Top 10 Best Teen Girl Birthday and Holiday Gifts
Teenage girls love a huge variety of items. Cool gadgets, cute fan material, games, jewelry, and music can all be great bets. For a relative, it can be daunting to find the right gift. After all, teenage trends change every year. This year the following 10 gifts and themes are totally hot.
1) Best Gadget: Smartphone
A smartphone really is the coolest gadget ever. Of course you could get your teen the latest and greatest smartphone that will make her the envy of her friends. However, the more affordable smartphones really aren’t bad either. A bit slower perhaps, but that’s the only difference. A bonus feature for girls: they’re often smaller and easier to fit in pockets or purses.
Make sure to check with the parents on this one: does the teen have a smartphone yet, and do the parents allow one? Take into account the continuing costs of owning a mobile phone. You’ll want to communicate with the parents to make sure that the phone and phone plan is compatible with what they want. For example, if the parents don’t want their teen spending all their allowance on phone bills, get them a monthly plan paid in advance. If the parents want the teen to learn responsibility, you’ll probably want to work with the teen to find a plan they can afford to pay themselves.
Ultimately: a smartphone is a VERY cool gift to get, for anybody, including teens. However, they do come with some parental issues that need to be discussed.
The choice is basically between the three brands of smart phone:
- iPhone
- Pro: sturdy, basic usability, decent camera
- Con: expensive for what you get, long term low battery life (however good it starts out: battery can’t be resplaced)
- Android phone
- From very cheap to high end.
Locked or unlocked?
Locked
A locked phone comes with a contract and you’re bound to that carrier (say Verison) for as long as you own that phone. The monthly contract price usually ads up to more than the up front price you’d pay for an unlocked phone.
Unlocked
An unlocked phone is more expensive when you buy it, as you’re paying the full price up front, but you get to pick your contract and can switch SIM-cards when traveling abroad, for instance.
2) Best Teen Book: A Collection of Short Stories about Being Thirteen
Awakening sexuality, awkwardness, the first changing voices in boys, first period in girls. Being thirteen is a tough time. This book contains short stories by several authors about this dreaded in-between age. The short-story format means it’s less intimidating for kids who may not consider themselves big readers, and all of these stories have great reviews. Despite the boy on the cover, most of the stories in this book feature female protagonists, struggling with everything from family issues to puberty to figuring out school.
This is a great collection of short stories about the trials of adolescence.
Note that while it’s a guy on cover, it’s girls inside.
3) Best Clothing: Cozy Nightclothes or Robe
Girls want to look good, and we also want to be comfortable. A pair of cute pajamas or a bathrobe can be just the right gift for a teen girl needing to feel comfortable in her body. It’ll give her something cute and cozy to wear while studying, kicking back on a Saturday morning, or at sleepover parties. Get something with a soft or slinky fabric that feels extra good on her skin. It’s important for teen girls just starting to get awkward about their bodies to learn how to pamper themselves a little.
4) Best Video Game: Just Dance
This is hands down the best music and dance video game. If the teen in your life already owns the game, the accessories can also be a good gift idea for any music loving teenager. And after all, what teenager doesn’t love music? This game is a perfect gift because it’s popular and trendy while also encouraging exercise. It’s a great activity that’s fun to play with friends or individually.
This newest version is even better than the previous ones, with more song and routine options. It’s available on both Xbox and Wii consoles.
5) Best Music Gift: Skullcandy Headphones
Let’s face it. As adults, we’re probably not qualified to give teens music recommendations. In fact, any music we did recommend might become less cool simply because we recommended it. It’s important for teens to explore their music tastes on their own, but we can foster that exploration with a gift like a nice pair of headphones or an iTunes gift card.
These over-the-ear headphones are noise canceling and come in every conceivable color. If a teen really loves music, but the parents don’t want the music all through the house, this is a great solution. These headphones are particularly popular with teens because the different styles are great for kids who want to express their individuality, and the sound quality is excellent, especially for the price. Their most defining feature is the incredible bass, which can be turned up until you feel it in your entire body.
