Holiday gifts - teens and tweens

[Anonymous]

I think early teens are the most difficult — the transition from “kid” with “toys” to “mini-adult” with, well, more expensive “toys” and stuff.

Ours are 16 and 18…and we do get lists. This year, for a change, they actually had a lot of interesting stuff like more cold-weather gear (jackets and boots), air pods, and accessories for their cars (including an oil change GC, lol). Sure, those are things we’d likely “buy” for them anyway but we’re more likely to splurge on the brand/features they really want as a gift.

Best gift of all to and from them is….their time. With one already in college and the other soon to follow, “our” time with them is coming to a close. So, a fancier lunch during a shopping trip or after a doctor’s appointment, where we can really talk, is worth way more than any material gift.

[Anonymous]

My 5th grader asked for a Red doll and a fancy Barbie, both of which are out of stock, FML.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tween Daughter is easy. She wants anything and is delighted by everything.

14 year old DS is impossible. All he would really ask for is cash. And he never even spends it. Just likes watching his bank account grow like Scrooge. He loves soccer, but as this is the default gift idea he has no need for any items relating to soccer, including all the team paraphernalia. He doesn't care about trendy clothes or shoes. And his birthday is November, so we used up all the random ideas we had. No idea what to do for him. Experience gifts.. maybe. But I struggle with gifting him an experience that the whole family won't participate in. And then... is it really "his" gift or a "family" gift.

Give him some stock! Or a book or online class in investing and some money to buy stock.

For an experience gift, can you do something he can do with friends? High ropes course, laser tag, idly etc?

My boys that age really appreciate food. We’ve given gift cards to ‘experience’ restaurants like those Brazilian meat places that they really wanted to try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 12yo wants a bread maker lol.
She’s sporty and doesn’t like shopping or malls really. She loved the Dicks gift card we gave her for her birthday so might do one of those again.
She wants a light up soccer ball. Friends have one and it’s fun when they’re playing outside after dinner at this time of year.
Got her a couple of graphic novels.
Lindt Santa
That’s it so far.

My son bought a light up basketball with his own money, and he loves it this time of year too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly not meant to be snarky: have you asked them what they want?

My teen DD gives me a Google slide deck and I round out with a few surprises.

I’m not the OP, but I have three teenagers. Two give me extremely detailed lists with links. The third says “I don’t know.” When asked.

Not every kid is the same on this stuff.

[Anonymous]

DS is into theater. Over the years he’s accumulated a stack of loose programs and show memorabilia that gets scattered around his room or hidden away in desk drawers. I’m getting him a scrapbook, some photo corners, and 4x6 prints of previous performances, cast parties, selfies, etc. so he can put together a memory book. I might do a similar sports-themed one for his brother.

[Anonymous]

Every year I go through my phone and order physical prints of pictures I’ve taken of my kids throughout the year. They each get a giant envelope with all their pictures in their stocking. They absolutely love this, a good chunk of time is spent just looking through the pictures and remembering each event or laughing at the ones they hadn’t seen before. Usually I’ll also give them a photo album under the tree and they can add their photos to it later.

[Anonymous]

I just ordered a photo book and calendar from Shutterfly, and I know my 13 DS will enjoy those.

A couple of years ago I got him a nice big bean bag chair and he still uses it every day. CordaRoy was the brand.

Some other things is they don't have them already. Nike sneakers, white crocs, clothes from Hollister, airpods, candy, laptop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS 11

Thermal sticker printer. Only about $30 with 4 rolls of stickers so hopefully it’s a good deal

Radio/music player for bedroom (doesn’t have a cell phone that plays music)

Light up frisbee. Should be fun over a dark winter night


Nice jump rope

DS 9

3-D printing pen

Trick yo yo

Truly random, but can you share the brand of trick yo-yo? I remember as a kid so many of them didn't work. My 12 year old has recently gotten into yo-yoing but doesn't have a trick one and I think she'd like one.

[Anonymous]

My kids give us lists and we supplement with things that sound fun. I thought this was how every family worked.

[Anonymous]

Mine are 18 and 23 and we don't do much in the way of gifts any longer. They don't really need/want anything in particular and I hate feeling hostage to what I would call the holiday industrial complex when I'm not religious at all.

We still do the stockings, though, so I liked to read the various PPs' ideas -- and we try to pick an interesting place we've never been and take a trip instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Experience gifts are good for this age too. My DD is a swimmer and one of her presents is going to Charlottesville in February for a UVA meet and we will spend the night in a fun hotel, go to a good restaurant for dinner, get some UVA swimming merch, etc.

This is a great idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is into theater. Over the years he’s accumulated a stack of loose programs and show memorabilia that gets scattered around his room or hidden away in desk drawers. I’m getting him a scrapbook, some photo corners, and 4x6 prints of previous performances, cast parties, selfies, etc. so he can put together a memory book. I might do a similar sports-themed one for his brother.

This is sweet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every year I go through my phone and order physical prints of pictures I’ve taken of my kids throughout the year. They each get a giant envelope with all their pictures in their stocking. They absolutely love this, a good chunk of time is spent just looking through the pictures and remembering each event or laughing at the ones they hadn’t seen before. Usually I’ll also give them a photo album under the tree and they can add their photos to it later.

I like the idea of going through family photos on Christmas Day!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every year I go through my phone and order physical prints of pictures I’ve taken of my kids throughout the year. They each get a giant envelope with all their pictures in their stocking. They absolutely love this, a good chunk of time is spent just looking through the pictures and remembering each event or laughing at the ones they hadn’t seen before. Usually I’ll also give them a photo album under the tree and they can add their photos to it later.

I like the idea of going through family photos on Christmas Day!

+1
Nice idea!