13-05-2025
The 25 Best Gifts For 10-Year-Olds Celebrating Double Digits
Turning 10 is an exciting milestone for kids—and their parents. To celebrate their first double-digit birthday, it's OK if you want to go a little overboard—especially in recognition of how they've grown and are continuing to grow into big kids. The best gifts for 10-year-olds recognize their budding maturity, as well as new passions and skills.
Celebrate your big kid's milestone birthday with one of these best gifts for 10-year-olds.
After consulting child and teen play therapists, independent toy store retailers, and attending two toy industry trade shows this year, I also reviewed my own tweens' favorite items to compile this list of the best gifts for 10-year-olds in 2025.
Just remember, these almost-teens still enjoy play—and the therapists I spoke with say games and toys are still good for their development—but they'll turn their noses up on anything deemed too young or uncool. 'Tweens are coming out of that baby stage, so toys for them might feel very babyish, [after] they've gone through that hormonal shift,' says Kerri Adams, a child and family therapist and cofounder of Love Play Grow in New Jersey. Because of this, parents may have to re-engage kids in play—opening up that card game or Lego set and diving in with them.
Amazon
Kick off their next decade with a delicious new book series that's all about fearlessly confronting American tween issues. Follow 10-year-old Mia as she navigates sticky social situations, as well as thorny societal challenges as the daughter of Chinese immigrants. My daughter flew through this series as this age. Author Kelly Yang has a great voice that delivers a compelling story that doesn't hit kids over the head with heavy messaging.
Amazon
Whether they're still into Legos, or just into speed and Formula 1, this sub-300 piece Ferrari is an ideal big-kid set. Casey Sartain, owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, says this recently launched Lego F1 Speed Champions series 'has already been selling great' with tween boys. 'Ferrari is the best selling of the bunch,' he says. 'Speed Champions has been one of the hottest parts of the Lego line for the last couple years…. and I imagine they'll just keep going since this year is F1 crazy.' They can display it out of reach of younger sibs once completed.
Walmart
If they're already staking out the makeup aisle, get them started with a foundational skincare routine. Bubble creates gentle, tween- and teen-appropriate skincare options in colorful packaging that appeals to younger beauty fans. Opt for one of Bubble's starter kits, so they can test out which products their skin responds best to. They're also perfectly giftable and a hot tween party set.
Amazon
I've seen this Gecko Run in action firsthand, and it's a clever spin on more old-fashioned marble runs. Its sticky adhesive pads allow kids to build vertically on smooth surfaces from glass to plastic to ceramic—and then reposition the whole thing and build again whenever they like. This deluxe set includes 90 pieces, so no need to purchase additional expansion packs.
Amazon
This game favors the players best able to crack up their teammates, making it ideal for the family clown. Each player gets 10 cards with pre-written answers that they'll submit anonymously in response to the prompt card. Pick the answer you think is most likely to elicit the most laughs. Just be warned that this kid version of the game includes plenty of fart and poop jokes—which always draw the biggest laughs among my kids.
Adams points out that all that laughter is a good thing for the whole family: 'A lot of what brings families together is laughter. Laughter is a stress reliever and laughter is what creates bonds.'
Amazon
This best-selling Rick Riordan book series takes kids on an epic adventure through a fantasyland of Greek gods and their demigod offspring as good and evil forces battle monsters, magic and more with time hops from ancient times to modern day. My fourth grader flew through this series just after turning 10 and has gobbled up many more of Riordan's titles afterward.
Amazon
This adorable skincare duo from TonyMoly includes a strawberry-themed lip gloss and hand cream—and the winking Patty The Cow Squishmallow. It's the perfect pair for a tween starter set to keep in their backpack or belt bag.
Amazon
If you have the space to stow it and a safe place to drive it, I highly recommend Radio Flyer's Extreme Drift Go-Kart, the brand's new and award-winning electric go-kart for big kids. It offers three speeds (5, 8 and 11 mph), including one reserved for teens, so they'll get plenty of use out of it—and it absolutely blew my 10-year-old away as a splurge birthday gift. In fact, he was so happy with it, he didn't mind that I'd said no to a smartwatch. The seat is adjustable and the 36-volt battery recharges fairly quickly, so your thrill-seeker can get back to cranking out donuts.
Amazon
Press a button on this handheld device and watch the ZipString fly into loops and various shapes with a flick of their hand. Advanced flyers can create tricks and more elaborate displays with the string, and my 10-year-old has no problem swapping out the various strings for different effects. A tip from Sartain led me to this pick, which he says was 'a huge hit last year' and the new Luma glow-in-the-dark strings are now 'flying off the shelves.'
Nike
You can't go wrong with a fresh hoodie for this age group. Whether they've misplaced their current one or just want another colorway for their rotation, these Nike Big Kid Pullover Hoodies come in more than a dozen colors with a roomy front pouch to stash small things in. They're comfortable and long-lasting, but pay attention to the sizing: Nike can run smaller, and my 10-year-old is already wearing the XL kids size of this hoodie.
Walmart
The brand-new Gui Gui slime from Moose Toys is easily one of the hottest new toys for kids this season. It just became available at Walmart and is rolling out to additional retailers in August. It's also one of my 12-year-old daughter's favorite slimes she's ever sunk her hands into. She called it 'high-quality' and loved the scent and mix-ins. Gui Gui is available in four styles of slime: clear, butter, gloss and cloud and each one comes with various mix-ins including charms, so kids can 'style' their slime. They can store it in the included container when not in use.
