The pandemic has been tough on the teen population. It is between the ages of 13 and 18 that young adolescents develop their sense of independence and confidence, as well as their social skills interacting with peers. Sadly, many teens have found themselves isolated at home, and some have even had to take on additional responsibilities caring for their siblings or supporting the household. Families who struggle financially are not able to provide teens with basic necessities, which makes the situation even harder.
There is no doubt that spreading some holiday cheer among teens is extremely important, yet many organizations continue to struggle in receiving appropriate in-kind donations for this group. Why is that? Donors tell us it is easy enough to pick out some toys and clothes for the younger children, but they struggle when it comes to the tweens and teens. Last year, we shared some of our data on most requested gifts by teens. This year, we are taking it a step further by providing specific gift ideas that are trendy and useful in 2020, based on conversations with both donors, teens and their parents. This post is meant to give some actionable suggestions to bring some joy to the teen population during this difficult time.
So, without further ado, here is our curated list of suggestions for teen gifts this year:
- Hoodies: hoodies are extremely popular among teens, and range from popular brands (Nike, Jordans, Vans, Brandy Melville, Thrashers, Adidas) to very affordable ones (Old Navy, Justice, Shein, H&M, and Target). Hoodies are comfortable, warm, and can be worn to school and at home. The most popular styles that are requested are ‘zip up’ or ‘over the head’. Oversized hoodies are trendy at the moment, and if you’re not sure of a color preference, we recommend going with solid or neutral colors such as black, grey, navy, or white.
- Sneakers: One can rarely go wrong with gifting a teen with a pair of Nike, Vans, or Adidas sneakers. Stores such as Ross and Marshalls will sell top brands at a discounted price, but it is always worth looking for deals in the regular stores, or in shoe stores such as Shoe Palace, DSW, or Zappos. Popular styles include Nice Air Force, NBA Player brands, and All White Adidas. Lower cost options are popping everywhere, including a pair at Target for less than $25. Don’t forget to include a gift receipt, just in case!
- Blankets: Unsure of the teen’s size or style? A warm blanket will always make a great gift. Check out the Room Essentials collection at Target to find warm and cozy sherpa blankets at an affordable price. We recommend a twin or full size.
- Personal care items: skincare items are highly desired by teens. A gift set which includes a face wash, a moisturizer, or anti-acne treatment will likely be useful to both male and female adolescents. Throw in a toothbrush and paste, deodorant, soap, a sheet mask and lotion to create a mega personal care gift. With the pandemic, we’ve seen requests for face masks and sanitizers as well. Beauty products is another popular personal care category. Items to consider including are: nail polish, make up, lip gloss, and eye shadow pallets. Popular stores among teens in this category are Bath and Body Works, Ulta, Sephora, and Target.
- Technology: Many teens are homeschooling these days, and would love a new pair of wireless earbuds or headphones. If the teen has a phone, they would appreciate a 10ft wall charger, or a mobile charger. Bluetooth speakers and tablets have also been very popular, and can be found at affordable prices.
- Teen Toys: Gone are the days of legos and superheroes, but toys are still fun and are good for stress relief. We see almost every teen request a video gaming related gift (Consoles, Controllers, New games or gaming currency, as well as gaming headphones). Target or Gamestop are your one-stop shop for all your gaming needs. Be sure you buy the items that will fit with the console the teen already has (PS4, XBOX, or Switch to name a few). If unsure, a Gamestop gift card will cover it all. Additionally, we find that most teens enjoy some sort of outdoor activity such as skateboarding, scooting, hoverboarding or biking. If you are shopping for those, be sure to include the appropriate protective gear for safety. Basketball lovers would enjoy a gift of an indoor hoop for their room (hopefully parents won’t object), or a LED light up basketball that glows in the dark. The social media wave brings trendy accessories sold everywhere: ring lights, selfie sticks, and tripods to make selfies and Tik Tok videos, as well as to connect with friends remotely..
- Wellness gifts: This category alone could have probably made an entire blog post, because physical and mental health are more important than ever. Help a teen stay hydrated with a stainless steel water bottle, a fun mug, a tumbler or even a personal blender or coffee maker. We’ve covered skincare earlier, but there is a variety of small appliances for improved face cleansing (steamers, face brushes), flossing and grooming. Workout gear such as a yoga mat, a foam roller, a stepper, exercise bands, or ankle weights can offer options for those who wish to exercise at home. For improved mental health, we recommend journals with encouraging quotes, essential oil diffusers, Calming led light strips for decorating the room, fidget toys or wellness books and magazines.
- Containers: While this category does not sound very whimsical, teens do accumulate a lot of stuff: memorabilia, school items, beauty and makeup products, and random knick knacks. Staying organized, especially when living in a small house or apartment is a win-win for everyone. You can find foldable storage bins and organizers in every shape and size. Pick a few and style them up with a few new items (new towels in a bin, a make up or nail polish in the organizer, healthy snacks in a basket). Unlike the traditional ‘ugly sweater’- this would make a very functional gift!
- A mystery box: The trend of mystery subscription boxes is booming. These boxes arrive once a month and include a variety of products, depending on the subscription. There are beauty boxes, snack boxes, clothes boxes and even boxes made for dogs! The fun part is that the receiver does not know what will arrive in the box. And that anticipation is exciting. It is also an opportunity to get exposed to new products and try them out. Think of a subscription box as the grown-up version of the LOL surprise and other toys geared towards younger audiences, which have an element of a ‘reveal’ or ‘mystery’. Subscription boxes can get expensive, but it’s one of the things that you can create on your own and include as a one-time gift. Simply pick a nice sturdy box from the art store (or any department store, really) and fill it with some of your -teen appropriate- favorite things. You can include your favorite book, snacks, skin care items. You could include travel size toiletries, a hand sanitizer and a colorful mask.
- Gift Cards: This is probably the easiest and the most well received gift of all. It’s convenient for the donor, and teens can shop for what they want or need most. Here is a list of the most requested gift cards: Amazon, GameStop, Target, Bath and Body Works, Ulta, Sephora, Walmart, Ross, Starbacks, and of course Visa or MasterCard (some fees apply). If the donors wish to make the gift a little more festive, they could add an item ro go with it. For example, pair a Starbucks gift card with a tumbler or mug, and add some hot cocoa packets or an energy drink powder with lots of Vitamin C. Or grab a ‘Bath and Body Works’ card and add a body mist, a bath bomb or an aromatic candle. The amount to put on each card is really up to the donor’s budget and preference. We recommend gifting at least $25 in value.
The abundance of trendy items doesn’t need to replace the traditional options that are always nice to get: cozy socks, a chapstick, a journal with a pen, a book, movie tickets, a board game or puzzle with a whole bunch of holiday candy. Those make great stocking stuffers too.
Nonprofits who are social media savvy will often share a good ‘deal’ found in a certain stores, and host drives to collect some of the most common and desirable items. Roonga has worked with many nonprofits to create online drives that target teens, one of the most under-donated age groups.
We hope you found this guide helpful. For your convenience, you may forward this post to your donors or include in your upcoming communications.
Happy shopping!