The Best Gifts for Tweens and Teens
Based on Age and Development and Notes on Why They Work
Smartphone Controlled Paper Airplanes
A great gift to bring an old hobby back to life: building paper airplanes. And this time, the young aircraft engineer will be able to motorize their planes and control the aircraft with a phone. These planes create a fun activity enjoyed independently or with friends, especially if the friends happen to have a smartphone paper airplane, too.
Qwixx Dice Game
This fast-moving dice game can be played by just two players and up to five. It is compact, as in it can be thrown in a backpack and brought easily to school or a friend’s house, and is always a blast. Incorporating strategy, decision making, and only about 15 minutes of play time per game, this math skill-building and pure fun dice game is sure to be a hit.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera
Tweens — and teens, for that matter — love all things retro and this camera is just that. The printed film offers the gratification of an instant picture in a way their smartphone can’t capture and is sure to provide tons of fun and entertainment with their peer group. Its compact size makes it easy to toss in a backpack and it comes in an array of colors so you can match the gift to their personality.
Fjallraven, Kanken Classic Backpack
Not a school ready backpack, per say, this is instead an everyday accessory. It’s a classic backpack perfect for tweens who want to carry around their must-haves and any beloved belongings.
Portable Record player with Bluetooth Capability and Built-In Speakers
A perfect gift for music-loving tween or teen or the retro-inspired young person, a Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Portable Suitcase Record Player with Built-in Speakers can be brought along with them or enjoyed at home. And these days, you can find both vintage records or their current favorites all on vinyl.
Soft Covered Moleskine
Sure, any note, reminder, phone number, or schedule can be stored in a teen’s cell phone, but there is something to having a small old school notebook in their bag. It harkens back to a different time, a vibe many teens and tweens like to embrace.
Gaming Controller for iPhone
A great gift for the young gamer, this Mobile Gaming Controller for iPhones turns their phone into a gaming console. With the help of the Backbone App acting as a hub for their games, they can play any of their beloved favorites that are controller-supported.
Kid in the Kitchen Cookbook
A GGGT Favorite, and a great gift for the teen chef, this book is filled with timeless favorites and some new recipes too. And all of the recipes are totally accessible for a teenager to make, even those who are just setting out on their culinary adventure.
Arteza Watercolor Pencils
Not the average “kid” colored pencils, these high quality watercolor pencils allow an art lover to create sketches and then, with the simple stroke of a wet brush, to transform those drawings into beautiful watercolor paintings. A great way to introduce the challenging medium of watercolor and an exciting way to expand on existing artistic skills, these watercolor pencils are sure to be a hit for any creative teen on your list.
Gearjits by Mindware Movie Projector
For the teen who loves to build and make, Gearjits is a perfect fit. The construction requires no glue or tools, just patience and a love for mechanics. When they are done, they have a beautiful movie projector akin to one from the early days of the silver screen — and it works too! Albeit only with only the included film, but the effect is still there. (A GGGT note: this is a kit with which you want to stick to the name brand; we have built several off-brand versions and the quality is significantly different!)
Big Joe Stack Chair
Lightweight, portable, comfortable, and affordable this is a great fit for any tween or teen. They can move it around to do homework, read, play video games, or hangout with their friends. It’s a new take on the classic bean bag chair, and we all know how much we all loved those.
Razor E300 Electric Scooter
All teenagers crave a sense of independence, and this is a way to foster that desire. This foldable electric scooter tops out at 15 mph, making it not any faster than a bike ride, so it’s safe yet exhilarating. And it has a ride time of 40 minutes, making it a perfect mode of transportation to and from school, to an afterschool job, or to their friend’s house.
Fantasy Jellyfish Lamp
It’s an aquarium and lava lamp all in one, and as intriguing and hypnotic as either of those. A welcome addition to any teen’s room, this color changing lamp is a great just-for-fun gift. And maybe a welcome nightlight for some kids, too.
Govee Strip Lights
A GGGT Favorite, Govee makes lasting, great quality products. These easy to install and easy to use strip lights will make any teen’s space more fun. The Govee app allows kids to have complete control of the color and effects of their lights either by using a preset program or by designing their own patterns from scratch. The lights have an audio sensor and can even react to a teen’s favorite music. A great gift for a tween or teenager alike. Or an adult…
Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone
A great gift for the aspiring rock star or any tween that just loves to perform, no dreams of stardom needed, this wireless bluetooth karaoke microphone comes in an array of colors. Plus, a phone can be easily hooked up to the microphone to provide background music to accompany the singer.
Ravensburger 3D puzzle
Ravensburger is known for their high-quality puzzles with precise and durable pieces; these puzzles are so well crafted that they allow for three-dimensional construction. Take a youngster’s puzzle skills to the next level with this 3-D globe puzzle: starting at the base of the earth, they build their way up until the last piece of the North Pole is in place. It’s sure to be a hit during and after construction when it is placed on display. Speaking of being on display, it comes with a stand that allows the Earth to spin and has a ton of detail for the teen that wants to brush up on their geography.
