This Light-Up Karaoke System Is One of the Best Gifts for 10-Year-Olds
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This Light-Up Karaoke System Is One of the Best Gifts for 10-Year-Olds
When it comes time to shop for holiday gifts for tween girls, present-buyers often panic. But shopping for gifts for kids this age isn't as hard as it may seem at first. Sure, their interests start to change, and they're not always so into their old toys anymore (except when they are). And one 10-year-old girl might love playing coding games on her iPad or tablet, while another might prefer drawing in a notepad or doing lots of DIY projects.
But kids today are lucky, and there are so many toys, activity sets and gifts that'll be right in line with those interests. From crafting materials to STEM sets to items that help them personalize their accessories, wardrobes and rooms, there's a lot of fun in shopping for a 10-year-old girl.
But not all of them are created equal, which is where the Good Housekeeping Institute comes in. Every year, members of the Parenting and Pets Lab evaluate hundreds of toys, the results of which inform stories like the Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards. Our Lab experts test toys and games for important factors like safety and quality, while real kids spend hours playing with them to make sure they're actually worth buying. Then, editors keep their eyes out for best-sellers and trend-setters with rave reviews outside the toy world to come up with our lists of the best gifts for kids. This year, these rose to the top as the best gifts for 10-year-old girls in 2022.
They range from fun, inexpensive stocking stuffers for girls who have everything to high-tech gifts like chemistry sets and laptops. But no matter what your 10-year-old is into, you're sure to find something on this list for her.
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1) DIY Squishies
WATINC
amazon.com
$11.99
Kids of all ages love anything squishy, and this set lets kids DIY their own food-themed squishies! She can use them as keychains or room decorations. (They're also great as stocking stuffers or party favors.) If she'd rather not DIY her own colors, fill a stocking with this scented set! Ages 4+
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2) Washed Ashore: Making Art from Ocean Plastic
Millbrook Press
amazon.com
$14.76
This book is for anyone who is into oceanography, sustainability or art — that's a lot of 10-year-olds! The pages feature sculptures of ocean creatures made from plastic reclaimed from beach cleanups, sending a message about being a good steward of the environment. The pages also offer information about each animal, and there's a seek-and-find element that asks readers to look for hangers, lip balm and more in the sculptures. Ages 8+
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3) Karaoke System With LED Disco Lights
Singing Machine
amazon.com
$74.99
With this light-up karaoke machine, which comes in white or black, your 10-year-old girl and all of her friends can jam out during their next sleepover. For music, your kids can stream from any device that has Bluetooth. (There's a CD option, too, for the olds.) It comes with two microphones, so even duets are an option. No recommended age given
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4) Cool Maker Stitch ‘N Style Fashion Studio
Spin Master
amazon.com
$26.76
For tweens who want to learn to sew, this set makes it easy. The sewing machine has a sensor that automatically starts when it detects the fabric, and the machine uses cartridges so there's no threading required. It comes with enough pattered fabric to make six matching accessories, so they'll be well on their way to making their own projects. Even the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab were impressed with this one! Ages 8+
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5) Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera
Fujifilm
amazon.com
$89.99
Give her something more tactile than Instagram: She'll have so much fun taking pictures with her very own instant camera. After she presses the button, she can watch her photos develop right before her eyes. Choose from seven fun colors, like lime green and flamingo pink and don't forget to stock up on extra film with fun borders and an album to keep it all in! No recommended age given
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6) Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Exploration Kit
Elenco
amazon.com
$24.99
They can experiment with electricity, circuitry and other STEM topics in this kit, which has pieces that just snap together — no soldering necessary. It comes with enough pieces to make 100 projects, including a musical doorbell, a voice-controlled lamp and an adjustable-volume alarm, though the UFO was the Good Housekeeping Institute testers' clear favorite. Ages 8+
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7) Mini Faux Leather Backpack
I IHAYNER
amazon.com
$18.03
This cute backpack is the perfect accessory for your 10-year-old because it's stylish and functional. It has plenty of pockets so she can safely stash her phone, lip balm and wallet while she hangs out with her friends. Plus, it's available in 14 different colors — all with the same adorable bow on the front. No recommended age given
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8) BrainBolt Genius
Educational Insights
amazon.com
$26.99
Be careful: Once she gets into this game, it's hard to stop! The board flashes colored lights in a pattern, and she has to see if she can repeat it. It challenges her memory and her hand-eye coordination at the same time! Ages 7+
