Christmas Gifts for Teens

[StephMK]

My DD17 list ever evolving too! I liked the Burts Bees Onsie PJs they are organiz cotten and on Oprahs top gifts. Got that on Amazon in XS though it looks big maybe scrunches up when you wear? Also ordered last minute Sims PEts game.. REturned things I was SURE she would love as I changed my mind. Etsy has awesome pokemon bath bombs I got along with build a bear pokemon that talks. Could'nt resist! Amazon had a few cute books for getting ready for college. Storybook kind cute humor and good advice...

What titles did you find for the college books? DD is a junior and I would love to get her something like that. She is very reluctant to think ahead to college.

 

[tarheel618]

I know the feeling..my list has changed so much too. My DD is 17. I refuse to give up the toys, lol!!! she is into pokemon stuff so I always incorporate some pokemon in there and a lego set. Tradition! She isn't much into clothes but loves electronics, etc. So I always do a new family board game as well.

Based on your post, I just reserved two small lego sets (at my local Barnes and Noble) for the girls both indicated they didn't want them but I found a small set that has a pug (we have a pug). I got the girls the same set because I know one of them would have been disappointed not to have the one with the pug (of course there is only 1 lego set that features a pug )

 

[scottmel]

What titles did you find for the college books? DD is a junior and I would love to get her something like that. She is very reluctant to think ahead to college.

I totally understand that. My DD is a senior now and college was a 4 letter word for her until this year. She always knew she was going but would change the subject and be very reluctant to discuss it. Once Senior year hit and all the kids were involved in the process she realized the importance of visiting schools and applying early. This past summer we did all of that...Definitely do it EARLY so the pressure is much much less. I ordered 3 books from amazon and kept two. The one a little whimsical but cute lessons. I like it. the other more a manual of exact situations. I liked that too. The third was a little too forward for me so I sent it back. Here is what I did keep

The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College 6th Edition

Do Your Laundry or You'll Die Alone: Advice Your Mom Would Give if She Thought You Were Listening Hardcover – April 5, 2016

 

[scottmel]

Based on your post, I just reserved two small lego sets (at my local Barnes and Noble) for the girls both indicated they didn't want them but I found a small set that has a pug (we have a pug). I got the girls the same set because I know one of them would have been disappointed not to have the one with the pug (of course there is only 1 lego set that features a pug )

Aw glad to hear it. They will enjoy that! Honestly I only got DD 2 items of clothing the rest are FUN things...she is into that more. Etsy was a god send for me this Christmas! She is a huge 21 pilots fan so I found a few things on Etsy to accompany tickets...She also enjoyed the Behind the seeds tour at Epcot and etsy had really cute terrariums that you decorate build youself with a plant in there. Not a toy but caters to her love of little things

 

[TwoMisfits]

I'm done with my gamer DD...her items from me (split into Santa and parents, since we still have believers)...stayed in my $200 budget/person (yeah

Big Santa Item - PS4 (Free - Airline miles)
Santa Item #2 - PS4 Extra Controller (Free - Airline miles)
Santa Item #3 - DC Rebirth Omnibus Vol #1 Graphic Novel ($45)
Santa Item #4 - PS4 Game Batman: The Telltale Series ($15)
Santa Item #5 - Nintendo 3ds Game Project X Zone 2 ($12)
Santa Item #6 - Finding Dory Blu-ray/DVD Box Set ($10)

Mom Item #1 - Polar Women's Waterproof Snow Boots ($30)
Mom Item #2 - D&D Bag of Holding Dice Bag with 7 sets of dice ($29)
Mom Item #3 - $10 Comic Book Store Gift Card (Free Gift)
Mom Item #4 - Women's Night Shirt - Christmas PJ ($5)

Stocking
Mom Item #5 - $10 Nintendo E-Card ($8.50)
Mom Item #6 - Trident 12-pack of Gum ($5)
Mom Item #7 - High-End Chocolate Bar ($1.50)

Total - $161 (don't mind not spending to $200 b/c she is getting the free items that my other kids are not - gave me a little buffer for them.

Other gamer DD (the almost teen) got...

