My kids are 10/12 now (tbh it’s hard to shop for – they still like stuff and still think they need a laptop??). Some silly things have caught their attention (like Simpson’s prank phone and the Magic 8 Ball). And others with whom they have played for 6-8 years, like sculpture straw kit And fuse beads. This is difficult!! This year, I also included a real 16-year-old teen who sent me What Teenage Girls Want, which was very helpful. And then at the bottom, I have my favorite gifts for toddlers/babies (based on my experience).
Our Favorite Art Supplies (Ages 6-Teens)
Hey soil!:It’s simply the best air-drying clay, with the best colors and the most inspiring guides, so kids make the cutest creatures I’ve ever seen – check them all out on the bulletin board in the art barn!!! So stinkin cute! It is not sticky/sticky and dries fast. Absolutely excellent (and variety of topics).
art set: Elliot loves this 91-piece art set (from last year and it was a big hit).
posca marker: These are Elliot’s favorite paint markers (better for older kids). Expensive and not for kids, but really nice colors, and she loves the way it rolls.
Artpop! watercolor pencils: Her favorite, even though she uses them as normal colored pencils. She says the colors, how they draw, and the tubes they come in make them her favorite.
For her birthday this year, I bought her this led art screenAnd he (and his friends) are having a lot of fun with it.
magnetic dartboard: I am so excited about this magnetic dartboard for Charlie’s room. I tested it and it’s great – sticks firmly and rolls off easily should you not want to put it on your walls. We’re always looking for indoor winter activities for him and his friends (that aren’t just video games).
pac-man counterattack: They need to make more counterpoints like this – it was their big gift last year, and it’s very sweet.
record breaker: In our effort to encourage an analog life in them, they play records when their friends are over, and it’s wonderful. The record collection of both is increasing.
electronic indoor enclosure: Well, we shot this hoop on a glass door outside for this gift guide (don’t use a glass door), and it’s amazing – keeps score and makes it interactive even when you’re alone. Warning – lots of bells, so maybe don’t place next to a kid’s room 🙂
Elliot’s three favorite things:
Charlie’s favorite ‘non-video game’ game
Charlie and I like to play chess together, and he even saved his allowance to buy This great chess boardMostly because…
It’s magnetic!! This is great. Sometimes we start a game on the kitchen island before school in the morning, and if we don’t finish before she leaves for the bus, I can easily move it to another table if I need to clean up or shoot there. It also folds up and stores all the pieces, making it easy to take on car trips.
The Simpsons Prank Phone Is a real hit. It’s sitting on Charlie’s desk, and his friends think it’s hilarious.
both kids loved These mini ATM machines (Electronic piggy bank) for a solid 5 years. It’s an ugly piece of plastic, but I think the fact that it’s secret and they control the code helps.
Two non-tech (but still fun “tech”??) gifts
tin box:I bought each kid the first wifi “landline” for Christmas that they don’t know about, and I’m so excited. It’s designed for parents like us who are waiting for a smartphone but want our kids to communicate freely with their friends (or relatives). You control who can call in and out (no spam, no impersonators).
nex playground: This means a group TV-enabled active game where the camera tracks your body as you run, jump, fight, etc. Through thousands of games to choose from. It is mostly meant as an alternative to video games for our kids and their friends during the rainy months. This is our family’s big gift this year, so we’re not trying it out until Christmas – if anyone has it and can review it in the comments, please let us know!!
It’s dark in the PNW, so the goal is to get them out somehow on the dryer days for the next few months. night vision goggles – A 12 year old boy’s dream. Don’t forget the walkie-talkie too.
i’m so excited about it glow in the dark basketball And These flying light-scattering frisbees Which has really good reviews.
fun things for their rooms
Our kids have reached the age of posters and weird collectibles (which is cute). These were a hit with our kids: cordless graphic lamp (Both children answered this when I showed them), neon smiley face light (in Charlie’s room, and it’s unplugged but looks nice), cinema light box – Eliot coined the term “messy beautiful life” which I love. don’t forget led light strips (It integrates with Alexa/Google) and extremely soft faux fur blanket (Our kids typically sleep on top of their sheets wrapped in each of these.
Molkki Yard Game: We always play this Scandinavian wooden peg game on camping trips with other families, so I’m buying it for us this year (we call it Skittle Skittle, but not sure if that’s just our nickname).
Rummikub:It’s fun for the four of us – we play it a lot on trips.