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9) Just Between Us: A Mother + Daughter Journal
Chronicle Books
braveandkindbooks.com
$16.95
It can be hard to stay connected as kids get older, but this journal is an activity that mothers and daughters can do together. It offers writing prompts for journal entries, so neither party will ever have to worry about writer's block. Ages 8+
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10) Dino Dig VR
Abacus Brands
amazon.com
$34.99
This STEM set will have them exploring the world of dinosaurs in real life and in virtual reality. Kids can don VR goggles and see the world as it was when the dinos roamed the Earth (and Good Housekeeping Institute testers were amazed). Then, when the goggles come off, there's also a fossil for them to dig out with included tools. Ages 8+
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11) Moon Lamp
LOGROTATE
amazon.com
$19.98
Foster her love of science and make her room look cool at the same time with this lamp, which is 3D printed to look like the lunar surface. It lights up in 16 colors, and has different lighting modes like strobe or fade. You can also choose from one of four different sizes. No age recommendation given
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12) DoodleJamz JellyPics
Sky Castle
amazon.com
$9.99
It's a fidget toy and an art toy all rolled into one. Beads are suspended in a gel, and kids can push them around either with their fingers or with a stylus to decorate a background photo. It comes with a two-sided background, but kids can also print and use their own. Ages 5+
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13) LetsGlow Studio
Sky Castle
amazon.com
$14.98
Part-DIY craft, part-video enhancer, this set will have her boosting her creativity. Kids can make accessories out of the reflective tape, thread, stickers and more, and then use a clip-on LED to have them glow in bright colors with cool lighting effects. It'll revolutionize their selfies and TikTok-style videos. Ages 8+
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14) Emma’s Art School
LEGO
amazon.com
$69.99
Serios LEGO fans will be amazed at their accomplishment after they've built this three-story, 844-piece art school set. And, when they're done, they can use their imaginations using it as a play set, with features like a pottery wheel that really turns or mannequins that really pose. Good Housekeeping Institute testers say it was just the right amount of challenge to build. Ages 8+
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15) Photo Clip String Light
HEHUI
amazon.com
$16.99
Tweens love personalizing their rooms, and this is a two-for-one: It's a set of fairy lights she can string wherever she likes, and it also has 100 clips to hold photos (all the more reason to get her that instant camera). No age recommendation given
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16) Cursive Name Necklace
CentimeGift
etsy.com
$34.85
Available in sterling silver-plated, gold-plated and rose-gold plated, these necklaces can be customized with names up to nine letters long. The necklaces are handmade, and you can also specify the chain length. No age recommendation given
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17) Shape -Shifting Box
Shashibo
amazon.com
$25.00
Kids are entranced by this puzzle box, which gives them endless ways to mindlessly play with their hands. It unfolds and twists into various shapes, and then it's a puzzle to get it back into its cube form again. Ages 8+
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18) Faux Fur Throw Blanket
NEWCOSPLAY
amazon.com
$30.99
Add a rainbow to her room with this colorful, tie-dye blanket (which you may have spotted on TikTok). The Sherpa faux fur is amazingly soft, and it's warm to cuddle up with, too. No age recommendation given.
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19) Designed by You Fashion Studio
Creativity for Kids
amazon.com
$26.99
Your 10-year-old can channel her inner designer with this DIY kit that comes with everything she needs, including a mini mannequin and detailed instructions. She'll learn the basics of making clothes from sketch to creation while using real tools (like scissors and a tape measure). Ages 9+
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20) Custom Name Neon Sign
NeonTea
etsy.com
$29.00
She'll love decking out her room with a sign made just for her! You can select the size, from 16 inches all the way up to 50 inches, and you also have your choice of font, color and symbol at the end. No age recommendation given
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21) Create Your Own Secret Language
Odd Dot
braveandkindbooks.com
$12.99
Tweens love sharing secrets with their friends (and keeping them from their parents). This book teaches them how to make their own secret languages, codes, ciphers and hidden messages — even entirely new alphabets. It's from David J. Peterson, who invented languages for Game of Thrones and other movies. Ages 10+
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22) Pillow Bed Floor Lounger
Butterfly Craze
amazon.com
$37.99
Just stuff this with four regular pillows (not included) and it becomes the ultimate cushion bed! Kids can use it for overnight visits, in reading nooks and anyplace else they need a comfy place to crash. It comes in lots of colors and patterns. No age recommendation given
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23) Drop It