Flip 7
This fast-paced card game combines a bit of strategy—and a bunch of luck. Be the first to reach 200 points as cards are dealt around, but be wary of receiving doubles—otherwise, your turn is over and you lose all your points that round. It's been a family game night hit with my tweens and grown-ups alike. It's easy to grasp (even our 6-year-old has joined in) and moves quickly, so it's perfect for when you're short on time.
Just be aware that this game keeps selling out at mass retailers and indie shops alike. Sartain says it's especially popular in the 9- to 12-year-old age range. 'We've been selling a lot more games to tweens and teens than ever before: Uno No Mercy, Catan, Flip 7 and Sushi Go,' he says.
Target
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 makes snapping quick pics of family, friends and all their adventures a cinch for budding photographers and creative kids. It's a great first camera for tweens who don't have a smartphone yet. Pair it with a scrapbook so they have a place to stow all these fourth- and fifth-grade memories, or purchase it as part of a Fujifilm Instax bundle to get them started with everything they'll need including extra film and a carrying case.
Fat Brain Toys
This newcomer from Fat Brain Toys brings a popular adult game to kids in a more competitive tabletop form. Hook Rally requires two competitors to play at once, each vying to cast their ring onto the same hooks. The first player to capture three hooks wins. It's a simple game they can start playing straight out of the box. I love that it's a bit of a quieter game—at least compared to others my kids screech through—and requires pretty intense focus and hand-eye coordination.
Amazon
This is the perfect gift for the crafter—or the socializer—who loves to share their creations with friends. The portable STMT D.I.Y. Glitz Bead Case includes more than 600 pieces for them to assemble multiple friendship bracelets, including assorted alphabet beads, pearl beads, various charms, more than 500 round beads and five bundles of elastic cord and 10 bracelet threads.
Amazon
The magnetic Shashibo Shape Shifting Box from Fun In Motion opens up to reveal different patterns and colors as kids (and adults) manipulate the toy into different shapes. There isn't a puzzle to solve necessarily, the way there is with a Rubik's Cube—instead, it's more of a sophisticated fidget toy that reveals different designs and shapes as kids open up its sides and move it around in their hands. They can connect one Shape Shifting Box to another, too. It comes in kid-friendly designs like this silly Spongebob SquarePants theme and the new Hello Kitty box.
Amazon
A built-in timer ups the challenge on this viral solo puzzle game. Kids fight against the clock to position the Kanoodle pieces into the game board to solve up to 500 puzzles, including many new ones. Kanoodle games have an age rating starting at 7, and my 10-year-old easily bested the basic starter set, solving each puzzle one by one, so I know he'd appreciate this timed challenge.
Amazon
Cloud slides appeal to many ages for that pillow-like feel beneath your feet as you traipse around the house. But shark slides are having a bit of a moment with the tween and early teens. They're silly, comfy and fun—and my 10-year-old and his friends in the New York City suburbs can't seem to get enough of them. They come in a different colors and brands, so they can select the set that most appeals to them.
Fresh off the new Minecraft movie, which has my whole family singing Jack Black's Steve's Lava Chicken, this 500-piece Lego set brings that cinema experience home. Rated for ages 10 and up, it's a petite set but comes with plenty of fun accessories and nods to both the movie and the game, including a fighting ring, a baby zombie and a chicken jockey.
Amazon
While the Nintendo Switch has long been popular with families of young children, the PlayStation 5 is the coveted console of big kids. And with the new Nintendo Switch 2 not yet available (release date is June 2025) and selling for nearly the same price ($450) as the PlayStation, I'd highly recommend the PS5 for these tween gamers who have likely moved well beyond Mario Kart and the petite controllers included with the Switch.
Amazon
If they've outgrown Play-Doh, but are still drawn to more artistic pursuits, this Pott'd pottery kit may be just right. My oldest daughter received this set last Christmas and has made several pretty pinch pots and small designs with it. It comes with a generous supply of air-dry clay, so there's no kiln or wheel needed. They'll sculpt their designs by hand, let them dry and then use the included paints to add any finishing touches.
Amazon
If you're in a pinch and the birthday party is happening tomorrow, gaming digital gift cards for in-game purchases have become the party gift du jour in my area. Find out their game or console of choice before selecting Roblox, V-Bucks (for Fortnite fans) or a generic Xbox or PlayStation gift card.
Amazon
The exceedingly soft and huggable Squishmallows remain the go-to plush friend for kids, tweens and teens. They come in a multitude of friendly characters and sizes and are beloved by all age groups. Younger kids may use them in their imaginary games while your 10-year-old might prefer this cheery Olma Strawberry Cat as a reading pillow or simply as chic room décor.
Walmart
At age 10, they might already be begging for an iPhone. Stave off that conversation with the big kid gift of an Apple Watch SE (the brand's most affordable model), so they can flex a bit of independence—and you can still track their whereabouts. It's my top pick for the best smartwatch for mature tweens and teens. You can lock it down to whatever your comfort level is, restricting sites, apps, contacts and usage hours. Get the cellular version for kids without a phone and use your iPhone to set up their new watch and manage it via your Apple family settings.
Amazon
If your 10-year-old is always dragging out the mixing bowl, you might treat them to a cooking or baking kit. This Baketivity cake pop set provides the instructions and a full suite of pre-measured dry ingredients and decorative toppings to make their own delicious treats—no cake pop pan necessary. They'll just need to scoop up a few fresh items and follow the recipe to create this sweet treat the whole family can enjoy.
The kids and baby team at Forbes Vetted spends extensive time testing, researching, and yes, playing with toys and the best gifts for kids, tweens and teens. We care deeply about safety and pay close attention to recall notices.
