What type of texts would you send yo your 11 or 12 year old niece?

It's interesting you said in a comment you have a hard time texting, because my suggestion is you try to do most of this over the phone. I agree with the others kids love answering questions about themselves (it's so flattering), but I am not a fan of 11 year olds learning to "communicate" with their thumbs.

I work with older teens and young adults, and most of them claim they have social anxiety. It doesn't take much probing to figure out they can't interact with others in real life because they haven't had any practice. It might sound strange, but I promise this is a real problem.

Clearly, you don't have it, lol. But try to teach her how to have a real convo and have fun doing it. She'll still love it, but she'll be learning at the same time.

Ask her questions about school or her hobbies.

I'd just call her once in a while instead. Kids have some idea that texting ought to last for hours! No thanks.

Kids that age tend to like G rated jokes and pictures. So snap pics of any cute animals you see and come up with some good knock knock jokes.

If you show an interest in her life and ask some questions, you can take it from there. People , even young ones, really appreciate this and are responsive, if they sense that you are genuinely interested. Find out what she likes to do, hobbies, etc., tell her about when you were her age. Invite her to ask you some questions and take those as cues for further conversation. Don't worry too much about it, she may be satisfied with a simple hello and how are you. Send photos, find out if you have a common interest you might share. But hey, she's a little girl, so tell her you love her, and both of you will be fine. Good wishes,

Ask her how she is doing, what is going on in school etc.

What she's doing today, tomorrow, tonight, over the weekend. Ask her how she is, how her parents are. Ask her how the weather is, how school is going, ask the same with her hobbies/pastimes,

Book of Proverbs or Psalms.... one phrase or sentence at a time.... paraphrase the words to make them more personal.

Like: God says he's crazy about you... He says you are the apple of His eye.