Thames & Kosmos
amazon.com
$33.23
This fast-paced game is perfect for kids who get competitive on family game night. Our lab experts say it's like a combination of Tetris and logic. Even though there are a ton of rules about where your piece lands (don't let it touch a matching shape or you'll lose points!), it's still easy to play. Ages 8+
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24) DIY Wall Collage Arts and Crafts Kit
Hapinest
amazon.com
$24.99
They'll have so much fun making a room uniquely theirs with this wall collage kit, which comes with more than 1,100 pieces! They'll find stickers, list prompts, quotes, letter cutouts, and so much more, along with materials like markers and double-sided tape. Their walls will be living works of art! No age recommendation given
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25) Bill Nye's VR Science Kit
Abacus Brands
amazon.com
$59.99
This is your typical chemistry set taken to another dimension: Young scientists don VR goggles and use virtual and augmented reality to participate in science activities with Bill Nye. There are 30 projects to do. Ages 8+
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26) My Friendship Bracelet Maker
Choose Frienship
amazon.com
$22.99
There are some parents out there (ahem) who are desperately jealous they didn't have this when they were younger! This kit makes crafting friendship bracelets a snap: It has a clip at the top, a drawer for supplies and slots to hold strings in place. It also comes with a set of thread! Ages 8+
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27) Mermaid Tail Blanket
AmyHomie
amazon.com
$17.99
This cozy blanket is perfect for snuggling up with a book or watching a movie. It also comes with a cute keychain, so she can add some mermaid flair to her backpack. It comes in kid and adult sizes, so you and your 10-year-old girl can get matching mermaid sets. No recommended age given
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28) ThinkFun Cat Crimes Game
Think Fun
amazon.com
$14.99
A crime has taken place, and your 10-year-old will have to use her logic and critical thinking skills to determine the feline culprit. A challenge card offers clues, and then the solution is on the back, so this can be played either solo or as a team. There are 40 cases to solve at differing degrees of difficulty. Ages 8+
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29) Digimon X
Digimon
amazon.com
$16.79
This one might be a nostalgic fave for parents, too: Like the old Digimon, kids can use these to feed, care for and train a digital monster. But it has updated features, like new expressions and a Quest Mode (and it's reverse-compatible with all the old Digimon sets, too). Ages 8+
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30) Paint Pens
ARTISTRO
amazon.com
$17.99
Let her creativity run wild! These paint pens dry quickly and work on dark surfaces. She can put her personal touch on everything from canvas and fabric to kindness rocks. (But be warned: They're not washable.) No recommended age given
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31) One-Step Tie-Dye Kit
Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye Kit
amazon.com
$32.99
Tie dye is still all the rage, and she'll love her tie-dyed fashions more when she gets to make them herself. And, to simplify the process, this kit offers a one-step, two-minute process — materials don't have to be soaked in soda ash before use. No recommended age given
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32) Make Your Own: Wood Cross-Stitch Jewelry
MindWare
amazon.com
$24.95
Old-timey crafts are cool again, and this 2019 Good Housekeeping Toy Award Winner teaches your 10-year-old how to cross-stitch. It comes with all the supplies she needs to make 12 necklaces, including wooden pendants, cords, clasps and more. It even comes with design ideas for inspiration and instructions on how to monogram. Ages 8+
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33) Nancy Drew Starter Set
$31.49
The OG girl detective is still the best. Perfect for any book lover, this boxed set comes with hardcover copies of the first five books in the Nancy Drew series. Once she's hooked, she can dive into the rest — the original series has 50+ different books. Ages 8+
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34) The Original LED Marquee Lightbox
My Cinema Lightbox
amazon.com
$32.99
With this light box, your 10-year-old girl can spell out her favorite quotes or song lyrics using the 100 included tiles (it comes with letters, numbers and symbols). Then she can put it on display and plug in the USB cord, so it lights up. Don't forget to stock up on extra letters and symbols! No recommended age given
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35) GO Glam Nail Stamper
Cool Maker
amazon.com
$31.49
With this at-home nail stamper, she can have fun, designed nails that she can switch up whenever she wants. Just paint the nails with a base coat, pop a pattern into the stamper and stamp it on! Our lab experts found that it works well on all different nail sizes, so she can decorate Mom's nails, too. Ages 8+
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36) Write On Graphite Pencil Set
ban.do
amazon.com
$10.95
She'll be the coolest one at school with this set of 10 colorful pencils from ban.do printed with short, fun compliments, like "You're a total champ." They're perfect for doing homework, doodling and writing notes to friends. No recommended age given
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37) Happy Atoms Magnetic Molecular Modeling Set
