Gifts for girls | Gift for boys
Whether the tween in your life is excited about entering high school, graduating is a big milestone to celebrate. One way you can congratulate the young graduate this year is with an 8th grade graduation gift.
Whether they love playing video games or enjoys studying stars, we rounded up the best middle school graduation gifts for every kind of tween. There’s bound to be something here that will make them smile, no matter what they’re into these days.
Gift ideas for 8th grade girls
Jenny Lemons Frosted Cinnamon Bun Hair Claw
Don’t underestimate how much she’ll love a cute hair accessory. This frosted cinnamon bun hair claw from Jenny Lemons is just as sweet as she is, and she’ll want to wear it all the time.
Kimwood Clip-On Ring Light
Help them up their selfie game before they hit the high school halls. This rechargeable LED ring light has earned countless rave reviews from various Amazon shoppers for how “professional and polished” it makes their photos look.
“Legendborn,” by Tracy Deonn
If they enjoy reading for fun, get them a thrilling page-turner they’ll be totally engrossed in. This YA bestseller combines contemporary themes with fantastical twists, all involving a resilient teen who’s the embodiment of Black girl magic. Once you’re done with this read, we don’t doubt you’ll want to read book two of the Legendborn Cycle, “Bloodmarked.”
Triple Zip Small Crossbody Bag
A chic handbag is a great gift for any teen. This crossbody bag with over 23,000 verified five-star ratings is trendy thanks to the subtle pastel color and faux leather make, and it also has a secure zip closure so she can keep her things safe and sound.
Thread Wallets Emmeline
If you want a little more flair when upgrading their wallets (or getting them their very first), Thread Wallets offers plenty of playful patterns like the one pictured here. This slim wallet holds just the essentials like their school ID and lunch money, and it has a key ring so they can hook it on to their house keys and (hopefully) won’t lose it.
Neon Effect Frame
This neon effect frame is another colorful way to decorate her space. She can write quotes, doodles and leave notes using the vibrant neon pens that come with the frame. You can hang it on the wall or display it upright on any flat surface.
ChemCare Heart Shape LED Neon Light Sign
What 8th grade girl wouldn’t love a neon light to spruce up her bedroom? This LED wall light is easy to use, budget-friendly and would look great in any room.
I Dew Care Scoop Party Set
Skin care with a yummy twist! This set — featuring a trio of wash-off face masks inspired by sweet eats — is perfect for whatever post-graduation slumber party they’re planning with their BFFs.
Personalized Graduation Gift Box
Why settle for one gift when you can surprise her with several? This bestselling gift box from Etsy includes lots of items teen girls love, from a scented candle and lip balm to a sweet heart necklace. It can also be personalized and sent straight to her doorstep.
Bed Head Wave Artist Deep Waver
A winner in last year’s Shop TODAY’s Beauty Awards, this hot tool will ensure she has the easiest, breeziest beach waves for every day at her new school.
Jellycat Amuseable Doughnut
Sometimes the best gift is something completely random. We’re pretty sure they’ll feel super sweet if they received this — or any other — plush from viral brand Jellycat.
Kate Spade Candy Strip Lunch Box
She’ll make a statement in her new lunch room with this vibrant insulated tote from Kate Spade. It’s not only cute, but it’s also lightweight, travel-friendly and will keep food fresh for hours at a time.
Jasonwell Giant Unicorn Pool Float
With summer just around the corner, a trendy pool float is a perfect 8th grade graduation gift. Jasonwell makes a bunch of fun floats including a rainbow unicorn, a flamingo, a dinosaur and more.
Jall Sunrise Alarm Clock
With high school comes early wake up times. This bestselling sunrise alarm clock acts as a sunlight stimulator and gently wakes them up by slowly brightening up their bedroom. Just to be sure they’re awake, an actual alarm will go off at the end of the light’s cycle.
Maya No. 1 Perfume Oil
At this age, they’re experimenting with different scents trying to figure out their signature. Steer them in the right direction with this scent that senior editor Jess Bender says smells “so fresh and youthful.”
Dear Ava ‘Oh, the Place You’ll Go!’ Graduation Necklace
No matter what school year they’re graduating from, this time is an important moment of growth and transition in life. This graduation necklace made by Dear Ava symbolizes the hard work she accomplished to get to the next level.
