Now, that little girl is 15 and has two younger sisters, 10 and almost 13. As they have gotten older, holiday shopping has gotten increasingly difficult. My kids, in particular, are extremely non-materialistic, which is a fantastic thing 364 days of the year. However, it makes Christmas morning a bit challenging. I begin asking them in November, "What do you want for Christmas?" and their answer if almost always "I don't know," coupled with a heavy shoulder shrug. I can no longer push my cart down the toy aisle at Target and do 75% of my holiday shopping in one fell swoop!
(In fact, I used to do an annual "Hottest Toys of {Insert Year}" post, but haven't done that since 2014 because I'm no longer in tune with the kids' toy scene!)
So, I've been doing a little internet cruising to find some creative gift ideas for this year and, of course, decided to put them into a blog post to share with anyone else who is struggling for gift ideas, too!
1. PuraVida Bracelets - These bracelets are all the latest rage and, even better, a part of their proceeds go to various charities. You can pick something out based on your favorite color or based on your favorite cause! There are lots to choose from including animal preservation charities (like Save the Dolphins), awareness charities (like Autism Awareness and Domestic Violence Awareness), and health causes (like JDRF for diabetes and many different cancers).
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| PuraVida |
2. Himalayan Salt Lamp - Aside from being a cool addition to your teen's bedroom decor, these lamps are said to have positive effects on your health as well, including reduced allergy symptoms, increased energy, and improved sleep. Why not let them do homework by a light that gives off positive vibes?!
3. Sock Subscription Box - Does it seem like your dryer eats socks every time you do laundry? Is your tween or teen constantly asking to borrow socks from you because she's always running out of clean ones? Does he/she love a pair of funky, fun socks? Get them a sock box subscription! Yes, for real! With a subscription to one of these, your teen will receive one or two new paris of socks every month for three, six, or twelve months depending on your choices. Some of them even make donations to charity, too. Interested? Check out Say it With a Sock, Sock Panda, Foot Cardigan, or Society Socks.
4. A Snuggie - No, I'm not joking! Surely you remember these from a few years back. They were often given as gag gifts, but my kids walk around wrapped up in blanket all the time, so why not a blanket with sleeves?!?! Then, they can stay wrapped up while they do homework, eat, and text.
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| Snuggie |
5. Game of Phones - Kids are always on their phones, right? So, give them something constructive to do! Well, kind of. The website describes this game as:
"a unique card game that brings smartphones to the party. Everyone grabs their smartphones.One player picks a card and gets to judge that round.The rest of the players have 60 seconds to respond with the funniest, most on point or downright weird thing they can find on their phones."
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| Game of Phones |
6. Chocolate! - Everyone likes chocolate, right? But, what about chocolate with potato chip pieces, bacon, cinnamon cereal, or popping pop rocks? It's amazing and teens (or anyone) will love sampling these fun, high quality creations. Buy single bars or gift box collections!
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| Chuao Chocolate |
7. A Personalized Monogrammed Item- I happen to have two very talented sisters in-law who run their own Easy shop. One of their latest products are these fantastic monogrammed t-shirts. They also have caps, bags, and keychains just to name a few. If none of their items appeal to you, do some internet shopping for something your tween/teen would like!
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| Lola Darling Designs |
8. Bluetooth Shower Speaker - One of my girls likes to take her device into the bathroom, crank up the volume, and belt out some tunes while she showers. Do you have a teen who does that, too? Then, you need to add this to your shopping list! It can also be used outside, in their bedroom, anywhere they can carry it! This one (and other similar versions) are available through Amazon.
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| Bluetooth Speaker |
9. Fujifilm Instax mini - Most of today's tween and teens have never had the pleasure of shaking that instant Polaroid photo waiting for it to develop, but now they can! This little camera would be a fun, creative way for them to take pictures (without their phones) and actually have photographs to add to a book or their wall. Available directly from the manufacturer or multiple retailers and comes in a variety of colors.
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| Fujifilm Instax |
10. Love with Food Subscription Box - People always joke about how much teen boys eat, but I've got all girls and I still can't keep the pantry stocked! These girls go through some food, so what better to give them as gift! Each month, they will get a box full of healthy snacks. Gluten free and organic options are available, too, and the company donates meals to hungry children with every box they send!
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| Love With Food |
11. Zoku Slush and Shake Maker -According to the manufacturer, you freeze the core for 8 hours, then, add the liquid of your choice (juice, coffee, flavored) and stir. Voila! You have a slushie in minutes! This one is definitely a novelty, but it might be a fun way to encourage your teens to try something new!
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| Zoku Sluch and Shake Maker |
12. Selfie Mic - This one actually can be found in the toy sale at Target! The manufacturer recommends it for ages 8+, but I can definitely see all my girls (teens included) having some fun with this one. With a selfie stick attached to a microphone and a free app with millions of karaoke tunes available, it has to be fun! (I even know a few adults who might like this one!)
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| Selfie Mic |
A few slightly less creative, but equally useful and joy-giving ideas:
- Clothes - sweaters, jeans, workout gear - whatever floats your teen's boat!
- Other subscription boxes - I've listed couple here (PuraVida & Chuao also offer a subscription service), but a quick Google search will turn up tons of others. There's Birchbox & Ipsy for makeup, Enjoy Leggings for leggings (shocker!), Doodle Crate for art supplies, Scentbird for perfume/cologne, Lola for feminine supplies, Harry's for guy's shaving gear, and Book of the Month for the avid teen reader just to name a few. Seriously - that's really just a few of the options.
- Gift cards - These sometimes seem impersonal, but, really, kids like these as much as anything and you can still get creative. How about gift cards to their favorite restaurant, movie theaters, or their favorite store so they can pick out their own stuff! Got a teen driver? Gift cards to the car wash will help them keep their vehicle in tip top shape!
- Personal care kits - Around the holidays, you can readily find boxed sets of body wash, hair products, or makeup. If your kids are anything like mine, they go through a lot of this stuff, so why not wrap some up and put it under the tree?!
- Winter gear - Does he/she need a new coat? Gloves? A fun toboggan? Snow boots? That would make a great Christmas gift!
- Jewelry - Earrings, necklaces, watches, bracelets - oh my! How about a new monogram necklace or some pretty new earrings? Maybe a new watch or belt for the guys.
- Experiences - Most of us already have more stuff than we need, so, when you're completely out of ideas for things to give them, step outside of the gift box a little bit and think about something they might like to DO instead. Tickets to a sporting event or concert would be appreciated, I'm sure. Even gifting them a mani/pedi, a yoga class, or a guitar lesson might be something they would enjoy immensely without adding more clutter to their already messy spaces. How about letting them take group of friends to one of the newest "breakout room" challenges or spending a day on the ski slopes?
Either way, just remember that, it's not really about the stuff we give -not the amount we spend or the number of boxes under the tree. It's about the love we put into choosing items or experiences in hopes that the gifts we give will bring joy to the ones we love. (Cheesy, but true!)
Got any creative ideas to add to the list? I'd love to hear them, so type them in a comment!
**Disclaimer - I have not purchased and/or used all of the items on this list. Therefore, inclusion in this list should not be considered a personal endorsement of any of these products. Please take time to do your own research including analyzing actual customer reviews before choosing to purchase any items listed here.