Thames & Kosmos
amazon.com
$44.99
Your 10-year-old girl can use this science kit to learn the basics of chemistry (like what bonding is and the difference between 50 of the atoms). It combines digital and physical play when they use the free app. Together, the app and modeling pieces allow kids to build molecules in real life and then learn all about them on their tablet. Ages 10+
RELATED: The Best Educational Toys for Kids
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38) The Challenging Riddle Book for Kids
Rockridge Press
amazon.com
$6.52
Get kids to work on their critical thinking skills with this collection of 200 brain-teasers. If she gets stuck, there are tips and hints to help her along so she won't get frustrated. Ages 9+
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39) Chromebook Spin 11 Convertible Laptop
Acer
walmart.com
$215.00
Whether she wants to play games or catch up on homework, this kid-friendly device easily switches from a classic laptop to tablet mode. Not only is it an affordable first computer, but it's super rugged — a.k.a. it can withstand drops and resist water. No recommended age given
RELATED: The Best Laptops You Can Buy in 2022
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40) The Future Is Female Notebook
Effie's Paper
etsy.com
$16.00
She's going to go on to do big things — show her you're behind her every step of the way with this notebook. It comes with 100 lined pages, and in a small size perfect for jotting down notes, homework assignments or future plans. No age recommendation given
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41) Velvet Hair Scrunchies
SEVEN STYLE
amazon.com
$7.99
VSCO girl or not, scrunchies are so trendy right now. You really can't beat the price of this set of 60 stylish hair ties — at under $10, it's way cheaper than you'd get them for at other stores. It comes with tons of different colors, so she can find one to match her outfit or mood every day. No recommended age given
RELATED: 65 Fun Stocking Stuffers Under $25 for Everyone On Your Christmas List
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42) Care & Repair Natural Lip Balm
beelove
beelovebuzz.com
$5.00
At this age, kids love experimenting with makeup and cosmetics. You can feel good about this lip balm, which uses mango, cocoa, and shea butter, along with ingredients like almond oil, vitamin E, rosemary extract, beeline honey. No age recommendation given
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43) Unicorn Hooded Bathrobe
Doctor Unicorn
amazon.com
$25.99
Your 10-year-old girl will love wearing this cozy, unicorn-themed robe around the house. It comes in a bunch of different color combos and patterns, like solid purple or rainbow-patterned, and they all have a unicorn hood, complete with a horn! No recommended age given
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44) Rainbow Pop It
Kido
kidochicago.com
$8.00
Popping toys are still all the rage: kids pop them, trade them and play simple games with them. This one comes in an eye-catching rainbow pattern that's sure to please tweens. Ages 3+
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45) Gravitrax Starter Set Marble Run
Ravensburger
amazon.com
$59.95
Using more than 100 pieces, kids can design their own marble run. It uses tracks, magnets and special pieces to move the marbles throughout the game, making it great for teaching physics concepts to your 10-year-old girl. Ages 8+
RELATED: The Best STEM Toys for Kids
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46) Avocado Plush
Squishable
amazon.com
$24.88
Any 10-year-old would love to keep this happy, bright avocado smiling any corner of her room. This 7" plush is also really fun to squeeze. Ages 3+
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47) Zoe Doll
Healthy Roots
$84.99
If your daughter likes to style hair, this is the perfect practice partner. She can wash (with real hair products) and do Zoe's hair, which is made of a specially designed fiber that can be styled just like real hair. Ages 6+
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48) Disney Villainous: Despicable Plots
Ravensburger
amazon.com
$31.99
Disney kids are probably already familiar with the Disney Villainous strategy board game series: You play as a classic Disney villain, and each villain has their own specific skills and goals while a shared fate deck affects the gameplay for all. In this newest edition of the game, players can choose to be Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, Lady Tremaine from Cinderella or the Horned King from The Black Cauldron. Ages 10+
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49) Hagrid's Hut: Buckbeak's Rescue
LEGO
amazon.com
$59.96
If she's obsessed with the Wizarding World, she will love building this she can act out her favorite scenes from the series. The nearly 500-piece set includes a two-room hut for Hagrid, a pumpkin patch to hide Buckbeak in and minifigs of Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, the Executioner and the Minister of Magic, plus a Hippogriff figure. Ages 8+
RELATED: 36 Magical Harry Potter Gift Ideas for Your Favorite Potterhead
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50) Self-Rescuing Princess Pin
Svaha
svahausa.com
$7.99
Give your 10-year-old girl an empowerment boost with this enamel pin, which proudly declares that she doesn't need anyone to treat her as a damsel in distress. It's from Svaha, which is known for making science-themed clothing. No age recommendation given
Svaha
