Let’s be very clear – teens and tweens do not want what we want to give them. Our kids are 11 and 12 and perfectly in between worlds (thus the “tween” name). They are so confusing because they want $350 tiny earbuds that they’ll lose in a second and also slow-rise butter squishies. Trying to meet them where they are at, while not caving on some stuff, is hard!!! So if you are also struggling, hopefully this guide can help. I have bought SO MUCH from it already.
Now this year I did what most 47-year-old mom content creators would do: I hired my 13-year-old neighbor and my social media director’s 17-year-old sister to send me their wish lists in exchange for Starbucks gift cards. So anything that feels a little older tween/teen is from my neighbor Emma and Marlee’s sister. We’ve got both groups covered. We feel very confident that these are the best gifts for tweens AND teens:)
Mirror Jewelry Organizer: We got this for Elliot for her birthday, and she loves it (now she wants more jewelry to fill it). It holds all the things (not just jewelry, but beauty products, lotions, hair ties, etc.) and has LED lights that come on when it opens, a lock on the side, and an interior mirror. It’s basically a full-size medicine cabinet and can be hung on the back of the door or on a wall. SHE LOVES IT. Oh, and it comes in pink and green, too. I got it when it was on sale for $119, and while it might go down 5% for Black Friday, I wouldn’t wait if this checks your box.
Nintendo Alarm Clock: My boy is a “video game enthusiast”. We got him this alarm clock last Christmas, which is splurgy and yet so fun because it has a lot of bells and whistles (literally) and is very interactive, all while waking him up for school in a way that he likes.
Laser Tag: This is a huge hit for our family (and our 12-year-old boy cohort). Especially with the earlier dark nights, they gear up and go outside. Can play inside, too. Charlie is even good about charging them and keeping all the parts together.
Pop-A-Shot Basketball Game: This was our big present for both kids last year, and they love it (especially when friends are over). Screen-free and great for long winters. It folds up much smaller, I promise. Brian ordered the Trail Blazer-branded one, but you can get your team on it or just plain.
Pac-Man Countercade: Was a hit a few years ago for more of an analog video game experience (they’ll still want the real thing, but this is retro and interactive in a different way).
Indoor Mini Basketball Hoop: This is now on the back of Charlie’s closet in his bedroom, and he loves it. Warning: it does make a fun score noise!
Magnetic Dart Board: We bought this last year – it is AWESOME. Excited for more non-screen fun with my 13-year-old.
Astronaut Ceiling Light: This creates really soothing (and colorful) galaxies on the ceiling and walls. Charlie has this and loves it, and he always puts it on when his friends are over.
Light Up Tetris: It’s both a lamp, vibe, and game. My son loves this (it’s admittedly very fun).
Vanity Mirror: This checks Elliot’s boxes (wanting glam lights) but in a less garish and expensive way.
LED Strip Lights: All the tweens and teens want LED light strips, and these ones are awesome!
LED Corner Floor Lamp: Kids love mood lighting they can control (I like how minimal this one is).
JBL Headphones: Looks like AirPods, but only $30 (when on sale). FAR more doable than AirPods that they’ll use but look the same.
Portable Speaker: I guess this is the “it” speaker this year. Portable, looks good, and can hook up to their Apple Watches or iPads even if they don’t have phones.
Gaming Headphones: “Why are these the best?” I asked Charlie. “They just are!” was his response. I wouldn’t doubt the kid; he’s a gamer.
Kid’s Kindle: We bought these for our long trips; they can load them up and our kids love reading (and listening) on them.
Bambu 3D Printer: Our kids had the Toybox for 5 years and loved it. This year their big joint present is the Bambu printer because it has more capabilities. I’d say if this is your first one, then the Toybox is FANTASTIC. But ours have proved how much they love 3D printing, so we are graduating them to the next level.
Crosley Record Player: This is the record player we had in our play attic at the Mountain House. The kids loved it and could easily navigate it. Comes in a ton of colors!
