Christmas Gift Ideas for 10-12 Year Olds

As children get older, they get more of an opinion about their gifts. You think back on the days when your little toddler would beam if you handed him a coloring book and now you’ve got a 10 year old who has very particular tastes. So, what’s a gift-giver to do?

Craft kits can be perfect for this age group

Many children between the ages of ten and twelve like to get involved in art projects, but some parents don’t appreciate the mess they leave behind. The latest crafty kits will be available at your local toy store or online. For the young artist at heart, Crayola’s Color Wonder Sprayer, a splatter-free airbrushing toy is a fantastic option. Priced affordably at under $25 in most stores, the airbrushing toy comes with four different spray cartridges in an assortment of vivid colors: aqua, orange, green and fuchsia. In addition, it comes with a twelve page Color Wand Paper tablet. Your child will have hours of creative fun watching the colorful mist transform into exciting color. An item of this type engages your child’s imagination, and as a bonus, you can frame the art work to help boost your child’s confidence and help them enjoy a sense of pride in their work.

Or perhaps your young artist would enjoy a trip to an art or frame store to purchase canvas and paints. If your child is truly interested in art, a set of brushes or an art class would be the perfect gift.

Racer boys!

For boys who enjoy toy racing cars, the X-men Race set make a perfect gift. Although moderately to expensively priced at about $80, the racing set comes with two cars, Marvel heroes, and a winding track twenty feet long that also curves and loops. The cars race at a scale speed of 450 MPH to guarantee excitement and super charged fun. If you are on a budget, you may consider more affordable racing car sets. You don’t have to spend as much on other brands, but it does require some legwork and research until you find the best price. You may find what you need at eBay.

Get their brains working!

For the inquisitive child, Action Products International offers the Curiosity Kit- Jr. Bureau of Investigation affordably priced at under $15. It’s appropriate for both boys and girls and allows the child to engage in imaginative play, as well as stimulating their critical thinking skills. The kit comes complete with a working camera, flashlight, and tweezers to collect evidence, evidence bags, badge, and crime scene tape.  So if you have a budding Sherlock Holmes on your gift list, the curiosity kit will be a big hit this holiday season. 

Gift vouchers - or hard cash - are perfect for this age

When in doubt, you can always purchase a gift card from your child’s favorite store. Your child will enjoy the independence of making a gift selection on their own. Book vouchers, Amazon vouchers, iTunes vouchers and hard cash in an envelope are all very welcome, as kids of this age often like to start saving up for a "bigger" gift or browing the online stores themselves in search of the perfect present. If your child love music you could set them up with a monthly download from iTunes, too!

Clothes and accessories

Many children of this age group will be taking a keen interest in what they are wearing, and be starting to develop their own fashion sense and style. A trendy T-shirt - perhaps even with their favorite "cool" brand name - will be a big hit (but make sure you get it right!) Girls love to browse in jewellery and accessory stores and seem to be able to accommodate an endless array of hair accessories, bangles, charms etc. A charm bracelet, jewllery box or necklace hanger may go down very well!

Books again!

If your child is a keen reader you could invest in a nice set of classic novels - or just the latest novel by their favorite author. They will still enjoy a non-fiction book on their favorite hobby, animal or other interest. Boys of this age love joke books!

More Christmas Gift Ideas