I’m fresh out of gift ideas for this kid of mine. She’s right in that stage between being a kid and being a teenager, and I need a “Santa” gift. (Yeah, she knows, but her brother doesn’t.) I’m trying to think of something with some of that “wow” factor for her to run out and see in the morning. Oh yeah, and price is definitely a factor, as I am going to be very poor very soon, but any idea that will help me get my imagination in gear will be appreciated.
And what are you getting your kids of that age?
I don’t have any kids, but when my sisters were that age, they really loved any of the newer Disney type movies and outfits.
I’m thinking…
-CD player (can be quite cheap with holiday sales, I’ve seen some for $15) + a small gift card at a nearby music store.
-for a higher budget a 13" TV for her own room (I got one for my thirteenth birthday from my “cool” uncle and used it till I turned 27 and it finally died. Best ever.)
-depending on where you live, horse riding lessons (or even a “gift certificate” for a trail ride together at a local park).
-Tickets to some performance you are certain she’ll enjoy (for many years I got Theater tickets for my birthday). Local Universities are a good source of inexpensive, suprisingly well-done plays and dance performance.
Ello seems to be popular. ToysRus says 5-10, but my cousin seems to like them and she’s 13.
Last year she got a lipgloss maker. It kind of was like this one except it wasn’t Barbie Brand. It was a hit!
I guess it just depends on how ‘grown up’ she is.
My niece is 13 and she’s into journals and gel pens and jewelery making stuff…
Make up-- You can get those big industrial deal gift sets at Wal-Mart pretty cheap. While grown women will scorn it a young teen girl will go ape over it.
Is thre a “Design-Your-Own Bear” store near you? It is, as the name suggest, a place to design yur own stuffed animal–type of eyes, nose, clothes, how much stuffing, etc. A certificate for such a bear could be a “wow” gift.
Or, if she is on the edge of being “grown-up”, a certificate to do something she hasn’t been allowed to do. For example, my niece is going to be allowed to get her ears pierced on her next birthday. Your daughter may want a pair of high-heel shoes, or take her to get a professional manicure (you could give her a small manicure kit so she could continue to do her nails), have her colors done, or to get her hair cut anyway she wants. If you get her make-up, arrange to have her meet with a cosmetologist to learn how to apply it correctly and to maintain healthy skin while using make-up. Perfume is another gift that always marked the transition from kid to young lady in my family.
If she enjoys movies, DVDs are the way! Less than $20.
Are you handy? You could give her a gift certificate to a home improvement store - and let her choose the paint color for her room. And you could spend the week before New Year’s fixing up her room.
Is Seventeen Magazine still around? My recollection is that Seventeen is what I read when I was 13, and I’d moved on to the magazines for adult women by the time I was 16 or so.
Anyhow, magazines like that , Jane comes to mind, usually have gift guides. maybe leave one lying around the house and see if she says anything about stuff she sees in there.
What about a new back pack stuffed with things like a new journal with nifty pens, stickers, maybe a pair of those craft scissors with the patterned scalloped edges…
What kind of presents does Santa usually bring?
A cool puzzle box? I give these alot and they are always popular.
Get her a book - say an H.P. Lovecraft compilation. Kids like that kind of stuff.
Brief sequential thread situation. 11:40 pm cst, Dec. 5th.:
What would you buy a 12 year-old girl for Christmas?
Sex toy poll
Would it be OK for me to do this?
Lesbian Porn?
:eek:
Ok, I’ve had my fun. Carry on.
What about wrapping up a home made gift certificate around a brick and put it in a box?
You could offer to take her to the movies once a month for the rest of the year. That would be some decidely cool one on one time with her.
Or (given the monetary situation to come) the right to pick a video of her choice and whatever she wants for dinner ( you make) and make it a family night in once a month. It might be a really cool tradition to start. Say it is from Santa (for the sake of the younger child) that he is giving said child the gift of family. Then when the younger one is 12, he gets to pick the movie and dinner.
And since I’ve just joined a bowling team, I think everyone should join this sport, take her bowling. It could be a life long addiction that is fairly inexpensive compared to a host of other things kids do.
A 12 year old boy?
They can be had for cheap.
Look in Michael Jackson’s dustbin.
For a girl who’s “between being a kid and being a teenager” His Dark Materials seems ideal
(It’s about a 12 year old girl who’s between being a kid and being a teenager, with a bit of science fiction thrown in)
A fancy hope chest. Some girls are into that sort of thing; if only as it provides a locked box her siblings can’t get into.
In this modern age, you might say it is for when she goes to college.
Excellent title-spotting! It’s even worse for me - every time I see this thread title, I read it as “What [comma] would you buy a 12 year old girl for Christmas?” And I think, “Heavens no - what would I do with one?”
Does she enjoy crafts? If so, a bead kit like this one would be a welcome gift. You can find a wide variety of kits like this one at craft stores like Hobby Lobby or Michael’s. Walmart also carries a few kits, but the selection and quality generally are not as good as what you will find a at larger craft store.
I loved making my own jewelry when I was twelve. In fact, I still do. 
- Chicken Soup for the Soul has many books for teenagers and kids…my 13 year old wanted all of them when she read her first one. I bought about six of them for around $3 each off Ebay last year.
- If she has a computer there are tons of inexpensive games for girls in the stores.
- You can get her some artist kits, whether for drawing, painting, sculpting, clay and the tools cost very little and are tons of fun at Michaels or Craftmania.
- How about buying some cloth paint for her to decorate her t-shirts or jeans?
- Pajamas are always a good bet, or maybe she is mauture enough for a pet like a bird?
- I like Shirley’s idea of the family time once a month. Right now it is so important you and she have that time together alone.