Canon Sticker Printer: So fun and easy (requires using my phone) to print out photos. Comes with a lot of fun borders, and the paper’s sticker backing lets you put pictures anywhere!
Fuji Max Camera: Comes with a case (like a purse). Elliot loves it so much.
Listen, none of us want our girls to care about their looks this young, and yet I remember this age and my Caboodle was STACKED. For better or worse, our kids live in this world right now. So this is the list that Emma gave me: what all the middle school (and high school) girls want and love. Proceed at you and your own kid’s pace 🙂
Rhode Glazing Milk: Tweens seem to love anything, Rhode. A super hydrating formula, apparently.
Rhode Pocket Blush: Another great Rhode product. Even I want this, TBH.
Rhode Lip Tint: The tint isn’t full glam, I promise.
Listen, I don’t own anything Rhode and can’t vouch for any of these products. But if you want some Christmas morning squeals, this is your list.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Toner: This is straight from the middle school source herself.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter: This lip butter is slightly glossy but totally moisturizing. The tweens love it!
eos Body Lotion: A fantastic stocking stuffer that they’ll be excited about.
Blinger Hair Gems: This is so fun and easy for both everyday and special occasions.
Clip-In Hair Tinsel: Prepare to hear screams of delight. This tinsel is super easy to use compared to the larger tinsel kits that require you to knot them in your hair. These are just easy clip-ins!
Hair Accessory Organizer: She lit up when she saw this online. She gets the organizing rush.
Silk Pillowcase: This silk pillowcase helps a ton with frizzy hair and prevents breakage. Last year this sold like hotcakes.
Dae Hair Taming Cream + Wand: This stuff is great! Tweens love it to help tame the ponytail flyaways.
Iridescent Satin Pillowcase: My daughter’s hair couldn’t be healthier, and yet this is on her list (admittedly it’s visually very fun, too).
Slick Gorilla Styling Powder: Charlie uses this daily. If your kid wants big “floofy” hair, this adds good volume.
Slick Gorilla Sea Salt Spray: Another Charlie staple. Great for texturizing.
Hair Chalk: Elliot loves this hair chalk. Super easy to add some fun, washable color highlights to her hair.
Sol de Jainero Perfume Set: It really is Gen Z’s and Gen Alphas’ scent du jour/decade.
Touchland Hand Sanitizer: Always on Elliot’s list – Touchland anything. Keychains, in all backpacks. I don’t even think she cares about keeping her hands sanitized, but she likes the scent and the brand hits with her age.
Hydrojug: This is everyone’s current favorite water bottle at school. Tons of cute colors and patterns to choose from.
Quilted Carryall Bag: In high school, “this has taken the backpack’s place.”
Do not buy clothes for them that you think you are cute. You are likely wrong (and so are most stores, TB). Emma (our neighbor) and Elliot both wear the same three brands – Abercrombie (or Abercrombie Kids), Garage, or Pacsun. Everything is 90s and baggy on the bottom and, for the girls, more fitted on top. I don’t make the rules.
Pacsun Jeans: I can’t believe these are back. I should have kept mine!
Low-Rise Super Baggy Jeans: Everything comes back! Low rise is on the rise, folks (at least for Gen Alpha and Gen Z). You know how I feel about it.
Garage Sweatpants: My daughter has three pairs of these. She says they’re so comfy and all the girls her age are wearing them.
Essential Baggy Sweatpants: Elliot has these sweatpants as well (and the matching gray zippy).
Baggy Camo Pants: Baggy pants are in. Add a camo style, and you’ve got a winner.
Paneled Wide Leg Sweatpants: Charlie is a little over 5′ and has these in XXS. They’re all he wears. Has them in four colors. Loves them.
Pacsun Graphic Tee: Done. An easy one that feels like you still get them.