Interactive Splurge Classics
yoto mini: When the first YOTO storytelling device came out, our kids were little and they loved it, but it wasn’t that fast. Since then, it’s kept getting better, and people with young children swear by it.
toybox 3d printer: It’s been 5 years since we used this 3D printer, and our kids don’t play with it as much as they used to, but it’s still great. One of the parents needs to be a little tech savvy (this is handled by iPad etc.).
These plug-in disco ball lightbulbs Are a big hit and at $16 for two people, very good value.
nail Files: I think the biggest hit will be these kitten-sized nail files I’m throwing in their stockings – when you file your nails you scratch their tummies!!!
Kindle Paperwhite: Both of our kids read from Kindles – we started on long trips, and they just stuck there. Eliot still likes real books sometimes (dork diaries Right now), but Charlie reads on his Kindle every night – wings of fire,
charlie’s favorite clothes
It’s all cold, uproarand don’t forget your silver chains (Yes, for boys). I’m enjoying this stage of trying on identities and still mostly wanting to fit in. Tweens are the best. Oh and that vans hoodie Glows in the dark 🙂 Don’t forget to show your socks (preferably). with one fell swoop,
magic kit: We’ve purchased several magic kits over the years—this little kit from Justin Willman (one of the best magicians out there) is really cool, clever, and solid.
Great Teen Gift (Received From An Authentic “Teenager” Lol)
I needed help on this, so Marlee’s 16-year-old sister was one of our focus groups on what teen girls want right now. He’s given lots of great advice for those of you who don’t want to be exposed 🙂
manicure system at home:If you or a loved one likes to cut nails at home this is a great set!
Benetint Lip + Cheek Stain: An amazing, easy blush + lip stain that Marley has been using since middle school (and now her sister loves it!).
The “It” Water Bottle, Hoodie, and Sweatpants
stanley water bottle: “It’s Ovala for kids, and Stanley for teenagers” – Marley’s sister
softest hoodie:Teens are really into their loungewear these days – this hoodie is a teen favorite among both boys and girls. Super soft.
garage sweat:Marley’s 16-year-old sister’s favorite sweats that she and all her friends match:)
Sol de Janeiro Sampler:This perfume brand is all over TikTok – their beachy scents smell great.
Touchland Hand Sanitizer:The hand sanitizer that everyone at school wants to drink!
Summer Friday Balm: One of the most popular lip glosses among teens at the moment.
Best smelling dry shampoo:This is one of our favorite dry shampoos, and this set comes with a large man and small travel size. Its fragrance is amazing.
room spray: The most delicious-smelling room spray from a brand that’s wildly popular on TikTok.
Starface Pimple Patch: God, we wish we had these in high school. Teens wear these nonstop – they’re so fun and cute and make breakouts more bearable 🙂
My efforts for babies/toddler children
wooden busy board: When our kids were little they were obsessed with these.
wild baby stuffed elephant:This stuff is great because you can microwave it and it stays hot for a long time. But you can also keep it in the freezer. Very comfortable!
baby busy box toy: Any child or infant will spend hours trying to “understand” this. My kids were obsessed.
Wow water! pad:Best restaurant activity ever. A reusable colored pad with a water “pen” that is easy to refill and store in the front.
construction plate set: Charlie loved this when he was a baby and it made mealtimes more enjoyable for everyone.
STEM Bristle Block:Old school and still a lot of fun. Bristle blocks tickle their creative + engineering brains together.
favorite toys when they were little
soft wood block: We bought these blocks when Charlie was 1 year old, and he played with them consistently for years. Year. They’re foam (but look like wood).
magnetic tiles:Go for a bigger list! Of course both of our kids loved Legos (a lot), but these are more fun, less messy, and weirdly rewarding to play with.
wooden grocery checkout stand:Our kids played with that store (and all the wooden groceries) for years (it beeps when you scan the food).
play kitchen: I love that this play kitchen is under $100 and is so cute. Oh, the fake chicken nuggets they fed us…
pretend to be clean Makes them ready to go for work by 5-6 (haha, yeah right). And if you don’t have a doctor’s exam By a 3-year-old, I highly recommend this – her sense of empowerment while wearing a stethoscope to listen to your heart is so sweet I could cry.
When our kids were 8 and 10, they got us gab watchesWhich failed very often in our neighborhood, so I upgraded them apple watches (which still get stuck in dead zones).
we both have children ipad (with lots of parental controls) that can store movies for long flights, and Elliot especially loves using its stylus pen for drawing or creating on Canva.
Yes like that! All of these are actually kid-approved (except the ones we’re giving them this year), but regardless, this is a no-fail list, and I hope it’s helpful. Oh, and our new gift guide has lots of ideas at the shop (especially for teen boys)! xx
*by photos Caitlin Green
