The Best Gifts for 10 Year Old Girls (2026): 65 Ideas, With a Top 10 Picked by My Own 10 Year Old

Shopping for gifts for 10 year old girls is its own special puzzle. When my daughter turned ten this past summer, it felt like gifts suddenly got 10x harder. Ten is the age where the unicorn stuff sometimes feels “babyish,” but she still lights up over a craft kit, still sleeps with a stuffed animal, and still wants to be surprised on Christmas morning by something from Santa. She very into anything that reads “teenager” … but so much of that is stuff she’ll be excited to open and won’t actually play with. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them at no extra cost to you.

With four kids between 4 and 11, this is my second time shopping for a 10 year old, and the list looks completely different than it did two years ago. So this year I did something different. I researched everything I could find (the Toy Insider and Amazon holiday lists, toy company announcements, tween trend reports, lots of parent threads, and the wonderful mom group chat), added the classics we already own and love, and then I handed the whole list to my daughter and let her pick the top 10.

So what are the best gifts for 10 year old girls this year? The ones she’ll talk about at school in December and still be using in June. That’s how I’ve organized this guide: her top 10 first, then what’s trending, what she can make, and the classics that last.

Our Top 10 Gifts for 10 Year Old Girls (Picked by Our 10 Year Old)

I handed my 10 year old the full list of 69 gifts and let her pick ten, in order. She had a little input form a 9 year old neighbor and they had way too much fun pouring over gift ideas. It was HARD to get it down to ten. Only four of her picks were on my own top 10, and half of her list isn’t toys at all: skincare, a water bottle, earrings, a sewing machine and a crochet kit.

How I Picked These Gifts for a 10 Year Old Girl

I started with this year’s big holiday lists, the Toy Insider’s Hot 20 and STEM 10 and Amazon’s Top 100+ Toys, then read what tween girls are actually asking for (squishies, beginner skincare, room decor, anything they can clip to a backpack). Then I cut anything I wouldn’t buy for my own kids and added the things that have lasted in our house for years. My rule is the same one I use for every age: one bigger gift and a few small ones is plenty.

The Trendiest Gifts for 10 Year Old Girls This Year

These are the things she’s seeing at school and on YouTube right now, beyond the squishy dumplings and Clickeez in her top 10.

11. Gui Gui Mega Slime Haul ($30). If there’s one “it” toy for tween girls this year, it’s Gui Gui. The Mega Haul made the Toy Insider’s Hot 20, Amazon’s Top 100+ Toys list and Target’s top toys list. The slime comes in jars that look like makeup compacts (that’s the appeal), with five scented slimes, figurines and charms to mix in. Parents mention the jars actually seal, so it doesn’t dry out in a week.
12. Peekimo ($25). A tiny interactive pet that lives in a pod she wears on a lanyard or clips to her bag. It reacts to her voice and touch with more than 100 reactions and unlocks five games as she takes care of it (think Tamagotchi, but cuter). It was a TikTok hit before it ever hit shelves, and it’s on Amazon’s 2026 top toys list. Two Peekimos play with each other, which is a sneaky argument for buying one for a sibling or best friend.
13. Rainbow Loom Spin Studio ($35). The bracelet loom we all bought in 2014 is back with a spinning design station. It’s an Amazon exclusive and on Amazon’s 2026 top toys list. If she’s already into bracelet stacks (see #40), this is the upgrade.
14. Mindframes Click ‘n’ Create ($28). This made the Toy Insider’s STEM 10 for 2026, and it’s from the same company that makes the 3Doodler pen. She clicks geometric frames together into things she can wear, like glasses, crowns and wings, so it’s building that doesn’t feel like a “STEM toy.” It’s new this year, so there aren’t many parent reviews yet.
15. MGA’s Miniverse Real Music Record Player ($22). A tiny working turntable that made the Toy Insider’s Hot 20 for 2026. The mini vinyl records (sold in $12 blind packs of four) play real 30-second clips from artists like Elton John, Britney Spears and TLC. Reviewers are surprised how loud it is for its size; the complaint is duplicate records in the blind packs, so buy a few at once and let siblings trade.

Craft and Art Gifts for 10 Year Old Girls

A lot of these come straight from my best art supplies for kids list, because the art cabinet next to our kitchen table is where my older kids spend the most time.