Garage Cami: My daughter and all her friends (and every middle/high school girl) wear these tanks (it’s not a kid brand, but Elliot wears an XS and we knot the straps). They are thick and tight (they’ve nailed this formula).
Garage T-Shirt: This is more of a baby T; again, Elliot, who is 11 and is petite, wears a small (they are designed to be a bit cropped, so size up). We employ the “meet and greet” policy, meaning the shirt has to “meet and greet” the pants.
Layered Long Sleeve Shirt: A cool-looking long sleever. I love the detail down the arms.
Skate T-Shirt: It’s a skateboarding eyeball! And it glows in the dark!
Home Alone Long Sleeve Tee: Love the graphics on these – Home Alone, Taco Bell, and F-1.
Listen, these do not seem exciting. I know you want to get them adorable fair isle sweaters. But they want these, apparently, and if you want them excited, then lean into these.
Aritzia Hoodie: A totally splurgy hoodie for a tween/teen, but it’s what they are talking about.
Snap Henley Top: Admittedly very cute and cozy.
The Softest Hoodie: This hoodie is a teen-vetted fav among both guys and gals. SUPER soft and lightweight. Brian and I have the grown-up size and love it as well.
Raccoon Zip-up Hoodie: Funny and cute at the same time, plus the zipper makes it easy to put on and take off for gym class.
Black Flames Hoodie: A zip-up with a little more attitude. Vans is another brand they’re really after.
Dark Bomber Jacket: Bomber-style jacket with a sweatshirt hood. Super good-looking.
Puffer Parka: A stylish, super warm, water-repellent parka for $50? Come on!
Plaid Glen Hooded Shirt: Warm, cozy, layered, and cool-looking.
Looks like we agree on something! Birks, Sambas and Uggs ruled their wishlists this year.
Birkenstock Clogs: These are super cool, very comfy, and get a lot of props from the local teens. Brian loves them too.
Birkenstock Sandals: Listen, this is on all of their lists. Splurgy, but these shoes are SO well-made.
Sambas: Every tween/teen wants or has a pair of Sambas.
I, too, struggle with buying them expensive shoes they will grow out of in a year. But Elliot is begging, just begging for her first Tasman Uggs. I remember begging for Guess jeans and Keds, wanting that triangle on my butt so badly! Do what feels good to you and within your budget because there are some good dupes out there.
Ugg Ultra-Mini Boots: They want the real thing, and I get it (look for them on sale). If you live in the PNW, use Scotchgard – it works!
Croc Slippers: Both kids are getting these. Tweens love Crocs and being cozy!! BTW, Crocs have good dupes that the kids don’t seem to care about as much.
Ugg Cozy Slippers: This is 2026’s IT Ugg, according to Marlee’s teen sister.
Ugg Tasman Slippers: These slippers are the “it” version that even I want.
My mantra for these is this: You don’t have to get it; you just have to buy it. While they want iPads and PlayStations, they also want $7 collectible slow-rise Swiss cheese. My kids and their neighbor kids listed their favorites (and the new versions that you may not have even heard of yet) below.
Banana Squishy: Elliot and her friends are all obsessed.
Jellycat Toys: I love that stuffies are still on their wish list as tweens. And this specific brand is all the rage. Elliot screamed when she saw it on this list.
Elliot’s Favorite Squishie: I don’t know why this one is special, but it’s VERY SPECIAL.
Speks Gump Jumbo Squishy: I don’t make these things up. Elliot and her friends are freaking out about these.
Gui Gui Mega Slime Haul: They are losing their mind over this.
Speks Thinking Putty: Want to impress them? Hurry, because Speks is the next squishy. lol.
Glow In The Dark Smiski: Both kids chose this as their souvenir on a recent trip, saying, “they are going so viral”. Who knows!? I’m here for it. We liked weird stuff in middle school, too. These ones aren’t squishy, heads up.
