44 Freakin' Cool Gifts For Tweens That They'll Actually Put Down The iPad For

Updated: Jan 30 2023

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When they're too old for toys but too young for car keys, they're in that sweet spot that's perfect for these gifts for tweens. There are so many fun things to explore on the list, which has awesome picks for gifts for tween girls and gifts for tween boys. Tweens are curious youngsters so they love gifts that will help them find or hone new hobbies. That's why there are lots of art gifts, baking kits, outdoor-centric treats, captivating Stranger Things-themed games, and coding gifts, for tweens, the sky is the limit! You'll also find more serious gifts like books just for tweens that help them navigate friendship and social media or accessories and activity kits to help them get a taste of the independence they want. Small gifts, big gifts, and everything in between, it's all here, there are even once-in-a-lifetime experiences that make great gifts for the tweens who have everything. And when they do hit magic number thirteen, check out some gifts for teen boys and gifts for teen girls that are just as epically cool!

Dash MyPint Personal Ice Cream Maker

She's a tween girl and there are times when she's just going to need some ice cream. When you don't have it in the house, she can make a batch just for her right quick with the Dash MyPint. The ice cream maker is super simple to use and takes only 30 minutes to whip up a frozen treat.

$21 .99

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Assorted Japanese Candy Pack

Blow your teen's mind with a package of Japanese candy that takes delicious to a whole new level. They'll be mind-boggled by the flavors in the pack, which include things like matcha and corn that you just don't see stateside. There are 34 pieces in the pack, plenty to share with friends.

$20 .95

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Mix as You Eat Cereal Cup

How do you get a tween to sit down for breakfast at the table? You don't. Meet them on their level and make sure they get a nutritious breakfast with a cup that lets them eat cereal on the go sans the fogginess. The Crunch Cup keeps the dry cereal and wet milk separate until the moment they're eaten.

$20 .00

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Money Filled Soap Bars

Give your tween a good reason to hop in the bath or shower with a bar of soap that's packed with actual rolled cash. They'll have to take a few showers or baths to get to the center of the bar, and they'll have squeaky clean fun getting there.

$10 .98

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Floor Lounger

One of the hardest things for a tween to do is sit in a chair. With this pillow bed floor lounger, they don't have to, but they can still sit in comfort. The bed comes in several fun patterns and all you need are 5 king-sized pillows to put it together. It's great for sleepovers, too!

$13 .33

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Yonanas Dessert Fruit Soft Serve Maker

Can you imagine a tween wanting to say "YO!" to fruit as an afterschool snack? They will when they can use the Yonanas machine, which turns almost any fruit into a tasty frozen dessert. The soft serve maker is easy for tweens to use, can make dairy-free and vegan recipes, and includes 36 starter recipes.

$45 .11

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Slip And Slide Hockey Rink

Get them off screens in the summertime with a game that mixes playing in the sprinkler with air hockey. The slip-and-slide hockey game only needs a hose to get the party started and sends kids sailing across the sizable rink for some refreshing fun.

$54 .78

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Giant Bag Of Marshmallows

Let's be real, even you as an adult have to admit that the marshmallow charms are the best part of the cereal. This bag is your dentist's worst nightmare but it's your tween's dream come true. Eight freaking pounds of nothing but marshmallow cereal bits.

$41 .99

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Make Your Own Squishee Kit

Squishees are fun companions at school, at home, and everywhere. With this kit, a tween can make their own. The craft kit contains a whale, unicorn, unicorn on the moon, and a narwhal for them to paint with the included pastels and sprinkle with glitter. They're slow to rise, too, for a super chill squeezing experience.

$14 .99

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#10

Cool Cloud Slides

Looking cool is paramount for a tween and these are the slides that will elevate their style to new heights. They might look a little ho-hum to mom and dad but to a tween they're fire. They're super soft with a non-skid sole for safety and come in lots of fun colors and patterns.

$23 .98

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#11

Remote Control Sphero Coding Toy

These colorful orbs are no larger than ping pong balls but they're at least 1000x more fun and the key to a brainy afternoon. The Sphero Mini is an RC toy that works, but only if you program code to make it go! It's a high-octane, tech-learning adventure that any tween will love.

