It is November 9th and that means there are just 6 full weeks until Christmas Day and until Hunukkah begins. It is time to put on those thinking caps and start planning perfect presents for everyone on your lists- (Santa loves to get good ideas). Pre-teens can be tricky. They are beginning to grow out of some toys but they still love to play. Here are several pre-teen gift ideas for the holidays that my nine year old boy and eleven year old daughter have tested and love. All of these suggestions are fun for both boys and girls because I love for my kids to be able to share things. Most (but not all) of the items on this list were provided to me with the hopes that I would share my honest of the opinions.
Fabulous Pre-Teen Gift Ideas For The Holidays
1. Video Games
The Skylanders video game is a huge hit at our house for both of my children and for their friends that come over to play. They have actually been playing it for few years now but each year Skylanders introduces a fun new twist and a new batch of characters. This year, my kids are loving the Skylanders Imaginators because now you can use Creation Crystals to create Skylanders yourself (by choosing their body parts, size, catch phrase, powers, colors, theme music, etc) and then train them and play them through the storyline. My kids love the Skylanders Imaginators Starter Set and they are adding some more Skylanders characters to their Christmas list. Available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 1, Xbox 360 and WiiU.
Learn more at skylanders.com
2. National Geographic Quadcopter Drone
Another awesome electronic pre-teen gift idea is a drone which will actually get them having fun outside. My pre-teens (and my husband) are thrilled, I mean thrilled, about their new National Geographic Drone. This drone is great because it is easy to fly (which means less crashes and damage to your things or to the drone itself). This drone auto-orients and features 1-button flips, 1-button return to pilot, and 1-button take-offs and landings. There is something about flying that just excites!
Learn more at amazon.com
3. Space Scooter
The Space Scooter X580 is designed for ages 8+ (up to 200lbs). A Space Scooter® is powered by a unique Pump & Go action – so you can ride with both feet on board. It’s faster than a normal scooter (up to 17 mph!), and easier and more compact than a bicycle. Of all my favorite Pre-Teen Gift Ideas, this is my favorite because I can steal it and it use it myself (just like my husband’s fav is the drone). It’s perfect for daily exercise, to ride to school or just for fun days playing in the driveway or cul de sac.
Learn more at spacescooter-usa.com
4. SAM’s Curious Cars
SAM’s Curious Cars Kit will challenge and entertain kids for hours on end while teaching them coding and creativity at the same time- important 21st century skills. This kit offeres an inventing experience that allows pre-teens to build and program their own cars and games. A step-by-step tutorial booklet and the informative SAM app will guide kids and parents through an array of awesome projects that will be fun and confidence building.
Learn more at samlabs.com
5. Transformers
Transformers are great for challenging your children as transformations can be tricky, especially with the TRANSFORMERS GENERATIONS toys which have a more sophisticated look and feel and are aimed at children over the age of 8. These transformers are more similar to the 1st Generation Transformers from the 1980’s and parents are sure to have playing along with the kiddos with these classic toys.
Learn more at transformers.hasbro.com
6. Clothes & Shoes
I would also include clothes and shoes as fabulous options among my Pre-Teen Gift Ideas. You know they always need new clothing and shoes and now they are old enough to begin appreciating them. I just got both my pre-teens some great waterproof jackets and they both need new pants because of their long legs that keep getting longer. Even if your kids are still not that into fashion yet, chances are they’d love a snazzy new pair of sneakers that actually fit them. My son was just provided with a new pair of Under Armour basketball shoes from Kids Foot Locker and you can bet his teammates noticed them. My daughter is loving her faux shearling boots.
7. Books
And never forget a good book! Books set your mind free to wander, to escape, to learn, and to just plain enjoy. There a million and one suggestions and it just depends on your child. I know at this age, I just loved the James Harriot series, (All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All) and Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne Of Green Gables series. My son loves Leonardo Ramirez’s The Jupiter Chronicles and Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle. My daughter loves Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time fantasy series. Here is my Amazon affiliate link in case you want to order those books at amazon.com
Bonus Ideas:
Cuboro
The Curboro Marble Track Run makes a great gift for boys or girls and is actually fun for the whole family.
3D Puzzles
Challenging 3D puzzles are always fun.
So there you have it- 7 Pre-Teen Gift Ideas for the Holidays that are sure to please even the pickiest of pre-teens! Which of these pre-teen gift ideas do you think your kids (or grandkids, niece, nephew, etc.) would like the best?