Image: MomJunction Design Team
The best gifts for 11-year-old girls should spark their creativity and enhance their skills as these tweens are in their prime of grasping the gravity of an issue and finding ways to solve it quickly.
We sometimes run out of birthday gift ideas for tween girls as clothes and toys are pretty generic. Thus, focus on DIY kits and games that can tickle their brains and hold their attention for a long period. With the sudden spurt of mental, physical, social, and emotional development, they need the right gift to aid in their development. Here is a list of the most appropriate gifts and popular toys that you can give to your 11-year-old daughter or niece.
Top Picks
23 Best Gifts For 11-Year-Old Girls
1. Best For Entertainment: Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Mandalorian The Child Stand
The Echo Dot bundle is a smart gift idea that allows your daughter to explore plenty of entertainment options. The popular smart speaker comes with a fabric design, and the stand is built to withstand daily use. Your daughter could ask Alexa to play her favorite music, call family and friends, read stories, spell words, set the alarm, check the weather, and more. This Echo Dot has tens of thousands of skills and is always getting smarter with new skills, fitness trackers, games, and more.
Pros
- Baby Yoda-themed
- Fits perfectly into small spaces
- Durable stand holds the device securely
- Easy to set up
Cons
- May get disconnected at times
- Sound quality may falter at times
"I chose this Alexa device to introduce my daughter to smart gadgets. It has provided her with hands-on experience in using Bluetooth- and WiFi-enabled devices for entertainment and educational purposes. She needed my assistance setting it up, but the thrill and excitement it brought made it worth the effort."
2. Best Device Holder: LapGear Designer Lap Desk With Phone Holder and Device Ledge
When surrounded by a myriad of notes and devices, having a desk that can handle each one of them becomes a necessity. LapGear Designer Lap Desk is spacious enough to hold a 15.6-inch laptop and your phone. Additionally, it has an elastic band to hold notes and paper. The lap desk includes an inbuilt device ledge that prevents things from sliding down.
Pros
- Soft and comfortable microbead cushion
- Integrated handle for easy portability
- Sturdy and lightweight
- Wood-inspired flat surface
- Patterned design to complement your decor
Cons
- Faux wood may peel off
- Quality of the cushion filling could have been better
"This lap desk stands out for its unique cushion base. It makes using the laptop comfortable without any heat build-up. I did have to layer it with an anti-slip mat to make it more user-friendly. However, it deserves special mention for its durability and its ability to keep devices cool."
3. Best For Travel Enthusiasts: Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera
What could be a more meaningful gift than an instant camera for a girl who loves to travel and explore? Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera has an attractive design and can be handled easily. It comes with a selfie mirror and close-up lens adapter that lets you focus on objects and subjects at a distance of up to 50cm. Further, it includes an automatic exposure measurement, a flashing LED light, and a manual brightness adjustment dial, so your little birthday girl can experiment with her photography skills as much as she wants.
Pros
- Takes three to four minutes to develop the picture completely
- Runs on two AA batteries
- Easy to use and print
- Aesthetically attractive
- Available in different vibrant colors
Cons
- Lighting quality may not be up to the mark
- Picture quality may not be great
"The camera has gotten my daughter hooked on photography. The inclusion of a flashlight extends its usability to a great extent. Overall, it is a durable, engaging, and skill-building option."
4. Best For Jewelry Crafting: Choose Friendship My Friendship Bracelet Maker
If your girl is a jewelry lover and loves jewelry making, the Choose Friendship My Friendship Bracelet Maker can be a special gift for her. In three easy steps, she can create her customized bracelets and a bunch for her friends as well. This creative craft kit for tween girls has a unique, patented design that holds all the threads in one place, allowing a mess-free creation of bracelets. In addition, a concealed storage compartment helps keep all the threads organized and tangle-free.
Pros
- Great STEAM activity for children
- Comes with easy-to-follow instructions
- Includes 20 pre-cut threads
- Enhanced functional design for easy crafting
- Requires no tapes or pins
Cons
- Strings may not stay in place while crafting
- May not be highly durable
"My child found the concept of this bracelet-making kit simple and entertaining. The usage instructions could have been clearer, but with a little bit of guidance from me, she was able to craft the friendship bracelets."