$127 .32

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#12

Rainbow Alarm Clock Nightlight

This might be the combination nightlight and alarm clock that your tween needs to actually be excited about getting out of bed. It's got a cool LED light built-in, can be used as a music player, and charges their phone wirelessly. It's great for using at bedtime or to set a chill mood while studying.

$29 .99

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#13

Artsy Farsty Funny Drawing Game

Artsy Fartsy is the family-friendly game that you can play on the go or at home and one that's so fun and silly that a tween will actually WANT to have family game night. A lot of it was dreamed up by a kid so you know it'll be full of hilarity, a few turd jokes, and strange sounds!

$29 .99

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#14

Compliment Pencil Set

If you have something nice to say, you should say it! And that's exactly what this pencil set does and what it'll inspire a tween to do. There are ten in the set, each printed with a different uplifting statement. They might be number 2 pencils, but they sure will make her and her friends feel like number 1!

$10 .95

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#15

Foldology Origami Puzzle Game

Tweens are always looking for something new to try, and this old art form will fascinate them. It's as much a challenge for their brain as it is for their hands and gives them 100 puzzles with 5 difficulty levels to try. The things they'll create will look really cool on display, too.

$9 .99

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#16

Duff Goldman Stuffed Cookie Baking Kit

You all have watched how many seasons of Kids Baking Championship as a family? A tween interested in trying their hand at those cool desserts will have Duff as a guide with this kit. S'mores Sandwich Cookies are on the menu, and if they love it, there are other cookie boxes to choose from, too.

$36 .99

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#17

Pizza Blanket

Do you wanna pizz-a relaxing afternoon? Your teen sure will when they have this flannel pizza blanket to cuddle up on. At over 60" in diameter, the pizza is the biggest you've ever seen in or out of the pizza parlor.

$16 .99

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#18

Skate Trainers for Learning Tricks

Mom and dad, you can feel a little better about your tween learning skate tricks with these trainers on their board. These simple trainer slip on over the wheels and allow them to get more practice while falling less, and helps build up their confidence and muscle memory for ollies, kickflips, and more.

$25 .95

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#19

Tabletop Robot Set

This little crustacean will make your tween anything but crabby! The tabletop robot will provide hours of entertainment while teaching a tween about robotic engineering and mechanical concepts. A set of simple instructions are included and a tween can build it on their own.

$19 .99

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#20

Inflatable Air Lounger Sofa

Hanging out in the summer is a lot comfier when you have a nice place to lie. Your tween won't have to steal dad's hammock when they have this lounger, which inflates with a quick wave in the air and takes only seconds to set up. There are tons of fun color and pattern options available, too.

$39 .98

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#21

Lifesize Inflatable Catcher Pitching Game

He's got his eyes on a Cy Young one day and if he's going to get there, he's got to practice. When he can't find a friend to be his catcher, this guy will be there for him. The inflatable toy can be used for practice or as a game with friends to see who can toss the most strikeouts.

$41 .39

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#22

Life Skills for Tweens

Being a tweenager is a time of growth and with this book, both girls and guys will feel more equipped to handle the things they're going to be dealing with. From staying safe online to budgeting their allowance, building friendships to cooking, the book has all the info they need in an easy-to-read format.

$8 .49

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#23

Drawstring Backpack

Toting their things on day trips or to and from practice is easier than ever with a drawstring bag. This one's durable with a thick fabric compartment that won't snag. It's got a zippered pouch on the front for smaller items and has a pocket for a water bottle.

$12 .90

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#24

Magnetic Ring Fidget Set

Your tween might think that these are secretly Doctor Strange's sling rings after playing with them for a while. The magnetic toys are silent to play with, have endless opportunities for combination, and offer a fun way to exorcise nervous energy and find better focus.

$22 .00

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#25

Gameboy Lunch Box

Having a cool lunchbox isn't just eco-friendly, it's a way to make friends in the cafeteria. Kids will crowd around this Gameboy lunch box, which is insulated to keep things cool, and laugh at how their moms and dads used to play on something with a screen so small.

$22 .99

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#26

Light Up Basketball Hoop

You'll give a whole new meaning to the idea of a night game with a basketball hoop that glows in the dark. It's a light strip that's battery-powered and lasts for up to 75 hours. It takes only minutes to install over your existing hoop and offers a choice of 16 colors.

