Best Christmas gifts for tweens, as chosen by 9- to 12-year-olds themselves, from Jellycat toys to slime

The pros of buying a Christmas present for a tween (age nine to 12): they’ll tell you exactly what they want. The cons: they’ll tell you exactly what they want, and could very well change their mind 17 times before Christmas.

Time moves fast for Gen A tweens, who start as children with a love of Beyblades and end as teens who likely have a more expensive skincare routine than you. So, we spoke to several tweens to find out what they really want for Christmas (for now, at least).

The best gifts for tweens

Wimpy Kid and stationery

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess, £7.49
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Legami Savannah erasable pen set, £5.99
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Avocuddle eraser, £1.99
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Wimpy Kids are so funny, you can read them over and over, and I love the pictures. It’s exciting that there’s a new one for Christmas (Hot Mess)! I also want some pens from Legami. There are loads of different characters to collect, like animals, and you can rub them out. I also love their Avocuddle stationery. Cecily, 10

Movie moments

Mini projector, £85.99
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£129
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For Christmas, I would love a cool phone projector, as it could turn my room’s wall into a big screen – so I can watch movies with my friends. Charlie, 12

Cute and cosy

Jellycat Clementine Amuseable, £18
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£29.22
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Panda Oodie, £19.50
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Jellycat … they’re so cute and I love their faces. And I’d recommend my Oodie – they’re really fluffy and great for lounging around in. Áine, 11

Glow getter

LED lights, 3m, £63.99
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5m, £99.99
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Instax smartphone printer, £84.99
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£94.99
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I would like LED strip lights for my room. They’re great because you can control them from your phone and change the colour. There’s even a disco mode. Also, an Instax photo printer: this one is great because you can print collages and add a background and stickers. I love taking fun photos of my friends and family. Louis W, 12

Digital pets

Tamagotchi, £13
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Strawberry lip butter, £6
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£8.99
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I’d like a Tamagotchi, as I’d like the responsibility of a virtual pet! And some lip balm to stop my lips cracking in the cold. Rachael, 11

Dog Man 13, £6.49, published 3 December
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Football cards, from £0.45
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I would like Adrenalyn XL 2025 football cards because I really want to complete the collection and trade with my friends. I would also like the new Dog Man book (Big Jim Begins) because they’re funny and I love the cartoons in them. Louis P, 10

Mrs Clemitshaw’s Year 6 Class at Canon Popham C of E Primary Academy, Doncaster

DIY jewellery

Cool Maker Popstyle bracelet maker, £14
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Personalised woodland bracelet making kit, £14.36
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I would like a bracelet maker for Christmas. My sister Ayda and I love making bracelets and it’s a fun activity to do. You can make them and give them away to family and friends. Eva, 10
For more Taylor Swift-inspired gifts, see our Swifties gift guide

Stylish shoes

Adidas Samba, from £50
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What I would like for Christmas are Adidas Samba shoes. Girls my age, and older, love what is trending in fashion. Eliana, 10

Marvel figures and gaming

Deadpool action figure, £24.99
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£12.99
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EA Sports FC 25, £54.99
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£33.54
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I will be asking for some Deadpool things as it is popular. I would also like FC 25 [video game] and my friends are asking for it, too. Rupert, 10

Squishy pets

Original Squishmallows Connor the Cow, £9
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Original Squishmallows Todd the Rooster, £11.99
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For Christmas, I would like Squishmallows. I love the designs. They are unique and bright and are squishy and soft. They come in lots of sizes. Ella, 10

On-trend cup

Stanley Quencher, £45
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This year I, and other children my age and older, may want a Stanley cup. These are popular at the moment and would make a good gift. Jessica, 10

Rovers merch

Lego McLaren F1 race car, £21
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£16.99
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Doncaster Rovers replica shirt, £37
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I’d like Lego sets because I would want to expand my collection. Also, football shirts because I don’t have that many. My team is Doncaster Rovers. Phillip, 11

Thoughtful pressies

Tinou’s Shop jewellery box, £42
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£38
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This Christmas I would like to receive a musical jewellery box. I think this is a thoughtful and sentimental gift that you could treasure for many years to come. Lillie, 10

Big screen dreams

ADX gaming monitor, £129
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Samsung Odyssey G3 gaming monitor, £129
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£99.99
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For Christmas, I want a monitor for my gaming setup. I want it because my other TV is a couple of years old and keeps breaking when I want to play on it. Rhys, 10

St Patrick and St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, Birmingham

Art attack

Artworx 125-piece art case, £23.50
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YXSH 82-piece art set, £17.99
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I would like an art set for Christmas so that me and my sister can draw together. Fatima, nine

Sticky slime

So Slime DIY mix-in kit 10 pack, £10
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£9.99
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So Slime DIY magical potion maker, £30
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I would like a slime set because slime is relaxing and it helps you think about sticking to God because slime is sticky. Hafsa, nine

Wheelie good

X-Rated Shockwave BMX bike, £155
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Urban Gorilla BMX bike, £128
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I want a bike because I don’t how to ride a bicycle and I want my family to teach me. Mawuena, nine

Beyblade stadium

Beyblade X Beystadium Battle Arena, £10.40
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£11.99
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I want a Beyblade stadium because it helps me take away my stress. Bitania, nine

Can you kick it?

Mitre personalised football, £16
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Nike Pitch Team training football, from £14.98
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I would like a football for Christmas because it’s my favourite hobby. Kimberly, nine

Crafty kit

Air dry clay kit, £19.99
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£12.99
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I would like a clay set because it’s something I like to do. Montell, nine

Fully booked

Bookshelf, £83.99
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I want a bookshelf full of books. Faithful, 10

Painting set

Acrylic paints and brushes set, £12.99
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£6
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I would like a painting set for Christmas because it makes me calm, refreshed and relaxed. Tyrecesia, 10

Tech

Asus Chromebook, £149
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£148
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HP Stream 14in laptop, £249.99
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£159
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I would like a laptop because mine is broken and it will help me keep in contact with my friends and family and it helps with my work. Brilliance, nine

A puppy

Photograph: Jessica Peterson/Getty Images

I would like a puppy because they make you happy, and they’re cute. They can even make you responsible because you have to take care of them. That’s lovely, right? Olivia, nine

With thanks to the Guardian Foundation