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The 52 Best Gifts for Teens and Tweens of 2024

From bracelet making kits to 3D printing pens, we found the best gifts for the teen or tween in your life.

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Beats Solo3 Headphones
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Real Simple / David Hattan

You want to get the perfect gifts for the teens and tweens in your life—but where to start? Their interests are far-reaching, and it can be hard to keep up with the latest and greatest trends in everything from toys and games to tech devices to beauty products

"Look for a gift that they can customize or personalize," says Dina Sweeney, the chief merchandising officer at Kidpik. “Teens and tweens are learning to be independent and allowing them to have a say, even if it's a gift, will be appreciated.”

We researched the best gifts for teens and tweens, scouring the internet and social media for the scoop on the hot-button items they love to receive. We also consulted lifestyle expert Chantelle Hartman Malarkey for her insight. From subscription boxes to tech and music devices to craft sets that let their imaginations run wild, here are some of the best gift ideas to inspire your shopping.

Sure, they already take plenty of photos with their smartphone. But for teens and tweens who are curious about improving their photography skills, this instant camera is sure to delight. Each snap produces a physical print photo they can watch develop right before their eyes. It’s great for making photo collages or hanging individual photos—pair this with a string of Dopheuor Photo Clip String Lights for a great gift. The camera comes in five colors and a stock of 20 film exposures.

Give them a necklace as unique as they are. This handmade rainbow necklace features their name shining in the centerpiece of colorful beads. You can choose from sterling silver, premium silver, 18-karat gold plating, or 18-karat gold vermeil for the nameplate.

Transform their room into a starry wonder with this galaxy projector from Rosetta, which casts a beautiful swirling night sky-inspired display onto their ceiling and walls. The projector also boasts a Bluetooth speaker, white noise sound machine, remote control, and timer function. Plus, you can toggle between 33 different effects, each with vibrant colors and twinkling stars. 

If anything will convince them to get out of bed in the morning, it’s this wearable blanket hoodie from Bedsure. The plush oversized fit feels just as cozy as being curled in bed, while the fleece lining, large pockets, and long sleeves make it functional for lounging around the house. With 22 colors and playful prints to choose from, any teen or tween will enjoy snuggling up in this hoodie.

Journaling is the key to unlocking creativity and imagination, not to mention providing a safe space to record thoughts and dreams. This journal set contains a 70-page notebook and over 35 stationary supplies for them to make it their own, including stickers, frames, bookmarks, glitter tape, and a ballpoint pen. All they have to do is add their thoughts and memories for a one-of-a-kind book.

Sometimes your teen needs a break from headphones and earpods. This portable Sony speaker connects via Bluetooth or a USB cord so they can turn up the volume on tunes, videos, TV, and movies they’re watching. It also offers hands-free calling. The robust battery has 16 hours of juice, and you can choose from eight colors, including black, powder blue, and coral pink.

Whether just getting started with makeup or contouring like a pro, a monthly cosmetic subscription will keep their creative juices flowing. Each monthly Glam Bag from Ipsy features a fun bag filled with five mini products (total value up to $70).

Their imagination will come to life with this easy-to-use 3D pen. All they need is a sheet of wax paper to start drawing—touch the tip down and a colorful plastic filament will flow from the anti-clogging ceramic tip, building any design they can think of. It comes with a stencil guide and 30 feet of filament to get them started.

Encourage their love of reading with a monthly book subscription box from OwlCrate. Choose a monthly, three-month, or six-month plan for OwlCrate (young adult) and OwlCrate Jr. (middle school). Each month, they receive a themed box that includes a brand-new book signed by the author, a collectible pin, and other book swag to inspire their enjoyment of the reading.

This bulb might look vintage, but it’s filled with hundreds of colorful mini LED lights. Unlike other bulbs, this one doesn’t get hot, so you can display it anywhere whenever you want a cheery glow of light. It takes 90 minutes to charge, and the rainbow light lasts an impressive five hours. (Note: This bulb is not meant for lamps or lighting fixtures.)