5. Best For Motor Skills: Laevo Rainbow Slime Kit
With over 50 supplies, the Laevo Rainbow slime kit helps foster creativity and imagination. The expert-approved kit comes with an illustrated book that includes easy-to-make recipes, gameplay tricks, and slime troubleshooting tips. With this rainbow kit, your daughter can make glow-in-the-dark slime and enjoy playing with the different categories of slime, including cloud, fam, butter, sparkly, fluffy, and crunchy. The slime meets ASTM and CPSIA safety standards. It makes an excellent 11th birthday gift for your daughter or niece.
Pros
- Non-toxic
- Mix-and-match for endless combinations
- Bubblegum and candy scents
- Has a slime activator and deactivator
Cons
- Glue may dry quickly
- Slime may be a little lumpy
6. Best For Critical Thinking: University Games Rubik’s Race Game
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 9,034 independent reviewers on Amazon have acknowledged the product's durability and functionality.
It is similar to a Rubik’s cube that tests the child’s fine motor skills. The challenging game gets your child’s brain working and helps improve their critical thinking skills. Designed for two players, it aims at matching the grid in the scrambler. It consists of a game base, center frame, scrambler, 48 colored tiles, and mini cube with nine colored tiles. An instruction manual is also given to help children customize the play.
Pros
- Enhances speed and dexterity
- Lightweight
- Helps improve hand-eye coordination
- Develops cognitive skills
Cons
- Tiles may pop out while sliding
- May not be easy to store
"I recommend it if you are looking for a game that keeps your child occupied for long. Apart from being engaging, it challenges my child's cognitive abilities. While the design could be sturdier, its portability makes up for the minor flaw."
Quick tip7. Best Customizable: Hapinest DIY Wall Collage
The Hapinest Wall Collage kit is a DIY project with cutouts, stickers, markers, sticky tape, string, and foam squares. It features trendy designs with various themes and colors that you can mix and match to suit your style. Additionally, the kit comes with color-your-own design graphics, inspirational quotes, fill-in lists, and questionnaires for a unique look. It makes a delightful gift for 11-year-old girls, encouraging creativity and self-expression.
Pros
- Paint-safe tape
- Large size
- Includes instructions
- Long-lasting design
Cons
- Tape may not stick to the wall for long
- Few letters may not have multiple
"I like this wall collage kit for its creativity and personalization factor. It allows my children to decorate their room and space in a colorful and memorable way. Some of the stickers may demand extra adhesion; however, using any craft glue can solve the issue. All in all, it's a worthy contender."
8. Best Functionality: HzCodelo Cotton Crew Cute Socks
These cotton socks could be the cutest 11th birthday gifts you can get your daughter as her. Made of Australian cotton, polyamide, and spandex, they are soft, comfortable and skin-friendly. Available in cute animal cartoon designs, these socks can be worn with any shoes or boots and are ideal for all casual occasions. Their boneless sewing and elasticity cover the feet and keep them in place.
Pros
- Available in various colors and sizes
- Y-heel design for good coverage
- Stretchable
- Easy to wash
Cons
- May run large for some
- May have bumps on either side of the sock
"I opted for these socks for their cute animal-themed design. Even my daughter seems to like them, as there is not a day when she is not found sporting them. They are comfortable, soft, and skin-friendly. All in all, they have proven to be a durable and satisfactory purchase."
9. Best For Comfort: Big Joe Milano Bean Bag Chair
The Big Joe Milano bean bag chair is designed for maximum support and is available in numerous styles. It is made with stain-resistant SmartMax fabric, making spot cleaning a breeze. Each chair has the right amount of beans for optimal comfort, so you can sink in and relax. The built-in handle makes it easy to carry.
Pros
- Double-stitched with dual zippers for durability
- Lightweight
- Easy to refill
- Structured shape
Cons
- Beans may condense fast if used often
- Some may not find the back support sufficient
"I settled on this bean bag chair for its comfort and minimalist style. It has made my child's me-time sessions more cozy and relaxing. Also, it's easy to maintain, thanks to its smooth fabric. Lastly, the handle is a lovely feature, making it easy to shift and maneuver."
