40 Best Gifts for 11-Year-Olds That Tweens Will Actually Find Cool

Those summer camp days feel like they're here forever with this friendship bracelet kit. Not only does it come with 20 pre-cut threads (in their own storage drawer, no less), it has a board that holds the bracelet and strands in place while the creation is in progress. (The board even comes in several colors!) You can also use its app to find friendship bracelet patterns and instructions. Ages 8+

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You can't go wrong with multicolored anything at this age — though this light can also be just a solid color if they want, like blue or red. They'll love having something that represents their name. No age recommendation given.

Just because it's classic doesn't mean it's old: This version of Stratego has a new set of battle cards that players can opt to use (or not), and the characters are updated, too — there are even female soldiers. Good Housekeeping Institute testers loved working out their logic and strategic skills. "It required you to think really hard because if you didn't, you would lose," one tester said. "You can think about new combinations. Every game is different." Ages 8+

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They are learning how saving and spending work and are probably even getting money in lieu of toys from friends and family. Help them keep their cash safe (and make them think twice before spending it), with this cool electronic piggy bank that works with a special number combination like an ATM. Ages 3+

Big, expensive and fancy karaoke systems can be a blast for a night out or a big party, but for hanging out with friends or on the go all you need is this small machine. It works with Bluetooth so that they can stream all their favorite songs, and it comes with two microphones. You can also get it in other colors. Ages 4+

Here's something that'll get them to hit the showers: Each of these bars of soap has real money inside — anywhere from a five-dollar bill to a hundred-dollar bill. To get it, though, they have to use the soap up! It comes in two scents: cucumber mint and orange peach. No age recommendation given.

If they're playing games online, listening to music or even video chatting, these headphones are what they need to keep the peace. The ear cups rotate 90 degrees for a more comfortable fit, and the headset mutes when it's lifted up. Amazon reviewers appreciate the comfort and the durability. No age recommendation given.

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They'll love personalizing their rooms with these lights, which feature 50 clear clips to hang photos from on 17ft of lights. Their walls will be one-of-a-kind. No age recommendation given.

Get them started on an entrepreneurial path with this kit, which helps them get a pet-care business off the ground. It comes with some tools of the trade (like some pet toys, a collapsible water bowl, a pet brush and poop bags), but also marketing materials (door hangers, pins, business cards, etc) and items to keep them organized (a client book, receipts). Or, if pet care isn't their passion, there are also It's My Biz kits for a lemonade stand and more. Ages 8+

They can take their art projects to the next dimension with this pen which gives them the basics for 3D printing. "The kit came with stencil paper and a QR code to figure out how to use it, which was nice," our tester said. The speed-control button slides to give you a range from slow to fast, which allows control. Amazon sells replacement filament for less than $10. No age recommendation given.

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A mix of art and science, this device lets kids use an app and a mobile-based system to code pixel art onto the charm using Python, which they can display as a keychain or a bag charm. It's a fun way to get some experience coding. Ages 8+

At this age, if it glows in the dark, they'll love it. And this means the fun never has to stop because they can see the ball even if they're playing hoops after dark, thanks to LED lights inside the ball. Ages 8+

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You can credit TikTok with selling more than three million Kanoodle games, with those accepting the #KanoodleChallenge trying to solve the brain-teasing puzzles online. But by 11, they might be ready to step up and try the harder Kanoodle Pyramid. To play, contenders have to select a puzzle with a certain configuration of pieces, and then use their smarts to see if they can fit in the remaining pieces to make a 3D pyramid shape. Ages 7+

Good Housekeeping Experts appreciated that Razor's A5 scooters have an easy-to-adjust height, so they last for years, and also fold up small for easy storage. The Lux model also has wheels that illuminate to make a spinning light show It comes in orange and green. Ages 8+

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They'll learn about electricity and circuits when they use this kit, which lets them make their own works of art with glowing, LED wire. They can use one of five picture templates, or come up with their own creations. When they're done, they can either hang it from the wall or display it on a wooden stand. Ages 9+

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Kids can hold this colorful device in one hand and remix music by adding sound effects, layering tracks and making loops, all by using different hand motions. “My child absolutely loves this,“ one parent tester said. “He’s spent hours playing with it. I love how this toy really lets kids express their creativity.” Ages 8+

This glowing flying orb is definitely trendy among tweens — it has more than 2,000 5-star ratings on Amazon! The whole thing is controlled by hand, not remote, and kids will appreciate the under-30-minute charging time. Ages 6+

Tweens, Swifties and non-Swifties alike, are learning the joys of layering bracelets all the way up their wrists. This set gives them 16 new bracelets to work with, in a few different colors with different charms. Kids can mix and match them depending on how the mood strikes. No age recommendation given.

Who wouldn't want to cozy up and read, play video games or text and chat in a chair like this? This chair impressed Good Housekeeping Institute testers with its firm fill, but really won over Lab experts with how easy it was to clean the fabric. It comes in several colors and prints and has a handle so you can drag it around. No age recommendation given.

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They'll have to keep their minds sharp and their observational skills on point to solve the 20 mysteries in this book. Each of them has a science-themed bent, too, so they might pick up facts about how a baker can know if an egg is raw or hard-boiled, or how an animal expert might know if an elephant stampede is coming. If they like it, they can get the other books in the Sleuth & Solve series. Ages 8 – 12