Preteens are at that difficult phase of their development when they are no longer children and not quite teenagers. Categorized typically as eleven- and twelve-year-olds, they struggle between letting go of childish toys and yearning for teenage entertainment.
This age group can be very challenging to buy for. If you have a preteen girl at home, you may be wondering what to get her for a birthday or holiday gift. Here are some ideas that may appeal to your adolescent taste:
1. Get her a collector's doll. While she is too old to play with babies and cradles or other domestic-type toys, she may enjoy a lovely collector's item that can start or add to her collection of beautiful dolls. There are several product lines available, including American Girl and Barbie. Look at the various types in the toy section of your local department store or at a toy store. You can shop online by doing a search for collector dolls and visiting Web sites that offer these for sale. Accessories for the doll are optional, depending on whether your daughter may not want to dress the doll, but may still be interested in adding a hair accessory or a purse, etc.
2. Get her a piece of sports equipment. If your daughter is already involved with community or school sports, you know what her interests are. If she isn't, this is a great age to whet her appetite for physical activity. The surgeon general recommends that school-age children get thirty to sixty minutes of daily exercise for their health. Buy your daughter volleyball, soccer ball, mitt, bat, cheerleader's megaphone, tennis racquet or other sports equipment. Even if she doesn't want to play on a team, a croquet or bad mitten set make great gifts for outdoor use when the weather permits. An additional benefit is she can share these gifts with siblings or friends.
3. Get her a musical instrument. As long as she doesn't absolutely detest musical practice, get her a violin, clarinet, oboe, flute, saxophone, or even drums to experiment with. She may develop a taste for studying the instrument with professional lessons. Or she may simply enjoy experimenting with the new sounds in creative ways. Even a keyboard or a karaoke microphone will encourage her to explore music and her voice potential.
4. Get her an art set. Calligraphy pens are a great introduction to using art for personal fun, relaxation, and creativity. Or you may want to get her a sketchbook with charcoal or pencils, and urge her to capture the likeness of family members or outdoor scenes. You can get her watercolor paints with canvas and an easel for the gung-ho art apprentice. You'll need to place newspapers under the easel to catch drippings, though.
5. Get her a science experiment kit. Avoid the kind for young children. Look for a kit that is designed for kids of middle-school age. Microscope observations, physics experiments, and nature studies can expand her awareness of the physical laws that govern the universe while providing her with a quality activity that will expand her critical thinking skills and enhance her appreciation for school science study.
Be sure to guide or follow your daughter's progress with any of these gifts. Show interest in the results, and post them in a prominent place if she is willing for her work to be displayed. Coaching a child's mental and artistic development is an excellent way for parents to provide a thoughtful gift and encouragement to help kids develop new skills.
