Skip to main content
    GiftSolutions.AI

    Gifts for Tweens: 10 Picks, Sorted by Screen or No Screen

    For a nine to twelve year old, bought by someone who has an opinion on how much screen time this kid already gets.

    Picks for shoppers in Canada. Links go to Amazon.ca, where prices are shown in CAD.Updated October 17, 2026

    Affiliate disclosure: the merchant buttons on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through one we earn a commission from Amazon.ca, at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we picked or what we say about them.

    Three quick picks

    Different answers for different situations. The full list and the reasons are below.

    For a kid who wants a screen of their own, but not a phone

    Tamagotchi Paradise - White Glacier

    A virtual pet on its own small screen, listed for ages 6 to 12, with no app, no internet and no account. The headset is for a kid who already games; this is a first screen.

    View on Amazon.ca

    For a kid who already games

    Razer Kraken Kitty V3 X Gaming Headset (Pink)

    A wired headset with a mic and cat ears, for the console or computer they already use. The other two quick picks add no new screen time.

    View on Amazon.ca

    For a screen-free week of building

    LEGO Olivia Rodrigo Secret Storage

    1,085 pieces, listed from 10, and it ends as a case with hidden compartments. The digital building assistant is optional, so it can be fully screen-free.

    View on Amazon.ca

    The screen question comes first

    Between nine and twelve, most of what a child asks for has a screen in it, and most of the adults buying for them have a view on that. So this guide is sorted by the question the parents will ask first: does it have a screen? Two picks do. Three are screen optional: they work fine without one, and a phone or tablet adds something if the family allows it. The last five have no screen at all.

    Screen optional is a real category at this age. A LEGO set with a digital building assistant, a crochet kit taught by video, a battling top with a code to scan: the toy is the main event, and the screen is a helper the parents can say no to.

    Tweens are also the age where a gift can feel too young. A few of these are listed from a young age, because collectibles and cases are made for everyone, so we say whose taste each one suits rather than leaning on the box.

    We do not show prices on this page. Amazon prices move daily, so every button goes to the live product page on Amazon.ca.

    • What are the house rules on screens? Ask before you buy a screen pick.
    • Does this kid already game, or would a screen be new to them?
    • Do they like a long project, or something to collect and carry around?
    • Are they at the young end of the range or almost a teenager? Two picks are listed from 10 and 12.

    Compare the picks

    Current prices are on Amazon.ca, shown in CAD. Each button opens the product there.

    Compare all 10 picks
    1. Tamagotchi ParadiseA kid who wants something of their own to look after
    2. Razer Kraken Kitty V3 X headsetA tween who games with friends online
    3. LEGO Olivia Rodrigo Secret StorageAn Olivia Rodrigo fan who likes a big build
    4. The Woobles Keroppi crochet kitA Sanrio fan ready to learn a real craft
    5. Beyblade X Meteoroid DragoonA kid whose friends are already battling tops
    6. Barbie sewing machineA kid who wants to make their own clothes and accessories
    7. Caboodles On-The-Go Girl caseA tween starting a collection of lip balm, hair clips and small things
    8. FAO Schwarz Charm Squad braceletBest friends who swap and match
    9. Mini Brands Really Works vinyl playsetA music fan who loves tiny things
    10. Emotional Support NuggetsA tween with a dry sense of humour

    All 10 picks

    Tamagotchi Paradise - White Glacier
    1

    Tamagotchi Paradise - White Glacier

    Best for: A kid who wants something of their own to look after

    by Tamagotchi

    Its own small screen, with no app or internet behind it

    • Recommended for ages 6 to 12
    • Over 50 characters across 12 species, raised with a dial and buttons
    • Links with other devices so friends' Tamas can meet and play mini-games
    • Needs 2 AAA batteries, not included

    Why it fits

    A virtual pet is a screen a parent can live with: small, self-contained and about caring for something. Linking with friends makes it a playground thing, which is where tweens want their toys to be.

    Skip this if

    The house rule is no screens at all; it is a screen, however small. Buy the AAA batteries with it, since none come in the box.

    View on Amazon.caDetails
    Razer Kraken Kitty V3 X Gaming Headset (Pink)
    2

    Razer Kraken Kitty V3 X Gaming Headset (Pink)

    Best for: A tween who games with friends online

    by Razer

    Cat ears and a mic, on a wired, cross-platform headset

    • Kitty ear design, pink
    • HyperClear cardioid microphone
    • 40 mm drivers and 7.1 virtual surround sound
    • Wired 3.5 mm jack, about 270 g

    Why it fits

    A kid who already games will use a headset every day, and the mic is what lets them talk to friends while they play. The ears make it theirs rather than a parent's spare.

    Skip this if

    They do not game yet, or the family is trying to cut screen time. This adds nothing without a screen, and it makes the time in front of one more fun.

    View on Amazon.caDetails
    LEGO Olivia Rodrigo Secret Storage
    3

    LEGO Olivia Rodrigo Secret Storage

    Best for: An Olivia Rodrigo fan who likes a big build

    by LEGO

    The biggest project on this page, and it hides things

    • Ages 10 and up, 1,085 pieces
    • A concert touring case with 3 hidden compartments
    • An Olivia Rodrigo minifigure, plus a guitar, lyric notebook, vinyl record and microphone
    • Works with an optional digital building assistant for 3D viewing

    Why it fits

    Over a thousand pieces is a few evenings of building, and it ends as a place to keep secrets, which matters at an age when a bedroom starts to feel private.

    Skip this if

    They are not a fan. The singer is the theme, and a tween who does not listen to her will not want her on the shelf. It is also listed from 10, so check for a nine year old.

