As I finish up my holiday shopping this weekend, I realize that many of the kids that I give to have gotten older and require the next level of gifts. Because many of these kids are picky about what they wear, I tend to avoid buying clothes. Buying toys for older kids/tweens can be tricky but there are so many great things out there to choose from. I love finding things that allow kids to be creative and think outside of the box. They spend enough time engaged in school activities that they have to complete a certain way that I want to give things that allow kids to think, create and will build self-esteem and confidence. And while it’s probably way easier to get gift cards, I love seeing kids actually open up real gifts.
Diggin Wobble Deck-this gross motor gift is designed to get kids up and moving around. It is also great for working on improving executive functioning skills such as following directions, memory and focus/attention. Essentially, this is a balance board and Simon Says game combined. The board has five numbered, colored edges and each one has a sound associated with it. It will call out numbers, colors and sounds a child has to shift their weight so that part of the board touches the ground. There are three modes and multiple difficulty settings so kids can be constantly challenged. 
and I love that this game is still around. Choose from the gears and wheels, place it on your paper and create whirling and spiraling patterns. I like to give kids blank cards and have them design the covers of their own stationary. Kids never get bored with this activity because each time they do it, they can create something new and wonderful. The set comes with gears and wheels, colored pens, paper and comes in a box perfect for storing everything. If you want to add something to the gift, get a bunch of different colored blank cards and envelopes so the recipient can create their own stationary. Great for working on bilateral coordination skills, improve eye-hand coordination and graphomotor skills.
Make Your Own Comic–Lulu Jr. is an amazing company that has created products that encourage creativity, builds self-esteem and strengthens literacy and writings kills. This awesome comic book kit gives kids the chance to write, illustrate and publish their very own book. Once their story is complete and they have finished filling in all the pages, they send it in to Lulu Jr and they will print the comic out so it looks like a real comic book! What could be more motivating and exciting for kids than to see something they have created turned into a real book? 
Little Bits Kits-for those kids who are interested in learning more about science, engineering and building things, look no further. The base kit comes with 10 color-coded modules that when snapped together, can make over 150, 000 circuit combinations. There are other kits to choose from which allow you to do different kinds of engineering activities. Kids are encouraged to design tons of different circuit sequences and come up with imaginative uses for those circuits including making a dimmer switch, a motorized car and a night light. 