Ages 7 to 17 are both one of the most exciting and challenging periods in a child’s life: the transition from big kid to young adult. These are the years when children trade play for deep, focused interests. This 2025 holiday gift guide for big kids and teens features gifts that will bring smiles on Christmas morning, but also reflect evolving interests and inspire fun, skill-building, and family bonding.

For ages 7-to-9, you’ll find ways that bridge the gap between play and complex projects. Tween (10-12) and teenager (13-17) categories shift toward cultivating independence, personal style, and social connection. Gifts at this age are less about what children need and more about recognizing and celebrating who they are becoming.

In this blog post:

• 2025 Gift Guide: Best Toys & Gifts for 7-, 8-, and 9-Year-Old Girls
• 2025 Gift Guide: Best Toys & Gifts for 7-, 8-, and 9-Year-Old Boys
• Top 2025 Holiday Gifts for Tween Girls (Ages 10, 11, & 12)
• Top 2025 Holiday Gifts for Tween Boys (Ages 10, 11, & 12)
• Best 2025 Gift Guide for Teenagers (Ages 13-17)
• Intentional Christmas activities from Treehouse Schoolhouse

2025 Gift Guide: Best Toys & Gifts for 7-, 8-, and 9-Year-Old Girls

These are gifts for crafty girls who love to do projects, create things, read books, but still love to play imaginative games.

1. School play set for creating school stories, assigning roles, and leading the classroom.
2. Sewing machine and sewing book for fun projects.
3. Travel watercolor set to create art wherever inspiration strikes.
4. Polly Pocket, with miniature worlds and figures.
5. Little House on the Prairie book collection, timeless tales of family, history, and pioneer girl adventure.
6. America’s Test Kitchen children’s cookbook and baking book, with easy, trusted recipes to build real kitchen confidence and skills.
7. LEGO Friends, the sweetest building sets for children.
8. Weaving loom kit to learn a beautiful, classic craft and make personalized gifts.
9. Letter sign to make her room unique.
10. Nancy Drew books for solving exciting mysteries and following a clever, independent girl detective.
11. Cat’s Cradle book to learn and master dozens of classic string figures.
12. Origami kit to fold paper into beautiful, 3D art shapes.
13. A quality journal in a fun color for thoughts, dreams, and stories.
14. Cozy slippers for relaxing and being snuggly at home.
15. Super soft zip-up hoodie, the perfect layer for comfortable style and instant warmth.
16. Sparkly knotted headband, a stylish accessory to add flair to any outfit
17. Caboodle, the iconic, handy case for organizing anything.
18. Colorful fanny pack to carry treasures and essentials.

2025 Gift Guide: Best Toys & Gifts for 7-, 8-, and 9-Year-Old Boys

These are gifts for boys who love to build, create, compete, play games outside, but are getting big enough to be useful and help with practical things as well.

1. LEGO sets, always.
2. Foosbots, a tabletop trick shot game.
3. Hypertiles are advanced magnetic building tiles for complex 3D engineering designs.
4. Magic set to learn impressive illusions and master stage presence.
5. Yo-yo to learn tricks that build serious dexterity and focus.
6. RC Stunt Car is a remote controlled car for kids to master flips, rolls, and high-speed driving.
7. A pod swing creates a cozy, calming spot for focused reading or sensory downtime.
8. Klask is a fast, magnetic dexterity game blending soccer and air hockey.
9. Paper airplane launcher for testing paper plane design and flight physics.
10. Flag football belts for practicing teamwork and speed in safe, non-contact football competition.
11. Frisbee to master advanced throwing techniques for distance and accuracy.
12. Real tool set that includes high-quality, safe tools for real carpentry and building projects.
13. Nerf Pro Grip Football for throwing perfect spirals and developing quarterback skills.
14. A camo tactile vest for playing in the woods.
15. A quality beanie to wear outside.
16. Metal detector kit for finding lost treasures.
17. A classic guessing game.
18. Chemistry set with over 100 exciting experiments.
19. A beginner wood carving kit.
20. Lightweight sunglasses for sports or sunny days.

Top 2025 Holiday Gifts for Tween Girls (Ages 10, 11, & 12)

These are gifts for girls who love to read books, create, and play, but are also becoming independent and are developing their own sense of style.