16. Pott’d Pottery Kit ($49). Real air-dry clay, wooden tools, paints and paint pens for making little dishes and pots, no kiln required. It’s easy for beginners and well packaged for gifting; the one complaint is that the varnish runs out fast, so pick up an extra bottle.
17. Baketivity Cake Pop Kit ($37). All the dry ingredients come pre-measured and color-coded, which means she can mostly do it herself (my favorite kind of baking project). You supply the butter, egg and milk. The dipping and sprinkles will be the highlight and the chilling time is the hard part, so start it on a weekend afternoon.
18. OOLY Glitter Gel Pens ($11 to $25). We have these and I add them to birthday gifts all the time. They’re retractable, so the caps don’t get lost, and the scented set has 1600 five star reviews on Amazon so we’re not the only ones who loves them.
19. Dan&Darci Arts and Crafts Vault + Mini Glue Gun ($35). Over 1,000 craft supplies in a two-drawer case. On its own it’s great, but a mini glue gun is what turns it into real creations (my kids use ours on their own by 7 or 8 while I’m in the same room).
20. Hand Lettering 101 + Tombow Brush Pens ($30 + $27). The gift I loved receiving most a few years ago and my daughter always wants to borrow it. The spiral workbook teaches eight lettering styles step by step on thick paper, and the Tombow pens have a brush tip and a fine tip. Great for a girl who decorates every school notebook.
21. How to Draw Anything for Kids ($11). Three hundred cute step-by-step drawings for the kid who says she “can’t draw.” This is the book from my art supplies post and it holds up through about age 11.
22. Hardcover Blank Books ($24 for 12). She writes and illustrates her own books, and the hard cover makes them feel real on the shelf. Skip the 20-page kids’ versions; at 10 she’ll want more pages.
23. Fuse Bead Kit ($22). Perler beads are a favorite at our house. A 10 year old can do everything except the ironing (that’s still mine). Parents’ main complaint is that popular colors run out fast, so a 72-color kit is worth it.
24. Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils ($25 for 24). The pencils that say she’s past the crayon stage. The 72-count set has 4.9 stars from more than 1,200 reviews at Target, and the one warning is that the soft cores break if you drop them.
25. Caliart Dual Tip Artist Markers, 81 Colors ($35). When my older kids wanted “real” artist markers, these were the upgrade. Each marker has a fine tip and a wide chisel tip, plus a colorless blender. They’re permanent alcohol markers that bleed through regular paper, so add a marker pad and keep them away from the little siblings.
26. Marble Run ($38). One of the few toys from our toddler years that still gets pulled out at our house (Lincoln would play with ours for hours at four). The National Geographic glowing set comes with glow-in-the-dark marbles and an LED charger. Some reviewers say cheaper sets don’t click together firmly, so build wider instead of taller.

Gifts for Her Room and Routine

Ten is when the bedroom becomes her space. These are the cozy, pretty and useful things tween girls are asking for this year.

27. Galaxy Star Projector ($24 to $40). It turns her ceiling into a starry sky at bedtime. Space.com’s star projector guide picked the Yachance as its kids’ pick this year (with the honest note that it’s for ambience, not astronomy), and parents say it helps kids fall asleep. Skip Bluetooth models for this age.
28. Light-Up Vanity Mirror ($30 to $95). The “self-care station” is a real trend with tween girls right now, and a Hollywood-style mirror is the centerpiece. Look for one with adjustable brightness and a magnifying insert.
29. Nugget Play Couch ($249). We have two, and they’ve been SO loved. My older kids still use them for forts, sleepovers on the playroom floor and family movie night, which is why it’s on a 10 year old list. The covers are washable, but plan on line drying. This is a fun way to add a little hangout or reading nook to her bedroom and is perfect for cousin sleepovers if you don’t have a trundle bed.
30. Satin Pillowcase ($10 to $20). My mom gave me one for Christmas and I fell in love; I notice the difference most in my hair, with way less frizz in the morning. Kitsch’s satin pillowcase has 4.9 stars from more than 20,000 ratings at Walmart, and Bedsure is the budget pick.
31. Wet Brush ($9). The brush that gets through tangles without the tears, which matters a lot more at 10 when she’s doing her own hair. Wet Brush says it won a 2025 Allure Best of Beauty Award, and it’s an easy stocking stuffer. I have the pricier GLOW brush and my daughter always keeps looking to find hers because she says the Wet Brush is more gentle on her hair.
32. Glossier Balm Dotcom ($16). Lip products are huge with tween girls this year and this is the one I’d give. Someone gifted me the birthday cake flavor and it was the sweetest little present. It’s glossy without being sticky and comes in about ten flavors and tints.
33. Jellycat Bashful Bunny ($33 to $49). They’re never too old for a stuffed animal, especially one this soft. NBC Select named it the best classic stuffed animal this summer. Popular colors sell out in December, so buy early.
34. Walkie Talkies ($28). We’ve owned a set of these a few different times. At 10 they’re for spy games, neighborhood bike rides and siblings talking from the backyard to the kitchen. Get a rechargeable three-pack so you’re not buying batteries every week.
35. Kindle Paperwhite Kids ($170 to $230). For the big reader. It’s waterproof, the battery lasts weeks, and it comes with a cover, a two-year worry-free guarantee and six months of Amazon Kids+. My kids use our tablets for audiobooks constantly, but for actual reading I like that a Kindle has nothing else on it. Some older kids think the kids’ covers look young, so pick a plain one.
36. Camp Snap Screen-Free Camera ($65). I don’t buy instant cameras for my kids because the film is so expensive, and this is my answer to that. It’s a real digital camera with no screen, like a disposable camera that never runs out, and the memory card holds around 2,000 photos. Photos are soft and a little grainy indoors at night, which is part of the retro look.
37. Saranoni Blanket ($79 and up). The one thing that’s on my favorite things list and my kids’ list. We keep an XL throw on the couch and someone is always under it. Saranoni has over 18,000 reviews on its own site, and parents say the same thing I would: it stays soft wash after wash. Air dry only.

