Gifts for tweens in the UK

What tweens actually want

Between about 9 and 12, kids start to care what their friends think of a gift. Anything that looks like it came from the toddler aisle gets put away. They do not want adult things either. They want the real version: a camera that takes real film, a hand that actually moves, a computer they can code.

Look at what they do after school. A builder will spend a weekend on the hydraulic hand. A gamer will use the Minecraft Light Locker every day. A tween who likes a quiet project will finish the Snoopy embroidery in an evening.

By interest

Builders and coders: the micro:bit is the one we would buy first, because many UK schools already use it, so a tween carries on at home with what they learnt in class. The Circuit Lab and the hydraulic hand are the step up for a kid who likes long builds. The Vecco camera is a build that does something afterwards.

Puzzlers and gamers: Thor's Hammer for a tween who likes being left alone with a problem, Not Mushroom and Donut Dunk for family evenings, the Light Locker and the Sonic lamp for a gaming corner.

Makers: the cross stitch kit, the Snoopy embroidery and the origami set. All three are cheap and calm.

Budgets

Under £15: the cross stitch kit, the origami, the Vecco camera, Thor's Hammer, the Sonic lamp and the embroidery kit. Good for stockings and party bags.

£15 to £40: the micro:bit, the Science Museum kits, the games and the Light Locker. Most good tween gifts sit here.

The Lucy & Yak backpack is the bigger spend, and the print is bold. Check their taste first.

Mistakes to avoid

Forgetting the extras. The Vecco camera needs 35mm film and bright daylight. The Circuit Lab and Donut Dunk need batteries. The micro:bit needs a computer or tablet. Sort these before the day.

Leaving it late. Several of these ship from small UK shops, so order by early December to be safe with Christmas post.

Questions people ask

How much should I spend on a tween gift?

For a classmate's party, under £15 is plenty: Thor's Hammer or the Vecco camera kit both land well. For a family member, £15 to £40 covers the micro:bit, the Science Museum kits and the Minecraft Light Locker. Spend more on clothes or a bag only if you know their taste, because tweens are picky about what they wear.