Shopping for an 11- or 12-year-old who already has a phone, a tablet or both? The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't tell families to ban screens. Its family media plan suggests adding "fun swaps to your plan, like reading, outdoor play, family games and hobbies so screens don't crowd out other important experiences," and setting "screen-free zones (such as the dinner table, during homework and before bed)." The AAP's June 2026 explainer of its new policy puts it simply: "Carve out screen-free time for the whole family."

So this list sticks to the two kinds of swaps the AAP names: family games that give everyone a reason to put phones down together, and hobbies a tween can do alone with their hands. Every pick was under $25 on Amazon on Oct. 28, 2026, well under a $40 budget, and every one is graded 8+ or older, so none looks "babyish." Several contain small parts; keep them away from siblings under 3. Families who want a plan of their own can start with the free AAP Family Media Plan guide.

By budget: under $10: Flip 7, Dutch Blitz. $10 to $20: Rubik's Magnetic Speed Cube, Rush Hour, Loopdedoo, Faber-Castell Anime Drawing Kit. $20 to $25: Codenames: Duet, The Chameleon, Klutz LEGO Gravity Drop, Ravensburger Cozy Christmas puzzle.

GAMES TO PLAY WITH THEM

1. Codenames: Duet (2nd Edition), CGE

A two-player cooperative version of Codenames: partners work together to find 15 agents hidden in a 5x5 grid of words, and each player sees only part of the key. One-word clues and a number guide your partner, and picking the assassin ends the game. Price: $24.99. Ages 10 and up. See it on Amazon.

Pros: Built for two, so it works for parent and tween; cooperative, so nobody loses to a sibling
Cons: Word clues favor confident readers; best with exactly two players

2. Dutch Blitz Card Game (Original)

A loud, fast card game with no turns: everyone races at once to clear their Blitz pile by playing cards in sequence. Four decks, 160 cards, for 2 to 4 players. Price: $9.49. Ages 8 and up. See it on Amazon.

Pros: Cheap, quick to teach and everyone plays at the same time; works with grandparents too
Cons: Four players max without an expansion; speed play can frustrate slower players

3. Flip 7 Card Game, USAOPOLY

A press-your-luck game: you keep taking cards to score, but a duplicate number busts you for the round. First to 200 points wins. It was No. 46 in all of Toys & Games on Oct. 28. Price: $7.97. Ages 8 and up. See it on Amazon.

Pros: Cheapest pick on the list; rules take minutes; plays well with a big family group
Cons: Needs at least three players; more luck than strategy

4. The Chameleon, Big Potato

Everyone gets the secret word except one player, the Chameleon. Each person says one word linked to it, then the group tries to spot the bluffer, who can still win by guessing the word. For 3 to 8 players; a round takes about 15 minutes. Price: $24.97. Ages 12 and up. See it on Amazon.

Pros: A party game tweens can run themselves at a sleepover or family gathering; 800 topics
Cons: 12+ grade suits the older end of the tween years; needs at least three players

FOR QUIET TIME

5. ThinkFun Rush Hour Traffic Jam Logic Game

Slide cars and trucks to clear a path for the red car. There are 40 challenge cards from beginner to expert. Rush Hour won Mensa Select in 1997, according to American Mensa's Mind Games winners list; this is ThinkFun's current edition of the game. Price: $19.95. Ages 8 and up. See it on Amazon.

Pros: A solo puzzle for downtime; 40 levels that get much harder
Cons: One player only; once all 40 cards are solved, it's done unless you buy more

6. Rubik's Cube 3x3 Magnetic Speed Cube

A magnetic, stickerless speed version of the classic cube, sold pre-lubricated for faster turning. Price: $14.99. Ages 8 and up. See it on Amazon.

Pros: Pocket-size hobby with plenty of free how-to guides; magnets make it easier to turn than a basic cube
Cons: Pricier than a standard cube; packaging may vary

7. Ravensburger Cozy Christmas 500-Piece Large Format Puzzle

A 500-piece holiday scene with large-format pieces and a matte, glare-free finish. Price: $22.00. Manufacturer's age: 12 and up. See it on Amazon.

Pros: A weekend project, not a month-long one; a good holiday-table activity for the whole family
Cons: The title says "for Adults"; check who the seller is in the buy box before ordering

MAKE SOMETHING

8. Klutz LEGO Gravity Drop Activity Kit

Build an 18-inch marble-drop tower from LEGO Technic elements, wooden balls and sturdy chipboard, with 20-plus contraptions and five extra projects in the book. Price: $24.98. Ages 8 to 12. See it on Amazon.

Pros: Combines building and a book of projects; the LEGO pieces work with a tween's existing bricks
Cons: Small balls and parts; keep it away from younger siblings

9. Loopdedoo DIY Friendship Bracelet Maker Kit

A spinning loom that makes friendship bracelets much faster than knotting by hand, with thread for many color combinations. Price: $19.99. Ages 8 and up. See it on Amazon.

Pros: The bracelets become gifts for friends, so it keeps paying off; portable
Cons: Thread runs out with heavy use; the listing's "award winning" claim doesn't name the award

10. Faber-Castell Anime Drawing Kit, Shojo Edition

A spiral-bound workbook with step-by-step anime drawing lessons and practice pages, plus art supplies. The listing describes it as for ages 8 to 12 and up. Price: $19.95. See it on Amazon.

Pros: Anime is a big tween interest; guided lessons help kids who say they "can't draw"
Cons: No numeric age field on the listing; a drawing book is used up once the pages are full

How we picked: under $40; graded 8+ or older; playable in short sessions; works for one player or with family. Brands were judged on the same criteria. Nothing on this list was paid for. Prices are Amazon's at the time we checked on Oct. 28, 2026.

For the full weekly market brief: The ToyDirectory Intelligence Report

Sources:

• AAP / HealthyChildren.org: How to Make a Family Media Plan
• AAP / HealthyChildren.org: Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World, AAP Policy Explained
• AAP Council on Communications and Media, Media Use in School-Aged Children and Adolescents, Pediatrics 2016
• American Mensa Mind Games: 1997 winners
• Amazon: Codenames: Duet
• Amazon: Dutch Blitz
• Amazon: Flip 7
• Amazon: The Chameleon
• Amazon: Rush Hour
• Amazon: Rubik's Magnetic Speed Cube
• Amazon: Ravensburger Cozy Christmas puzzle
• Amazon: Klutz LEGO Gravity Drop
• Amazon: Loopdedoo
• Amazon: Faber-Castell Anime Drawing Kit

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