Top 37 Christmas gifts for 10- to 12-year-olds in the UK

Selecting presents for children in their tween years can be a difficult balancing act, as some still enjoy crafts, board games and Lego, while others have moved on to skincare and playing guitars. To address this range, I spoke to 20 tweens aged 10 to 12 from across the country about the items they already own, genuinely love and use on a regular basis. These suggestions offer tried and tested gift ideas at various price points for the 2026 festive season.

Millie, 10, recommended the Lottie Brooks six-book set, noting, "I’ve read all nine of the Lottie Brooks books, and I can’t wait to read number 10, Twelve Disasters of Christmas. I really like them because they are easy to read and teach you about life. They make me laugh out loud. I also think kids my age would love to get a dance mat, they’re loads of fun." Sophia, 10, suggested a 3D printer, stating, "My friend has a 3D printer, and I love it – I think kids my age would want one so we can make fidgets and other things. I’m definitely asking for one this Christmas."

Football fans might appreciate the Premier League football or the Joga Starz match day bundle. George, 10, explained, "For my birthday this year, I got a size 3 football and Joga shin pads, which I think are good gifts for anyone who likes football." For beauty enthusiasts, Emily, 10, highlighted the Daise Bloom body mist, 100ml, saying, "Daise is my favourite brand. It does lip glosses, body mists and body creams. 10-year-old girls really love the lip glosses. My recommendations are Cake Pop, Cherry Bomb and Very Vanilla. The body mists I’d recommend are Sunny and Bloom."

Alba, 10, endorsed the book 'The World of Skandar: The First Unicorn Rider' by AF Steadman. She said, "I love The World of Skandar: The First Unicorn Rider, as well as the series before this prequel, too – which is about a boy called Skandar who’s a unicorn rider. The unicorns in these books aren’t what we’re used to: they’re ferocious and bloodthirsty, not cute and cuddly. This prequel is full of adventure, elemental magic, battles and secrets. It’s the most exciting book I’ve ever read!"

Daphne, 11, shared her love for the Douglas chase border collie, the Warriors graphic novel box set, the Ion8 Celestial water bottle, 600ml, and WiZ Smart LED lights. She remarked, "My favourite thing is my Douglas cuddly toy. I have a border collie.

They’re cute and perfect for hugging when you need to give something a squeeze. (Daphne’s mum, Sam, says you can get some good deals on Vinted, too). Next is the Warriors wild cats graphic novels.

Cool cats that fight to the death? What’s not to love? It’s a good story, and I love the artwork.

The WiZ Smart LED lights transformed my bedroom and can give it a different aesthetic depending on how I’m feeling. I like having them on a soft setting at night, so they keep the room a little bit light. Also, I love water bottles!

Any type. I’m just obsessed with them."

Jack, 11, recommended the Wavelength party game, noting, "Wavelength is really fun, a great team game. I love playing it with my family and friends. It’s popular on YouTube, where there’s loads of videos of people playing it." Regarding hydration, Arielle, 11, suggested the Owala FreeSip bottle, 909ml, adding, "These Owala drink bottles are so good because they come in loads of different colours and designs. They’re steel and keep drinks hot or cold for hours. You can also drink from the straw or chug it."

Edward, 11, expressed interest in the Martin Smith 3/4 size acoustic guitar in natural wood, a Fortnite Peely action figure, and a Fortnite V-Bucks gift card. He said, "My guitar. I love music. I want to be the best guitarist in a famous rock band. I also love anything Fortnite, but especially a Peely toy. He’s my favourite, and one of the older skins [Fortnite character]. A good gift would be a V-Bucks gift card, so you can buy Fortnite skins."

Olivia, 12, suggested a leopard-print dressing gown and a light box, stating, "I think other tweens would love a big fluffy dressing gown because it’s great for chill days when you don’t want to do anything, and it keeps you warm, cosy and comfortable. Just beware, your parents may love it even more and want constant cuddles! I also love light boxes (mine is from Flying Tiger) because it’s a great decoration for all bedrooms, so customisable and aesthetic. On mine, I put positive affirmations to start my day off right."

Raph, 11, recommended Cards Against Humanity Family Edition, saying, "I love playing Cards Against Humanity Family Edition. The solutions are really funny (some are a bit rude!) and you can never get bored. We always take it away with us when we go camping or to visit friends." Phoebe, 11, favoured Jellycat Amuseables pink and white marshmallows, noting, "I love my Jellycats because they are fun to cuddle and play with and are just so cute. They are amazing as a gift, easy to wrap in their bag, and there are many different types, like food, animals and objects."

Finally, Rosie, 12, recommended the Laneige berry sweet lip trio and a Space NK mini travel bag. She said, "I love the beauty brand Laneige and all the girls I know like it too. I got this great gift set with some of my favourites in it. I especially love the lip sleeping mask. I also think this makeup bag is mega-cute and would make a great present for a girl my age."