Some people on the holiday gift buying list are notoriously hard to shop for, including husbands (though a sexy item from our spicy holiday gift guide might help!) and mothers-in-law. But we're going to make the argument that, in some ways, tweens and teens can be the most tricky. Tweens are in that transition zone where they are growing out of a lot of the standard toy options and teens all basically just want a stocking full of gift cards or cash. Bah humbug to that!
What we want is to buy some actual presents so that the tweens and teens in our lives get the joy of unwrapping something unexpected and fun. What we don't want are the massive eyerolls that come when we give them something that is too little kid, too functional (hint: no teen wants a guide to getting into college for Christmas), or just not cool enough. We're here to help with a carefully curated guide to gifts that are tween (10 to 12 years old) and teen (13 to 18 years old) approved. There are no gift cards, phones, or $500 video game systems on this list, but plenty of other great options that might coax a smile and some actual excitement out of even the most oh-so-cool teen on the gift giving list!
Crumbs Bakeshop Build Your Own Four-Pack
$40
from
The Original Crumbs Bakeshop
Win alllll the cool aunt points by sending tween or teen nieces and nephews their own cookie delivery from Crumbs Bakeshop. Not only does the four pack come packaged in some cute mini cookie jars (that can totally get reused for storing art supplies or small items), the cookies are so good. Our tween and teen testers especially loved the red velvet and psychedelic sugar cookies flavors!
GigaPets StarCat/Compukitty
Anyone who has spotted a tween rocking a flannel shirt and Doc Martens knows that the '90s are back in a big way right now! Tap into that '90s nostalgia with a GigaPet! This virtual pet is a fun throwback that is still in the old-school key chain form, perfect for attaching to a backpack. At under $20, this is a stocking stuffer option, too!
Rechargeable Cordless Magic Rainbow Light Bulb
$40
from
Uncommon Goods
This rechargeable light bulb is so ready to be part of a tween or teens next selfie photo shoot! This bulb, which is not meant to be in a lamp, can be stood up, laid on the side, or safely carried because it doesn't emit heat. We can totally see this being something an LGBT identifying kid or ally will love!
Dryrobe Advance Kids Short Sleeve
OK, so this gift is a little close to being a practical gift, but we still think tweens and teens who do sports or outdoor activities might really love the Dryrobe brand of jackets. These jackets will help warm up kids out of the pool or after a rainy soccer game. The oversized cut is very on trend right now and the jacket has pockets to keep all their devices dry and protected while they play.
Hape Flexistix Leonardo’s Elements Construction Toy
Younger tweens who are into building toys or STEM might like this building toy that lets them make increasingly complicated geometric shapes. They may also appreciate that this toy is made of environmentally sustainable bamboo instead of plastic.
Bubble Tea Kit
$40
from
Uncommon Goods
Teens who are obsessed with bubble tea or just love to experiment in the kitchen will love the chance to make their own boba at home! This set comes with reusable metal straws and the fixings to make two kinds of bubble teas to enjoy.
Ohuhu 48 Colors Dual Tips Alcohol Art Markers
Any tween or teen who has an artistic side will love these dual tip markers. The alcohol-based ink is incredibly vibrant, and it dries immediately, so it never smudges or bleeds. The markers have color-coded caps to find shades quickly. Whether your tween/teen is creating art from scratch or filling in a coloring book for relaxation, these markers are a great gift.
Victrola Eastwood Record Player
$99.99
from
Crate & Barrel
If there is a tween or teen Swiftie on the list, a perfect gift could be a Taylor Swift album on vinyl and a record player to play it on! This player looks old-school cool, but is modern enough to have a Bluetooth option so it can also be used for streaming music.
Black Chunky Knit Satin-Lined Beanie
$30
from
Grace Eleyae
This satin-lined beanie is the perfect hat for a tween or teen who wants to stay warm and keep their curls looking healthy all winter long! The satin lining fights frizz and helps curls retain moisture. Black is a safe, neutral choice, but there is also olive, burnt orange, and gray colors for a more fashion-forward look.
Rubik's Phantom 3x3 Cube Advanced Brainteaser
This upgraded Rubik's Cube is perfect for tweens and teens who love brainteasers. The Cube is all black, but they reveal colors as you touch the tiles. The challenge with this smart Cube is to solve the Cube before the tiles fade back to black!
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Holiday Bar
If there is ever a time in life when a person can demolish a pound of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups for Christmas morning breakfast, it is the tween and teen years! We'll try not to be jealous of their youthful metabolism as we add this to their stockings this year.
Sephora Favorites Makeup Must Haves Set
Teens obsessed with YouTube and TikTok makeup and beauty tutorials will love this Sephora gift set that includes Fenty Beauty and Urban Decay products, along with several other trendy brands. This is a limited edition set, so order soon as this may go out of stock.
Christian Pulisic Jersey
The US might have exited the 2022 World Cup rather early, but teens who still have soccer fever can represent with a Christian Pulisic jersey. Pulisic, who plays for England's Chelsea Football Club, is arguably the most high profile US player, so his jersey is in high demand!
Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise-Cancelling Bluetooth Earbuds
We couldn't totally avoid having technology gifts on this gift guide because we know that there are some tweens and teens who would be over the moon for a pair of wireless Beats headphones, especially in fun colors like pink and and red!
Smoko Bee Mochi Plushie
$44
from
Urban Outfitters
They may not be little kids anymore, but we suspect that most tweens and teens will still be excited to open the absolutely adorable and squishy Mochi Plushie from Smoko. The little bee costume on this 13-inch plushie is extra cute!
Air Force 1 '07 Sneaker
We're not going to lie: these white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers kind of look like old man shoes to us. But these are the shoes of choice for some of the most popular social media stars, so we're guessing they'll be a cool gift for teens who can make old man shoes look trendy.
Fjällraven Kånken Rainbow Key Ring
$10
from
Fjallraven
Fjällraven is the Swedish outdoor gear brand whose simple but sturdy backpacks have been a top pick for teens lately. This rainbow key ring is a great stocking stuffer or add on for parents who are also planning to pony up for the backpack for the holidays as well!
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
