I have committed to buying gifts for 2 teens (from the angel tree at church) and am having trouble coming up with ideas. There is no set dollar amount but I have no issue spending up to $50 each. I would prefer to buy for boys as no one else ever wants to buy for teen boys. But…I am stuck for ideas. I do have a 19yo S, but he has very different tastes and is currently overseas so what I would buy for him isn’t necessarily what other teen boys would want.
So - any ideas? What stores do the teen boys shop at now?
The best headphones (the big kind??) that $50 can buy???
Teens is sort of broad - age 13 or age 18, you know???
Hard without knowing their interests. I mean, how cool would it be to buy one of them a Kindle (Amazon had some yesterday for $49 I think?) if you knew they loved to read!
Gift cards to the local movie theatre, iTunes, Amazon (if they have a home or place where packages can be safely delivered,) or a generic-use-anywhere gift card. May sound impersonal to some, but all my teenager has asked for for years is money, iTunes, and GameStop gift cards. (And we’re parents who know what he likes.) Same too for his friends.
If you’re going to get something that requires internet access, make sure that they HAVE internet! There are students at D’s school who do NOT have internet at home. Same with Gamestop-they’re not going to be able to use a videogame gift card if they have no game system. Same for headphones-those aren’t too helpful if they have no phone or Ipod. And lots of kids DON’T.
The really low-income kids we know mostly need clothes that are CURRENT and appropriate for the climate. They hate wearing second-hand, out of date things. And they often go without hats or gloves, rainboots, etc. Thick hoodies with a popular design or team name would be a good idea, “Ugg” style boots for a girl if you know the size, those infinity scarves seem to be THE thing around here.
I like the idea of movie passes. That’s a luxury lots of these kids don’t have. Or Starbucks, Panara Bread, the places kids like to hang out-if you’re low-income you don’t have the money to do that. See if there’s an place kids gather-there’s a new bowling/game/restaurant place south of Seattle that all the kids are flocking to.
Agree, go with GC (Best Buy for Boys, Visa GC for both boys and girls) and a token gift so they have something to open on xmas day, besides the GC. The token gift could be something inexpensive but fun like Guiness Book of World Record book, fuzzy socks from Target, etc.
Did the angel tree tag not have anything listed? In our community the card usually has some one-word interests, such as ‘sports’ or ‘movies’ or ‘drawing’ etc. Also listed is a specific need and a want. Personally I am always drawn to the ones with a coat listed as a need.
Since it is run through your church, I would suggest asking for more info. I ran the tree for a couple years at ours and was able to get some input from the program that gave us the angel when folks needed more info. The question that always made me smile was when someone asked ‘which kids make up a whole family’ and took all the angels.
No gift is foolproof. Depending on their city, they might not have a Starbucks nearby. In our inner city area/downtown, no Starbucks. If there is a car to get to a Starbucks or a movie theater , then they could likely download free books at their local library, at school using the computer through their library, or at Starbucks!
If you have no info, how will you buy clothes? Size S or XL???
Perhaps whatever you buy, tape a gift receipt on it - and choose a place that they could return the item - but only exchange for something else, not cash.
I agree that without sizes, very tough buying clothing that will likely fit. I’d ask for more info. Our Angel tree has sizes when clothing is requested.
We live in an area that has movie theaters, Chipotle, Panera, all of the stores named. I should explain that we buy the gifts and then they are taken to a larger place and the families come in and select the gifts (or at least the parents do). So as far as sizes, there is really no way to tell. Last year I bought shirts and sweaters from American Eagle.
Update- Bought a hoodie sweatshirt and a plaid flannel shirt at American Eagle this AM. Both for boys. Kind of the same as last year. Thanks to all for your replies.
FYI for anyone considering Hoverboard for their teen or teen at heart : the boards have large Li ion batteries and cannot be transported in either checked in luggage or carryons:
I bought for 2 young teens. I knew one was into Legos and Star Wars, so I bought him the dart header Lego set. I got the younger one a star war Lego, but with far less pieces.