Casetify Star Phone Case
If she has a smartphone (or you’re getting her one soon) gift it with a fun phone case. This “Triple Stars” Casetify case is colorful, fun and easy to spot when it’s buried in her backpack.
Hydro Flask Water Bottle with Straw Lid
Help your graduate stay hydrated and stay on trend when they start high school with this sleek insulated water bottle from Hydro Flask. The water bottle will keep their water cold for hours and it has a straw lid top for easy access.
Sephora Gift Card
Her TikTok For You Page is probably flooded with “Get Ready With Me” videos from girls her age using products like Drunk Elephant (whether or not they should actually be doing that is a different story). She’ll love this gift card to Sephora so that she can keep up with the trends.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera
Even though your kids are probably used to taking photos on their smartphones, sometimes it’s nice to have a physical copy, too. With this Fujifilm Instax Instant Camera, they can hang photos of their favorite places and people in their bedroom or high school locker.
Fjallraven Kånken Mini Backpack
Help her prepare for high school with a brand new backpack. This option from the buzzworthy brand Fjallraven may look small in size, but it’s sturdy enough to hold her most prized necessities. Best of all, it comes in several hues to match whatever her current aesthetic is.
Gift ideas for 8th grade boys
“The How-To Cookbook for Teens”
If he or she loves to help their parents in the kitchen, this teen-friendly cookbook is a great way to give them inspiration for the summer ahead. It’s packed with cooking fundamentals, useful hacks and 100 different savory and sweet recipes.
Herschel Roy Wallet
It’s time they start carrying their lunch money and school ID in a safe, secure place. Instead of crumbling up their belongings in their pockets and backpack, they can store all of their valuables in this sleek wallet from Herschel.
Middle School Level Complete T-Shirt
They’re finally leveling up — to high school! This quirky T-shirt is bound to make any gamer kid laugh out loud.
Throw Throw Burrito
Throw Throw Burrito is a rousing game for all ages, but we know your young grad will love it too. Described as “the world’s first dodgeball card game,” they’ll have a blast ducking, hiding and maneuvering away from those squishy, bright-eyed burritos during game play. Just make sure to hide all your fragile decor beforehand — things are bound to get super rowdy!
Electric Jellyfish Tank
This tabletop lamp includes two realistic life-like jellyfish with color-changing lights. It’s designed as a calming lamp, and it’s small in size so it could easily fit on a nightstand or a crowded desk.
Marky Sparky Indoor Magnetic Dart Board for Kids
Get him something that is fun and active. This magnetic indoor dart board is easy to hang, kid-safe and won’t damage your walls. Plus, it would double as cool room décor in his bedroom!
Razor Scooter
While he’s likely to want to spend all of his time playing video games, it’s important to get him active and outside once in a while. This razor scooter is the perfect way to get some fresh air.
Tate’s Bake Shop Gluten-Free Sweet Chocolate Basket
If you’ve got a gluten-free kiddo on your list, this basket is sure to satisfy their sweet tooth. It comes with three bags of gluten-free chocolate chip cookies and three gluten-free brownies.
Birkenstock Arizona Essentials EVA
A beloved shoe across generations, the vinyl-made version of the iconic unisex Birkenstock is a favorite amongst a younger crowd. They’re designed to be lightweight and waterproof while featuring the brand’s anatomically shaped footbed.
Magneto Mini Cruiser Skateboard
Forget taking the bus — they can cruise to high school in style with this mini skateboard. It’s crafted out of a durable Canadian maple wood and includes a cushy EVA foam stomp pad to dampen out bumpy surfaces underneath their wheels.
Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition
This kid-friendly edition of Amazon Echo is like a virtual assistant for your teen. They can ask Alexa to play music, read stories, call approved friends and family and explore a world full of kid-friendly skills. It also sets daily time limits and filters explicit songs from select music services.
Beats Solo³ Wireless On-Ear Headphones
These Beats by Dre wireless headphones are a solid Bluetooth option if you’re looking for quality. They provide “award-winning” sound, up to 40 hours of playtime with a single charge and one-touch pairing with all of his Apple devices
Nintendo Switch Lite
If you want to splurge, get them a Nintendo Switch Lite! The popular gaming device was designed for handheld gaming, is compatible with a wide range of games and has up to seven hours of battery life.