12 year old girl - what are you getting them?

[thaegumathteth]

I can think of thousands of small gifts but nothing really as a main gift and she doesn't know herself. She doesn't need any technology.

I'll get her some clothes but that's all I can think of really and it's a bit boring.

She's into dancing, animals etc. Considered a zookeeper experience but not sure she'd enjoy it on her own iyswim?

She did ask for a dressing table but where she wants it to go it won't fit so she's changed her mind 🙄🙄.

Any inspiration?

My 12 year old DS did a zoo keeper experience over the summer and it was brilliant.
My DDs are older but all have oodies, AirPods and/or proper noise cancelling headphones, arty DD loves her posca pens.
Other well received presents have been sunglasses, docs, shower speakers, tickets for musicals like Wicked and Six.

Now they just want alcohol and money

How about a bakedin or similar subscription? Get sent a recipe and ingredients to bake something once a month.
my dd who enjoys baking was really happy with that

My DD very recently turned 12 and so far I’ve got;
Projector Clock
Headphones case
Nike sports bra
Nike pro shorts
Wet brush - brilliant for getting tangled out
Strictly tickets
Leather purse - now that she has her own bank card
books - murder most unladylike, school for good and evil.
Bedding

For her birthday she got clothes, plants (she’s obsessed), an Oodie, nail strengthening varnish, sports kit, bath bombs, throw.

My DD is 11. She is getting a smart TV for her room (£100 in the back Friday sale), some books, clothes, stationery, a new bag, passes for a local rock climbing place she loves going to.

My 12 year old is not into make-up or beauty. She likes reading, drama, animals and merch from her favourite shows. She is getting:

Rollerboots
Converse
Tickets to see SIX
Full length mirror cupboard with lights
Fake Dr Marten style boots
Heartstopper Yearbook
Teach Your Pet to Talk buttons (joint present with Ddog!)
Smiley face jeans
Musicals scratch-off poster
Posca Pens
Tangle teezer brush
Leather purse
Jewellery box
Stranger Things surprise capsule
A pile of books
Dogs Trust calendar
Big fluffy scarf
Bucket hat
A baking hamper (from grandparents)

Stocking:
Crystals
Starbucks gift card
Little bits from Kenji
Tons of sweets

@thaegumathteth has she tried books formatted specifically for dyslexics? Some students at my school really rate them - large font, bigger spaces between words and letters, navy font. I know Waterstones online has a range too.

DD is very into skin care (not make up) so will get her a stash of moisturisers and face masks.
Skullduggery Pleasant series - Was a very able reader as a young child but doesnt really read for pleasure and these seem to have piqued her interest
She likes 'old' music and CDs so have picked her up MTV Rocks and some other 2000s CDs.
Tshirts from Qwertee
Dungeons and Dragons starter kit
Some Rugby gear.
Tickets to see Heathers

Shes a bit of a mystery this year and doesnt really want anything.

DD turns 12 before Christmas so this is birthday and Christmas from us and the rest of the family:
50% share of an Oculus
Clothes
'Leather' Biker jacket
Fleece pjs
Vans
Earrings and Earing storage box
Gym membership and clothes
Perfume
American sweets
Face masks, mascara, body spray etc
Fairy lights for her bedroom
Tickets to see Strictly - The Professionals
Stranger Things Hoodie

My 12 year old is getting:

Fake Stitch oodie from Next
Smiggle airpods
Salt lamp
Nike pro bra
Nike pro shorts
Nike pro leggings
Stranger things tshirt
A make up set
So body spray set
Victoria secrets body spray
Silk pyjamas
Stitch slippers

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime not recently she hasn't so I've just ordered one aimed at teens because I think the ones she has tried have been too babyish themed iyswim? Thanks for the reminder!!

@TattiePants yes I need to remember o get some American sweets. We were in America in the summer wish I'd thought then!

@HerbErtlinger you've just reminded me she did ask ages ago for silk PJs

One year I bought DD a bundle of Japenese sweets, they came in a cardboard box lined with a Japenese newspaper which was interesting in itself. Then DD spent ages, and I mean ages using Google lens and translating what all of the sweets were. Admittedly not all of them were hits but in terms of the time she spent with them and we spent trying different flavours it was definetly value for money. I think I got them from Amazon.

Also Astronaut icecream is always a hit and not too expensive for the novelty factor.

Thanks for the full length mirror with storage idea - I’ve ordered one for DD!

For bday (just before Christmas) - hair curling tongs, primark voucher, trip to Harry Potter studios. From GP stuff for her room she has chosen including mirror tiles and jewellery stand.

For Christmas - echo dot for bedroom, tickets to a west end show (for whole family), smellies and make up, earrings, Lego flowers. Karaoke machine from GP

Scalextrix

My daughter is a little bit younger but she's getting (from us plus extended family)...
Digital/Polaroid hybrid camera
Camera case, photo paper, string & peg photo display
Posca pens plus some blanks to decorate
Lego dots multi photo frame set
Personalised baking apron
Squishmallow
National Geographic Weird but true book
Disney twisted tales books
Lush snow fairy set
Clothes vouchers
Fahlo animal tracking bracelet

Other ideas we had or previous hits...
Ice skates
Bakedin subscription
Animal adoption
Mug cake recipe book
Ice cream maker
3D pen
Sewing machine plus accessories

My 12 year old is a boy, so maybe not that relevant in some ways but he is getting some framed classic art pictures (he adores the Mona Lisa) and has asked for one of those joke cats with a bobbing head. (similar attached).

www.amazon.com/Batty-Bargains-Frivolous-Bobblehead-Dashboard/dp/B0775ZLSGD

He will also get some art stuff.

OOOh! And last year based on these sorts of threads I got both Dcs a smores kit. That was a hit. This year I will probably put together a sort of chocolate / smores hamper myself.

www.amazon.co.uk/Luxury-Marshmallow-SMores-Kit-Award-Winning/dp/B017HW76LE/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=smores+kit&qid=1669152572&sr=8-6

My 11 year old dd is getting :

Phone
Fake oodie
Forever flower
Set of crystals
Stationary
Jumper dress
Hoodie
A watch
Earrings
Pyjamas

My son has just turned 15 and is having lots of the bits and pieces for Christmas described here - he loves his manga books, nail art, lush bath bombs, hair dye and is also getting a rainbow sequin throw for his room. He’s just had his birthday and was given the hotel chocolat velvetiser and it was a massive hit. He loves being able to pamper himself with a posh hot chocolate in the bath 😁

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime might try the Japanese sweets idea

@WaltonOnNaze have you been to HP studios before? I love it!

Thanks everyone for the continuing ideas she actually got a s'mores kit for her birthday which is in the kitchen cupboard and I think she's forgotten so might get that out at the weekend!

My 11 year old dd has asked for a hair curler, can anyone recommend one? Could be part of a set with a hairdryer/straightener?

Also any recommendations for nail art sets/make up

Sorry posted too soon- thank you!

My 12yo had a zookeeper experience at a small local zoo (it’s mainly meerkats and lemurs 🤣) in the summer and it was amazing! I went with her, we got to feed the animals, take pictures of them on her shoulder etc, she got a certificate and a gift. If she’s into animals I would definitely recommend it.