I had maybe 3 gift ideas total for DD for her upcoming 12th birthday and Christmas. There are 4 people plus us who shop for her and they are all asking for ideas, and don't want to just give money.
What is on your tweens/teens wish lists? (Ideas for boys and girls welcome-- she has a lot of traditionally "boy" interests)
I have a 14 year old girl and 12 year old boy. Here are random ideas based on things they want, got recently, or things I thought might be a good idea to get them:
DS still likes Lego sets and even some higher-end Black Series Star Wars guys and similar Duffel bag/overnight bag Sleeping bag Air pods or off-brand and case Headphones Kendra Scott necklace (apparently very popular here) Ugg slipper shoe thingies (same) that they wear with white Nike socks Pura Vida bracelets Stuff for their rooms Echo dot Apple Watch plus bands Tickets to a show Ski jacket/ski rental or equipment?
All my DD wants is stuff for her room and Starbucks gift cards.
I have come up with a few other things just based off her interests:
- graphic drawing tablet
- Echo Dot
- Comfy sweatsuit set - I get her a new one each year
- New bike
We usually just tell people to get experience stuff because between us and the grandparents we end up with too much stuff.
Along those lines she has received -
Passes to a local trampoline place
Movie theater gift card
Gift card to a store paired with a few accessory items
Honestly I know gift cards and money seem so impersonal but at this age kids really love the whole experience of shopping and picking out their own stuff with their own money.
Honestly I know gift cards and money seem so impersonal but at this age kids really love the whole experience of shopping and picking out their own stuff with their own money.
I absolutely agree with this but cannot get family on board (especially my mom, who has been known to cry at the idea of just giving cash) It's been an uphill battle for years.
Post by luckystar2 on Oct 16, 2023 10:48:30 GMT -5
Without knowing specific interests, some generic ideas.
Is she getting into makeup/skin care etc? Around Black Friday there are lots of good deals for makeup. I’ve done various palettes etc. face masks. Target usually has some fun Christmas ones too. Bath bombs. I usually get bath and body works coupons for sale or free items and will grab lotion/bath gel. Nail polish, manicure stuff.
I pretty much always buy chargers because they are always in demand. Portable battery pack charger thing are popular too.
Starbucks gift cards. Starbucks cups or knock offs. Five below has had some similar ones.
My dd liked to do baking around then so baking supplies or gift certificate to do a class. We did cake decorating one a couple times.
Honestly I know gift cards and money seem so impersonal but at this age kids really love the whole experience of shopping and picking out their own stuff with their own money.
I absolutely agree with this but cannot get family on board (especially my mom, who has been known to cry at the idea of just giving cash) It's been an uphill battle for years.
I totally get that! Maybe a combo GC and smaller gift from someplace she likes? Or a day out together doing an activity/shopping?
Do you have any upcoming trips or vacations for which she needs stuff? New sunglasses, ski goggles, snorkel? Does she want a pair of trendy shoes, or a nice hoodie? Crocs? Ugg boots?
My kid is a little younger (9.5) but he LOVES his “Comfy” hoodie. It’s one of those oversized fleecy hoodies with shearling on the inside and he wears it all weekend when it’s cold out.
DD turns 13 next month and these are my ideas so far for that/Christmas. She has zero things on her wishlist and has little use for things so it’s hard.
*mini fridge for her office filled with her favorite drinks. *clipboard with gift cards to her favorite treat places *concealer/foundation (the one thing she asked for) *Mario Wonder switch game (tradition to get new game) *graphic tees from Tilly’s *mini Peter Pan Lego set (also tradition) *new iPad because hers is 6 years old and dying
In years past her favorite things have been a bean bag chair from pottery barn teen and Bose wireless headphones. She still loves both. Oh, color changing lights for her room, too.
Post by minniemouse on Oct 16, 2023 12:37:12 GMT -5
These are things that my 14 and 10 year old girls and their friends like. They have friends that are in between, so around age 12. Skincare gift set Fluffy spa headband to hold hair back while using skincare Makeup or nail polish (if into that) Tall nike socks Nike blazers or dunks Crocs Cropped hoodie Starbucks tumbler Stanley tumbler Squishmallows Soft throw pillows from 5 Below Gift cards or $ Video games Upgraded sports equipment, music, or hobby/supplies -depending on the childs interests.
Post by CrazyLucky on Oct 16, 2023 13:26:33 GMT -5
DD is 11. We are blessed that she is very non-materialistic, but it makes birthdays and Christmas tough! She has received a lot of experience gifts: Tickets to a WNBA game (which came with a trip to NYC with her dad) Tickets to women's college B-ball games Tickets to Hamilton GC for iFly She's also really into the local soccer team, so as a last resort, anything Philadelphia Union works!
Post by muppetinma on Oct 16, 2023 14:22:54 GMT -5
My son is 11, and his two big gifts this year are going to be an electric scooter and a TV for his room. His grandparents (all three sets) are going in on the scooter, and the TV is more about lessening the rules on electronics time.
Then I’ll just pad that with random small items so the tree doesn’t look so bare - that giant blanket that Costco had, a puzzle, etc.
