It’s so bizarre to think that we’ve had a teen boy in the house for over 2 years now, and another tween boy! We’ve gone through a lot of different gifts over the years between birthdays, Christmas, friend gifts, and … Read More
When we moved to London a couple years ago, we started flying more super budget airlines, including during winter. But since we didn’t want to pay for luggage, that meant we had to figure out a way to pack super … Read More
Like many of you, we try to focus on experiences over things, but there are certain items that have helped make those experiences easier and more fun over the years. These are things that are useful, durable, and stand the … Read More
I love finding little ways to make family travel smoother and more fun, and travel games are one of my favorite tools for doing that. They’re a great chance to add something simple and engaging that keeps everyone entertained while … Read More
We loved celebrating our newly minted teenager yesterday! My mind is still spinning a bit that we now have TWO teens at home. How in the world did this happen? K is pretty easy to please and has simple interests, … Read More
We loved celebrating our new 8 year old yesterday! I started my account and blog a year or so after he was born since we were using the paternity leave Dan received (a first for us!) to visit Europe and … Read More
There’s almost nothing I loathe more than realizing a kid has a birthday party to attend that afternoon and being stressed to run around to a shop while trying to manage a busy day. Years ago, I decided to purchase … Read More
Another year, another reminder to please try to be thoughtful in your purchases and not just buy because things are on sale! Like many of you, we try to focus on experiences over things, but there are certain items that … Read More
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Paris with kids, without, and in every season. Every visit to Paris is magic AND there was something extra special about having a spring girls’ trip to Paris. If you’re looking for a more … Read More
I remember the first few trips traveling with kids and wondering how anyone possibly manages all the kids and all the needs and all the STUFF. There’s a lot, lol. But everyone’s right that it really does get easier with … Read More
We have a family tradition of birthday trips at certain ages. You can read more about this tradition here. Recently I took K to Athens for her 12th birthday. And this year, I got to take T to Japan! Japan … Read More
These are our favorite, tried-and-true travel gear and home life items that have stood the test of time. With 8 people in our home or when we travel, we try to only purchase items that are really worth their cost … Read More
It’s so bizarre to think that we’ve had a teen boy in the house for over 2 years now, and another tween boy! We’ve gone through a lot of different gifts over the years between birthdays, Christmas, friend gifts, and more, and these are some of the best things that we’ve personally purchased and loved & that have stood the test of time.
I hope this teen boy gift guide gives you some ideas for some useful, fun, unique teen boy gifts!
We’ve had a number of these over the years and it’s the best. Always popular, always fun for play.
Has absolutely stood the test of time. So fun.
I’ve given this mini frisbee to multiple of my kids and multiple friends and it is always wildly popular. So fun because it’s tiny enough to fit in a pocket to always have on hand, but still flies well and is really fun to use. Perfect for a stocking.
This classic beanie is popular amongst the teen set and comes in lots of colors. Affordable and useful! This is another really great one that’s only $6!
I first discovered these nearly a decade ago and I still think they’re just as fun.
This book is filled with fun puzzles from easy to difficult so it’s great for a variety of levels. My 7 year old had fun with it and so did my 13 year old friends!
I’ve gifted multiple of these over the years because they’re always a hit. A little bit fun and a little bit useful and great for a kiddo who likes to tinker a bit.
These are great to take on the go so they don’t get destroyed by the pool, beach, or a spilled drink on the plane.
This is a great little tool for an older teen who is just starting to drive. Good thing to keep on a keychain or in the car.
We’ve done lots of brand name (expensive) wool socks, but these are honestly terrific – there’s a reason they have 30K+ amazing reviews.
This tiny little fidget game is going in my oldest’s stocking this year. So fun!
If you have a teen who is into their sneakers, this is a perfect little gift to keep them looking great.
If you have a kid who loves to read, there’s a reason this book light has nearly 140 THOUSAND phenomenal reviews.
I can’t believe how inexpensive these are and how small they get! Super convenient for travel or when spending time outdoors.
If your kiddo enjoys weight lifting, these wrist straps have been great to help stay safe. If you want to do a bigger gift, you could couple them with a set of dumbbells.
There are SO many terrific book suggestions, but here are a few in particular that my teen, especially my teen son, has really loved:
These light up balls have been such a hit with my oldest and all his friends. The American football is popular to throw around a park, but the basketball and soccer ball are also super fun.
This has been the favorite game in our family for everyone ages 10+ for years now. It’s one of our go-to teen friend birthday gifts and every single time I’ve gotten a message from the parent after saying how their whole family has fallen in love with it. Also available HERE. I also really like to give Splendor Duel as a gift for kids in smaller families (you can play the regular version with only 2 people, but I think Duel is a bit more fun with only 2).
This is one of those toys that’s lasted through years and different ages – so fun to set up and play.
I’m honestly blown away by how much use this has gotten on an absolute daily basis. Not only does my teen son use it all the time, but so does literally every single sibling and every single friend who comes over – it’s like a magnet.