    View on Amazon.caDetails
    The Woobles Hello Kitty Crochet Kit for Beginners (Keroppi)
    4

    The Woobles Hello Kitty Crochet Kit for Beginners (Keroppi)

    Best for: A Sanrio fan ready to learn a real craft

    by Woobles

    A first crochet project, already started for them

    • Official Sanrio Keroppi design, about 4 to 6 inches finished
    • Pre-started piece, yarn, crochet hook, safety eyes, stuffing and a tapestry needle
    • Taught by step-by-step video tutorials
    • Recommended for ages 12 and up; younger crafters may need an adult

    Why it fits

    Crochet is a skill that lasts long past the gift, and starting from a pre-started piece with a character they already love gets them past the hard first rows.

    Skip this if

    They are nine or ten and nobody at home can help. The maker lists it from 12. And the lessons are videos, so it needs a screen for the learning part.

    View on Amazon.caDetails
    Beyblade X Meteoroid Dragoon Left-Spin Launcher Set
    5

    Beyblade X Meteoroid Dragoon Left-Spin Launcher Set

    Best for: A kid whose friends are already battling tops

    by Takara Tomy

    A left-spin top, so it battles differently from most

    • Ages 8 and up
    • One left-spin top and a left-spin string launcher
    • Die-cast metal parts and interchangeable blade, ratchet and bit layers
    • A scan code for virtual battles in an app

    Why it fits

    Beyblade is played in groups, at school and at friends' houses, and a left-spin top is a twist for a kid who already has right-spin ones. The app battles are extra, not required.

    Skip this if

    Nobody they know plays. One top and a launcher needs other tops and a stadium to battle against, and neither is in this box.

    View on Amazon.caDetails
    Barbie Sewing Machine
    6

    Barbie Sewing Machine

    Best for: A kid who wants to make their own clothes and accessories

    by Barbie

    A real machine for real projects, not pretend sewing

    • Foot pedal and simple controls
    • Straight and simple zigzag stitches
    • Enclosed needle area
    • Starter threads, needles and pattern templates; batteries required

    Why it fits

    Tweens start caring about what they wear, and a sewing machine turns that into a skill. Two stitches and a set of templates is enough for first scrunchies, pouches and doll clothes.

    Skip this if

    Nobody at home can help with threading or a stuck stitch. A first machine needs a patient adult nearby for the first few projects.

    View on Amazon.caDetails
    Caboodles On-The-Go Girl Makeup Case — Two-Tone Lavender & Blue
    7

    Caboodles On-The-Go Girl Makeup Case — Two-Tone Lavender & Blue

    Best for: A tween starting a collection of lip balm, hair clips and small things

    by Caboodles

    Storage with a mirror, for a kid who likes things in order

    • Two-tone lavender and blue hard plastic case
    • A roomy bottom compartment and a 3-compartment top tray
    • Built-in flip-lid mirror
    • Secure latch, about 8 by 12.8 by 5.9 inches

    Why it fits

    It holds makeup, but also hair accessories, crafts or school supplies, so it works whether or not the parents are ready for the makeup part.

    Skip this if

    They have nothing to put in it yet. An empty case is a slightly odd gift, so pair it with a few small things to start it off.

    View on Amazon.caDetails
    FAO Schwarz Charm Squad Cute Treats Bracelet & 4 Charms Set
    8

    FAO Schwarz Charm Squad Cute Treats Bracelet & 4 Charms Set

    Best for: Best friends who swap and match

    by FAO Schwarz

    The only thing on this page they wear

    • 1 bracelet and 4 removable charms
    • Cute treat designs: cupcake, ice cream, donut and candy
    • Adjustable chain with a clasp
    • Lightweight metal alloy with enamel or molded accents

    Why it fits

    Charms are made to be swapped, so a bracelet becomes something to trade and match with friends, which is how tweens use jewellery.

    Skip this if

    They are past the cute stage. Dessert charms suit a nine or ten year old better than a twelve year old trying to look older.

    View on Amazon.caDetails
    Mini Brands Really Works Vinyl Playset Series 1
    9

    Mini Brands Really Works Vinyl Playset Series 1

    Best for: A music fan who loves tiny things

    by ZURU

    A palm-sized record player that actually spins and plays

    • A working miniature record player
    • Comes with a mini vinyl of "APT." by Rosé and Bruno Mars
    • Display stand that becomes a mini record store
    • Battery powered, batteries not included

    Why it fits

    It is a desk toy and a collectible at once, and tweens who are getting into music like owning a tiny version of the real thing. More mini vinyls can be added later.

    Skip this if

    They do not like that song, since it is the only record in the box. Buy the batteries too, because none are included.

    View on Amazon.caDetails
    Emotional Support Chicken Nugget Plush Set
    10

    Emotional Support Chicken Nugget Plush Set

    Best for: A tween with a dry sense of humour

    by Relatable

    The joke gift on this page, and still cuddly

    • 5 plush chicken nuggets in a storage container
    • Each nugget about 3 to 4 inches
    • Soft plush with polyester fill

    Why it fits

    At this age a gift that makes them laugh can matter more than a useful one, and small plush nuggets are something they can bring to a sleepover or keep on the bed without it looking babyish.

    Skip this if

    They want something to do. This is a gag and a cuddle, not an activity, so pair it with another pick if it is the main gift.

    View on Amazon.caDetails

    Need something narrower?

    The finder starts from this guide's context, so you do not have to explain the recipient from scratch.

    Refine with the gift finder
    Share this guide

    Related guides