Squishy Making Kit: Elliot and her friend (and her cousin) all love this and are deep into squishy making, but she’s super independent and crafty and follows written instructions well (remember she wants to be a crafting YouTube creator). She begged for it for her birthday, and when I saw it opened up, I gasped and cursed the Lord’s name in vain. It’s a lot of pieces, parts, and plastic. Does she love it? YES (and this one is specifically good because it has the tool to open and insert the mouth of the squishy. It’s a great gift for a squishy enthusiast; I just feel like I’d be a bad mom-friend if I didn’t warn you first.
Weighted Stuffed Animals: Teens LOVE these, and there are tons of options to choose from.
Custom Ultimate Bead Kit: Elliot has a lot of beads, but this kit is awesome because it’s geared toward one activity. You can buy it for necklaces, bracelets, bag charms, and phone accessories. Bauble does this SO WELL.
Scrapbook Making Kit: Elliot wants this, which means I get to do this with her!!! (I’m not saying that sarcastically). Pair this with a portable photo printer or Polaroid camera for something she’ll keep forever.
Bedazzling Kit: “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love decorating anything and everything with this,” says Marlee’s sister.
The Best Air-Dry Clay: The best air-dry clay they’ve ever used (and they’ve used a lot) is this – this takes up hours of creative time. Not sticky or tacky. And a lot of kit styles (think Legos but for clay – it helps you create different characters, which is still really creative, but you get a really fun and impressive product).
POSCA Paint Markers: Elliot loves these paint markers (from her favorite crafting influencer, WILD, but they are legit great markers).
Kitten-Shaped Nail File: One of our bestsellers last year for stocking stuffers and for good reason. You rub the tummy, and it shapes your nail! The kids get a real kick out of it.
Nail Art Pens: A really fun way to add some creativity to your manicure and make it feel like a fancy nail job.
Hot Sugar Makeup Kit: It’s a whole makeup thing that Elliot loves, for costumes, playing, or just slumber parties.
Custom Initial Tote Bag: I got this for my daughter, and that 11-year-old is going to LOVE IT.
Custom Initial Necklace: So stinking cute. I want one to match. But I’m going to get her the necklace-making kit from the same company, so I’ll just make her make me one 🙂
Personalized Music Toy: I bought these when they were 4 and 6, and they both love them (needs a month to ship!). The songs are so pretty (and slightly haunting but in a good way).
Moe’s Prank Phone: Calling all 9-14 year olds. Charlie and Elliot love this, and so do their friends. A real hit with the tween cohort (it’s The Simpsons). It’s inappropriate and questionable (but mostly age-appropriate, I promise) – therefore exactly what they want.
Dungeon Crawler Carl Series: Charlie opts for this book series over video games. I’m not saying they are super appropriate for 13-year-old boys, but we’ll take it!
So there you have it, our comprehensive gift guide for the Tween/Teen in your life. And don’t forget to check out more great gift ideas over on the Shop Page. May the force be with us this year!! Good luck, parents. xx
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green
Thank you for this!! Mine are 9 and 11, and this list is bang on. Sidebar – where is Emily’s log holder from? I’ve been looking for one that isn’t to big, and looks nice…
Really good list and I can vouch for many of the items here that have actually been on teen wish lists for a few years now. (Wonderboom speaker, Uggs, comfy hoodies.) One addition for older teens that may already have a phone – the Fuji Instax Mini printer. It uses the same film that goes in the Fuji camera, but it connects to phone wirelessly so you can print phone photos rather than needing the separate camera. It has been very popular with my (now) college students and then replacement film is a standing gift idea. Any gift ideas for that transitional age from teen to adult? I’m struggling a bit because they have aged out of some of the teen things but aren’t necessarily ready for the “full adult” things. Cash is always appreciated at that age, but I do like giving useful gifts. The only reliable idea I have is a hard-sided suitcase or luggage set.
Best tween and teen list I’ve seen so far got a few things thank you!