$19 .99

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#27

Fortnite RL Blaster

Let the Nerf wars begin! One of the best parts of being a tween is firing these foam rockets at each other in the backyard. This massive bazooka contains 2 rockets with soft tips that won't cause damage to kids (or parents, but you should watch out when you go around corners!).

$99 .00

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#28

The COMFY Blanket Sweatshirt

On family movie night when your tween is looking for a little cozy comfort, the COMFY will be the sweatshirt they reach for. It doubles as a blanket and will cover most of their legs, has a sherpa lining for extra warmth, a big pocket for snacks, and a hood in case they want to take a nap.

$49 .29

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#29

The Complete Bookbook for Young Chefs

They've been eating your food for how many years now? No offense but it's time for a change! Let your tween loose in the kitchen with this book, which is packed with over 100 healthy, yummy, and easy-to-make recipes, and you'll be off cooking duty until they graduate high school!

$10 .70

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#30

The Care and Keeping of You Book

A lot is happening when a girl becomes a tween and she might not want to talk about all of it with her mom just yet. This book is a way to reassure her that everything is going to be ok and make it easier to understand the changes going on in her body and ask questions about it.

$20 .00

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#31

LED Frisbee

Light up the night with a little bit of throwback-throwing fun with this LED frisbee. It's almost 100x as bright as similar frisbees with a black plastic disc that makes it look like a UFO. A full charge delivers 90 minutes of fun and is motion activated so the battery won't run down.

$21 .99

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#32

Selfie Ring Light with Tripod Stand & Cell Phone Holder

Between Instagram lives and TikTok dance videos, it's important a tween is able to shed light on their best side at all times. This tripod and light set will ensure they're looking fab and are able to dance hands-free. A Bluetooth remote is included to operate their phone and the glow of the ring light.

$26 .99

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#33

The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs

Sharing is caring and with this cookbook, your teen will be the most popular kid in school with all the sweet and savory baked goods they'll be whipping up. The book contains over 100 easy to bake recipes that will impress not just in flavor but in looks!

$15 .00

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#34

Galaxy Moon Lamp

The moon is cool but galaxies are celestially spectacular. This moon lamp is ideal for setting a chill mood for bedtime or studying and is controlled via a remote to add more color to the enchanting nebula surface. The moon comes in three sizes and sits on a natural bamboo base.

$15 .26

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#35

Holographic Fanny Pack

Paging all moms that lived through the 90s and thought fanny packs were stupid, they're not! They're AWESOME and your tween wants one. This holographic waist pack comes in a set of two so you and your teenage daughter can dress up together for a day on the town.

$9 .99

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#36

Apple Airpods Pro 2nd Generation

Remember how you felt opening a Nintendo 64 on Christmas morning as a kid? That's how your kid will feel by opening up a pair of Airpods. The second-gen model has active noise cancellation, comes with silicone tips that grow with their ears, and have 30 hours of total listening time.

$279 .99

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#37

Stranger Things Dungeons & Dragons

A tween and his pals who are obsessed with the adventures of the guys on Stranger Things will text their friends immediately to come over and play with this Starter Kit. The box contains everything they need to start their own campaign, a campaign story to get them started, and it's all Stranger Things themed!

$82 .98

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#38

Stranger Things Eleven's Eggo Card Game

Tweens and their friends will have a great time playing Eleven's Eggo card game. There are 106 in the box and at the start of play, your tween and his pals will be in the Upside Down, they can only escape by getting rid of all the cards. But hurry, the Demogorgon is coming!

$39 .95

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#39

Bluetooth Headphones Beanie

Getting tweens to wear coats and hats in the winter is like pulling teeth. Not with this beanie, though, they'll be trying to pull it on during the summer months, too. It's embedded with Bluetooth headphones that have a battery life of 19-23 hours and a thick knit that'll keep their heads good and warm.

$25 .91

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#40

Ultimate Rechargeable Laser Tag Set

Hype up the backyard games with a rechargeable laser tag set that'll have your tween begging for more outside time. Summer nights won't be the same after they start playing with the set, which allows for 360-degree combat, has the guns and gear for four kids to play, and has hours of playtime on a single charge.

$179 .99

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#41

What Do You Meme Family Edition Card Game

Make memories and memes on your next family game night with the family edition of the popular game What Do You Meme? See who can pair the most hilarious text card with a funny picture and get ready to enjoy lots of giggles.

$14 .37

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