Holidays & Entertaining Gift Guide 2023: 101+ Best Gift Ideas Gifts for Kids & Teens 40 Great Gifts for Teens and Tweens They'll Truly Appreciate None of these items involve taking selfies—we promise. By Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Lauren Phillips Lauren Phillips Lauren is a former editor at Real Simple and currently serves as a senior digital editor for Better Homes & Gardens. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 21, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. amazon.com Teens and tweens can be remarkably hard to buy for, given their changing tastes and tendency to have pretty well-stocked closets and bedrooms already. So it's no surprise that gift cards often end up being the go-to tween or teen gift. (At least then you know it'll probably go to good use!) But with a little research (and perhaps a text exchange or two), you might be able to crack the code and give a very cool gift for the next holiday, birthday, or other gift-giving occasion on your calendar. Try a few of these teen or tween gift ideas—approved by actual tweens and teens—to get you started. Gift Ideas for Women For the Room Redesigner Twinkly Squares LED Panels 5+1 Combo Pack Best Buy View On Amazon View On Best Buy View On Home Depot These smart light screens can be customized by them, either with one of a slew of animated or still images found on the Twinkly app, or their own unique designs. Use it as a nightlight or a creative piece of wall art. For the Kid Who's Always Losing a Glove MOMA Pair and a Spare Colorblock Touchscreen Gloves MOMA View On Moma.org Ensure that they always keep their hands warm with this set of three gloves (a pair and a spare) that mix and match beautifully, and have pads to ensure that they can continue texting and TikToking with warm fingers. For the Adventurous Snacker Universal Yums Snacks from Around the World Universal Yums View On Universalyums.com Your snack-loving teen or tween will definitely dig into these popular snack foods from around the world, whether it's Greek baklava, Dutch cinnamon cookies, or Taiwanese salted egg yolk popcorn. Start them off with a "holidays around the world" box, then they'll explore new countries every month if you opt for a subscription. For the Mobile Music Fan Bitty Boomers Star Wars The Mandalorian: Grogu - Mini Bluetooth Speaker, Multicolored Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Lowe's These ultra-tiny speakers pack great sound and excellent battery life into a very small (and very cute) package. If Star Wars isn't their jam, there's probably something else they'll love in the Bitty Boomers universe—whether it's Stranger Things, Marvel superheroes, Disney characters, or their favorite collegiate team. For Gamers on the Go Backbone One Mobile Gaming Controller Amazon View On Amazon View On Playbackbone.com Snap their smartphone into this controller, and they can play their favorite Playstation games on the go with the PS Remote Play App. It doesn't need separate charging, as it uses a little bit of the smartphone's battery life to run the controls. For the Gamer Who's Always on Your Couch X Rocker Eclipse Floor Rocker Gaming Chair Courtesy of X Rocker View On Amazon View On Walmart A cool (and comfy) gaming chair is a must-have so they can take their next Apex Legends session somewhere other than your sofa. This floor chair reclines and rocks so they can find the perfect position for playing, and it has inset speakers to capture every blast and bump in the game. For the Cozy Type Allbirds Wool Dwellers 4.9 Allbirds View On Allbirds.com Start their Allbirds obsession with these cozy slide-ons that are perfect for wearing around the house. The eco-friendly teen or tween will also love that they're carbon-neutral and upcycled from wool scraps from Allbirds' other shoes. For the Maker FlashForge Finder 3 3D Printer Amazon View On Amazon This easy-to-use 3D printer earns rave reviews from beginners and experienced 3D modelers, so they can start crafting and creating their latest designs. For Stranger Things Superfans Lite Brite Stranger Things Special Edition Amazon View On Amazon View On Urban Outfitters This vintage toy played a key role in the last season of the show—and fans can use the mini pegs to create cool light designs of their favorite characters and moments from the first four Stranger Things seasons. Unlike the old-school Lite Brites, this one also has four different light effects you can use, including flickering lights to give you that Upside Down vibe. For the World-Class Basketballer Spalding UO Exclusive Globe Basketball Urban Outfitters View On Urban Outfitters Get them ready to be a Globetrotter with this mapped out, regulation-size Spalding basketball—perfect for their next game of Around the World. For the Nail Artist Olive & June Nail Art Pens Olive and June View On Oliveandjune.com Let them DIY their own unique mani/pedis with this colorful set of pens, from über-popular Olive + June. It comes with two different tips—a pen and a striper brush—to help them recreate their favorite nail art inspo. For the Good Luck Seeker Fortune and Frame Fortune Cookie String Bracelet Fortune and Frame View On Fortuneandframe.com This charming corded bracelet is adorned with a petite fortune cookie to help guarantee good luck in the new year. For the Teen Stressing Over Finals Week Williams Sonoma DIY Cookie Decorating Kit Williams Sonoma View On Williams-Sonoma Ship this gift straight to their dorm so their roommates can engage in a little stress-busting sugar session, or have it waiting for post-finals cookie fun. It comes with a dozen cookies, three colors of frosting, and four different sugars and sprinkles to dress up their creations. For the Voracious Reader Out of Print Book Nerd Pride Socks Out of Pride View On Walmart View On Outofprint.com Help your favorite reader get cozy with a pair of fun Book Nerd socks (perhaps paired with the next book in their favorite series). And you'll do good with every purchase, with 10 percent of proceeds supporting GLSEN's Rainbow Library program, which provides LGBTQ+ affirming books to schools. For the Style Icon Vans Customized Slip-On Shoes Vans View On Vans.com Pick from nearly 100 different patterns, colors, and textures—or upload a favorite image or pattern of their own—to give them a truly custom pair of kicks. (Or give them a gift card and let them go wild!) For the Spooky Teen or Tween Tovolo Zombie Popsicle Molds Tovolo View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Wayfair They'll get two different kinds of chills from this cool ice pop kit, which lets them chill their favorite juices and fruits into spooky zombie shapes. (Bonus: kiwi or watermelon puree looks extra gross.) For the Traveling Music Fan JBL Clip 4 Portable Speaker with Bluetooth JBL View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target This lightweight (and compact) speaker easily clips onto their backpack, bike, or belt, so they can bring their tunes wherever their adventures take us. For the Gamer Who Wants to Level Up Meta Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy This 3D virtual reality headset puts your favorite gamer right in the experience, with 3D cinematic video and audio—and a slew of ways to use it, from multiplayer games to a virtual social spaces. For the Teen on the Go Baggu Recycled Nylon Cooler Bag MoMA Design Store View On Moma.org View On Urban Outfitters Help them keep their lunches and snacks on ice when they're out and about with this colorful cooler. It's made entirely of post-consumer recycled material, with ripstop nylon and PET polyfill. For the Sweet Tooth Sugarfina Rainbow Candy Bento Box Sugarfina View On Macy's View On Sur La Table Pick their favorites of all kinds of gourmet candies, from chocolate to gummies to caramels to fill this customized bento box. For the Animal Lover Laurence King Publishing 299 Cats (and a Dog): A Feline Cluster Puzzle Uncommon Goods View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Barnesandnoble.com Sure, the puzzle itself is fun, but the adorable cat (and single dog) illustrations will be a beloved gift for teens or tweens who love furry friends. For the Kid Who's Glued to Their Smartphone SolidRoots Store Game of Phones Amazon View On Amazon View On Uncommon Goods This "if you can't beat them, join them" idea will turn interacting with their phone (and the people around them) into a game. It's perfect for the teen or tween who can't put the phone down (even when their friends are over). For the Movie Maven Gift Republic 100 Movies Bucket List Poster Gift Republic View On Amazon View On Uncommon Goods For the dedicated film fan, this scratch-off poster can help guide them to some of the finest (and funniest) movies on their must-watch list. For the Traveling Teen Cadence Build Your 6 Cadence View On Keepyourcadence.com Crafted of ocean-bound and recycled plastic, these clever magnetic capsules help them bring their favorite skincare, body care, and other products when they travel—or just to help them keep their favorites handy as they're going about their busy day. For the Puzzle Solver Rubik's Connected Cube Amazon View On Amazon This app-enhanced version of the classic cube lets dedicated puzzlers work to improve their speed and skill to compete against others worldwide—and help those who might need a little more help learn how to solve the puzzle. For the Hair Color Connoisseur oVertone Semi-Permanent Conditioner Overtone View On Amazon View On Target View On Overtone.co These bright and bold colors add a pop of color to even dark hair hues without getting all over clothes and bedding—and their sampler packs are perfect for letting teens experiment with their hair. For the Smoothie Sipper NutriBullet Pro 900 High-Speed Blender 5 Courtesy of Nutribullet View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Belk.com Minimize the mess when they're whipping up their favorite