Ah, the teenage years. Popular culture has painted pre-teens and teenagers (ages 13 to 19) as being angsty, immature, and big pains to parents. And while that may be true sometimes (hey, we all have our moments), teenagers are some of the most brilliant people. They're both children and young adults at once, and while they have so much to learn, they can teach us a lot, too.
The world is changing so fast, after all. So what can one possibly gift them and still be "cool?" As far as we're concerned, a ton of things. We found extremely unusual gifts that teenagers won't be able to stop themselves from liking, maybe even loving. From items made popular by TikTok to presents that just play to their interests, here are 20 gifts that even the teen who supposedly has everything will appreciate.
Psst: If you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom 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.
Name Necklace
Name necklaces were super popular back in the late '80s and '90s, and now the silver and gold jewelry style is back with a vengeance among the younger crowd. Maybe the resurgence came from TikTok? But whatever the reason, we love this rendition from Etsy.
Mermaid Atlas
$20
from
Uncommon Goods
We really meant it when we said we'd find unique gifts for teens. For those who have a serious obsession or interest (we'll take it) in mermaids, this book melds the young adult with the kid-at-heart. It tells the tales of mermaids around the world.
Doodle Pillowcase
$22
from
Uncommon Goods
Pillows just for sleeping? That's so not cool. What is cool are pillows for both sleeping and doodling. What else will get the creative juices going when teens can't have their phones with them at night. This is definitely a unique gift.
Bean Bag Chair
$146
from
Pottery Barn Teen
Bean bag chairs are to teenagers what bottles are to babies. They just need 'em. This one is modern with its Sherpa texture, but it's also insanely comfortable looking. They can use it to relax, scroll through those TikToks, read, or do homework. It'll make spending more time at home more comfortable.
Rainbow Pop Cake Kit
$60
from
Williams Sonoma
Teens who love to bake will adore this rainbow cake pop kit. It'll challenge their skills and take them to the next level as the cake pops require multiple colors of cake layers to get the rainbow end result. But it'll be yummy, fun, and worth it.
Quesadilla Maker
$20
from
Bed, Bath and Beyond
While some teens love to experiment with cooking and baking, some just don't have the patience. And there's nothing wrong with a yummy, quick meal. With their own quesadilla maker, they'll be able to get it. All they have to do is add the tortilla and cheese and close the 'dilla maker.
'Serial Killers' Adult Coloring Book
$8
from
Books a Million
If the teen loves learning about true crime and serial killers (lets hope it's for the psychology behind them), then they will find this serial killer coloring book gift to be unique and right up their alley. Coloring relieves stress, too, as an added bonus.
Glossier's The Makeup Set
Glossier makeup might not seem all that unique, but the brand's The Makeup Set is. It can be hard to find the right makeup for a teen just starting to figure the beauty world out, but this set from Glossier makes it super easy. It includes mascara, blush, and eyebrow gel.
Escape Room Game
Escape rooms are fun activities to do with friends or family, but thanks to the health crisis, they won't be safe to try any time soon. But, the essence of the game can still be played with this Escape Room game, without ever needing a room to escape from. It includes 16 different puzzles that have 256 different combinations.
Teddy Bear Slippers
$30
from
Pottery Barn
These aren't regular slippers. They're "Teddy Bear" slippers made of Sherpa material, which is one of the most popular clothing textures this year. Also, it comes in a variety of colors, including blush, which also happens to be an on-trend color. Virtual school will be more comfortable than ever.
Friendship Lamp
$90
from
Urban Outfitters
The health crisis has made it difficult and often dangerous to see or visit with people we love and care about. Teens thrive on time with friends, which has to make this period especially difficult. This friendship lamp can help ease the distance. When one person touches their lamp, the other lamp lights up to let their friend know they miss them.
What Do You Meme? TikTok Edition Card Game
It's 2020, which means there can never be enough games given as gifts, and we think teenagers will really like this one, too. It's a TikTok version of the "What Do You Meme?" game, which we're sure they'll find both hilarious and entertaining.
Studio Creator Video Maker Kit
Speaking of TikTok, a lot of the humans under 18, and many over 18, are obsessed with one of the newest social media apps out there: TikTok. It's all about funny videos or clips of dancing, and this video creator kit can help them make content of their own.
Icee Slushie Making Cup & Syrup Set
$33
from
Neiman Marcus
Nothing can beat a classic Slushie. The 7-Eleven treat is beloved everywhere. And we think it's super cool that teens can now create their own (and yes, it is another activity to do while stuck at home). The flavor here is red cherry.
Portable Suitcase Record Player
Record players are something teens of the past needed if they wanted to play music, but now they've become vintage collectors' items, or something that people want to use as an ode to the past. For the teenager who loves the idea of listening to "records," this suitcase record player makes a great gift.
Cooluli Mini Beauty Refrigerator
$60
from
Urban Outfitters
YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok (and Kylie Jenner) have made beauty and skin care products and ways for people to learn how to use them more accessible than ever. Even teen pros know that some products need to be cooled, and a personal mini skin care fridge is an insanely useful and unique gift for them.
Premium Quad Roller Skates
$139
from
Urban Outfitters
We're delivering here on the unique theme. The gift of vintage-style rollar skates may not have been so unique back when roller rinks were the place to be on a Friday night, but skating seems to be becoming more popular. Why not gift the teen with their own chic set of wheels?
Zodiac Glow LED Sign
$39
from
Urban Outfitters
Home decor is big among teenagers, too. There's always a cool room on TikTok or of an influencer to emulate, or, they just feel like they want to make their space really reflect who they are. Whatever the reason, we have a great decor item that's definitely not in everyone else's bedroom just yet: zodiac neon signs.
Peace Hand Jewelry Holder
Teens sometimes have a lot of jewelry that may get tangled or misplaced. With this cool sculpture jewelry stand, that is less likely to happen. It functions as a stand and an art piece that is way cooler than the run-of-the-mill ones from generations past.
'Harry Potter' Bath Bomb Kit
Of course, we can't forget about the Harry Potter fans out there, taking after their millennial predecessors in their love of all things witchcraft and wizardry. This wizard-themed bath bomb set is exactly the kind of magic needed to get through the rest of the year.