Santa Big Item - Used Dell Inspiron 3000 series Laptop (Free - she is getting mine handed down) with New Wireless Mouse ($8), New Computer Cart ($26), and like new Computer Chair ($8 - got a beautiful put together one from Thrift Shop, so one less thing for spouse to set up)
Santa Big Item #2 - Pokemon Johto Monopoly ($20)
Santa Big Item #3 - Amazon Basics Light On-Ear Headphones (for her Fire) ($15)
Santa Big Item #4 - Pokemon 20th Anniversary Jirachi Stuffie ($16)
Santa Big Item #5 - Jigglypuff Amiibo ($8)
Santa Big Item #6 - PS4 Tearaway Unfolded ($8)

Mom Item #1 - Polar Women's Waterproof Snow Boots ($30)
Mom Item #2 - King Dedede Amiibo ($5)
Mom Item #3 - $10 Comic Book Store Gift Card (Free Gift)
Mom Item #4 - Women's Night Shirt - Christmas PJ ($5)

Stocking
Mom Item #5 - $10 Nintendo E-Card ($8.50)
Mom Item #6 - Trident 12-pack of Gum ($5)
Mom Item #7 - High-End Chocolate Bar ($1.50)

Total - $164 (again, since she also got a free item, I don't mind coming in under)...I let the extra count for my gift with the laptop I got...

 

[tarheel618]

alright- still need batteries and film and I am done.

Older DD
3 gift cards 25 each
1 pair Adidas superstar shoes
vera bradley lunchbox and wristlet
makeup-eyeshadow
4 sweaters/shirts
1 pair sweatpants
1 lego
1 drone
1 origami craft
1 pair slides
1 perfume
1 spirograph craft
2 sets of PJ

Youngest DD
3 gift cards 25 each
1 pair white converse
1 pair boots
1 sweatshirt
3 shirts
1 drone
1 perfume
1 spirograph
1 POP Dobby figurine
1 fuji max camera
1 sweatpants
1 mountain bike
1 spirograph craft
2 set of PJ

skipped the TV and apple tv device this year. I have everything wrapped and I know that I am forgetting to list a few things for oldest DD

I also have some stuff for stockings that I haven't listed, lip balms, pop sockets, fish eye lenses etc.

 

[deb24k]

Dd14
Timberlands
Adidas
Coach bag and wallet
Pink outfit
Shirt and tank
Leggings
Lush bath items
2 books
4 DVDs
Ninja turtle pj bottoms
Makeup
New Leo for gymnastics
Nike sweatpants
2pair Nike pros
2 pieces of apparel from her gym
Stocking stuff

Now to wrap.....

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

For my Niece i did a gift card, a pair of gloves, nail polish and candy.

 

[dreamin_disney]

Sheer did you get th

I love, love, love this thread! You guys give such great ideas on unique gifts- things I've never heard of but are so amazing! Here's my list of ideas for my kids.

DD19
Taylor Swift newest fragrance
Mermaid blanket
Record player and couple of albums
Lap desk
Lush gift set
Nintendo 3ds games


DS16
Nike Elite shorts
Computer parts for his computer
Electric razor
Large Craftsman tool box for his room

Where did you buy the mermaid blanket?? I've been wanting to buy two, 1 for me 1 for my daughter

 

[tarheel618]

So is everyone done? I think it would be great to post your list so we have ideas for next year. We can come back after Christmas and mark items as a hit or miss. thoughts?

 

[bellebud]

DS20
cash
beanie-style hat with bluetooth to hear his music without headphones when he's riding his bike
tiny drone
candy
Copic markers
Olloclip lense for iphone
super-duper bright, tiny flashlight

DD17
cash
huge set of Gel Markers
Copic Markers
Bath & Body lotions
Baseball cap from Pink
Olloclip for iphone
lots of different nail stuff
Ulta gift card
saran wrap ball w/ candy, etc

DS15
he asked for magnets... anything to do with magnets
so I got him about 10 different magnet sets (some kiddie stuff, some older)
tiny drone
micro tool set (for phones)
Newton's Cradle ball thing w/ LED lights (from amazon)
a laser cat toy to play with our cat (he's the cats favorite human)
compass
he regularly buys stuff online for his gaming/computer, so he said no cash and just let his buying be his big gift.
saran wrap ball w/ candy, etc

 

[100AcreWood]

Sorry to stray off-topic but I have a question. Our oldest is our teenager (turned 14 in September) so we're navigating new waters with her.

She texts like other teens but a lot of her "friends" have started using Skype lately and they keep bringing other kids into the conversation. Kids she doesn't know. Every day this week I walked in her room and found her talking to another strange kid she just met through her other friends. One girl she met is suicidal and had her very upset one night and she wanted me to call the police. This is a girl she was introduced to on Skype by another girl.

Is this common for teens? One of the boys she met asked everyone to come over today and we told her no way she is going to a stranger's house. We don't know the parents, the boy and we certainly don't know what kind of supervision they will have. If it was in my house they would have to stay in a common area (no closed/locked doors) but I know not every parent has the same rules as we do.

 

[bjscheel]

Sorry to stray off-topic but I have a question. Our oldest is our teenager (turned 14 in September) so we're navigating new waters with her.

