Presents for young teenagers

[shivvy]

I need to buy xmas gifts for a few young teenagers (11-15 year olds), male and female but need help with gift ideas.
All suggestions welcome!
Thanks.

[Naomicorlett]

Also try shinyshack you can put your price range in and age and they will suggest a range of gifts. i used them last week and was mighty impressed.
http://www.shinyshack.com/

[flicrat]

For the boys. Playing cards? maybe those puzzles like giant paperclips woven into each other? Jigsaw puzzles in cubes or odd shapes? Do for either sex if content appropriate? Pens from local footie/cricket/rugger club? Diaries for boys that look functonal and have facts of some sort in.

[lucca]

How about calendars of their football team/favourite band etc? Last year (poss also this year but I haven't checked) HMV had a discount if you bought 2. Give the lads a Girls Aloud and....!

[bushbaby_de]

posh make up or toiletries would have impressed me no end as an 11-15 year old girl

[karenmac60]

I'm sorry to be a wet blanket, but a lot of these ideas sound like the type of things everyone always gets from older relatives, politely thank them for it then stick it in the back of a cupboard never to look at again. The make up and smelly stuff are always good stand- bys but not if the bathroom stuff is lily of the valley or something. Manga books are very popular just now with boys and girls, I know you don't want to go down the vouchers route, but itunes vouchers always go down well as they allow you to download individual tracks rather than buy a whole album - which tends to be what teenagers do these days. There's also a whole lot of things you could get the girls somewhere like claire's accessories - they do jewellery, hair accessories, scarves, hats etc - all pretty cheaply and more up to date than department stores or whatever. It also depends on individual interests - if they like a particular sport or past-time then something appropriate to it. e.g. if the boys like skateboarding, Argos do a great wee set of protective pads and wrist supports for under a tenner. Good luck!

[karenmac60]

Also, check out a website called findmeagift.com - it has a children's section with quirky gifts such as an underwater disco ball to put in the bath. Oh, and if you go for Manga books - check the content, some can be a bit on the raunchy side but there are lots more for younger teenage readers.

[bednobs]

my nephews in that age range are utdoorsy types so i usually buy them something like a wind-up torch or radio, or hiking gloves etc - boots do some great stuff for boys in their 3 for 2 offers

[shivvy]

Great ideas - thanks so much - lots of inspiration.

[Chasingcars]

Must admit, i love Firebox.com and iwantoneofthose.com and use these both every year and shop for all ages and always come up with original gits and everyone always loves them. For the boys, not very healthy but a jar of old retro sweets is fun. Also, if they have a fav film, use website lastexittonowhere.com as some fun and origonal tops with film slogans .

[shivvy]

Great - thanks.

[Denisec4502]

Good answer Karenmac. My 13 year always appreciates Itunes vouchers to download music onto Ipods, MP3's etc.. She would never use a diary I am afraid, everything goes onto their mobile phones these days! Sign of the times eh...

[annie0000]

I agree - young guys like Lynx and I got these for some of the young girls in my family:

http://www.eyeslipsfa...product~prodID~91.htm

add in some chocs or a pair of funky socks or those nice slipper socks you get
something like these:
http://www.newlook.co...2/ProductDetails.aspx


or these purses looked quite cool.

http://www.play.com/H...pa%7d%2bc%7b170%7d%2b
and these books tend to go down well with boys:

http://www.whsmith.co...l+symons&cat=%5cBooks

or the new guinness book of records

hair gel or designer undies.

Much like us all, it depends on the teenagers - some like being smart and smelling nice to attract the opposit sex, others are smelly and like to play dungeons and dragons with their smelly friends - if you know them well enough that will help with your choice otherwise, it can be a shot in the dark.

[AB Editor]

I know it seems tacky, but my kids are most thrilled when they get good old-fashioned cash. Money in the hand. It seems sort of lazy (no shopping involved) but it always fits and never has to be returned.

Good luck with whatever you go with!

EveEd

[dothawkes31]

Twilight, new moon, eclipse, robert pattison in that order

[albaqwerty]

probably already been suggested but how about Knex for the boy(s)

[Panic Button]

Sainsbugs (other retailers are available) have a range of National Geographic gifts for Chrimbo, and I have bought my daughter a telescope on a tripod for £10 (or was it £15?) She is fascinated by the Solar System.

Actually it was in a 3 for 2 offer, cheapest item free.

[ummmm]

We've got it. It does my head in. I keep thinking my son is talking to me...

[yogi-bear]

It's a great game, No-know.....................and dads like it too :0)

I will have a go once eldest has gone to bed, i think.

( And you can get online now on PS3, as all sorts of problems yesterday, but you still cant invite your friends to play yet........fix soon no doubt )

[dothawkes31]

LOL I drove to asdas at midnight on Tuesday to get that for my youngest and then he bleedin posts on facebook last night that he's completed it grrrr same with the Fifa2010! it's ridiculous!