Choosing the Perfect Gift for a Teenager
- Written by Diana Smith
Buying a gift for someone is oftentimes more difficult than we can even imagine, and when it comes to teenagers – it is even harder. They are in the phase of rediscovery, and they keep reinventing themselves, so it’s pretty much a guarantee that, since the last time you saw them (no matter how recent it may have been), they have found a new style, new interests and everything that you once thought they would like is now “sooo out of style”. So, how do you buy the right thing for them? Here is a list that should help you out:
Gift them experiences
Things come and go, and even if they would (at that moment) love that shirt you picked out for them, they will grow out of it, it will go out of style, and it will eventually be forgotten. But, if you give them an experience, rather than an object, they are sure to treasure it and remember it for a long time. Check out their Facebook, or ask their parents and find out what they are into at the moment. It might be a band, a sports team or a specific event that they want to attend. Then look up if an appropriate event will be held in the near future and get them a ticket. It doesn’t have to be anything big! Even tickets to a new movie coming out can be a great present. If you choose to go this route, you might want to get them two tickets, to make sure they don’t have to go alone – or miss out altogether, because none of their friends has a ticket.
Don’t choose for them
Sometimes, teenagers don’t like it when other people choose something for them. Whether it’s a pair of jeans, a new book or an instrument, they like to have full control over their things. If you want to allow them to choose their own present, you can go about it in two ways. The first one, of course is to give them cash. You can put it in a pretty envelope with a note and they are sure to be grateful and spend it on something they need or want. But, if you want to be more elegant, get them a gift card for a specific store. This way, you can steer them in the direction you want them to take, by giving them a coupon for a clothing chain, or a bookstore. That way, they’ll still be able to choose their own gift, but their choice will be limited.
Skills for life
One of the best gifts you can give someone is skills or knowledge. And that doesn’t mean sitting with them and teaching them something, but rather giving them the opportunity to learn. Ask them what language they would like to learn, and pay for a course or a couple of months’ worth of classes for them. If they are of the appropriate age, find a good affordable driving school and they will love you forever. Alternatively, let them experience something completely new, by enrolling them in dance classes or a programming course, or giving them a library card. If they are young, make sure you talk to their parents and ask them if it’s okay to gift them such things, but as long as they are useful, they probably won’t have any problems with it.
Getting the perfect gift is not easy, but by steering away from traditional, material things, and thinking towards things that are truly valuable, you will surprise them and enrich them more than with any piece of jewelry.
