Damn. **Neidhart **beat me to it.
The Jonas Brothers.
Grapefruit, I looked at the links posted, and I’ll give you my impressions based on having being a girl at those ages. So, FWIW, if it were me, I’d be staying away from things that are really girly, cause you just never know. Pesonally, I was never into the “princess” thing, especially by age 10, and I can’t recall that being all that common by that age.
For the links you attached, I thought the two Disney links were too young, even for the 10 year old, and risking being too girly too. I liked the Dreamcatcher Maker, and I agree with your idea abut it being essentially a teaching opportunity.
Looking around the websites you linked to, I noticed a few other links that I thought might give you some ideas:
Art Supplies - Art Supply Store | Michaels. This one is a kit for making the rubber wrist bracelets that I thought you might be able to talkwith them about various charitable causes in North America, and how these bracelets became popular.
Art Supplies - Art Supply Store | Michaels. These are three different string art kits. I included this because I remember (lo, those many long years ago) making one of these when I was in grade 4 or 5, so it could be suitable even for the 10 year old.
Art Supplies - Art Supply Store | Michaels. There are a bunch of little cross stitch kits that you can get, even those suitable for as young as 10, and ones for 15 year old and up.
Grapefruit, I looked at your profile, and noted that you’re in Canada. I went to a couple of other websites that might give you some ideas if you’re interested in taking some Canadiana.
This link is to Images of Canada, an online retailer of Canadian products. http://www3.mailordercentral.com/imagesofcanada/prodinfo.asp?number=61200. This link in particular is to an Inukshuk pencil kit and lunch bag.
You might also want to check out the National Gallery of Canada’s website. http://www.shopngc.ca/bookstore/browseProduct_e.jsp?category=122. This page will take you to art books for children.
Finally, do your cousins read/speak English? Have you considered taking them books. In particular, the Anne of Green Gables series might work well.
I like the dreamcatcher maker idea!
Thanks, PastAllReason - those links really help, especially the one to the National Gallery of Canada. I think I might get a few books to bring back. If the 10 to 15 year olds think they are too old for it or otherwise disinterested, I can give it to my cousin who has a toddler (around 2 now) and she can read them to her as bedtime stories or whatever. I don’t think the teenagers have the best grasp of English anyway… certainly not enough to read something like Harry Potter because even though they learn English at school, it’s something like how we learn French when we were in elementary school… maybe enough to get by and ask where the washroom is but not enough to read a plot-heavy story unless they are really motivated to learn.
I like the idea of bringing back useful things like pencil cases and backpacks with Canadian images printed on them, but once again the fact that they were made in China turns me off. Canadian-themed, but sewn together by a child in the country I’m visiting seems… inauthentic.
Honestly if you are travelling to visit people internationally bring them candy from home that they can’t get where they are. Do they get Reese’s Pieces there? How about 100 Grand bars? Kit Kats? Gummi Lifesavers? There has to be some sort of delicious novelty thing you can bring to them that they can’t find there.
I would certainly get things that the girls in the US are into. That makes it more interesting for them. Pick up some Webkinz if they have a computer. Webkinz are stuffed animals that you register and play on line. All the rage with my ten year old and her friends. Maybe Hanna Montana things. Go to toyrus and click the age groups and it will say what are the top sellers.
I still vote for three webkinz though 
Oh, I should add that while the link to the pencil case and lunch bag with the Inukshuk is made in Canada, I’m not sure I can find anything similar in the shops. I’m leaving soon, so I don’t want risk ordering anything online. I have yet to visit the touristy shops around downtown though, so I’m probably going to start a search this weekend.
Candy might be okay in small doses, but I got word from my aunt who went back a couple of years ago that she tried to give the girls each a box of (95 count) Halloween treats and was told that the girls aren’t allowed sweets. I’m not exactly sure what happened to the three boxes of chocolate, but I think the girls didn’t even get to keep a box to share between the three of them and were just passed onto other relatives… a weird sort of re-gifting by proxy. :dubious:
NO CANDY?!?
Well, why not just give them each a swift kick in the butt since apparently they aren’t allowed anything fun. 
I LOLed at this (and now my boss thinks I’m crazy…) but in all honesty, I don’t think “fun” for their children is a big concern of parents in Hong Kong. At least, not the way we think of fun…
That side of the family is a little stricter than normal Hong Kong standards, anyway.
My 27 year old cousin still isn’t “allowed” to date. Well, I mean, there are no objections to her meeting boys, but there is just never an opportunity for her to get out and get to know new people because she has a 11 PM curfew. Last time my parents went back, a few of the adults wanted to see what the karaoke hoo-ha that was popular at the time was about, but the 27 year old wasn’t allowed to go because it was already midnight… and this was with a group of responsible adults who were also relatives, not like they were a bunch of crazy strangers she met online or anything.
It makes me glad I grew up moral-less in Canada. 
ETA: I might be able to sneak them a chocolate bar or two under the radar… but I don’t think that constitutes as a “real” present.
Museum gift shops often have great artsy crafty items for kids.
10-15 year old girls like horses.
StG - former 10-15 year old girl
OK, it’s settled then - a horse for each of them.
Nah… for a fourteen hour flight, I think ponies are a better option.
Must… Resist… Urge… To make… Pedobear… Joke.