Tweens can be a tricky age to buy for, not yet a ‘grown up’, but past the younger gifts and more magical elements of the festive season. Sooooo, we’ve scoured the latest gifts from some of the biggest brands to share our top picks for children aged eight to 12 years…
Danilo England Lionesees calendar
Following an amazing win of the European League this summer, this is THE calendar everyone wants to see throughout ’23. Perfect for any footie fan, it has photos of the winning ladies team, along with lots of space for all those social plans your youngster will have into the New Year. Priced £10.99 from Danilo – www.danilo.com
So Wrong It’s Right
One for the older children, this multiple choice trivia game is filled with lots of laughs as players have to attempt to answer the question correctly, however the fun is in getting it wrong and the surprises that follow! Priced £14.99 from Amazon
Kidizoom PrintCam
Nowadays it’s all about fast results and this camera is definitely that – a camera and printer in one in a small package perfect for small hands. The digital camera (that also records video) promotes creativity with lots of fun edits to go wild with stamps, stickers and borders to turn their wonderful photos into cards, play money and accessories. Priced £79.99 from Smyths
Meccano 25 in 1 Supercar
Rev up the family’s imagination this Christmas with the Meccano 25-in-1 Supercar Set. Ideal for intermediate builders or intergenerational play around the Christmas table, children will have fun assembling and reassembling 25 different motorised luxury dream vehicles with this STEM building set. Priced £34.99
Boppi Christmas Jigsaw
A fantastic gift that everyone can take part in – this 150-piece round jigsaw is from eco conscious brand, boppi, which has launched this new limited edition jigsaw in partnership with illustrator Laura Watson, to create a finished image brimming with Christmas cheer and delight. Priced £17.99 from Amazon
Bananagrams
This is a quick fun word game that’s super simple to play. Utilising letter tiles, it’s a fast-paced game where the player has to create a word grid ahead of their component. Packed up in a banana-shaped purse, it’s compact so great for taking on any road trips this Christmas season. Priced £14.99 from Amazon
Akedo Triple Strike Tag Team Arena
For some mega battle action, this latest offering from Akedo Powerstorn allows children to build their own Ultimate Akedo Warrior Teamthat battle it out to compete against the opposing warriors. Featuring some pretty cool sound effects, a split strike button and light up scoreboard, it’s nail-biting fun with the two exclusive warriors. Priced £49.99 from Argos
Learning Resources Switcheroo Coding Crew
It’s never too early to get into coding with early STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths to you and I!) This 3-in-1 coding robot sends you on rescue missions using challenge cards that are transformed into a vehicle that then need coding to save the say. Throughout the mission, kids learn and develop new skills – critical thinking, problem solving and logic. The Switcheroo Coding Crew comes with a 46-piece interactive playset, so kids can follow along with challenges or design their own STEM and coding rescue challenges. Priced £67 from Amazon
Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens is a highly strategic kitty-powered version of Russian Roulette. Players try to avoid drawing Exploding Kittens (which boot them from the game) using catnip sandwiches, deploying special ops bunnies, and seeking out the wisdom of an all-seeing goat wizard. Priced £19.99 from Amazon
TCL 30SE
If your youngster is ready for the next step of independence, this phone is a perfect introductory handset as a first smartphone. Featuring a crystal-clear 6.52” screen that intuitively adapts from watching and reading, it’s a great handset for downtime as well as doubling up as a great educational device. Priced £139.99 from Asda
Throw Throw Burrito
Throw Throw Burrito is the world’s first dodgeball card game! Collect matching sets of cards faster than your opponents while simultaneously ducking, dodging and throwing squishy airborne burritos. The cards you collect earn points, but getting hit by flying burritos loses them – a lot of fun! Priced £29.99 from Smyths