smoothies or acai bowls with this all-in-one solution. Just pop the ingredients into the blender—and swap out the lip ring with a to-go lid so they can take it with them. Bonus: It's compact enough to pack along when they're moving into their first dorm. For the Teen Who Wants the Coolest Room Cooluli Compact Cooler Mini Fridge Cooluli View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Walmart This teeny-tiny fridge can fit into even the smallest room or dorm—holding a few cool drinks or beauty products to let them chill in style. For the Bubble Tea Devotee Locca Boba Tea Kit Amazon View On Amazon View On Etsy Locca bubble tea kits come with everything you need to craft a variety of fun drinks, including the teas, tapioca bubbles, and thick straws to slurp them up. This version comes with jasmine, peach oolong, and black teas—and enough goodies to make two dozen drinks. For the Eco-Friendly Fashionista Conscious Step Socks That Build Homes Conscious Step View On Amazon View On Consciousstep.com Adorned with adorable motifs that match the cause, Conscious Step's socks support wildlife conservation, water charities, human rights campaigns, and other causes with every purchase—while using organic materials and sustainable, fair-trade production practices, of course. For the Literary Nerd Umbra Conceal Floating Bookshelf, Set of 3 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Wayfair Let your favorite teen or tween keep their books close at hand with this magical set, that makes it look like stacks of books are floating in midair. For the Science-Loving Nerd MEL Science Kit 5 MEL Science Kit View On Amazon View On Melscience.com These aren't those lame-o science kits that use lemon juice and baking soda to cause reactions—these next-level kits for the sophisticated scientist share the fundamentals of science with intriguing experiments that involve a lot of fire and wild reactions like creating tin spikes or igniting iron. The latest line of MEL kits help teens learn to use common medical tools (including stethoscopes, scalpels, and pulse oximeters) to diagnose virtual patients—perfect for a teen or tween interested in a health care career. For the Pamperer LUSH Serenity Gift Set LUSH View On Lushusa.com Lush's eco-friendly bath line has been a teen and tween favorite for years—and this charming gift loaded with relaxing bath bombs, soaps and goodies is sure to help them find their zen amidst their crazy schedules. For the Kid at Heart Uncommon Goods Sweet Treat Soaps Uncommon Goods View On Uncommon Goods Cute gummy bear-shaped soaps come in fruity scents—and make washing-up a little more fun. For the Teen Who Needs to Get Outside More Sierra Designs Lightweight Portable Hammock with Tree Straps Amazon View On Amazon View On Target With this hammock kit, teens and tweens alike can escape the house for a fresh air hang. The kit comes complete with tree saver straps and carabiners for hanging, and the hammock holds two people (up to 400 pounds), so they can grab a friend, pet, or a sibling (or just spread out). For the Adventurous Type Thousand Chapter MIPS Helmet Thousand View On Amazon View On Explorethousand.com View On REI Keep them safe and encourage them to adventure and explore at the same time with this helmet. It's on-trend enough that they'll actually wear it while biking or skating, it has MIPS technology for added protection against concussions, and a magnetic taillight offers better visibility—they'll love wearing it, and you'll love the peace of mind it comes with. For the Teen With the 1,000-Song Playlist Ultimate Ears Portable BOOM 3 Waterproof Speaker Amazon View On Amazon View On Best Buy View On Ultimateears.com This portable speaker is a must-have for road-trips, sleepovers, camp-outs, and just about every other occasion in a teen or tween's life. Its battery lasts up to 15 hours, the speaker floats, and it's ultra-durable, so it'll get plenty of use. For the Photographer Umbra Hangit Display - DIY Frames Collage Set Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Wayfair Give the teen or tween in your life the chance to present their favorite photos, prints, postcards, and more with this hanging display. Clothespin clips will let them swap out photos at will, and the simple cord and wood hanger melds into any style room. For the Kid Who Took Up Baking Silpat Silicone Baking Mat with Storage Band Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Bloomingdales The teen and tween years are prime time for exploring interests, and baking is often something teens or tweens get into. Encourage the tasty habit with this top-notch baking gear, which prevents burned cookie bottoms and comes with a handy storage helper. For the Puppy Fan ThisWear Frenchie Tote Bag Amazon View On Amazon View On Etsy For carrying books, lunch, sports gear, and more, this cotton canvas tote (and its too-cool-for-school Frenchie) can't be beat. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit