Gifts for Tween Girls

As anyone who has ever had to shop for a preteen knows, gifts for tween girls can be challenging to say the least. Tweens aren't always good at hiding their disappointment, especially with parents. However, there are a few tried and true favorites that are certain to make almost any tween girl smile.

What better gift then to let her explore her passion, such as music?

The first step to finding the perfect gift for your tween girl is to know her. Find out what her interests and hobbies are. Discuss her dreams. A young girl who wants to be a race car driver might enjoy season passes to the local race track, while a girl that wants to be a model would appreciate a gift certificate for a makeover or clothes. Since each preteen girl has such different interests these days, this step is vital if you want to pick the perfect gift for your tween. The last thing you want is to buy her an expensive MP3 player, only to find out she already has one or doesn't like them.

Sometimes you might find yourself in a situation where you have to purchase a gift for a tween girl that you don't know well. Perhaps the item is for a gift exchange, the party of one of your daughter's new friends or for a niece that lives several states away. In those cases, there are some tried and true gifts that almost every teen or preteen girl loves.

• Movie Passes: Most teens enjoy going to the movies. Since most preteens do not have an income and have to rely on their parents for movie money, this means the amount of movies she can go see are limited. Make sure the passes are for a nearby theater, so parents don't have to drive too far. Movie passes can be put into a gift basket with other goodies, like movie candy, popcorn and perhaps a favorite DVD.

• Lessons: Almost every teen has some interest. For some, they enjoy music. Others love art. Still others are crazy for sports. Whatever the passion, there is certain to be lessons in the tween's area that will help them excel. Paying for the tween to take guitar lessons at a local music store or to attend basketball or cheerleading camp can be a very nice gift that will be appreciated and remembered for years to come.

• Gift Certificates to Popular Stores: There are a few stores that the majority if teens seem to flock to. Most teens will appreciate a gift card to one of these stores. These include favorites like Aeropostle, Abercrombie, Hollister and Rue 21. Young girls also tend to like accessory stories like Claire's. Most tweens feel grown up when given a Starbucks gift card, so that is another possibility. Just check with mom or dad first to make sure the teen is allowed to get items from there and likes the store.

• Cold Hard Cash: Although cash might seem an impersonal gift, most tweens prefer cash. Cash is spent where the teen wants. Sometimes tweens will put together cash from several gifts to purchase a high ticket item she has been wanting. Instead of just putting cash in a card, you can always get creative with the gift. There are boxes that are puzzles that the teen has to solve to get the cash out available at stores like Spencer's. You could also make a flower out of the bills or tape them all together. Use Styrofoam shaped cones and make a "money tree". Another idea is to use origami and fold the bills into interesting shapes.

Sometimes the easiest way to figure out what to buy for gifts for tween girls is to simply ask them. Most tween girls want many different items and won't hesitate to tell you which one they want most. You may even want to take the girl on a shopping spree, give her a budget and watch her enjoy spending the money. This can create a memorable moment for the two of you and is a lot of fun.

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