What do you buy a little girl who’s not quite so little anymore? Shopping for tweens is challenging, and finding gifts for 10-year-old girls can be tricky. “At age 10, girls feel much more grown up because they are in the double digits for the first time,” says Marissa DiBartolo, senior editor of the trade magazine Toy Book.
“They are right on the cusp of being a teenager, so they want toys that are a bit more complex and reflect their personality.” Girls this age want to be “like their friends, but also unique,” explains Laurie Schacht, president and chief toy officer with The Toy Insider. “When I think about gifts for 10-year-old girls, the first thing that comes to mind is the do-it-yourself, design-your-own trend.”
DiBartolo and Schacht may be on to something, being toy industry insiders and all, but let’s face it, they’re also grown-ups. If you’re wondering what to buy for your own, double-digit diva, it may be best to consult advisers closer to her age.
Consider these in-the-trenches toy ideas for 10-year-old girls from Ria, a fifth-grader from Folsom, California, and Gabriella, a Brooklyn-based 10-year-old:
- LEGO Minecraft
“This is my favorite toy because you can build whatever you want, and they don’t tell you what you have to build. I like to make houses and play with the little figures,” says Gabriella.
- Monopoly Board Game
“Monopoly makes me feel grown up because you play with money and buy stuff,” says Ria.
- Friendship Bracelets
One of the most popular gifts for 10-year old girls you can buy, these do-it-yourself wearables get an enthusiastic thumbs up from both Ria and Gabriella. “I like to design my own and make them with my friends,” explains Gabriella.
- Jump Rope
“I like to jump rope because it’s easy to control. It’s fun to hop, and my mom says its exercise,” says Gabriella.
- Fashion Angels Tapeffiti
“I love these patterns and have fun sticking them everywhere,” says Ria.
- Strawberry Shortcake
“I love this doll because she’s really girly and loves pink stuff,” enthuses Gabriella.
Strawberry Shortcake 6″ Classic Doll - It’s My Biz Ultimate Business Guide
“This is like an entrepreneur book to make your own business,” says Ria, who is hoping to be either a marine biologist or a writer when she grows up.
- The Marvel Encyclopedia
“This is really huge and really fun,” says comic book fan Gabriella, who likes the illustrations and histories of each character.
- The Game of Life
“This game is super cool because you can think about what your life will be like when you’re a grown-up,” says Ria.
- American Girl Dolls
“I don’t play with dolls, but I do collect them,” says Ria, who makes clothes for her American Girl Truly Me doll from cut-up pieces of fabric that she sews together. “I have Isabelle, last year’s Girl of the Year, and a doll I named Stephanie. I like that you can pick a doll who is a girl just like you,” notes Gabriella.
- Hearts Paper Chains
“I like making things out of paper, like lanterns and crafts you can decorate with and use,” says Ria.
- Shopkins
Both Gabriella and Ria say they love playing with itsy-bitsy miniature dolls, like the cute Shopkins collectibles. “I love playing with tiny miniatures with my friends and making up scenes,” explains Gabriella.
Watching your sweet little daughter grow up can be bittersweet. You blink once and the next thing you know, she’s 10 and stuffing the hug-worn teddy she loved last year into the back of her closet. As your tween tentatively sticks her little pinkie toe into what’s to come, choosing the best gifts for 10-year-old girls while also keeping your child’s unique personality in mind, lets her know you “get” her — where she is and where she’s headed.
Are your little ones not quite 10? Check out 25 Popular Toys for Ages 2 through 10!
Corey Kagan Whelan is a freelance writer specializing in all things mom, living in New York City.
