Skip to main content

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

6 great gifts to get your preteen this holiday season

Oh, the tween years. They’ve been so new and challenging. Your kid isn’t a grown-up, but they aren’t a little child anymore. Finding a Christmas present that reflects that can be tough. You don’t want to get them something that sends the message that you think they are still your baby (even though they are), but you don’t want to thrust something too grown-up at them.

Walking the line with a preteen can be tricky. Let’s take a look at some gift ideas that hopefully won’t have them pushing you over the edge.

Wrapped Christmas present on a wooden floor
Ben White

Those that like bright lights

If your kid loves bright lights and colors, there are some cute gifts for their room. Lights are an easy way to change up their room decor without having to put holes in the walls or repaint the room.

Elecstars LED Night Lighting Lamp

This is so fun. This LED lamp sends stars and moons all over your child’s room. If your preteen is having trouble sleeping at night and doesn’t want to ask for a night-light, this would be great. It will give them a calming, soothing effect that can help replace them leaving their TV on at night.

AOSTAR 40 LEDs Photo Clips String Light

If your tween likes to hang pictures of their friends up, this is a cute way to make that happen. Their room will really pop with these adorable string lights, and they can hang pictures, artwork, concert tickets, or any other mementos they want to include. It will be a fun and mess-free way for them to decorate their room and give it a little more personality.

Your tech-friendly kid

If your child is more into cool tech things, there are some great, reasonably priced items. Hopefully, they will help your tween to think are cool, too. You might even get parent points from your child.

Mpow CH6S Kids Headphones

Your preteen probably tries to drown out the sound of your voice at every opportunity, so they might as well have some fun headgear. These bright headphones come in a ton of colors, so there has to be one your tween would like.

The cushioned ear pads and adjustable band will be comfortable on your child’s head. The bright colors will make it easy to find if your child misplaces them.

Dizual 12” Screen Magnifier for Smartphone

This is really cool. Turn your cell phone into a larger movie screen. If your child plays games on their phone, this is perfect for them to have a larger screen to play on. It works with any smartphone and doesn’t need batteries. This will be a definite to take on vacations. You might want to take this one for yourself, so maybe get two.

For the old soul

Maybe your child isn’t into bright lights or the newest technology. That’s fine. That’s great, even! Here are some items that your more traditional preteen will be sure to like.

Foldology Puzzles

Puzzles are fun; they are great. But combine the challenge of a puzzle with the folding of origami, and you might give your kid something to keep them busy that doesn’t require a screen. These are smaller puzzles, so you can easily take them with you on road trips to keep them occupied.

Chameleon Colors Self-Care Survival Kit

Who doesn’t need some self-care from time to time? Just because your preteen’s problems are about who likes who and homework instead of paying the bills doesn’t mean they don’t have stress.

This self-care box has all kinds of goodies for your child to enjoy. Treats, little toys, and more, this kit has so much for your tween to explore. They might even share with you.

There you have it. A little bit for every kind of preteen. You will be sure to find something to satisfy even the most stubborn of species of offspring. Happy shopping!

Editors' Recommendations

Dannielle Beardsley
Dannielle has written for various websites, online magazines, and blogs. She loves everything celebrity and her favorite…
The Prime Day deal for Shark’s self-emptying robot vacuum is can’t-miss
Prime Day deal: Get 56% off the Shark robot vacuum
Person walking past Shark IQ self-emptying robot vacuum at docking station

For families that need help in keeping their floor clean, you should buy the Shark IQ self-emptying robot vacuum, which is currently available from Walmart at

as the retailer rolls out its own Prime Day deals during Amazon's annual shopping event. You'll enjoy a 56% discount with this Shark robot vacuum Prime Day deal, bringing the price of the smart home device down to $265 from its original price of $599.

Read more
Inspire the little ones: Shop all Melissa & Doug toys at HSN
Two boys playing with the Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Standing Art Easel.

Melissa & Doug is a beloved maker of children's toys that inspire little ones and offer countless ways to spark the imagination. The brand dates back more than 30 years and got its start making hand-crafted wooden puzzles and toys for children. Since then, the toymaker has expanded its ever-growing catalog to include a huge variety of play sets, puzzles, and more, all designed to foster open-ended imaginative play for your little ones -- and a huge collection of Melissa & Doug toys are currently on sale at HSN.

Melissa & Doug started in 1988 from humble beginnings with the brand's founders, Melissa and Doug Bernstein, making wooden puzzles. In the following years, the company expanded into making other wooden toys, stuffed animals, play sets, and more. Today, the toymaker's catalog features thousands of different products, each designed with a few principles in mind: creating child-led, open-ended play that lets kids engage their imaginations to the fullest, promote creativity, develop cognitive and problem-solving skills, and helping children discover their passions -- all while having fun in the process.

Read more
Get your kids ready for class with the Zulily Back to School Shop
A group of kids heading to school.

We're heading into August, which means that the school year is approaching fast, and while we're still a month or so away from the kids heading to class again, seasoned parents know that it's never too early to start shopping for back-to-school essentials. Your checklist of clothes, accessories, and school supplies can get out of control before you know it, but it's important to get your young ones started off on the right foot. Zulily can help by letting you do all your shopping in one place. From clothing and supplies to backpacks and lunchboxes, the Zulily Back to School Shop has everything you need to get the kids ready for the new year. Even better, all New Folks readers can save 15% by merely using the Shop Now link below -- the discount is automatically applied!
Shop Now

The Zulily Back to School Shop features a huge and rotating selection that covers just about anything that a class-bound kid needs to get the new school year started right. If you're looking to send your student off to school in style, then Zulily has you covered with stylish kids' clothing and shoes from brands like Adidas, Levi's, Sunshine Swing, Joules, Puma, and Millie Loves Lily, among others. Some fresh outfits are a great way to boost your child's confidence, making going back to school fun, and helping them feel their best as they face the challenges of the year ahead.

Read more