At 12, a girl wants toys for making things for real and toys for competing: artist soaps she then gives away, a resin jewellery workshop, a Nain Jaune to play with the grandparents, a Perplexus not finished in a day, a Jellycat bag worn in town. The gift that leaves a mark is the one you would not have given a little one.

What a 12-year-old loves

This is the last age of toys, and she knows it: what she keeps has to survive secondary school. Friends matter more than anything, and the gift that works is the one shared or worn. She makes things that are really used, soaps, jewellery, and gives them away. Collections hold up, figurines, Pokémon cards, provided they have value. Soft toys stay, provided they have character or humour.

Our gift ideas

To make and give

The artist soaps are made in an afternoon and given the next day, the resin jewellery workshop casts pendants to wear, the Little Birds mini resin kit makes small objects. All our arts and crafts.

To compete

The Nain Jaune in its wooden box is played with the grandparents, the Perplexus Beast is a three-dimensional maze, Tudikoa is a guessing game by Bioviva, Défifoo throws 150 challenges at birthdays, the wooden Connect 4 stays in the living room, and the Tintin happy families game goes everywhere. All our board games.

To collect

The Eevee Lego kit and the Pokémon First Partners collection for the card collector, the Marsupilami and Spirou figurine tube, the resin Corporal Diaz, Schleich's shadow lemur and shadow worm, and the magnetic dancing dolls. Our figurines and our Tintin world.

To read and think

Paris Pop Up unfolds the monuments, The Red Sea Sharks is reread at any age, and the Horses observation puzzle hides details to find. Our books and our puzzles.

To share and wear

The Unicorn friendship necklaces and the fawn necklace are given to best friends, Jellycat's Bartholomew handbag and birthday cake shoulder bag are worn in town, and the red wizard cape serves at fancy-dress parties. See our costumes.

To cuddle

Steiff's James Bond bear is a collector's piece, Bretti the yeti has humour, the wire-haired dachshund and the golden brown cat are realistic, and the Nutcracker cushion decorates the bed. All our soft toys.

What budget?

Under 20 euros: the Horses puzzle, the Unicorn necklaces, the fawn necklace, Tudikoa, the Tintin album, the Nutcracker cushion, the happy families game or the lemur. Between 20 and 50 euros: the Nain Jaune, the Perplexus, Défifoo, the Connect 4, the soaps, the jewellery workshop, the mini resin kit, Paris Pop Up, Corporal Diaz, the dancing dolls, the shadow worm, the Marsupilami tube, the Pokémon collection, the cape, the dachshund and the cat. Above 50 euros: the James Bond bear, Bretti, the Jellycat bags or the Eevee Lego, for a gift that leaves a mark.

Frequently asked questions

Which board game at 12?

A game where luck matters little and a round lasts under an hour: the Nain Jaune as a family, Défifoo among friends, the Perplexus alone. At this age she reads the rules alone and referees the games.

Still toys at 12?

Yes, provided they are not marked "for children": a workshop that makes objects really used, a soft-toy bag that is worn, a strategy game or a collector's figurine survive secondary school. What no longer works is toys handled on the floor.

Can the gift be wrapped?

Yes, gift wrapping is free: tick the box on the product page before adding to cart. Delivery to a pick-up point is free from 80 euros in mainland France, and you can collect your order in our shop at 211 boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris.

See also

• Gifts for a 12-year-old boy
• Gifts for an 11-year-old girl
• Gifts for a 13 or 14-year-old girl
• All toys for ages 8 to 12
• All our gift ideas by age

Advice from the team at L'Oiseau de Paradis, a toy shop in Paris since 1932.