Gifts for 12 Year Olds: 8 Picks for Kids Who Have Everything
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Finding gifts for 12 year olds gets harder every year, especially when the answer to “what do you want?” is “I don’t know.” Twelve year olds still love to build, make and play, as long as it doesn’t feel like it came from the little kid aisle.
Every gift here is rated for 12 year olds or younger, and none of them are video games. We matched each one to a different kind of 12 year old.
Quick answer: For a soccer fan, the LEGO Editions FIFA World Cup Official Trophy is a 2,842 piece showpiece. For a gamer, the LEGO Fortnite Supply Llama brings the game to the shelf. For a crafty kid, The Woobles Beginner Crochet Kit walks them through making a stuffed penguin from scratch.
Which 12 Year Old Are You Shopping For?
| If your 12 year old… | Try |
|---|---|
| Never misses a soccer game | LEGO Editions FIFA World Cup Official Trophy |
| Plays Fortnite with friends | LEGO Fortnite Supply Llama |
| Is a Spider-Man fan | LEGO Marvel Spider-Man Hero Figure |
| Wants a new hobby | The Woobles Beginner Crochet Kit |
| Spends weekends in Minecraft | LEGO Minecraft The Ender Dragon |
| Wants to know how engines work | National Geographic 4 Cylinder Engine Kit |
| Loves beating the grown ups | CATAN |
| Brings the laughs at family parties | Guess the Gibberish |
All 8 Gifts at a Glance
| Gift | What They Do | Age |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup Trophy | Build a 14.5 inch trophy | 12+ |
| Fortnite Supply Llama | Build a llama full of loot | 12+ |
| Spider-Man Hero Figure | Pose a 14.5 inch Spider-Man | 12+ |
| Woobles Crochet Kit | Crochet a stuffed penguin | 12+ |
| Ender Dragon | Crank its wings to flap | 10+ |
| 4 Cylinder Engine Kit | Build an engine that moves | 10+ |
| CATAN | Trade and build to win | 10+ |
| Guess the Gibberish | Decode silly phrases | 12+ |
For Soccer Fans: LEGO Editions FIFA World Cup Official Trophy (43020)
A Trophy With a Secret Inside
They build a replica of the World Cup trophy that stands over 14.5 inches tall, with two figures holding up the globe and a plaque naming past winners.
The globe opens to show a hidden World Cup 2026 minifigure scene. Reviewers say it’s engaging without being too complicated and looks great on display.
A Big Build
At 2,842 pieces, it’s the biggest project on this list. Plan for several sessions, not one afternoon.
Soccer Obsessed
A kid who watches every match and talks about the World Cup all year long.
LEGO Fortnite Supply Llama (77071), Loot Included
The Piñata From the Game
The Supply Llama stands over 9.5 inches tall, with a head that moves, a mouth that opens and a saddle. It comes with loot from the game, including a Grappler, Slurp Juice, a Rough Ruby and Dynamite.
Reviewers say it’s easy to put together and looks great with their LEGO collection.
Made to Display
It’s a figure for the shelf rather than a playset. It suits a fan who likes having the game around them.
Fortnite Squads
A kid who spends Friday nights in Fortnite with friends and knows exactly what a Supply Llama drops.
LEGO Marvel Spider-Man Hero Figure (76346), for Marvel Fans
24 Ways to Pose
This Spider-Man from Spider-Man: Brand New Day stands over 14.5 inches tall. He has 24 points of articulation, right down to fingers that move one at a time.
Both the big figure and the included minifigure have webs that come off, and there’s a nameplate for display.
Brand New This Year
It came out in 2026, so there aren’t many reviews yet.
Web Heads
A kid who has seen every Spider-Man movie and wants one striking a pose on their desk.
The Woobles Beginner Crochet Kit, for a Brand New Hobby
Crochet a Penguin Named Pierre
The kit comes with the first rows already started, so beginners skip the hardest part. Thick yarn makes every stitch easy to see.
Step by step videos cover both right and left handed crocheting, and the maker offers additional help if they get stuck. Reviewers say the instructions are clear and it keeps them busy for a long time.
Keep a Phone or Tablet Nearby
The lessons are videos, so they’ll want a screen close by while they learn the stitches.
Hobby Hunters
A kid who’s looking for something new to learn and loves anything cute.
For Minecraft Players: LEGO Minecraft The Ender Dragon (21595)
The Final Boss, in Bricks
The Ender Dragon perches on a stand above the exit portal, with large movable wings and printed eyes. Turn the crank near the base and the wings flap up and down.
Its head, neck, tail and legs all pose. A QR code in the instructions unlocks Ender Dragon wings in Minecraft Bedrock Edition.
Only a Few Dozen Reviews
It’s a 2026 set, so there isn’t much owner feedback yet. There are no minifigures, since the dragon is the star.
End Game Players
A kid who has beaten the Ender Dragon in the game and wants proof on the shelf.
National Geographic 4 Cylinder Engine Kit, for Future Mechanics
Watch the Pistons Move
They build a see through engine from more than 175 pieces. Press a button and the pistons, valves and gears move like a real car engine, while LED spark plugs flash.
A guide explains how a real engine works, and a video link helps with the build. A screwdriver comes in the box.
Batteries and Few Reviews
It runs on 3 AA batteries, which aren’t included. It’s a newer kit, with fewer than 100 Amazon ratings so far.
Car Curious Kids
A kid who pops the hood with you and asks what everything does.
CATAN, the Family Strategy Classic
Build, Trade, Win
Players collect brick, wood, wheat, ore and sheep to build roads, settlements and cities. Every game starts with a new board, and trading with each other is half the fun.
It plays 3 to 4 people in 60 to 90 minutes. Reviewers say it keeps kids hooked for over an hour.
Read the Rules Together
Some reviewers find it tricky to learn at first. A grown up who reads the rules ahead of time helps a lot.
Master Negotiators
A kid who loves a deal and secretly plans how to beat the whole family.
Guess the Gibberish, From the Creators of Incohearent
Say It Out Loud
One player flips the sand timer and holds up a card. Everyone else reads the gibberish out loud until someone figures out the real phrase hiding inside.
The first player to decode a phrase wins the card. The judge keeps revealing new cards until the timer runs out or three cards have been solved, then another player takes over.
A Few Misprints
Several reviewers report a few misprinted cards in their box.
Family Party Starters
A kid who loves making the whole room laugh at holiday get togethers.
Gifts for 12 Year Olds: Questions Parents Ask
What do you get a 12 year old who has everything?
Give them something to make or master. The Woobles kit starts a new hobby, and the FIFA trophy is a big project they’ll want to show off.
Are there good gifts for 12 year olds that aren’t video games?
Yes, none of these are video games. The Fortnite Supply Llama brings the game into their room without more screen time, and only the Woobles lessons use a screen.
Which gifts can the whole family use?
CATAN and Guess the Gibberish both bring everyone to the table. The rest are solo projects.
Do any need batteries?
Only the engine kit, which takes 3 AA batteries, not included.
Looking for more ideas?
For a little younger, see our gifts for 11 year olds, board games for 10 year olds and LEGO sets for 10 year olds.