This app-enhanced version of the classic cube lets dedicated puzzlers work to improve their speed and skill to compete against others worldwide—and help those who might need a little more help learn how to solve the puzzle.

What better way to bring a bookshelf to life than with this whimsical DIY kit? You can choose from five scenes to suit your teen or tween’s reading preferences—each offers an intricately detailed tableau with mini-LEDs for subtle illumination. 

Glossier is a Gen Z-approved makeup and skincare brand, and the Balm Dotcom Trio is sure to be a hit. It contains three shades of lip balm that they can toss in their backpack for nourished, sweet-smelling lips: Craft your trio by selecting three flavors from their range of 12, with everything from coconut to wild fig on offer.

Eliminate the excuse of, “But my phone died!” thanks to this genius little battery pack that fits in their pocket or bag. Unlike unwieldy wires and bulky battery backs, this is about the size of lipstick. When their phone is on its last juice, all they have to do is plug in for a full charge. Choose from white, pink, blue, black, green, or red.

Do you know a teen or tween reader who can’t get enough comics? Then look no further than the Comic Crate. Choose a rating: All-Ages, Teen, or Teen+, and the comic-loving folks at Comic Crate will curate an age-appropriate comic stash they will love. Subscriptions start at $27 a month for a six-comic crate—some of which gets delivered weekly so that your teen or tween reader won’t have to wait to dive into reading.

Your teen or tween can create their very at-home salon with the help of this manicure kit from Olive & June. And because every teen has unique tastes, this kit is fully customizable—you can choose a singular polish, six polishes, or opt for their collection of winter shades. Once you pick your bundle you can tailor it even more with two finish types and 36 colors. 

Experimenting with different hair colors can be fun—especially when it washes right out. This DIY hair chalk set consists of 10 hair vibrant chalk pens they can add to their strands. The best part? It all comes out in the next hair wash.

Some love playing video games. Some want to create those engaging games. Give the latter group a head start with this clever set that allows them to create and play 8-bit arcade games. This game set will introduce your teen or tween to JavaScript and Python—the building blocks of game coding—to build games and download retro ones to play. This nifty gadget is also a smartwatch with various functions, including a pedometer.

Lush's eco-friendly bath line has been a teen and tween favorite for years—and this charming gift loaded with relaxing bath bombs, soaps, and goodies is sure to help them find their zen amidst their crazy schedules.

This huggable weighted pillow offers a stress-free sensory experience when you hold or hug it. Made from 100 percent organic cotton with organic rubber foam for the fill, it’s super soft and cozy for daily lounging. They can lean against it as they read or watch TV, or hold it and take a few minutes to be present. This pillow comes in two sizes, medium and large, and has five colors: asteroid gray, cloud white, evening rose, midnight blue, and moonstone gray.

White string lights add instant pizzazz to any decor. But when you combine them with photo clips, they can create an illuminated gallery of images featuring friends, family, and anything else they feel inspired to document. These lights come in warm white or yellow bulbs for a gentle, relaxing glow.

Whether they want to rock out or need some quiet time in their own little world, nothing beats Beats. These over-ear headphones provide crystal clear sound for listening to tunes, playing games, or streaming videos. The ear cups are super comfy, and with 40 hours of battery life between charges, they can listen for longer. Choose from black, red, or rose gold.

Help your teen achieve a simple, easy-to-use skincare routine starting with this makeup eraser because healthy skin starts with proper makeup removal. The Original MakeUp Eraser makes it super easy to wipe off even the boldest lipstick and eyeliner with only water. This set has seven mini erasers—one for every day of the week—with a gentle exfoliator on one side and “eraser” fabric on the other.

Those colorful neon signs with catchy sayings make for fun decor, but it's even more fun when they get to create their own. This kit has all the supplies your teen or tween needs to create two custom neon signs from electroluminescent wire. They can create a sign with one of the five templates included or create a unique design with their imagination. When it's finished, they can hang it on the wall or display it on a wooden stand (included)—and yes, these do turn on for an electrifying effect!

