The Ultimate Tween Gift Guide

Need some help shopping for tween gifts? This page is a peek at some great gift ideas for one of the hardest to shop for age groups. What do you buy for kids who are past the toy phase, but still a bit too young for the fancy electronics? My oldest child was a struggle when it came time to shop for gifts, but by the second and third, I felt like a pro.

Click here to see a whole list of tween gift ideas

If you have a tween who loves to read, here are some gift ideas you might want to consider:

1. Kindle - The Kindle ebook reader from Amazon is the most popular e-reader on the market today. There are several models you can buy, ranging in price between $100 and $200. Users can download books, purchased from Amazon, directly to the Kindle. Your tween will never run out of things to read. And Amazon has plenty of free books to download including classics like Tom Sawyer, Black Beauty, Treasure Island, and Alice in Wonderland.

2. Kindle Gift Cards - If they already own a Kindle, consider a Kindle gift card for them instead.

3. Fancy Bookmarks - A cool or pretty bookmark is another idea for a tween book lover.

4. Book Light - A book light is also a must have gift for a tween that loves to read. I remember reading as a tween well past many a bedtime so a reading light always came in handy since my sister and I shared a bedroom.

5. Books - Good old-fashioned books are still a good option! Even though e-readers are becoming more and more popular, there is still something about having a book in your hands occasionally. Here are some popular tween books and series:

- Diary of a Wimpy Kid

- Harry Potter

- Twilight

The Nintendo 3DS is popular with the tween crowd. This handheld video game system has 3D features that really makes games pop. The thing I love about this gaming system that there are not only the standard video games that kids love but also a variety of educational video games too.

Both Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS games are compatible with the system.

It is available in several colors including blue, black, pink, and red.

Tweens love to play Wii. What is great about the Wii is that many of the games you play on it require you to be active, not to just sit and stare at the screen. It is a great way for tweens to have fun while also getting moving a little.

Another fun item for tweens is the Ripstik Caster Board. It's a fun twist on a skateboard that gives kids a unique challenge.

It is said to be a little bit like skateboarding, a little bit like snowboarding, and a little bit like surfing. The Ripstik Caster Board has two wheels and requires users to twist back and forth to make it go.

The Ripstik Caster Board is available at Amazon. They offer a discounted price and free shipping on it

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A pogo stick is a great idea for an active tween. It's a great way to get them outside and get them some exercise. Tweens often like to spend a lot of time on the phone, internet, or playing video games. This gets them out from in front of the TV for a while and let's them have some fun while burning some energy too.

My kids like to have jumping contests on their pogo sticks. We own the Flybar Foam Master Pogo Stick. It is well made and has held up well to two years of use. It is designed for ages 9 and up and can hold kids that weigh up to 160 lbs. It comes in several color choices too.

The Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit includes everything needed to make your own gum. The kit includes easy to follow instructions as well as chicle, the sap of the Sapodilla tree, and flavoring for gum.

This is a fun do it yourself kit that both boys and girls will enjoy. And at the same time, they are getting an education about how gum is made. All the fun of a toy with some science thrown in :-)

You can get an MP3 player for a reasonable price. You will need a computer to load the songs onto the MP3 player. Tweens love their music and will really enjoy this gift. MP3 player range in price and features so you can find one to fit just about every budget and need. This makes a great gift paired with an Amazon gift card so that they can fill their new music device with downloads of all their favorite songs.

Kids love to make their room a personal hide out. They take pride in decorating to their taste. A few groovy room decor gifts will add a nice personal touch to their personal hide out.

Funky lamps and fun things like a gumball machines make great room decor for a tween's bedroom and also make fun gift ideas for them.

This fun chairs make a great gift for a tween who wants to make over their room.

Most kids love sports equipment. The is a great way to get kids active and encourage them to get some exercise, while having fun.

My tweens love to make crafts. They get a sense of pride as they complete a crafty project. This has always been a fun gift for my tweens. While they may no longer be into toys, a craft kit gives them something fun to do and a way to keep them busy that doesn't involve screen time. And you never know, it might encourage a new passion or a life long hobby.