These headphones are $200 cheaper than their predecessor, the Skullcandy Skullcrusher, but their sound quality is even better. By far the best quality headphones you can buy in their price range. More headphone choices for teens!
6) Best Accessory: The Infinity Scarf
When it comes to scarves, you can go for an elegant silk scarf, a cozy wool or cashmere blend, or even a jersey-knit material. The trendiest scarf out there right now, though, is the Infinity Scarf – a scarf that’s basically one circular loop. I have one of these and I love it because it both looks more interesting than a regular scarf and is more practical. Because there aren’t any ends to the scarf, more of the scarf can be used to keep me warm, and I can double it up over my mouth and throat in especially cold weather. It also never falls off or gets caught in anything. Mine is a simple, cable-knit gray that I knit myself, but a teen girl might prefer a scarf with an artistic pattern or design. Make sure to get a color that she loves!
7) Best Crafting Gift: Custom Art Supplies
Art supplies and craft projects are a great way to foster creativity in kids, and there are some excellent options out there even for teenagers. What does your teen girl like to do? If she’s an artist, get her a sketch pad and some paints, pastels, or watercolors. If she’s a writer or scientist, you could get her a customized journal according to her interests. There is also a lot of computer software available in the realm of photography, music editing, and even game design that might spark her creative interests. You could also offer to let her paint and decorate her room, and go to Home Depot together for supplies. Teens love being able to customize their own space, and artistic expression is an excellent way for them to explore their identities as growing adults.
8) Best Jewelry Gift: A Jewelry Tree
Does your girl have too many bracelets, earrings, rings and necklaces to keep track of? Instead of giving her an old fashioned jewelry box, you should give her a jewelry tree, which is a much trendier and more fun way of keeping her jewelry in one place. It’s THE thing these days and will be a great addition to the decor of her room while allowing her to show off her favorite jewelry and keep it all organized.
This is one of the simpler and more elegant jewelry trees. I love this one, but it is a little on the smaller side. If you think you might want a larger one, just remember: more branches = more storage space!
9) Best Experience: Tickets to a Show
Sometimes, the best gift you can give is an experience, whether that’s a nice dinner out, a concert, or even a vacation or day trip. Some of my favorite presents in the past have been season tickets – once to a ski resort and once to one of my favorite museums. For a teen girl, you could offer her two tickets (or four, if you’re feeling extra generous) to an event of her choosing for her and a friend. Maybe she is involved in theater and wants to see a musical or dance performance, maybe she’d like to see an art show, or maybe she’s into sports and wants to go cheer on her favorite team. The best thing about this kind of gift is that teens love feeling independent, and having the opportunity to go to a show with their friends, parent-free, will make them feel very grown-up and cosmopolitan. They’ll appreciate this sign that you see them as adult and able to enjoy and participate in grown-up activities.
10) Teen cookbook
Cooking is a life-skill every adult needs. And NOW – as a teen – it’s time to learn it.
Teens Cook: How to Cook What You Want to Eat
She may be discovering that she likes to cook. Encourage her love of preparing food with a cookbook that is geared to a teenagers palette and provides healthy recipes for her to experiment with. She can cook for herself, for the family or her best friends.
See also my CHEAP gift ideas for teen girls
What do teenage girls want for Christmas?
That just might be a million dollar question when it comes to teenage girls. Now, don’t get me wrong I am not saying that the girls want a million dollar gift, I am just insinuating that it might be difficult to figure out what they want as gifts when we first start to contemplate it.
Teen girls are among the hardest people in the world to shop for – excepting perhaps teen boys… There are teen trends to consider, but they seem to change from one week to the next. There are hormones to consider, fashion, make up, clothes of course… These Gift ideas for teenage girls will help you find your way in the maze.
If your teenage girl has clear hobbies or is a fan of some teen star – your path is pretty clear. However, what if they’re not? Shown here is the Tropical Guava Fruit Scented Pampering Bath & Body Spa Basket for Women & Teen Girls, which is no longer available. A gift basket filled with spa like treatments for her bath time is something she just might really enjoy. This particular basket holds several bath tools for her to use and includes the award winning products by Burt’s Bees which are made from all natural products.
