What can a 13 year old "play with" on Christmas Day?

[Shanirae]

When buying for DC, I've always had an eye on making sure there are things that will occupy them on Christmas Day itself, in that nice long lull where everyone gets out their new stuff and plays with it.

This was really easy when DD was little and got lots of toys, but this year her main gift is a voucher for a much wanted experience at a later date, so nothing to actually do on the day itself. Other gifts are clothes, onesie etc, so all good useful stuff but again not much to do after unwrapping. She also has books, which is something...

Last year it was a phone which she happily spent most of the day tinkering with, but she doesn't need any big tech things this year.

can anyone think of any gadgety / puzzle / crafty / toy bits their DC have liked around this age?

Thanks.

At that sort of age DD1 would have been lost in a book. DD2 enjoyed a knitting set, a mandala colouring book with nice pencils and a grown up dot-to-dot book.

Dd (12.5) is getting sequin art also the new Lego Gingerbread house which will be rebuilt each year as a decoration.

Gravitrax
Thinkfun sets/toys
"Adult" colouring books or paint by numbers - should be OK for a 13yo. Hobbycraft has loads of these kinds of things if you want somewhere to browse.
Latch hook rug kit, cross stitch or decopage kit - again, Hobbycraft
Physical books to read
Friendship bracelet making set?
Books with "how-to" stuff in - how to do magic tricks, how to draw, how to cook, make models etc. DS1 has a Harry Potter cookery book which he likes looking at and planning things to make.
Ukelele?
"Letters to myself" set like this? - 13 is a brilliant age for that kind of thing.

What is she interested in?

Something lego?

Games you can play alone like solitaire?

Scrap book stuff?

Decorating a jewellery box or something? (Works have loads).

Ingredients to make a nice dessert for everyone to share in the evening?

Is she into hair and makeup? Some make up bits would give her something to do or similarly a hair curler or straightener?

Disney Castle 3D jigsaw www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/games-puzzles-and-books/jigsaws-and-puzzles/disney-castle-3d-puzzle/p/151570
Sparkling craft cactus kit www.hobbycraft.co.uk/sparkling-craft-cactus-kit/643464-1000

Origami book and paper

An adult colouring book?

Otherwise I'd say a really absorbing novel of the type she likes - if she's a reader. I still remember one Christmas when for at least 2 days we could hardly get a dd's nose out of a book Father Christmas had put in her stocking.. She was probably a little bit older - it was Midnight Is A Lonely Place by Barbara Erskine.

How about a mini drone or helicopter to fly around the house? I bought one from Marks and Spencer on impulse on Xmas eve and it was played with all day.

Dd is the same age and still loves Lego but likes the big sets £££ (this is her main gift), we usually try and buy a board game that we can all play, she also likes the diamond painting (similar to sequin art).

If she’s a reader does she have a kindle? Setting it up and then downloading books would take some time.

A lot cheaper is this 3D apple which would look nice in her room when built or how about an unusual puzzle like this Marmite one.

If it were me I’d probably buy her something like this or this, given with a wink and a “well DD, you couldn’t not have something to play with on Christmas Day!” but only as long as it’s something she would enjoy even if she wouldn’t have asked for it.

Rubiks Cube, we got DS1 one around 12, five years later it still gets picked up regularly! Kept us going with 'fun' bits for a few years afterwards as well with mirror cubes, haptic cubes, sudoku cubes etc.

£££ and/or personal electronic devices.
Better laptop, mobile, headphones/ earbuds (only wireless now), smart speakers. Set of smart 'stuff' for bedroom, for example smart lightbulb so can just say to turn of light and don't have to actually get up (with changeable colour for best effects). NOT a kindle like someone suggested, that is for 'old' people, you can do same on a mobile.

Reading on a kindle paperwhite is nothing at all like reading on a phone.
How would a lightbulb keep the dd busy on Christmas day?
DS (almost 13) likes getting a Lego Architechture skyline which he puts together on the day (and usually Boxing Day too). I'm getting one too!

My DD is a 21 year old graduate and still loves jigsaws - the really huge complicated ones.

Some great Bop It versions out there!

maze balls for £10
retro hand held games £16.50

A nail art kit? She can do herself some nice nails for dinner

Last year my ds13 got a vr hreadset and never put it down all day. He built his own rollercoaster on it. His cousin got one too and they were doing stuff on it together when they got together christmas night. It only cost a fiver but was a big hit.

What about a money maze?

My teens had them last year, I put a tenner in the middle and it kept them busy for ages although my youngest ended up breaking it open in frustration

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Geocaching-money-ball-labyrinth-puzzle/dp/B015GAJZLI/ref=mpssa1114?keywords=money+maze&qid=1573576642&sr=8-14#immersive-view_1573576667613

What about a Instax Mini Camera? Not sure how much you want to spend.

Some fab suggestions on this thread.

Only thing to add from my side are the Kururin and the Kendama I took a punt on for DSS 13 (then 12) last year.

They in with the fidget toy / drive everyone mental chucking a water bottle about craze, but were different enough to be 'cool'.

The noise of the kendama on the table drove DP nuts in about 3.5 minutes though

What about decorating a gingerbread house?

Love the lego gingerbread house idea

Lego.
Design your own mug/T-shirt set type gift.
Make a gingerbread house.
Scratch art pad/ keyrings.
Sewing set (make a bag/ cushion etc)
Handheld game console - amazon do great ones.
Bop it!
Cheap amazon device for her room - will keep them busy with music and quiz games.
New game for games console you already have?
Make your own bath bomb set.