The best gifts for tweens in 2024, according to the mom of two picky kids

They're too big now for just any night light, but what kid can resist a bedside companion that's this off the wall? This rechargeable, double-sided light has adjustable brightness and a timer, and the little silicone feet are just the right size for propping up their phone.

If acne hasn't entered the chat yet, it will soon — and this is the trendy new way to deal with it. These hydrocolloid patches help dry up pesky pimples overnight (but don't be surprised if your tween proudly sports these away from home).

The closer they get to their teen years, the more time they're gonna want to spend in their room alone. This 16-foot string of twinkling LEDs is the ultimate cozy room decor. It's outfitted with 50 transparent clips that can hold photos, postcards, ribbons, concert tickets and other small mementos. A remote control and adhesive wall hooks are included.

Your average preteen is all about comfort. If they're bored with Crocs, introduce them to these bestselling Adidas slides, made with a cushy Cloudfoam midsole. Oh, and there are way more colors than classic black, including red, white and pink.  

Check out more of the comfiest sandals on Amazon, including another tween-coveted style: ultra-cushy pillow slides. 

Squishmallows' stranglehold over the plushie market — and the affections of tweens — shows little sign of loosening. (And if you have to ask, "But why a capybara?" you clearly haven't spent enough time on TikTok.)

This card game from the makers of Exploding Kittens is all about chaotic fun. One player has an open-ended prompt ("I'm locked in a tiny room. What else is locked in here with me?") and others have to think of a creative answer that matches an intensity level from 1 ("a talking penguin") to 10 ("an atomic bomb"). The first player has to put the answers in order — be prepared for a lot of bargaining, silliness and laughs.

Take it from a parent who knows: Tweens aren't too old to appreciate a simple ball — especially one they can play with inside around electronics, ceramic lamps, windows and even grandma's collectibles. The impact-absorbing Ollyball weighs less than an ounce and inflates (and reinflates) easily. Bonus: They can color in the graphics with markers.

Speaking of markers, these may be the most satisfying things kids have ever doodled with in their entire life. Check out this TikTok and you'll get the idea. This 36-piece set comes with a wider range of colors than most, and the markers work on a variety of surfaces, including glass, fabric and wood.

Tweens get a little more independent every day, but that doesn't mean they won't leave their instrument on the bus or their bike at a friend's. Let those forgetful little birdies flap their wings with a fallback plan: a lost-item tracker like the Apple AirTag. The setup is ridiculously simple for iPhone users, and the Find My network is an efficient way to track down wayward stuff.

Not an Apple lover? Check out more of the best Bluetooth trackers, including picks from Tile and Eufy.

The fidget craze may be dying down, but this box that transforms into over 70 shapes with the help of rare-earth magnets is way more satisfying than your average Pop-It. It comes in over 18 colorful patterns, and multiple cubes can be combined to make more intricate sculptures. 

Repeat after us: 10-year-olds don't need retinol serums or creams. But if you're trying to satisfy a skin-care-obsessed tween, this starter kit is a great pick, according to Yahoo Senior Beauty Editor Jennifer Romolini. "This is an amazing starter skin care line: The products are mild yet effective, they're affordable and the packaging is cute and modern — ticking all the beauty boxes without feeling like you're getting scammed by an empty TikTok trend," she says.

Giant Stanley tumblers are so 2023. The new "it" water bottle is the Owala, and you'll be happy to know it's more practical than the Stanley in almost every way, especially for accident-prone tweens. "It's been flipped upside down in my gym bag and knocked off the kitchen counter by my cat," wrote Izabella Zaydenberg, Yahoo Deputy Commerce Editor, in her Owala review. "It's even rolled around the back seat of a car during hours-long drives. I've never seen a drop of water escape."

Need something for a tween who just can't seem to sit still? It's Pindaloo to the rescue. The concept is simple: Swing the ball down through the U-shaped tube, catch it and keep going as long as you can. Of course, it's a little trickier in practice — not to mention downright addictive. 

This colorful gizmo is our best mini outdoor speaker of the year, and its compact size makes it just right for looping onto a backpack. "I was constantly surprised by the quality of music I heard from this little thing," says Yahoo Tech Editor Rick Broida. "Also impressive: Soundcore promises up to 12 hours on a charge; I'd have expected half that, given its size." The built-in light effects are a tween-friendly cherry on top. 

Clay beads and friendship bracelets have had quite the year thanks to Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour." If you know a Swiftie who's ready to branch out, this comprehensive jewelry-making kit is particularly beginner-friendly: It comes with plenty of beads and tools, plus 15 video tutorials. 

LED light strips have long been a staple of tween- and teen-room decor, but neon signs are trendier. This low-voltage option (actually LEDs on an acrylic backboard) is powered by a simple USB cord. It's instant, easy ambience for any gaming cave.

It's time to introduce needlepoint to a new generation, and this irresistible cat pillow kit is just the way to do it. Everything they'll need is included, from needles and stuffing to yarn and a simple-to-follow video tutorial. 

Lego's cross-generational appeal means there's something for kids (and adults!) of any age. This 654-piece upscaled minifigure would make a whimsical addition to any tween's room, and the hat opens to reveal a sly surprise: a smaller minifigure controlling all the action. 

This ain't your mama's Rubix cube. The app-connected GoCube offers a step-by-step tutorial and tons of different game modes, including the ability to battle friends. It also tracks stats as players progress from puzzle pupils to pros. 

Go figure: It turns out tweens and teens actually appreciate having physical pictures that live somewhere other than a smartphone, and this Kodak gives them just that — instantly. It prints 2x3-inch photos on special Zink paper, included in the bundle. They'll also get a convenient carrying case. 

Wireless headphones from Bose, Sonos and Apple can cost you $300, $400, even $500. But these Soundcore cans strike the right balance of nice-but-not-too-nice for a tween — and they made our list of the best noise-cancelling headphones of 2024. "I'm no audiophile; I just like listening to music and going about my business," Broida says. "Space Ones don't match the depth and richness offered by higher-end headphones like the Sonos Aces, but they sound perfectly good to my ears. And noise-cancelling exceeded my expectations, given the price."

Here's another gadget for the nice-but-not-too-nice file. Amazon's Fire HD 8 is our best budget tablet of 2024, and it's a great pick for tweens who can live without a pricey iPad. It offers "an embarrassment of tablet riches," including easy access to books, music, movies, TV shows and games — and it's often on sale, Broida says. 

If your tween is going to sing the same Sabrina Carpenter song over and over, at least give them some decent accompaniment. This adorable gadget is more than just a karaoke machine, though — it's a speaker, an alarm clock and a display for all the pixel art they can dream up.

Upgrade their ride with this foldable electric scooter — and maybe even get yourself out of giving them a lift to a friend's house. Top speed is 12 mph, and there's a cruise-control mode that can give their hands a break from mashing the accelerator. It'll go up to 7 miles on a single charge, which is plenty for around-the-neighborhood cruising.

Laugh all you want, but I own two of these Shark Tank favorites — and my tweens can't get enough of 'em. Our old bean bags are gathering dust, but these memory-foam crash pads are used daily (sometimes by sleepy grown-ups and felines too). The ultra-soft faux fur cover is removable and machine-washable, and there's a little pocket to keep phones, tablets, books and earbuds from getting lost during a catnap.