If you have a tween on your holiday gift list and have no idea what to get them, you are not alone. This age is difficult to shop for because they are too old to be interested in the “little kid” stuff, but too young to be into teen and young adult stuff. No matter whether it’s a boy or a girl, your child, grandchild, or your niece or nephew, we have some gift suggestions that will not only bring a smile to the recipient’s face, but will please the parent, too.

Entertainment Gifts: Music, Movies, and Books

Though a boy and a girl may have different tastes in music, movies, and books, there are plenty of options here. For DVDs or Blu-ray discs, you may want to consider Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, or Inkheart – these films are all based on books, which may encourage the kids to read more.

Music can be trickier, since kids have such varying tastes, but you might hear them talking about Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, or the latest compilation of American Idol stars. If the child already has an MP3 player such as an iPod, or one on the list as a gift from someone else, look into an iTunes gift card that will enable the child to purchase his or her own music. If you do not want to give the child full control over the music they have on their device, purchase and use the gift card to load the computer with songs for them to choose from.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on movies the kids will only watch a time or two before getting bored of them, consider investing in a service such as Netflix or Hulu that will enable them to watch a large library of movies and TV shows on their TV for a small monthly fee.

In terms of books, there are plenty of places where you can buy good quality used copies, which you can donate or sell back when the child does not want them anymore. There are many similar services for books, such as BooksFree.com and BookSwim.com.

Technology Gifts: Computers, Cell Phones, MP3 Players, Video Games

Children this age are bombarded by technology in nearly every aspect of their lives, and now they are starting to want their very own piece of it. Computers are becoming more cost effective these days, and there are plenty of tools to help parents monitor activity. Tablets are a good choice because they are meant for Internet use and not much else. Prepaid cell phones put you in control of their usage and give them a chance to prove themselves responsible.

MP3 players allow them to listen to their own music, and since everything is digital, there is no need for CDs. Video games are a hit across all major gaming consoles because there is something for everyone, in every genre. For people who do not like playing the same games over and over, purchasing used games will help reduce the expense. Investing in a GameFly membership will also keep “new” games coming in whenever they tire of playing the ones they have on hand.

For Girls: Clothes & Room Décor

This is the age where most girls start gaining interest in what they look like, so where clothes used to be a nuisance as a holiday gift, they are welcome surprise. However, buying clothes for her, without her there to say what she likes, what she already has, or thinks is cool, it is a risky purchase. If you decide to purchase clothes for her, purchase gift cards for the various stores you think she may be interested in, or a mall gift card, and take her shopping with you after the holiday, so you can take advantage of all the sales and get more for your money. Choosing the gift cards beforehand will also give you more control over where she shops to prevent her from getting clothing items you do not approve of. Tween girls may like to shop at stores like Justice, Old Navy, and Abercrombie.

This is also an age where personal expression is important, as the child tries to figure out who she is. As she moves away from dolls and “child-like” toys, she will likely want to re-decorate her room to match her “older” persona. Posters, lamps, curtains, etc. will all be a good way to help her redecorate her room to make it her personal space.

For Boys: Active Gifts

What sports and other outdoor activities does the boy on your list love? Whether he plays or watches, there are many different things you can do. Visit your local sporting goods store to update his game equipment. Shop online for various sports memorabilia, from cards to autographed photos. Shop sporting event tickets to take him a game at some point this season. Purchase clothing and accessory items from t-shirts and jerseys to jackets and hats.

For the fun of outdoor activities indoors, tween boys can get moving with Active Life Outdoor Challenge or NFL Training Camp for the Wii. If he has a Playstation 3, check out EA Sports Active 2. These games aren’t just fun; they encourage healthy activity levels, too!