Buying for teens and children who are growing up can be a hard ask, especially because many of them have their own tastes and may or may not still be interested in their past obsessions. Perhaps they’ve “grown out” of the pirate phase they were in, for example.
As someone who knows these younger people but may not be around them daily, such as an Uncle or Aunt who lives a little further away, you may wonder how to get your gift-giving right without mismatching their actual desires.
Now, you don’t have to overthink it of course. An incredible LEGO set is generally an incredible LEGO set regardless of age, as we’ve seen with the resurgence of adult-designed sets out there. But a question remains – which toys and what toy categories do older children and teens most appreciate?
We have some suggestions below that might help:
Room Decorations
For the most part, older children and teens are developing their own sense of style, and their room is usually the most concentrated part of that, as it’s a place where they have full control. If they’re finally getting to make choices about the space they spend most of their time in, a welcome change from childhood, they want to design it.
You may remember this from your own childhood. So, as far as gifts go, anything that contributes to the vibe of their room is a winner. You might consider teen gift options like posters, unique lighting, tapestries, or small shelves for displaying their hobbies. You can bet they’ll make it work.
Franchised Merchandise
It’s a mistake to think that once kids get older, they stop enjoying characters and stories, they just move on to more mature narratives and fandoms. Franchised merchandise is worthwhile as far as that goes, and it’s a safe bet, since it ties directly into a passion they already have. This is where a little research helps of course, as you don’t want to get the franchise wrong. It may be different to what you enjoyed at that age.
For example, now many teens are obsessed with a certain anime, a long-running video game series, or a classic TV show, which you might not understand completely but still find merch for.
But what merch should you for? Well, there’s a fair amount out there, like collectible figures, high-quality apparel, or limited edition releases depending on what the official storefront is selling. The latter can hold more value and feel like something an adult would own, which appeals to a teen’s desire to be seen as grown up, and they’ll thank you for appreciating their interest. Perhaps you can ask them to tell you about it next time you visit.
Wearables
Gifts that can be worn are always a popular option, and again, it plays into that image discussion we had above. Usually for teenagers, T-shirts and hoodies are favourites, and certainly those that feature pop culture references or graphic designs are those they appreciate most.
Though of course the style also matters a great deal, as it should be something that fits their current fashion sense, avoiding anything that looks too childish or old-fashioned. If they’re “alt,” you might ask someone close to them what they’d like most. It can be hard shopping for wearables, but even gadgets can be good fun, like a drone controller or smart watch. Make sure it fits too, you can ask their parent for that.
Gaming-Adjacent Gifts
For the vast number of teens who spend time gaming (it is the biggest entertainment industry on the planet, after all), pretty much any gifts that improve their experience are going to be valued. These aren’t necessarily new games or consoles, but items that make playing more comfortable or immersive. So for instance, high-quality headphones with clear sound and a good microphone will help them feel more connected to party chat, or a comfortable gaming chair or an ergonomic mouse pad are examples of upgrades for their setup.
You can also buy giftt cards for platforms like Steam or otherwise so they can make their own decision. Just be sure to figure out what and how they play, though – for example, if they use a controller on PC or Xbox, then an Xbox controller charging station dock could be a nice option – you don’t want to get the controller suitability wrong, however.
With this advice, we hope you can easily offer the best gifts in line with the needs of your relative of a certain age.
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