adding mechanisms to your existing sets.
https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/monster-jam-sparkle-smash-pull-back-42220 only current kit that is vaguely girly, most of it is quite boring in colours/creativity of design. Definitely look at mods. Some people modify Friends with Technic.

And yes 18+ and the Ideas range just means aimed at adults (AFOLs - adult fan of Lego...), and priced accordingly.

Does she have a Lego shop rewards card? Not sure what they're like now, but they got quite good offers about 10 years ago when I (briefly) worked in a Lego shop. There was usually a freebie with purchases (partly depending on the generosity of who's behind the till, always ask nicely), and I think a % off a few times a year.

Has she tried any of the wall art , we have the birds which are excellent , the Japanese garden picture and the Monet , also solves the issue of where to put them when they are built .

Totally random, but DS (17) and I were doing school shopping recently and we saw some Lord of the Rings sets. He hasn't made any Lego sets for ages, but his eyes lit up at them. I think I might get him one as a treat :-).

Of course he's older and she may not be familiar with the trilogy.

I've never bothered with Lego in my life but recently made one of the bouquets of flowers in no time at all. They're well and truly within the grasp of a 12 year old who actually knows what she's doing.

The Lego IDEAS range is great - there is a very cute floating sea otter.
www.lego.com/en-gb/product/floating-sea-otters-21366

I’m so sorry I haven’t come back to this thread until now, life was just incredibly busy. Thank-you once again for so many responses, I really didn’t expect so many people to offer advice on this, and I’m very grateful.

We will definitely want DD’s input on this, the problem has been that she has also struggled to pick out a set, as she thought the 18+ sets weren’t an option. Now we know that they are, this opens up a whole new world of Lego!

I think she would love one of the wall art sets, @youngestisapsycho that one is beautiful! We redecorated DD’s room less than a year ago, and I think she would like something to go on her wall.

She would also love the puppy or the sea otter.

We’ll almost certainly go with a Christmas set for her birthday as that’s what she asked for, but if it’s something small we may buy a second set too. Christmas is only a couple of months after her birthday, and we have a tradition of Lego building on Boxing Day, so I’m also looking ahead to those gifts.

Thank-you again for all of the ideas.

@CoffeeAndCakeBringMeJoy Lego have just announced new Christmas sets being released on October 1st.
Although that Elf is terrifying 😂😂

My husband & 19yr old love the Fast & Furious cars. They have loads. My husbands favourite so far has been the Lego gameboy. www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/lego-and-bricks/lego-super-mario/lego-super-mario-72046-game-boy-set-for-adults-nintendo-gameboy/p/248691

Smyths have absolutely loads in. I love the lego flowers but I wouldn't have the paitence to sit and do it.

She has good taste! LEGO is seriously underrated! 😁 Has she seen the full Botanical range? 💐

The LEGO Technic range may also suit her.

There's LEGO Architecture but not sure on that myself.

Lots of Christmas sets too! Build the house from 'Home Alone'? 🎄

That was a freebie/ gift with purchase.

I'd try her with technic but really if she enjoys Friends then let her keep building Friends.

The 18+ sets came about because Lego realised there were Adults fans of Lego (AFOL) quietly 🤫 building kids Lego (bit like men and trainsets) so they decided to broaden the appeal into the Adult market.