Do remember10. Best For Budding Photographers: Prograce Kids Camera
If your daughter shows interest in photography, then this could be one of the most special gifts you could give her. It has a bevy of features that allows her to take pictures and videos while biking, skating, swimming as well as skateboarding. The configuration features 5MP photos, 1080P/30fps videos, up to 4X zoom, time-lapse picture, burst shooting, and manual adjustments for brightness. It also has a 1.77” LCD screen, a 32 GB microSD card slot, and a rechargeable lithium battery.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Available in different vibrant colors
- Easy to install
- Three-level volume adjustment
- Offers 1.5 hours of continuous recording time
Cons
- Color accuracy may not be satisfactory
- May not have sufficient dynamic range
11. Best Child-Friendly:Cool Maker Stitch N’ Style Fashion Studio
Cool Maker’s neon sewing kit can be an entertaining way for children to learn sewing without the hassle of threading. This kit includes a sewing machine with pre-threaded cartridges and smart-stitch sensors that make sewing easy. With two sheets of pre-printed fabric, children can create eight exclusive neon accessories, including a clutch, coin pouch, headband, and more.
Pros
- Decorative water transfer prints
- Sensors know when to start and stop sewing
- Compatible with most fabrics
- Comes with an instruction manual
Cons
- Foot lever may be flimsy
- Stitches may not be accurate at all times
"I found this sewing machine toy a creative and safe way to familiarise young children with basic concepts of stitching. It allows them to sew and create eight usable accessories. Therefore, I give it a thumbs-up for its functionality and innovation."
12. Best Customizable:Lego Friends Stephanie’s Dollhouse Kit
Lego Stephanie little dollhouse kit allows your children to build a customized modular house. The tried-and-tested building set features a two-story house with a porch, kitchen, lounge, bedroom, spiral staircase, and stained-glass windows. The mini dolls include Stephanie, her mother, her father, and the rabbit hutch. If your birthday girl loves to play house and organize things, this dollhouse kit with dolls and accessories will keep her and her friends engaged for hours.
Pros
- Easy to store
- Compatible with other Lego construction kits
- Encourages roleplay
- Bright colors
Cons
- Some children may find it difficult to assemble
- May be smaller than expected
"The best part about this Lego set is that it provides two-in-one benefits. As a building block toy, it develops my child's fine motor skills. Once fully built, the dollhouse serves as a pretend play prop to foster creativity. Overall, I am delighted with the quality and colors."
13. Best Intricate Designs:Klutz Nail Style Studio Book Kit
Nail art is fashionable, and if your daughter loves trying new nail designs, this is something you could gift her. She can get as creative and fashionable as she wants. This kit includes 25 designs, a 60-page easy-to-follow instruction manual, six nail colors for practice, over 250 stencils, and a dotting tool. The tools and stencils would allow her to create intricate designs with several colors.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Helps develop creativity
- Easy to wash off
- Does not have a strong odor
Cons
- Dotting tool may have a sharp head
- Nail polishes may get clumpy quickly
14. Best Interactive:Sphero BOLT: App-Enabled Robot Ball
Sphero Bolt is an advanced app-enabled robotic ball that compels your daughter to learn to program and share her creations with others. It is compatible with Android, iOS, Mac, Kindle, and Windows. They might use scratch books, or JavaScript, or Apple swift programming language to create and customize games. This STEM learning toy has an animated 8×8 LED matrix and programmable sensors, including a light sensor, infrared communications, compass, accelerometer, and a gyroscope to display the data.
Pros
- Encourages STEM education at home
- Scratch-proof and clear plastic ball
- Bluetooth-enabled
- Inductive charging offers more than four hours of play
Cons
- May lose connectivity often
- Instructions could have been better
"I recommend this toy for children fascinated by technology. It has been instrumental in sparking my daughter's interest in programming. Though not suitable for rough play, the kit deserves a thumbs-up for honing problem-solving skills."
15. Best Stability:Y-Stop Hammock Chair Hanging Rope Swing
For little girls who like to swing, the Y-Stop hammock chair can make a meaningful gift. It is made of soft polyester cotton, which provides optimal softness and comfort. The sturdy spreader bar makes it stable, while the anti-slip grooves prevent the rope from sliding on either side. The stylish hammock chair has a stainless steel ceiling mount and chain, making it easy to install anywhere.
Pros
- Can support up to 500 lbs
- Portable
- Includes a side pocket
- Includes two seat cushions
Cons
- Some may find the back of the chair slightly droopy
- Cushions may flatten with use
"This hammock chair on our balcony has become my daughter's favorite cozy spot for reading and relaxing. My toddler also enjoys its gentle spin. As a whole, it has been a charming addition to our home."