Style Gifts for 10 Year Old Girls

Somewhere around 10, accessories start to matter a lot. These are the bags, jewelry and cozy pieces tween girls are wearing this year.

38. Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag ($38 to $40). The most-requested tween accessory for the third year running. It holds a lip balm, a few dollars and her Clickeez keychain, and it fits a 10 year old. Buy it straight from Lululemon: U.S. Customs has seized hundreds of fake ones.
39. American Girl x Stoney Clover Lane ($18 to $228). This dropped October 1 for American Girl’s 40th anniversary, with bags and pouches in the classic dolls’ dress prints (Samantha, Kit, Felicity, Josefina and more). The sweetest part is the doll-size pieces, like a $36 crossbody for her 18 inch doll, so she can match. The last collab mostly sold out in about 15 minutes, so don’t wait. These are pricey but if you and your girl share a love for American Girl, this could be so fun.
40. Stretchy Stacking Bracelets ($8 to $25). Bracelet stacks replaced the single necklace this year. A colorful set of clay-bead and pearl stretch bracelets is under $10, or go with a Little Words Project bracelet (each one has a code so she can register it and track it if she passes it on).
41. Flat-Back Studs for an Ear Stack ($12 to $24). Ear stacks are the biggest tween jewelry trend of 2026. Flat backs are comfortable to sleep in and don’t poke during sports; look for implant-grade titanium or stainless steel that’s nickel free.
42. UGG Tazz, Kids ($100). The platform slipper-shoe that every tween girl wanted last Christmas is still going strong (it was a top Gen Z gift in 2024). Reviewers give it close to five stars for warmth; the warning is that it can run large and slip off, so size down if she’s between sizes.
43. Timex Time Machines Watch ($27 to $55). A first real watch is a lovely gift for a 10 year old who doesn’t have a phone yet. It’s sturdy, water resistant for splashes and has a comfortable fabric band.
44. Birthstone Necklace ($15 to $40). Her first “real” necklace, with her initial and her birthstone. Etsy has lovely personalized versions; order by early December for Christmas.
45. Musical Jewelry Box ($40). Yes, the one with the spinning ballerina. A Swan Lake box has 4.7 stars from more than 300 ratings at Walmart. If she’s past the ballerina stage, a stackable jewelry case is the grown-up version.
46. Lanz of Salzburg Nightgown ($36). The classic, old-fashioned Christmas nightgown. Girls’ sizes run up to 10/12 and sell out every December, so check stock now. If you’re doing matching pajamas instead, here’s my take on whether Hanna Andersson is worth it and my favorite matching family Christmas pajamas.