1. Flower claw clip for trendy hairstyles
2. Monogram zipper pouch for organizing essentials.
3. American Girl doll, a classic.
4. Favorite books with beautiful covers like Anne of Green Gables and A Little Princess.
5. Heatless curl set to achieve soft curls overnight.
6. Silk pillow case to keep the tangles at bay.
7. Book light for staying up past bedtime to finish a thrilling story.
8. Kid’s kindle reading tablet for instant access to thousands of books.
9. Vision board book to plan, dream, and visualize future goals.
10. Pattern coloring book and vibrant colored pencils in every single color.
11. Holographic nail polish in shimmering, prismatic colors.
12. Earring organizer to keep accessories neat and visible.
13. Flower floor pillow to read and lounge in comfort.
14. Taco Goat Cheese Pizza, a fast, hilarious card game that tests memory and reflexes.
15. DIY mochi ice cream kit to bake and create custom gourmet treats.
16. Jellycat plush purse – cute, velvety, and functional.
17. Woolbuddy needle felting kit for sculpting charming wool creatures.
18. Murdle Jr., a cooperative mystery game to build deduction skills.
19. Classic polaroid camera and photo album.

Top 2025 Holiday Gifts for Tween Boys (Ages 10, 11, & 12)

These holiday gifts guarantee fun and laughs for boys are scientific, competitive, and active.

1. Laser tag for competitive, high-action fun for siblings or friends.
2. Borescope camera to explore underwater, ant tunnels, and more.
3. Glowing LED soccer ball to keep playing long after the sun sets. 
4. Golf set to develop precision and focus.
5. MP3 player for listening to favorite songs.
6. Construct a detailed NASA space model with this LEGO Moon Orbit.
7. Gecko Run Marble Run to ​​design wild, gravity-defying tracks using flexible, sticky material.
8. Vans, iconic, comfortable slip-on sneakers.
9. Rip stick to explore balance and carving.
10. Telestrations, a hilarious party game that blends Pictionary with Telephone.
11. DIY bubble gum kit, a detailed chemistry project to mix and create custom bubble gum.
12. Silent basketball to practice dribbling and skills indoors without the noise and disruption.
13. No Stress Chess to learn classic chess strategy with helpful, simple teaching guides.
14. Tech Deck Motorized Finger Skateboard Toy with rider and ramp.
15. Comic book making kit to write and illustrate original superhero stories.
16. Ninja training obstacle course to develop agility, balance, and strength.
17. Learn food chemistry by creating and eating delicious science projects.
18. Ping pong table conversion top transforms any large table into a space for fast, competitive ping pong.
19. Bike tire lights add awesome, glowing patterns to any bike.

Best 2025 Gift Guide for Teenagers (Ages 13-17)

This holiday gift guide for teenage boys and girls maximizes comfort, fun, and ways for creativity and self-expression.

1. Bouncing ball skill game that improves concentration and reflexes. 
2. Large canvas and color theory book to elevate art skills by mastering scale and color principles.
3. Film camera, or Instax Mini, and photo display for capturing authentic moments.
4. Paint Chip Poetry, ​​a game to create abstract poetry using paint chips.
5. Beats Solo 3 wireless headphones, for premium sound and comfort.
6. Convertible bean bag.
7. Lava lamp, a retro, mesmerizing accent.
8. Digital drawing tablet or digital pencil to create detailed digital art.
9. Mighty Wallet, an ultra-slim wallet made from sustainable materials.
10. The Story Bible, that tells the Bible narrative in chapter book format.
11. Superior wool slippers for studying and lounging.
12. Reading pillow with back support for long reading sessions.
13. Gratitude journal, a private space for counting blessings.
14. Camelbak hydration pack, essential gear for hiking, biking, and serious outdoor adventures.
15. Junk Journaling, ideas to turn scraps of life into art.
16. Vinyl record player to experience music with deep, authentic sound and cool vintage style.
17. Carhartt jacket, a classic that will last for years.

Intentional Christmas activities from Treehouse Schoolhouse

If you are looking with ways to connect with your family this holiday season, enjoy these intentional advent studies from Treehouse Schoolhouse.

A Connected Christmas

A Connected Christmas is our original, three-week advent study designed for the whole family. Gather your family and celebrate beauty and delight through festive carols, stories, poetry, art, baking, and handcrafts. It’s about family, it’s about Him. It’s about connecting hearts to the heart of Christmas–to the truth of Jesus coming to earth to seek and save the lost.

A Connected Christmas, Volume Two

A Connected Christmas, Volume Two continues the same holiday tradition of carols, stories, poetry, art, baking, and handcrafts, designed to bring your family together during this holiday season. Share in the love of Christ by revisiting the Nativity story along with new stories and heartwarming activities to enjoy this season together.

is an invitation to gather your family and celebrate beauty and delight through festive carols, stories, poetry, art, baking, and handcrafts. It’s about family, it’s about Him. It’s about connecting hearts to the heart of Christmas–to the truth of Jesus coming to earth to seek and save the lost.

A Connected Christmas: Around the World

Travel around the world this holiday season and connect hearts to the truth of Jesus while experiencing how Christmas is celebrated across the globe through A Connected Christmas: Around the World. This study has a special focus on geography and cultural traditions as you learn how Christmas is celebrated worldwide during this special time of year.

What gifts are you most excited to give your big kids this holiday season? Share your favorite ideas in the comments below.