Teen girls themselves suggest the following gift ideas (aka: this is stuff they really do want). If you’re a teen girl: to tell us what you want for Christmas in the comments. Did we nail it or is this a fail?
Teenagers Are In To Arts and CraftsAgain
Today’s teenagers are “in” to crafting! A very hot craft that both boy and girl teens are really excited about are the items that can be made with Duct Tape. Items like bracelets, bags and so many other things that they can have for themselves or make for their friends.
Teens are also crazy about making bracelets from embroidery floss and beads. The bracelets are often called friendship bracelets and the idea is that you make and give the bracelets to your friends. Wearing several of the bracelets on one arm which signifies the number of friends you have is a really cool idea for teens.
Tablets Are A Hot Item For Teen Girls: It is an investment in her future
Choosing to give her a new tablet as a gift for Christmas or even her birthday is going to be expensive but think of it as an investment in her future. Teenagers, both girls and boys alike, are really loving the mobility and functionality of the tablets on the market today.
Let’s face it, they are so much more mobile than the laptops and lighter to carry, too. Your teenage girl does not have to be nerdy or geeky to want one either! She will be able to take it to school with her, do some homework research on it and stay connected on her favorite social media sites.
There is also the added advantage that most of the new tablets out there are pretty awesome cameras. She can take some pretty incredible photos and immediately share them with family and friends using the same device. She does not have to go through the cumbersome steps of downloading them to a PC and then uploading them to the site where she wants them.
If she loves to play games or watch movies the tablet will also allow her the freedom to do that, too. Depending on your budget, an iPad, Samsung Android tablet or Kindle may be a great Christmas gift.
A mom wrote: My 13 year old daughter and her friends would be mortified to get ANYTHING Justin Bieber. Sorry! I have to agree that those are Disney created celebs for “tweeners”. Teens want gift cards (sorry, boring but true) because they like making their own choices, I’ve found. I give them the gift cards attached to little treats like scented hand sanitzers for their back packs or slap bracelets or even a nice Godiva treat or tin of hot cocoa.
Many girls, but not all, will most undoubtedly love anything that is tied to the fashion scene. They want the hottest new trend in jeans, jackets, shoes and other types of clothing and accessories. Choosing the fashion type gifts can be hard, though. Well, at least in some cases it can be. We might think we know that she wants a pair of bright yellow jeans but when we get them for her, she rolls her eyes and says, “Oh that is so last summer! White jeans are in now!”
Not all girls want fashion gifts and some would prefer to pick those out themselves. So, what other options are there for girl gifts when she has reached her teens? I am here to tell you that there are many options. We just have to think about her and what her interests are. Let me give you some ideas.
UGG Australia Womens Classic Short Boot
Does it have the cute factor?
Girls, for the most part, are going to be drawn to the cuteness of the item, especially teen girls. Now, I know, not all want it cute but most do. It does not matter if it is an electronic gadget, a purse or whatever the gift; they like it even better when it is unique and different.
That might mean that it has some “bling” to it or it might mean that there is something that has to do with cute and adorable animals. Cute might be about the color of the gift or it could have the rockabilly style to it that makes it more cool than cute. I think you are seeing where I am going with this. A teenage girl will be a little more concerned with “how” it looks more than what it might be able to do.
So, instead of a plain black or white phone we might consider a purple or pink one because it has the cute factor for a girl.
Vera Bradley Zip ID Case in Paisley Meets Plaid
Basically a wallet for girls. Cute, sturdy and built to last.
Is this what a Teen Girl wants?
Sperry Top-Sider Women’s Angelfish Boat Shoe
A teen user writes: I love these shoes! They are so, so comfy and stylish too!
Sperry Top-Sider Women’s Bahama Boat Shoe
A user writes: These run true to size. They’re comfortable and everywhere I go, some one asks me where did I get them.
