I have an 11-year-old son, and like a lot of kids his age , he is fully obsessed with one thing right now: video games . I don't even mind this obsession as much as you might think; I'm a 35-year-old woman who still loves to play The Sims whenever I get the chance. I even enjoy learning about his video games, and some of the characters are pretty hilarious (Mirage, I'm talking about you ).
But if there's one thing I do insist on, it's that he also has other interests. This is true all the time, but it definitely applies to the gifts he requests and receives over the holidays. While his list might be filled with video games and various assorted add-ons and packs and skins, it doesn't mean that's all he's going to get.
If you also have a budding gamer in your home and you also want to make sure they entertain themselves in at least one other way, this might be the gift guide for you. Here are nine gift ideas for tweens that aren't video games.
Color-Changing Bluetooth Speaker
OK, hear me out: My kid has a phone, which he mostly uses to listen to Spotify and to send me cute TikToks of babies and dogs. So while this speaker won't do much for the latter, it will make all the Marshmello listening he does even more fun.
Yarn Unicorn Kit
I am not particularly skilled at crafts and neither is my child, but we both usually enjoy the process of pretending that we are anyway. This yarn unicorn kit is bright, sweet, and definitely a little whimsical. It'll also keep your child's mind and hands busy with something besides their PlayStation controller!
Indoor Basketball Hoop
This gift is such a classic, and it's perfect for a kid who is always saying they don't have anything to do. Go shoot some hoops! In your room! From your bed!
Heated Slippers
Holy cow, these heated slippers are both adorable and practical, and I think that perhaps I will "buy them for my child" and then steal them. That's what moms are for, right?
Corgi Slippers
We're still on the loungewear train! While these cute slippers aren't heated, they are corgi-themed. If your child loves animals, or if your child happens to be Queen Elizabeth, this is the gift.
Shop Now: AnimalSlippers.com Corgi Slippers ($38.95, Amazon)
'I Paused My Game To Be Here' Shirt
Ho, ho, ho, have I got the so-funny-but-is-it-really shirt for you and your gamer kid. This shirt is so accurate it's almost painful, but it's also pretty funny and cute.
Shop Now: "I Paused My Game To Be Here" Shirt ($14.95, Amazon)
The Comfy Wearable Blanket
My kid and I love cozy life, and this wearable blanket is exactly the kind of thing he will try to live in all winter (without showering once). I won't let him go to quite that extreme, but it's definitely being added to his list.
Shop Now: The Comfy Oversized Microfiber and Sherpa Wearable Blanket ($39.99, Amazon)
Face Mask Tie-Dye Kit
Obviously, most of us are wearing face masks a lot more than we used to, and for some reason tie-dye is back on trend, which makes this kit quite possibly one of the cooler things you could buy for your tween this year.
Sharper Image Instant Camera
If you love the idea of your kid having an Instax camera but don't quite love the idea of spending that much on a camera that your kid could break, the Sharper Image Instant Camera is a great alternative! It's just as fun and only half the price. It's also compatible with Instax film!
Shop Now: Sharper Image Instant Camera ($25, Walmart)
Psst: If you choose to purchase an item on this list, LittleThings may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
