£20 gift for 12 year old girl?

[Smedsmoos]

A charity has allocated me a 12 year old girl to buy a Christmas gift for. The budget is around £20.

It is likely that this will be her only Christmas present.

What can I get her?

I don’t want to buy a load of cheap tat just to make it look like more but equally I don’t want her to only have one thing to open. Help please!

I just wrote a long thing suggesting a gift card, but realised that sadly they probably don't recommend that because the family could take it off them to use instead and they want something that will be just for the child.

@latetothefisting you have to remember she may have no way of getting to shops or have internet access to spend online.
This is why I don't think vouchers are appropriate.

Vouchers are frowned upon. Depending on domestic circumstances they can be stolen and used to buy inappropriate items.

Edited: just seen your update

The other problem with giving a gift card is that it may not end up being used by the child. Some of these children come from homes where the parent would take the card to use themselves or to sell for cash. The children in receipt of these gifts may not have the means to get to a shop. Many will live in areas where the only shop is a corner shop and it might be a mile or more away. Even where i live there isnt anywhere to use a one for all type gift card as the town is all small independent shops other than a co-op. Theres no Boots or Primark kind of shops. To get to one would involve an expensive journey by public transport. Often homeless families will be in a hotel / b&b and the nearest shop is an unaffordable bus or train ride away. If the charities thought a gift card was appropriate then they would be asking for donations and would buy them to distribute. It is best to just stick to the guidelines given by the charity as they will know their demograph.

These are really lovely, but in my house they'd go down well with my DDs at 8-10 type age, I think they're probably a bit young for a 12 year old.

This is the tough thing because I know 12 year olds who would hate craft sets, but I know two 13 year olds who adore everything crafty and hate skincare.

Jellycat Keyring. My 12 year old is all about the jellycats

Mine has also asked for a nice fleece blanket for her bed

There are more age appropriate options though, like a set of fine liner pens and a pad of nice paper - my young teen would infinitely prefer that to a kit.

Her younger sisters on the other hand would be DELIGHTED with a bath bomb or lip balm kit.

(Alll of them being crafty and none of them being skin care/make up fans)

Jellycat
Jellycat
Jellycat

i have a 12 year old, she and all her friends are Jellycat obsessed.

What is the charity? I might want to donate myself.
My suggestions are

• a £20 gift card
• A very special book in good condition (maybe vintage to allow that) with coloured pictures.
• A really special (second hand to allow that, ideally vintage ) doll with nice clothes on
• a special sketchbook with special pencils
• a special guided watercolour book with paintbrush and paints like klutz (could be new)
• knitting Wool, needles and a knitting book to show you how to do the patterns ( all second hand but decent)
• We are coming in to winter now so hat, gloves, snood scarf, if you go into a charity shop they usually have these things second hand with tags on or you can find really nice second hand ones sometimes that look new

These are lovely ideas but not really age appropriate.

I have a 12 year old. Specific situation as she’s autistic and has eczema so can’t use most body care stuff. She likes nail polish sets though. I’d do fun Christmas fuzzy (or regular) socks, a water bottle, cute stationary or a colouring book set and a selection box or some combination of this. My daughter trends young for her age so still loves squishmallows etc but her friends are mostly past this stage.

I’ve got a kid this age and would suggest clay bead sets or sugar bead sets

https://amzn.eu/d/iT0gNb9

@WhywasIborntoolate Op mentioned up thread its a local Glasgow charity.

I wouldn't do a gift card, partly its boring and you have no idea if the child will get to shops to spend it.
I don't know that a 12 yo would get excited about hats or gloves, theres a reason those things end up in charity shops with tags on - unwanted gifts.

Why are they not age appropriate

No but at the same time a child who is unlikely to get any Christmas gifts is also unlikely to have a hat and gloves

A nice water bottle - perhaps one of these (and choose a sports top for the bottle) www.onegreenbottle.com/product/leakproof-straw-water-bottle-800-evolution-prince-botl/

I'd be deeply disappointed if I was given a water bottle as a Christmas present !
Do 12 year olds really get excited about things like that.

I think most 12 year olds would be baffled by a vintage doll.

Why? I thought children pretend not to like dolls because it isn’t cool anymore whilst secretly playing with them at home

My 17 year old daughter actually does like dolls and she did at 12.
But she is very much a minority of 12 year olds who specifically would want a doll.
12 year olds who already own dolls do frequently go through phases of getting them out and having a play but unless asked for I doubt many would want one for a Christmas gift.
Cuddly toys however are considered less "babyish" to 12 year olds which is why people are suggesting Jellycats etc.
Soft toys can be comforting too which is nice for children living in not great circumstances.

Diary
bracelet
pjs
lip gloss / shower jell
chocs/fancy sweets
slipper sox
fancy notebook and pen
cute cuddly
purse

They all sound like lovely items for an older lady, not a 12 year old who is unlikely to receive anything else.

B&m have lovely gift sets for that age from lip glosses, makeup sets hair straightener etc etc etc all for under £10

I would go on Vinted and get a lovely dressing gown or oodie/snuggie new with tags but for max £10. Then I’d add nail varnish, a face mask, and a cute Japanese style little toy - you don’t know if they’ll be into beauty but most would appreciate these.

heat up microwave toys are also cute
Lego that doubles as a little display - like flowers