16. Best DIY: Hapinest Make Your Own Clay Jewelry Kit
The Hapinest clay jewelry kit is the right choice if your tween girl loves jewelry and all things fashion. It has eight different colors of polymer clay and over 90 beads, pendants, rollers, and necklaces to keep her engaged for hours. Allow her imagination to soar as she mixes the different shades to create custom colors and patterns. It is a brilliant way to cut screen time while ensuring your daughter has her hands busy in the creative arts.
Pros
- Easy-to-follow instructions
- Includes 149 pieces
- Includes different kinds of charms
- Wearable and durable
Cons
- Clay may turn crumbly after baking if not kneaded well
- Elastic may be a little loose
- Beads might pose a choking hazard to younger children
"Apart from nurturing my child's art and craft skills, the jewelry-making kit allows her to create her own keepsakes. Also, I found the materials to be of high quality, ensuring durable souvenirs and accessories."
17. Best Squishy: Elmer’s Celebration Slime Kit
Make up to five batches of colorful slimes with the Elmers Celebration set. It is a ten-piece kit of multiple glue options along with slime activators. You can mix and match the glues and slime activators and knead them together to make a satisfactory dough of slime. The set comes with a few slime recipes, and you can explore the options to achieve diverse results with stretchy and squishy slimes.
Pros
- Safe, non-toxic slime
- Washable glue
- Helps promote creativity
- Mess-free activity
Cons
- May require adult supervision
- May not suit those with eczema
"My kids enjoy this slime kit more than I imagined—they seem to like the delightful mix-and-match options. It's fun as it stays durable even after repeated use, and although it is a bit messy, it's a creative gift choice for hands-on entertainment."
18. Best Variety: Melissa & Doug Design-Your-Own Jewelry-Making Kits
The all-inclusive jewelry-making kit from Melissa & Doug comes with over 50 decorative stickers for creating elegant bracelets, headbands, and bangles. With this set, your daughter can customize and wear some fabulous, personalized jewelry. Each kit has multiple items to help her mix and match as per her style. This attractive DIY kit offers hours of fun and creativity while you indulge in heartwarming parent-child time with her.
Pros
- Easy to make
- Not messy
- Suitable for both solo and group activities
- Variety of sticker designs
Cons
- Headband may be a little tight
- Stickers may peel off
19. Best Durable:Fjallraven Women’s Kanken Mini Backpack
This multipurpose backpack can accompany your birthday girl to her school, day trips, and slumber parties. It is made of durable, water-resistant fabric, with front and side pockets for easy storage. With ample space and easy access, this bag is suitable for young girls and adults. There is an address tag inside the fashionable backpack to write one’s name and details in case of misplacement.
Pros
- Available in multiple attractive colors
- Reflective logo
- Easy to carry
- Snap-lock top handles
- Removable seat pad
Cons
- Some may find the straps thin
- May get dirty quickly
"Here is what I love about this backpack—it is compact, spacious, and durable. The removable seat pad gives it structure and provides cushioning. However, the side pockets are slightly snug. It is suitable for daily use as it easily holds all essential items."
20. Best Hands-On Learning Experience:little Bits Rule Your Room Kit
This expert-approved kit could be one of the best tech gifts for those who show a keen interest in learning electronics and love to experiment and invent. It comes in a well-designed compact box that encloses an instructional manual, electronic bits, and accessories for eight different inventions, one challenge, and more touch-activated creations. Your girl could have a lot of fun creating a defender or burglar buzzer or any one of the many inventions with this science experiment kit.
Pros
- Helps minimize screen time
- Improves problem-solving skills
- Includes batteries
- Lightweight
Cons
- Parts may fall out while building
- Some parts may be flimsy
"This kit took my child's STEM skills to the next level. It has been fruitful in getting my daughter curious about physics. Plus, it has helped reduce her screen time, which is a boon. I admire this kit for its ability to educate children engagingly."
21. Best For Strategic Fun:TeeTurtle Unstable Unicorns Card Game
The one-of-a-kind card game involves unicorns that you can team up with to defeat your friends in the game. Suitable for game nights, birthday parties, and more, this fun card game requires strategy and includes various cards that help you progress in the game. It offers several expansion packs. The player who collects seven unicorns first wins.
