Gift ideas for a 12 year old (getting desperate!)

[Thealarmhasgoneoffagain]

About £50ish budget. She's 12 but young iyswim.

• She's just had her room done so nothing for that.
• not into clothes / make up / smellies
• not getting an alexa or anything like that
• we already have a couple of days out / experiences planned
• her hobbies don't need any equipment
• already have plenty of craft stuff.
• She's not having money or gift cards
• no garden and no where to ride a bike or the like.
• she is a viroucious (sp?) reader and loves writing her own stories

I can only really think of an ooodie or switch game but I don't think she particularly wants them. She would lose a really fancy pen.

DD was almost 12 last Christmas and the only thing she wanted was a squishmallow. Couldn't give me any other suggestions.
I bought her a stylus for her ipad, so she can use drawing apps. She absolutely loves it and amazingly hasn't lost of broken it. Also a small photo printer that Bluetooth connects to her phone and prints photos on little stickers. Loves that too.

I enjoyed this guided creative writing book for ages “642 things to write about” www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1452105448/ref=cm_cr_othr_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8#cm_cr_carousel_images_section

This Also looks good - for over the years - a scratch off book guide

Gift Republic GR630003 100 Books Scratch Off Bucket List Poster, Blue, 42 x 59.4 x 0.02 cm amzn.eu/d/9j13jkv

What is she getting for Christmas? Could she have that for the birthday present and then at Christmas something that goes with it?

How about a reading cushion? They are about £20/30 in Dunelm/Matalan?

My dd wants a stylus and art stuff. For her birthday she had a phone and air pods or whatever they're called - headphone things. Escape room games. Exploding kittens expansion pack. Poetry for Neanderthals. Books. I'd go with books.

I saw these 'book nooks' recently and thought they were unusual and gorgeous! Might be nice for her as a voracious book reader and if she's into crafting. if you google them there's loads. Hope she has a lovely day x

If OP is in the same position as I am financially I've had to start thinking about Christmas in August this year.

There's very little money left over each month as it is, if I don't look for things month by month my kids don't get anything.

This isnt from a change in my lifestyle/ jib/ relationship- simply the increased cost of living which has trimmed our already tight budgets.

I've never had to do this before and I'm fairly sure this year there will be many more in this position, sadly.

What about some logic games, I think it's Think Fun that do a great range can be played alone or with others. DD liked Cat Crimes, gravity maze and iq fit.

Look for some merch on her favourite literary characters or writers on etsy.

A piece of jewellery. DD is quite quirky and loves an ammonite necklace I got her from etsy.

Qwertee tshirts also go down well although shipping can add up

What about jewellery such as Pandora? My 12 year old niece has a charm bracelet and a few rings / pairs of earrings from there. They're not too expensive but not tat so a good mid range option for that age group.

Drink flask
Backpack
Pencil case
Watch
Food hamper
Fidget toys that's she's asked for?

We have a family thing. Wish lists are made for birthdays and Christmas. Then shared around the family. This is for the children and the men of the family. Makes life a lot easier.

Or a typewriter?
Seriously, mum has one and my dd loves writing stories on it.

The wish list can be in email form with links for the adults and children

I would give her money and take her out (100 percent)

Reading cushion (Dunelm do lovely tiger and koala ones)
Kindle
Magazine subscription, e.g. Nat Geo
Write your own story book - I think Usborne do one

I would get her a couple of fidget toys if that’s what she’s asked for. You can buy tangles in B&M for just a couple of quid.

DD turned 12 recently, she wanted a pen knife and book on how to whittle stuff 🤦🏼‍♀️

T-shirts/ jumpers with "funny" slogans seem to go down very well.
She also asked for a cashmere cardigan from M&S as she's tall enough to get into their size 6 ladies range. She tends to scratch her own skin off with wool generally but discovered that cashmere doesn't make her itch 🤦🏼‍♀️ Delendjng on your daughters height you might want to start to think longer term.
Dew jewellery is a bit of a hit. Nice sterling silver stuff mostly.
Stackers jewellery box.

I have been looking at these for my DDs, pen and fidget toy in one.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BCG2XWRV/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A1KBW4201KSYZC&th=1

Whats wrong with money or gift cards? At this age kids like to buy their own things. My DDs loved doing a little shopping spree with the money they got off family for their birthdays. My 10yo has also spent the last 6 months saving to buy her first phone, I love she understands the expense of them and wants to pay for it herself.

I have a 12yo.

Starbucks cold cup
Big fluffy scarf
Scratch-off poster
Stranger Things merch
Posca pens

If she's into coding and robots then a raspberry Pi with some accessories.

An electronics kit - I got one when I was 10 and used it for years.

3D pen

www.amazon.co.uk/3D-Printing-Pens/b?ie=UTF8&node=8986335031

Kindle - they are regularly on offer and probably will be on black Friday.

If you get a kindle then subscribe to bookbub.com - you tell them the kind of books you like and they send you an email everyday with the cheapest books, usually there is one or two that are free. They also recommend for kobo and other ereaders.

Nike pro leggings and oversized tshirt? With a hula hoop

Oh sorry you said no clothes

She’s not getting tat, or fidget toys, or vouchers, or an Alexa/tech, or notepads, or robot stuff, or Harry Potter- if it’s what she likes then why not?

surely birthday gifts are about what the recipient wood be thrilled to receive not what you deem they need?

Squishmallows are v popular in my house! I get ours from Costco.
I asked my pre-teen what she has on her list and she said only a phone as she’s probably the only one of her friends who doesn’t have one yet.
She’s also just asked for a nice cereal bowl from The White Company.

Neom mini pod is also a hit and my teens love going to John Lewis for example and choosing oils for theirs.

Electric keyboard?