Best Gift Ideas for 13-Year-Old Girls

She's 13 years old! And whether the gift-giving occasion is a birthday, 8th grade graduation, a Bat Mitzvah or Christmas or Hanukkah, you are buying for a very discerning recipient. As the mom of a 13 year old daughter, I am experiencing first hand the sensitivities, hormones, and social pressures of this age group. Even among artsy, intellectual theater kids, the desire to fit in is at its height. While individuality is great--too much is bad at this age.

So, with this in mind, the best gifts for 13-year-old girls would be those that help them feel secure and comfortable among their peers, offer some form of entertainment and are absolutely not educational. It sounds shallow--but even avid readers and straight-A students want and need to fit in during 7th and 8th grade. Our job, especially if you are the parent of such a socially driven creature, is to give a leg up.

The best gifts? Gift cards from the "in" stores, cameras, cell phones, iPods, toiletries & perfumes, and electronic music/video/communication devices.

Gift cards are ideal presents for any 13-year-old girl, especially from friends and extended relatives. While they may seem impersonal, all teens like gift cards better than anything except the even more impersonal cold hard cash. Cards to favorite retail stores and web stores are always welcome and eliminate such issues as knowing clothing size and color, buying something she already has or purchasing something that doesn't match her taste.

Current popular clothing stores among the 7th and 8th grade teenage girls include:

• Aeropostale
• Forever 21
• American Eagle
• Hollister
• Ambercrombie
• Bath & Body Works
• Zara
• Charlotte Russe

Other favorite gift cards include:

• iTunes
• Visa / MasterCard gift cards
• Local Movie Theaters, including AMC, Loews, Kerasote or your local theater

Cameras, cell phones, iPods and other music players--they are all part of the teenage lifestyle. Some cell phones combine the camera, video, texting, calling and music into one seriously awesome device (from the point of view of someone still shocked that memory comes in gigs and that our old Mac SE from the 1990s wouldn't be fit for a wristwatch anymore).

For girls who are mainly adding photos to Facebook, the all-in-one cell phone might make an amazing gift. But for those who are becoming serious shutterbugs, a high quality digital camera will be greatly appreciated. Many models are out there for a reasonable price that produce beautiful photos--some are even waterproof.

All teens want an iPhone to text, play music, watch video, play games, take photos, and chat. But you, as a responsible parent, are not giving her an iPhone. Next to an iPhone is the much more affordable iPod family of devices that also eliminate the 2-year contract that comes with the iPhone.

All iPods are considered cool, with the iPod Touch considered the coolest. The iPod Touch is basically an iPhone minus a couple features, including, obviously, the cell phone service. Older models of the iTouch lack a camera or a video camera, but newer models have both video and camera capability. The iPod Touch accommodates texting via Wi-Fi at no monthy charge.

All devices utilize the iTunes portal for uploading pre-owned music, for purchasing new music and videos, organization and back-ups, which means that you will have to back her account with your credit card. Each iPod category offers differing amounts of memory. Be sure that the device you choose offers enough memory for your music-video-photo-loving teen.

An iPod gift is also a gift that keeps giving. iTunes gift cards and iPod accessories abound and offer gift ideas for friends and relatives.

For friends and extended family, next to gift cards, best gift idea for a 13-year-old would be a basket of fun lip glosses, perfume, lotions and other toiletries. Most teen girls love Bath & Body Works, the department store makeup counter, and even the make up aisle at the local pharmacy. Festive lip glosses and perfumes are perfect for Valentine's Day, birthdays, and holiday gifts.