Pros
- Promotes imagination
- Award-winning toy
- Easy game rules
- Allows playing in groups
Cons
- May not be suitable for younger children
- Playtime may be shorter than expected
22. Best Squishy Toy: Doodle Hog Alpaca Paint Your Own Squishies Kit
With this meaningful gift set, your daughter can draw and paint on squishy Alpaca figures and more. It consists of brushes, eye tattoo stickers, decorative pom poms, large paint bottles, and two other squishy toys shaped like a cactus and a sun. They can experiment with various fun colors and decorate the squishes just the way they want. The instructions are detailed and easy to follow. Apart from tween girls, those aged five years and above can also indulge in fun activities with this set.
Pros
- Toxin-free material
- Easy to wash
- Helps promote creativity
- Good-quality materials
Cons
- Colors may not be waterproof
- Paint may take a long time to dry
"Gifted this craft kit to my daughter to encourage some creative fun, and it was a joy to see her paint. The squishies are large, pleasantly scented, and easy to paint, and the accessories and stickers make the final products look adorable. I do wish it came with a few more colors, but my daughter loved mixing them to make new shades. A delightful activity to keep your little ones engaged, I'd say got for it."
23. Best For Camping:Eat sleep doodle Dinosaur Pillowcase
If your girl loves coloring, then this unique doodle pillowcase could be the ideal 11th birthday gift for her. The coloring on the fabric allows your girl to discover the land inhabited by dinosaurs a long time ago. It also serves as an educational tool as the child can write the names of the dinosaurs on the provided space and put their knowledge to the test. The pillowcase measures 20x30in and is made of washable cotton fabric. It has a pack of ten wash-out fabric markers that are double-ended (one thin end and one thick end). They could also use it as a team activity for sleepovers or camping.
Pros
- Eco-friendly
- Helps develop fine motor skills
- 200-thread-count cotton
- Does not transfer to skin
Cons
- Markers may dry out fast
- May smudge slightly
"I narrowed down this option for its unique combination of creativity and utility. My daughter was thrilled to decorate her pillowcase for the first time. Its washable feature makes it reusable, which is a plus."
How To Choose The Right Gift For 11- Year-Old Girls?
Whether you are a loving parent, a close aunt, uncle, or a family friend, here are a few tips that might help you pick the right age-appropriate gift for an 11-year-old girl based on her interests and hobbies.
- Consider her personality: Try to know her likes and dislikes from studying her skills, talents, and passions. Some might be sporty and enjoy sports equipment, some artistic or into music, and some might even enjoy coding and robotics kits if they are science enthusiasts. Consider buying them a gift that suits her interest.
- Go with the trend: Tweens of the present age always want to keep up with the on-going fads and styles. They get influenced by their friends’ belongings and may show interest in other designs or things. Hence, while choosing the perfect gift for your tween girl, pay attention to what she wants
- Buy something useful or practical: Do not choose a gift that has no value and ends up forgotten. Try to choose a practical gift that is also fun, such as art and craft supplies, books for tweens, puzzle games collections, and more.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti Bose writes about children’s gifts, toys, and games. She has curated this list of the best gifts for 11-year-old girls after thoroughly analyzing and examining some of the best-ranked items and user reviews on several websites. She has also considered girls’ interests and included gifts to encourage their creativity and imagination. There’s a girls’ gift guide at the end of the article to help you pick the most suitable gift for your princess.
The Bottom Line
Finding the best gift for 11-year-old girls can be tricky, as, by this time, their preferences are definitive. However, our list of the best gifts for 11-year-old girls offers a great variety, from clothing, technology, creative games, and clothing, to accessories. It includes the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Mandalorian The Child Stand for tech enthusiasts, the LapGear Designer Lap Desk With Phone Holder and Device Ledge for those who love organizing, and the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera for budding photographers. When buying a gift for a preteen, considering their likes and interests will help you find one that they deeply value and use with excitement. Finally, make sure that you pick a durable gift that lasts for several months.
Infographic: Tips For Selecting Gifts For An 11- Year-Old Girl
Girls are exploring their interests at this age and always developing new ones. Therefore selecting gifts that align with their likes can be challenging. The infographic below includes some tips to help you select the best gift for your 11-year-old girls. Giving her the right gift will surely make her happy and create a lasting impression of yours for her.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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