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Holiday shopping for "Tweens", Ugh, amirite?

Juliestcyr

Juliestcyr

Grammar nerd and proud of it
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OK Pad, What are your big kids asking for for the holidays?

My youngest DD (9) who is obsessed with farming, has asked for a farm playset and animals to go with her American Girl. (The animals and playset come from the Canadian doll maker, Maple Lea). Easy! Grandparents are onboard, and we are good to go!

My oldest DD (11) had her heart set on gift certificates to take a friend to high tea at a fancy downtown hotel. She hasn't been since she was 5 and had the "Princess tea". I thought it was a great idea, but she's too big for the princess tea now, and when she looked at the menu for the regular high tea, she changed her mind. (gravalax, roast beef with horseradish, shrimp pate... not Tween palate pleasers).

She's super-bummed, and we're finding that being too big for the princess tea, but not ready for the full adult version is the theme of this year. She was too small to fit into the funky cartoon t-shirts at Hot Topic, but most of the kid's stores are too babyish. And, she's not into Justice, which kinda rules the tween scene in town. ("Everything looks like it was barfed on by a my little pony.") She doesn't really want toys anymore, has a huge stash of art supplies, is really excellent at getting all the books she wants from the library, and has $30 in iTunes gift certificates she hasn't even spent yet...

What do you get kids who are in this phase? What are they asking for? Where do you shop for them?
 
Sadly I have NO suggestions for you.
My challenge is that we are getting together with the family for Christmas and I need to get 13+ things at under $1 and we don't have dollar stores in this country. Ugh!
I haven't even begun shopping for the kids.
 
yep, it gets really hard. Eldest doesn't like getting ANY presents at all (she is totally unmaterialistic) but will accept socks and suchlike. Youngest wants presents but at nearly 15 (??!!!) is now getting tough to buy for. You have my sympathy!
 
Why can't she have a tea at home? I know it's not the same thing as being waited on, but maybe she could have some version of it. Like, knowing that she can pick her fave foods and treats, get a new outfit, and have some of her besties over for a girlie night? Her besties could dress up as well. Maybe have a photo booth area (just a sheet with some streamers works well) and they could have a selfie contest.

I agree it's sooooo hard. Like just typing out that idea, I'm like, ugh, she probably wouldn't like that.

What's hard is as they move through the years, you start to get an idea of what they like and then they change again! LOL

At my dad's house this year, we are doing the 4 gift thing: NEED, WANT, READ, WEAR. Maybe that could help guide her in making some decisions that will help you buy for her.

((HUGS)) and you have my sympathy! LOL
 
What about maybe a spa day kind of gift certificate for her and a friend to get mani/pedis? I'm trying to remember what my daughter really liked at that age. My 11 year old son is easy...anything Minecraft or sports related and he's happy. If I think of anything else, I'll come back :)
 
That was such a tough age to buy for! They still want something to play with but they're too big for toys. They want to act like teens, but aren't ready for make-up and such.

I had to look back through photos to see what my daughter got at that age, and I'm not much help. That was the year that she got her snowboard. You'll have to check sizing, but TeeFury has Hot Topic-ish tees and every tee comes in a variety of sizes (youth, junior, women & men). Clara was into these for a while. Like during the Frozen phase, she could get a more sophisticated design there, but still be wearing a Frozen shirt. She currently kind of wants the Kim Possible/Rosie the Riveter mash-up one.

For my niece (11), last year, who is into making videos on her iPod touch, we got a wireless remote, selfie stick and mini-tripod.

I'll keep thinking though. Bath and Bodyworks got big around that age, but it became the standard gift at every birthday party so she has entirely too much of it even now.

@LynnG - I feel your pain... my 16 year old has white socks, pencil lead and a gift certificate to the grocery store as his list at the moment. Exciting stuff. My nearly 15 year old has just gotten into make-up so she's amassing a decent list.
 
