Welcome to Metropolitan Mama’s Christmas Gift Guide for Girls (ages 8-12). Below you will find clothes, shoes, toys, gear, games, and accessories that girls are bound to love for Christmas 2020.
Because we currently have an 8-year-old and an 11-year-old in the house, I have an excellent “pulse” on what girls in this age range are most excited about. The below gift ideas are all items that I know my daughters would be thrilled to find under the tree!
If you’ve been following my blog for any length of time, you know that I am a HUGE fan of Tea Collection. Headquartered in San Francisco, Tea Collection debuts new collections several times a year – each inspired by a different region of the world. My favorite thing about this global-centric company is the soft, stretchable, and lightweight materials used to create their pieces. As you know, we love Tea’s dresses and tees...but have you tried their pajamas? They are super soft and uber-comfy! Available for babies up to age 12 or so.
Pictured Above: Long Sleeve Pajamas (left - Flores Violets; right - Pretty Pajaro).
Girls (ages 8-12) will love How to Draw Faces by Faber-Castell, a beginner’s guide to drawing faces. The kit includes: 15 colored pencils (with 6 skin tones), a mirror and easel, a skin tone color wheel, tracing and drawing paper, and detailed instructions.
Throwback to your childhood! Perler Beads are still around and they are just as much fun as they were back then. Available in numerous color palettes, the beads can be made into numerous patterns and designs. Swans, hearts, ice cream cones, pizza slices, puppies, anything you can think up! Use clear pegboards to make your picture, then fuse the beads together using a wax paper and a hot iron (ask an adult to help!). There are even glow-in-the-dark beads!
Long sleeve rashguards are surprisingly hard to find for young girls, but they are our favorite kind of suit because they provide optimal comfort & year-round sun protection. How adorable is this rain forest themed set from Snapper Rock? We love it all - the suit, the shorts, and the charming pink-rimmed fedora! Perfect for a day at the beach!
If you're looking for a classic one-piece surfsuit inspired by Audrey Hepburn, this is it. It's sleek and sophisticated, while also having fun features like frilly polka dot sleeves!
Tweens are just getting to the age where skincare and good hygiene are of the essence. California Baby's #superclear Clear Skin Kit is an excellent easy introduction to keeping skin healthy. The kit includes willow bark face wash, a konjac facial sponge, moisturizing cream, and broad spectrum sunscreen...all with super safe ingredient profiles!
One of the coolest designs we've seen all season! These Altalight Tie-Dye Sneakers by Merrell are stylish to the max while also being sturdy and supportive. Although she'll be able to wear them daily to school, they also offer Quantum Grip (which is perfect for hitting local hiking trails!).
If you're looking for the perfect consumable gift for girls in the 7-10 age range, pick one of the thematic "Sticker Dolly Dressing" books published by Usborne. These darling books are similar to paper dolls - except with reusable stickers! Perfect for road trips or airplane rides also!
Any girl who enjoys adventuring will appreciate a new pair of waterproof shoes. The Atlas II is part sneaker, part hiking boot - and is specifically designed for outdoor play. Because they are lightweight, she can wear these almost anywhere. These are especially great if your girl lives in a snowy or rainy climate.
Faber-Castell’s Card Making for Beginners includes 5 cards, 5 envelopes, 5 mixed media stencils, 1 sheet of transfers, 5 watercolor pencils, 1 artist pens, a paintbrush, a wood stick, and a design guide. With this kit, kids will be able to make cards for family members and friends for almost any occasion – birthdays, thank you cards, encouragement cards, even letters to penpals!
Instead of buying a toy doctor kit, consider gifting a REAL first aid kit to the aspiring doctor on your list. Young girls will love that they can come to the rescue when siblings and friends need a splinter removed, a scrape bandaged, or a cold pack on a bruise.
If your child loves inventing and coming up with wacky & wonderful cardboard creations, consider the box cutters by Canary. They offer a great way to cut boxes without having to use scissors or other awkward tools. The 15F cutter is best for 9-12 years olds, while the 30F and 190F (pictured) are designed for 13-16 years olds. As with all tools of this nature, adult supervision is warranted.
If you're unsure what to get a girl between ages 8 to 12, buy running shoes and call it a day! She'll LOVE them (and so will her parents since shoes wear out with each new season!).
The Gel-Kayano 27 is super comfy due to FLYTEFOAM cushioning and GEL technology cushioning. She'll feel confident as she glides around the playground, school track, or tennis court.
Art supplies are so much fun...and they're an especially ideal gift for this season of staying home more often. With markers, colored pencils, and paints, your girl can reimagine the world on paper. Faber-Castell offers both craft kits and stand-alone supplies of all kinds. Some of our favorite picks for 2020 are pictured above.
December is an excellent time to refresh your child’s school uniform wardrobe. By midyear, some pieces may be getting worn from lots of washing and rough-and-tumble playground play. Although it may seem a bit boring, I can assure you that my own three daughters would be thrilled to receive new pieces that they can wear to school – skirts, shorts, skorts, sweaters, pants, or dresses. French Toast is one of our family’s go-to brands for classic pieces that wear and wash well.
Pictured Above: Bow Pocket Cardigan, Kick Pleat Scooter, and Cardigan 2-in-1 Blouse.
For a super fun (and healthy!) stocking stuffer, consider a simple manual toothbrush. Hamico, a Japanese company, offers soft-bristled toothbrushes in a number of cute designs.
If you know a young pianist between ages 8 and 12, consider this lovely book of beginning music. The slim book features 20 popular holiday sings, including: Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Joy to the World, and O Little Town of Bethlehem. Interspersed in the pages are 16 coloring pages. The book also comes with a code for downloadable MP3s of all included songs.
Hydro Flask is a brand that is well-loved among kids, teens, and college students because they offer water bottles that are both durable and stylish. Pictured above is the 32 Oz Wide Mouth bottle in Watermelon (such a cheery color!).
P.S. Did you know that Hydro Flask also now sells packable slings so that you can carry your water bottle hands-free around town? They also have NEW insulated lunchboxes in adorable colors!
Klutz puts out super fun activity and craft kits that girls in this age range are bound to love. I remember longingly browsing the Klutz kits at toystores and bookshops as a young girl.
Now owned by Scholastic, Klutz has a ton of options - including kits that you may remember from your own childhood (plus...brand new releases)!
Pictured Above: Glitter Face Painting, Fabulous Flowers, and Make Your Own Tiny Camper.
Crunch! Slosh! Glide! Merrell's Snow Crush 2.0 Boots are the perfect gift for girls who live in frigid climates. These insulated, waterproof, adorable boots are rated to -25 degrees to ensure toasty toes in almost any kind of weather.
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Some of the products in the list below were sent to us to try. Other products are ones that we purchased ourselves or were given by family members and friends. Know that I will always provide both the pros and cons of each featured product. You are welcome to send any follow-up questions to me via twitter (I’m @stephsheaffer).