We’ve done a fair number of escape room games and this is a really fun one for older kids to play. Perfect to do with friends!
We’ve had this for about 5 years and it is probably the #1 thing kids of all ages gravitate to when they come over. My 15yo and his friends play on it, my 10yo and his friends, my 8yo and his friends. So fun!
Maybe not the most fun gift to receive, but truly so needed and special to go through together.
Maybe a bit more niche but super fun for a Home Alone fan. This Home Alone battle plan t-shirt is also a great choice.
These are so fun – works as a pen but a neat little thing to build little tiny sculptures. Great for a kid who likes something to do with their hands while listening.
Perfect for taking to friends’ houses!
This is so fun for a kid who loves to use their hands. It feels quite grown up (I gifted it to Dan a couple years ago) and has a lovely leather case and would be great for an older kiddo.
If you have a teen who’s into music or audiobooks, these earbuds are good quality and CHEAP. I recently lost another pair and grabbed these and have been so impressed!
Always a winner and so fun for everyday play and for having friends over.
Speaking of getting teens outside moving and playing, this light up capture the flag has been so fun, especially on winter nights when it gets dark at approximately 2pm.
N got this 3D pen as a sibling gift a couple years ago and it’s such a fun thing for a teen who likes to tinker and create.
Personal hygiene items aren’t the most exciting but this is a great razor that Dan has loved.
Teens tend to like decorating their spaces in ways that reflect their personality, so a fun framed poster is perfect. N loves Paris, so I’m doing a Metro map poster for him this year!
If you have a kid who loves exploring in the outdoors, a hammock to take camping (or to hang in the backyard) is a great option.
If you want a super functional gift for a kid who travels, grab a set of packing cubes in their favorite color. These expandable ones are my favorites!
If your kiddo is interested in a sport, a bag to hold all their stuff is a great option. We love this tennis bag!
Goodr sunglasses have classic shapes, hold up well, have a great fit, and are super affordable. Perfect for a teen.
A skateboard is always a fun choice for kids who love to move around and especially if they can use it as a form of transport!
We had this in our backyard in California and it was so fun! Got played on and used constantly by kids of all ages.
If you have a teen who loves the outdoors, ALL of my boys love these pants. The men’s version is also great for older teens.
We’ve had a couple of these little speakers for years and they’ve held up so well and have phenomenal sound quality. Great for a kid who likes to listen to music, audiobooks, etc.
The description of half foosball, half air hockey is pretty accurate but doesn’t come close to describing how fun this is. The best part is that it’s so appealing to a huge variety of ages – it tends to be the first thing to get pulled out with my kids and their friends from ages 7 to 15, and is great for adults, too.
If your teen is into pictures, this is such a fun gift that easily prints photos directly from a smartphone.
This one is so fun – my 15 year old often pulls it out when friends come over. And it’s nice because not that many people have it so it’s a fun incentive to come hang at our house! Here’s another more expensive option that also has great reviews for it.
These travel blankets are soooo cool – they pack down super tiny, are insulated so they’re really warm, and they SNAP so they actually stay on when you fall asleep on the plane. Great for a kid who travels. (Discount Code: PASSPORT)
Last year, we gave each of our kids tickets to a show to attend with just Dan and me. It was so special and fun! I loved getting to choose a show that was unique to their interests. We saw Dear England with N and while it wouldn’t have been great for our other kids, it was terrific with him. This could be any sort of performance – a show, concert, etc!
This is Dan’s absolute favorite and N has borrowed it a number of times, too. It’s so soft and cozy but and looks casual but not too slouchy. The best.
Merino wool is such a great staple for layering or wearing on its own and it’s so comfortable. We love using merino wool base layers or just as shirts, especially when traveling because they can be reworn several times without washing. A great investment piece. These are some of our favorite base layers (TOP and BOTTOM), and this short-sleeved version is also great for warmer weather.
Turns out big kids are still kids and if they liked LEGO when they were tiny, they’ll likely still love this 2300+ piece set when they’re older. N got totally sucked in and built it in a few hours and it was so sweet seeing him play like a kid again.
If you have a teen who likes to cycle, this is a great choice. As they develop more independence, this helps me feel a little safer with them cycling when it’s dark outside (especially in winter when it gets dark so early!). My oldest owns this helmet and it’s worked great for him. You could pair it with this bike repair kit for a really terrific and useful gift.
This is a more intense version of the tabletop air hockey with foosball, air hockey, ping pong, and pool. Really fun for hosting friends but doesn’t take tons of room.
Teen boys are not usually known for their extreme tidiness, but our favorite zipper bedding has made bed making so much easier and much more likely to happen! Lots of great patterns and solid colors.
If your kiddo is interested in weight lifting, these adjustable dumbbells are a great investment. Pair them with some weight lifting straps!
And here are the lists of gifts we’ve ACTUALLY given over the years!