Sperry Top-Sider Women’s Hikerfish Ballet Flat
Available in all kinds of patterns: A user writes: Finally! A supercalifragilisticexpialidoscious boot! These are comfortable, wear-able, diverse, and of excellent quality. I can wear them any time, with anything, and all day long. The compliments have been endless. I would highly suggest oiling and treating the leather if you plan to wear them in rain or snow. Also, the linen swatch on the side of the boot adds for wonderful ventilation but may cause leakage in wet weather. Even with that, A+. 🙂
Vera Bradley Lizzy Shoulder / Cross body Bag in Baroque
A user writes: This is a nice size crossbody purse that is a excellent size if your looking for a medium size purse. It’s not to small or too big. The purse is able to fit a cell phone, small wallet, keys & couple small personal items.
SHANY Professional Makeup Kit, 78 Color
The Professional Makeup-Kit Palette has shades for all occasions in one convenient kit. Featuring dozens of pretty neutrals and bold, vibrant shades, the palette also includes white, tan, and black hues to use as shadow or eyeliner. Plus, six pink-to-peach shades are ideal for cheek color or for highlighting parts of your body, like the collarbone and shoulders. The palette includes 60 1/2-inch round eye shadow pans, 12 rectangular eyeliner shades, and 6 1-inch round pans of hues for your cheeks. Long-Lasting Mineral Oil Base Resists Smudging Each eye shadow in this palette is made from a natural mineral oil base that creates a vivid, highly pigmented shade, smooth application with every stroke, and resistance to fading or smudging.
A really great idea for a Teen Girl present is to give her a palette of make-up to use. You can choose to give her one that has shades for her eyes, blush and lipsticks all in one convenient case or you can find a set for just her eyes, her cheeks or her lips. Selecting a set that gives her choices of color to play with will be something that she will be delighted with.
Apples to Apples Party Box – The Game of Hilarious Comparisons (Family Edition)
Apples to Apples has won numerous awards including “Party Game of the Year” by Games magazine and “Mensa Select” by Mensa International. And for good reason: it involves quick thinking, humor, and strategy.For teens, the game teaches them to think about how different things can be compared to one another and how analogies are formed. One of our criticisms is that although the game states that it is designed for ages 12 and older, many of the subjects are clearly for older teens.
SwypeGloves Pink Texting Gloves – ‘Pink Sands of Bermuda’ Touchscreen Gloves (Pink) (Large)
SwypeGloves are awesome. So many colors, so much choice. It’s hard to find touchscreen gloves in colors. Luckily, these come in all kinds of colors. I chose my favorite pink and I’m not disappointed. They are extremely precise and work perfectly.
The following is a list gathered by adults. Are you looking for some ideas for Top Teen girl presents too? I know’ sometimes it is difficult to pick something that a teenage girl will really love or that she will think is cool. It is not always easy to pick clothes for Teen girls because the styles that we as adults might like are just too lame for her tastes.
My advice is to steer clear of clothing and pick presents that fall more into areas that she has an interest in. Does she love to do her nails with her friends? Maybe she likes to create jewelry or she is an avid reader. Perhaps she would be thrilled to have a new bag to carry her tablet device in.
Let me make some suggestions for gifts that a Teen girl will love receiving.
What Is Your Teen Girls Personality?
One of the best things to do before you shop for a present for a teenage girl is to think about what her personality says about the things that she will like. Then look for a gift that fits into her personal style.
Is your girl a:
- Creative Gal: She may love to create jewelry, cook, play or write music, write poetry or use art forms
- It Is All About The Fashion: This girl loves all the latest trends in fashion from clothing, shoes and make-up
- An Academic: Is she all about learning, into science or an avid reader
- Geeky Girl: Does she love all of the nerdy gadgets, games and hi tech stuff
- Athlete: This gal loves sports and participates in at least one or is a sports fan
Finding gifts that fall into these personality types will make any girl that matches one of them a happy girl when she opens that gift from you.
