Nearly 12- y-old DD gift?

[Saz12]

She has everything she needs/wants for her hobby (it doesn’t take much equipment).

She loves drawing- but has good art pencils, etc already. Not keen on painting, could get into other crafts... but what? Has sewing machine already, no patience for knitting, crochet etc.

Likes (but doesn’t love) reading, will buy book(s) for her, but it’s not really enough for a main present.

Not interested in makeup, nails, clothes, etc.

She’s said she’d quite like sushi making stuff... but that really doesn’t amount to anything more than some basic ingredients and a cheap bamboo mat thingummy. Will give her that but seems pretty miserly on its own...!

Last year she had an Oodie which she loves, but of course doesn’t want/need another.

Budget could be reasonably generous if it was a great gift. She’s an only child so doesn’t need to match spending on sibling.

Scratch art
Sequin art
Theatre tickets
Phone case
I pad case
New bag
Cricut machine

Theatre tickets
Some lessons for a sport she’s always wanted to try - skating/climbing/trampolining

iPad Apple Pencil if she already has an iPad. These are fab for creative types. iPad if she doesn’t have one lol

beanbag or hanging chair, an experience gift like Harry Potter studio trip or Go Ape adventure or tickets to a show?

DD was 13 last xmas and her favourite gifts included a chess board and book about chess, new boots she chose herself, and a calendar with a different voucher on each month- Next, Amazon, book “token”, costa card, Roblox, cinema tickets etc. She has really enjoyed using them over the year- she didn’t have to wait for each month to spend but she did spread them out over several months.

Some of those lights for around her room or anything that makes her room look cooler. Would she like to redecorate a bit and bring her room more up to a teens bedroom. Just that l know one 12 year old doing that at the moment and her birthday was centred around cool additions to her room.

Can you plan a trip with just you and her? Something like posh afternoon tea, theatre, visit an art gallery, or go somewhere that you have both always wanted to go (beach? zoo?). A grown-up trip out is a really lovely gift for a pre-teen, I think.

Following with interest! DD nearly 12 has come up with some things herself for once so she's getting a fitbit, a weighted duvet/blanket (tried a friend's and loved the feeling) and a Tamagotchi.

Velvetiser
Ice cream machine and recipe book
Doughnut Macaroon bag
Bullet journal
Magazine subscription
Instax camera
Throw Throw Burrito game

My 11yo has been similarly difficult.

PILs have bought her and her sister a paddleboard (joint). Weve got them wetsuits. (Already have buoyancy aids)

My parents have got her lego, books, book voucher, some clothes and crafts kits.

Weve got her a hiking backpack, a climbing harness, the wetsuit, a blanket and some books.

Aunt has got her an ice skating voucher.

For her birthday she will get a zoo experience... we live near a zoo which runs a Junior Ranger academy in the summer holidays for 11-14yos.

Our 11 year old turned twelve in October- we got theatre tickets to six, followed by waterpark tickets the day after (you could incorporate a trip to a sushi place too if you know this is what she enjoys!) other ideas bandied about we’re laser quest or an escape room.

smaller gift ideas are board games (we got taco cat goat cheese pizza) Nintendo switch/games, clothes voucher and promise of shopping trip, she wanted an air up bottle but this didn’t happen, possibly Christmas, funko pop characters, American/Japanese sweets and snacks, jewellery, Nike leggings/trainers

following OP good thread.

mine is getting a new bike.

If you have a yo sushi near you they do a sushi making experience

I do think this is a really tricky age… but some ideas
Nike (anything!)
Posca paint pens and some things to decorate (phone cases, pebbles, lampshades, mugs - list is endless!)
Aarons putty
Stud earrings or name necklace
American/Japanese sweet treat hamper

Some things my almost 12 year old has asked for
TV
Airpods
Smart watch
Nike Air Force Ones
A ring
Boots
Robux
Hoodies
Ears pierced
Decorations/cushions for her bedroom

(she’s not getting all of these by the way 🤣)

These are all great ideas! Some of them she already has (from previous Christmases & birthdays - Posca pens, ice cream machine, wetsuit... etc), and we redecorated her bedroom last year when we moved house.

Cricut machine could be a big hit as it’s a bit artsy and she loves organising things into endless boxes (peculiar child!) so the labelling possibilities look great.
The Apple pen is something I’m sure she’d love, but she’s already too wedded to her tablet!
Am wary of a Nintendo Switch for similar reasons (though I like the idea of being able to play it together)....
She hasn’t the patience for cinema or theatre, is petrified of heights so Go Ape would be her idea of hell! But I can see how other children would love that.

So, any thoughts on a Nintendo or Cricut machine...?

My daughter has a cricut and has enjoyed using it but it can be a bit fiddly and also to get the best access there is a monthly charge. You can download some stuff for free and also Etsy have lots of designs.

For her birthday she got a thermal printer - I'll post a link in a minute which I would say has been used more - labelling, photos or friends and what she has found really useful it printing diagrams etc for her revision notes. It is only black and white but I'd say had more use than the cricut for her.

The thermal printer

Mine has Nintendo Switch, she really, really loves it.

The switch is amazing, lots of variety, can play together, individually on large tv or alone on smaller console- really recommend