Books, Games and Experience Gifts

47. Flip 7 ($8). The best $8 you’ll spend this season. It was nominated for Germany’s Spiel des Jahres (the biggest award in board games) and won Best Party Game at both the 2025 Origins Awards and the Golden Geek Awards. It has 4.7 stars from more than 900 ratings at Walmart, and families say everyone from 8 to 80 picks it up in one round.
48. CATAN On The Road ($8). Catan shrunk down to a 120-card deck that plays in 15 to 30 minutes. It’s a 2026 release, so it’s new even for families who already own Catan. Reviewers say it keeps the feel of the original; the one gripe is that drawing cards instead of rolling dice can leave you stuck.
49. Kanoodle Ultimate Champion ($20). Five hundred brain-teaser puzzles with a built-in timer, and a finalist in the Toy of the Year awards. It’s the perfect car-ride and waiting-room toy for a 10 year old. Keep the little pieces in a zip pouch; the case doesn’t hold them well.
50. The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller ($11). This year’s middle grade book to give. Luna makes zines, one goes viral, and suddenly she’s famous at school. It earned seven starred reviews (Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal and more) and was an instant New York Times bestseller. Recommended for 10 and up.
51. Anne of Green Gables Complete Box Set ($30). All eight Anne books in one box. This is the kind of set that ends up on her shelf for the next twenty years.
52. The Care and Keeping of You ($9 to $13). The American Girl body book that’s been handed to tween girls for decades. It’s now two books: Book 1 for younger girls and Book 2 for ages 10 and up. This is a “quiet” gift rather than an under-the-tree gift, but I’m including it because so many moms ask when to give it.
53. Taylor Swift The Life of a Showgirl on Vinyl ($26 to $35). It sold 1.2 million vinyl copies in its first week, a U.S. record. Pair it with the Miniverse record player (#15) for the music-lover bundle. Reviewers’ one complaint is records arriving scratched, so open it before Christmas Eve.
54. Clue, Retro Edition ($25). The 1986 version with the die-cast weapons, which is the one we grew up with. Ten is the age when she can finally play it for real (and beat you fair and square).
55. Donut Jigsaw Puzzle ($17). For the Christmas-break table. This 200-piece donut puzzle is bright and busy, which matters at this age, because big blocks of one color are frustrating. It’s a one-afternoon puzzle rather than a week-long project, so it actually gets finished.
56. Theater Tickets (varies). Research says older kids and tweens get more lasting happiness from experiences than things, and a show is the easiest experience to wrap. Print the tickets and put them in a card, or pair them with the cast album (or a cute outfit to wear to the theater).
57. Ear Piercing Day With Mom (varies). A real 10 year old milestone. Pediatricians at Riley Children’s recommend waiting until she can care for them herself, choosing a needle over a gun and starting with hypoallergenic 14k gold or sterling studs. Plan it for a few weeks before any pool or ocean trips. We did this a few weeks ago and she’s SO excited to be able to switch out the earrings soon for the cute pairs we’ve been collecting!

Classic Gifts for 10 Year Old Girls

These are the gifts that feel like American Girl did a few years ago: a little grown-up, a little sentimental, and still around in ten years.

58. Q&A a Day for Kids ($9). One short question a day for three years, so she gets to see how her answers change. Parents love reading it back; it’s written for ages 4 to 10, so give it now rather than next year.
59. Personalized Stationery ($23). Kids write thank-you notes with way less nagging when the cards have their own name on them. Let her pick the design.
60. Keepsake Box ($41). A place for ticket stubs, notes from friends and the charm bracelet from #3.
61. Beginner Ukulele ($40 to $60). A soprano ukulele is the right size for her hands. Spend a little more than the cheapest option; toy ukuleles won’t stay in tune and she’ll give up.
62. Binoculars ($25 and up). For bird watching, nature walks and spying on siblings. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology recommends 7x or 8x magnification for kids because the wider view makes it easier to find what you’re looking at.
63. A New Bike ($200 and up). The classic big Christmas morning gift. Size by her height, not her age: a lot of 10 year olds are already ready for a 26 inch bike instead of a 24.
64. Impala Quad Roller Skates ($71 to $95). The cute retro skates. Impala runs true to size; size up a full size if she’s between sizes.
65. Adjustable Inline Skates ($40). These were on my 5 year old list too, and adjustable skates are why: they expand through several shoe sizes. Look for a built-in brake and add a helmet and pads to the gift.

What I’d Skip for a 10 Year Old

Instant cameras. I’ve said it before in my best gifts for 5 year olds post and I’ll say it again: the film is so expensive. A screen-free digital camera like the Camp Snap gives her the same fun with unlimited shots.

Knockoff squishy dumplings. They’re cheap for a reason. Regulators in the UK, Argentina and Mexico have flagged unsafe knockoffs this year, so buy the original from the brand.

Grown-up skincare. The retinol-and-serum routines tweens see online are made for adult skin. If she’s asking for skincare, a gentle line made for kids and teens is the better gift (and you’ll skip a sunburned, peeling face).

Conclusion: What Would I Buy a 10 Year Old Girl First?

If I were shopping for a 10 year old girl today and could only pick a few things, I’d start where my daughter did: a Stickerbox if the budget allows, a charm bracelet she’ll keep for years, and a squishy dumpling (the real one) and a pair of Hey June studs in her stocking. And if her list surprises you like hers surprised me, buy the water bottle. If you need ideas for her younger siblings, here are my best art supplies for kids and favorite audiobooks for kids, and if you’re doing matching pajamas this year, see my favorite places for matching Christmas outfits.

FAQs About Gifts for 10 Year Old Girls