DD asked for a smart watch but it's a $25 watch from Amazon, a pair of BOGS, and nothing else. She specifically said no clothes as she doesn't need anything new right now.
Our schools aren't 1-1 tech so I think she is going to get a laptop from us as her big gift because it actually a need.
DD does gymnastics...maybe another pair of wrist bands, liquid bandage, manicure kit, Color Street nail set, new hair stuff/brush as we are always loosing them.
My kid is a little younger, but mostly wants things for sports - new water bottle, bat, ball bag, gloves, practice gear, etc. Does yours play any sports or have any specific hobbies that she might need updates on? He also likes to ask for more frivolous versions of what I would buy - expensive shoes, specialty sports shirts, star wars crocs. They also like to ask for Costco cases of food I might not buy, like hot Cheetos or something.
My mom got my boys wallets filled with $5 gift cards, which was a huge hit. I know it’s still mostly gift cards, but maybe yours could use some type of wallet or bag, and shopping around for $5 to a lot of her favorite stores is pretty fun.
One of my aunts likes to give home made gift certificates for redemption of a specific type of item - like, “I’ll take you to the mall to pick out a new hat” or similar. So she’s giving them an item of her choosing but it’s also exactly what they’d want and they get a fun afternoon with her.
Post by ellipses84 on Oct 17, 2023 17:12:06 GMT -5
Here’s what my 12 year old son would like:
Shoes Sports apparel for his favorite sports teams - hats, shirts, jerseys Video games Gift card to buy digital video games Water bottles Books Gift card or cash Tickets to events like a concert or other attraction He’s not really into toys but sometimes likes things like a Rubik’s cube, magic 8-ball, board games or card games Things for upcoming vacations (like a Disney shirt if you are going there in the next year)
For girls there’s more options for accessories and those are easier to pick out than clothes for teens, IMO
Thanks all! I appreciate the ideas and helping me brainstorm!!
Definitely adding a Comfy for Christmas, and I love the idea of a wallet filled with gift cards. She loves Bath and Body Works, but isn't into makeup, nail polish, or hair accessories.
Her main activity is horseback riding-- she is already getting a gift card to a tack shop, and my MIL is taking her to pick out a western-style belt.
I'm thinking about maybe taking her to either Medieval Times or doing a Donut tour in the city for her birthday.
For Christmas, she will get a sweatshirt with her barn's logo. An overnight bag or duffel might be a good idea too.
Nothing super exciting, but she may just be at an age where there isn't a "wow" gift anymore.
I know that generally girls are easier to shop for than boys, but in our case my son has so many more "wants" and always has a long christmas list. DD doesn't have such expensive tastes, and tends to be much more particular about the things that she needs, so she is trickier.
Post by ilikedonuts on Oct 18, 2023 8:59:48 GMT -5
My daughter turns 12 at the end of this month.
Her list is -Lulu Scuba hoodie -anything else from lulu (some more shorts and a skirt for sure. Her friend got her a jacket already for her birthday) -high top converse -Drunk elephant and bubble skincare -Kendra Scott necklaces -Nike Blazer shoes
She’s getting a Stanley from her friend, but that was on her list too.
My kid basically is a stereotypical tween 😂 I will say her grandparents spoil her and she already has basically every apple product out there. 🤦🏼♀️
She hasn’t come up with anything as a big want though so I’m struggling to figure out her big Christmas gift.
Just in case anyone uses this thread later for their own ideas, I wanted to add that I'm going to order this bracelet with a picture of her and her favorite horse for xmas:
Her list is -Lulu Scuba hoodie -anything else from lulu (some more shorts and a skirt for sure. Her friend got her a jacket already for her birthday) -high top converse -Drunk elephant and bubble skincare -Kendra Scott necklaces -Nike Blazer shoes
She’s getting a Stanley from her friend, but that was on her list too.
My kid basically is a stereotypical tween 😂 I will say her grandparents spoil her and she already has basically every apple product out there. 🤦🏼♀️
She hasn’t come up with anything as a big want though so I’m struggling to figure out her big Christmas gift.
That’s a good friend to get her a lulu jacket!!
FYI Nike is having their member sale right now. I ordered DD the Blazers she wanted for around $50.
Post by midwestmama on Oct 19, 2023 11:29:56 GMT -5
My 12 yo DD has on her Christmas list: gift cards, a certain brand of facial care products, a Stanley, and Ugg boots. She also wrote down "shopping spree," but I told her that's what the gift cards are for.
My 11yo (12 in Jan) has the following on her list:
New iPad Gryffindor squishmallow Bath robe Roblox gift card Pottery wheel plus all kinds of clay (air dry, modeling, etc)
She could care less about clothes or fashion most of the time, but does enjoy makeup. But she has a ton of makeup (thanks to my sister passing off stuff) so nothing there.
Love that bracelet idea! It reminds me of a gift we got her last year that made her cry. We got a Tervis tumbler (she loves ice so wanted her to have a dedicated cup for it upstairs) with our dog's face on it and "love is a four legged word" underneath. She *LOVED* it.