Helping her cope
Being a teenager is tough. Here are two resources that may be of help.
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Friendship Troubles
As teen girls navigate the path of raging hormones, they’re also discovering the difficulties associated with friendship. Teen friendships can last a life time, but they can also be a frustrating web of intrigue. This cool book will help them reflect and deal with the issues in a more healthy way.
Communication – A Father Daughter Game
If your teen girl is at that impossible ‘how can we reach her’ stage, you may want to try this conversation starter game. The questions are all child friendly, and may help you keep the lines of communication open. After all: one of the unspoken truths about a teen girl is that her dad really is VERY important to her. This game can help deepen and clarify that relationship.
Of course even if your teen seems trouble free, this may still be a good gift. Who knows what’s lurking behind the surface? Make sure she knows she can go to her dad with all her issues.
Seventeen (1-year auto-renewal)
As the title suggests: this is a magazine for 17 year old girls. That means sex IS discussed, for obvious reasons. If you want your girl to be informed and know what she’s getting into (the good, the bad and the ugly), she should read this magazine. Other cool topics include: health, fitness, fashion etc.
More teen girl magazines
Happy Birthday Fashion Fun: Tween Girl Birthday Gift Basket
Some pink fun for tween girls – fluffy, pink and fabulous. Includes: Happy Birthday Balloon, Happy Birthday Stuffed Bear with Lollipop Sucker, $5 Movie & Video Rental Card from Blockbuster, Leather Braided Flower Power Bracelet, Leather Braided Necklace, Flower Trim Frill Pen, Party Girl Notebook, Body Jewels, Glamour Girl Glitter Tattoos, Glitter Nail Decals, G-I-D Nail Polish, Flower Power Compact with Eye shadow, Two Tone Lip Gloss in Daisy Flower Design, Hair Accessory Set, Simply Grand Butter Cookies…in a Cool, Hip & Trendy Flower Purse.
Spa gift basket
This great gift basket is meant for slightly older teen girls: it will make them feel quite grown up. Soft towels, scented bath stuffs and of course soap, candles and slippers.
Protection For Her Phone
I would venture to guess that she probably already has a phone of her own. One great idea as a present for a teenage girl would be to get her a really cute or cool case to protect her phone from scratches and outside damage.
There really are so many wonderful options to give as a gift to her, too. She may want trendy and feminine or she may like one with a different look. It will depend on your teen. Does she love cats, dogs, horses or a different kind of animal. There are cases with those.
She may have a favorite color or an artistic design like paisley or polka dots. You guessed it, there are options for that also. One advantage of the wristlet solution (shown here) is that it will fit most phones. A wristlet usually includes room for a bit of cash, creditcard etc.
Additional thoughts on presents for teenage girls
If she loves to read, you an always purchase a book or two in her favorite genre. An even better idea if she has a digital reader is to get her a gift card that she can use to download some of her favorite novels.
A good digital camera is another idea that she may like especially if she is into photography. There are many options available depending on her abilities and you can even find them in a variety of colors that she might like.
If she loves to listen to music consider a set of headphones or the earbuds that could connect to her phone or music player. There are so many cute styles out that she is sure to get a real kick out of while she listens to her favorite tunes without disturbing anyone around her.
You might also get some great ideas by visiting Cool Gifts For Teenagers.
More Top Teenage Gift Ideas
Cheap gift ideas for teen girls – when you’re on a budget
Fun cool funky headphones for teens – Do educate teenagers on safe use of the headphone, because they’re a great way to go deaf.
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I have a niece who is 18 and is genuinely thrilled to receive a Gift Card. On Boxing Day, she and her mother head out to the mall, gift card in hand to snatch up a bargain. Amazon gift cards are pretty amazing, too, especially for someone who avoids the shopping mall.
In our family culture giving a gift card is tantamount to not trying – a gift should be an attempt at finding something someone likes, not merely money. But tastes differ I’m sure. A Gift Card is of course a LOT better than a poorly chosen gift… and shopping for teens really is difficult.