My DD will be 11 next month. She is desperate for a phone, but I say no (my DH is on the fence and would buy her one if I would agree). She also wants a new water bottle and has some clothes picked out. She still plays with Legos a lot and has several sets on her list.
 
I feel your pain & am right there with u with DD (& a niece!) 11 and another niece 13. DD has about 50 in itunes still too & horrible taste in clothes but hates everything i buy her. Her art stash is better than mine & she got a laptop for her bday a few months back. i want wrappable gifts for her too (so its not just about 7yo DS on xmas morning but I'm coming up well short. So i'm watching this thread too!
She wouldn't eat shrimp paste either Lol
 
Does she have a hobby or passion? My dd started wanting to cook around that age and asked for a wire whisk for Christmas. Since then we have done cake decorating classes, cookbooks, frosting tools, etc. Last year at age 14, she got her own knife set. This year she is getting a mixer. She loves to bake so it is a good investment.
 
I ditto a few posts that I like above that worked for my daughter back then. Make up, nails, music. All.the girl.things. Haha.
Some things are timeless, make up and nails. We bought her "home only" makeup with brushes and stuff. This way she could practice for a loooong time before she hit the public, lmao! It was really cool how she learned and spent time on it. She looks stunning - either made up or barely there - so I think it was worth her having the time. Tweens are hard. SMH
 
Some great suggestions, and it's good to know I'm not alone with the tween blues. Usually, I like to have one really big gift that is some sort of "experience" rather than a bunch of little ones. But this year, I just don't think that's gonna work. I think I'm going to steal @gonewiththewind's idea of having themes, but stretch it out to over the 8 nights of Chanukah: Read, Wear, Move, Create, Learn, Taste, Listen and Together. (The dance between Chanukah and Christmas could be turned into an 8 part mini-series, so I'll avoid going into that here.)
 
BevG said:
Does she have a hobby or passion? My dd started wanting to cook around that age and asked for a wire whisk for Christmas. Since then we have done cake decorating classes, cookbooks, frosting tools, etc. Last year at age 14, she got her own knife set. This year she is getting a mixer. She loves to bake so it is a good investment.
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i have bought a cheap thing along these lines - backstory is her 'cake/brownie in a mug' has not always been successful and is a pain to wash! i bought this silicone individual (but large for us!) microwave cupcake cooking mould thing with a lid - if i'm honest, it's a largeish box and i'm thinking previous years i'd consider it to be a stocking stuffer, this year it'll be wrapped to take up some of her side of the tree! #gettingdesparate
 
My boys are in this stage too. My 12 YO wants more Nerf guns and bullets. He has a massive arsenal already, but he does use them all so as boring as it is, that's probably what'll he get. Then both my boys have one giant wish and sadly neither of them will be getting them as they are way too expensive:

12 year old wants TerraScout ($199):


And the 10 year old wants Mebo ($149):
 
I agree about the Justice! Bleh. Abercrombie has a kid/tween store. She may be able to fit into the smallest sizes at American Eagle, Wet Seal, Aeropostale. Lululemon has a kid store ... Ivivva. That's good for the more designer version of dance clothes and active wear.

What about passes for the movies? Or a membership for the local roller rink/ice skating/trampoline place/family fun center She's just about the age where she's going to want to do stuff with friends and you aren't quite as involved.

I wonder if you could call the hotel (or some others) and see if there is a time you could come in and they would do a tea that was a little more friendly to her palette. There's gotta be somewhere where you could have something cool done. Where do you live?

I'll keep thinking ....
 
I'm in a very similar place - DD9 wants Legos, American Girl stuff, tablet, her Amazon wish list is a mile long

DS12 wants a new phone (we've told him no - he gets a new one when his 2 year "contract" is up) and other than that, had to search for things to "want".

We ended up getting him a Star Wars board game he found and is getting very good reviews on boardgamegeek .com.

Does she like board games? There are a few that my son really likes and some of his friends play.

Would she enjoy a spa day? toes, nails, facial?
 
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