She texts like other teens but a lot of her "friends" have started using Skype lately and they keep bringing other kids into the conversation. Kids she doesn't know. Every day this week I walked in her room and found her talking to another strange kid she just met through her other friends. One girl she met is suicidal and had her very upset one night and she wanted me to call the police. This is a girl she was introduced to on Skype by another girl.

Is this common for teens? One of the boys she met asked everyone to come over today and we told her no way she is going to a stranger's house. We don't know the parents, the boy and we certainly don't know what kind of supervision they will have. If it was in my house they would have to stay in a common area (no closed/locked doors) but I know not every parent has the same rules as we do.

Well my teens don't Skype. They are mainly on Snapchat and they know all of their contacts personally. In your situation I would put a stop to this. It sounds like more trouble than fun.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Sorry to stray off-topic but I have a question. Our oldest is our teenager (turned 14 in September) so we're navigating new waters with her.

She texts like other teens but a lot of her "friends" have started using Skype lately and they keep bringing other kids into the conversation. Kids she doesn't know. Every day this week I walked in her room and found her talking to another strange kid she just met through her other friends. One girl she met is suicidal and had her very upset one night and she wanted me to call the police. This is a girl she was introduced to on Skype by another girl.

Is this common for teens? One of the boys she met asked everyone to come over today and we told her no way she is going to a stranger's house. We don't know the parents, the boy and we certainly don't know what kind of supervision they will have. If it was in my house they would have to stay in a common area (no closed/locked doors) but I know not every parent has the same rules as we do.

I'd tell your DD that your house could be a meet up place for a small group of friends (3-4 tops). And these friends would have to meet you before coming inside. It's what I do and it's what my parents did. I have the basement game room where kids are informed that I might be walking in and out to do laundry and little siblings might be stopping in - but it's still "their own", so I get no complaints.

As for Skype, thankfully, mine isn't interested in that...nor is she allowed to have social media accounts yet, even though she is "of age" (she has her email account and she has access to the whole web and that's enough freedom so far). But we still have "new" friends come over frequently, and they have been older and male (usually friends of my daughter's best male friend, who is 3.5 years older than her - thus, why it's always my house, my rules, my supervision...

 

[Hikergirl]

My middle ds 16 skypes, he pretty much talks to his friends but I'm sure there are others involved. I'm not too concerned he's been using Xbox Live for years talking to strangers.
My youngest (13) doesn't use skype but he texts using kick. I do not know all of his friends, or their parents. By the time my kids hit 7th grade I really didn't require meeting parents unless it was a sleepover. So, if my ds was invited to a kids house where his other friends were too, I'd just want a name and the address.
I understand not wanting your kid to go to a house where you don't know anyone, but I'm not getting the issue about talking to "strangers" as in friends of friends. To me that is just the way you meet new people. I will say that I have been through this with 3 kids, I'm sure I was much stricter with my first when it was all new LOL.
Anyway maybe its best if she doesn't use skype, or if there is a way for her to be "private" so only people who are approved by her/you can talk to her you can set it up so she can still talk to her friends but not their friends.

 

[100AcreWood]

Thanks for the replies everyone! It's good to hear what other teens are doing. I guess it's normal to meet other kids through your friends. I'll admit I'm not crazy about these particular kids she keeps meeting because they don't seem to be good kids. I'm hoping she'll meet a better group that I'll feel more comfortable with. She doesn't hang out with any of the kids from her school.


My parents had it so easy!!! No internet, they would refuse to drive me anywhere and I had a part time job so no time for 10 hours of internet chatting.

 

[scottmel]

DD17 Completed list

1. Steven Universe fleece blanket I found on Society66
2. Build a Bear Pikachu that talks
3. Pokémon lego set from China
4. Free PEople army jacket
5. hooded flannel jacket from F21
6. Sweater from Macys
7. Pokémon Sun Game for DS
8. Pokémon case for DS
9. Pokémon Sweat Pants from Hot Topic
10. Lamp to grow plants indoors
11. Indoor plant kit
12. Oregon Trail Card Game
13. Onesie PJs from Oprahs FAvorite List items
14. Disney scented candles from Etsy
15. Sugar Scrub (the best face stuff...was on shark tank few years ago and local girl made it...Simply Sugar it is called. Love it!)
16.Sims PEts GAme for Xbox
17. Wheel of Fortune GAme for Xbox
18. Kimono like Tyler Joseph wears from 21 Pilots
19. INdoor terrarium to grow plants
20. Pokémon bath bombs from Basin

Her birthday is 6 weeks later!!!! 21 Pilots tickets and we don't do that much for her bday after a big Christmas...