This cushioned lap desk makes it easy for them to do homework, crafts, coloring, manicures, or have a snack from whichever seat they want. The top is made from sturdy plastic and is wide enough to hold a laptop, while the cushion is constructed of microbeads to keep it steady and comfortable on your lap. Choose from over a dozen cushion designs, all with a handle on top for easy toting.

Teens and tweens crave cozy spots to sit as they read, watch TV, or play video games, and this beanbag chair fits the bill. This comfortable chair is made from soft, double-stitched microfiber/microsuede for durability, adding fun and functionality to any room. It comes in over a dozen colors, including bright hues like tangerine, magenta, and cinnabar and muted neutrals like camel, charcoal, and chocolate.

Get a bird’s eye view of the world with this beginner-friendly drone. Just because it’s easy to use doesn’t mean it can’t do tricks—they will love doing flips and rolls in the air and landing with just the touch of a button.

Crocheting is as creative as it is relaxing. Whether your favorite teen is just getting started with yarn or already knows their way with a crochet hook, Wobbles offers fun kits with everything they need to create animal friends and other creatures out of colorful yarn. It’s easy to get started with the online tutorials—there are even separate ones for right-handed and left-handed crocheters, too.

Upgrade your teen's or tween's next slumber party with this adorable set of hydrating face masks with nourishing ingredients to suit different skin types. The kit includes three masks; Cake My Day, which replenishes with deep moisture; Berry Groovy, for diminishing dullness; and Matcha Mood, a calming mask packed with antioxidants. Plus, we love the plush pink tiara headband that adds playful charm to their skincare routine. 

This essential oil diffuser-meets-nightlight can transform any space into a relaxing haven, and your teen or tween's room is no exception. They can add pure essential oils to the diffuser for a calming scent—no candles or open flame needed. Add this essential oil set to your gift for a complete aromatherapy bundle. 

Keep them safe and encourage them to adventure and explore at the same time with this helmet. It's on-trend enough that they'll actually wear it while biking or skating, it has MIPS technology for added protection against concussions, and a magnetic taillight offers better visibility—they'll love wearing it, and you'll love the peace of mind it comes with. If you have a younger kid, check out the Thousand Jr. Kids Helmet, which is for ages 5-11.

This lightweight hover ball takes catch to a whole new level. Charge it and let it go—throw it downward to pass it to another person, or launch it high and arch back to you like a boomerang. They can use it safely indoors but may want to take it outside and experiment with different tosses to see what this flying orb can do. Choose from one of five colors: black, pink, red, gold, or blue.

Remind them that they are kind, smart, brave, strong, unique, enough, and loved every day with this personalized affirmation sign. A glance at this gift will instill confidence and give them a boost before any big day.

Whether posting a video to TikTok, kicking back in bed, or on the couch watching videos, hands-free is the way to be with their phone. The sturdy base keeps their phone secure while the long, stretchy neck lets them adjust for the perfect angle and height.

Support their self-care practice with this skincare trio for fresh, young faces. The Gryt Kit features the Face Courage Cleanser, the Balancing Act Daily Moisturizer, and the So Chill Stress-Less Super Serum. This easy yet effective two-step system (use the moisturizer in the morning and the serum at night) can help clear their skin and acclimate them to a daily regimen.

Spirograph isn't new to the scene, but this digital version is for the next generation of doodlers. They can sketch and draw to their heart's content, save their art on the display, clear the screen, and create another. It includes an LCD pad with storage for the stylus and four stencil wheels. This paperless toy is as good for the environment as it is for their creativity.

The Eras tour might have left town, but there’s no reason to stop making beaded friendship bracelets. This bracelet kit contains 300 black-and-white letter beads plus a whopping 700 beads in every color of the rainbow. Teens and tweens will have a blast threading unique creations for themselves and their friends.

Clothing is far from a boring gift when you let them choose their outfits. Take a three-minute quiz to fill Kidpik stylists in on their style favorites and fashion. Then, Kidpik sends a box curated just for them. Buy and keep what you want—plus, there's no styling fee, free shipping, and free returns. 

You can choose from the Starter Box, which has items to make two or three outfits, the Deluxe Box, which has clothing for three to five outfits, or the Big Box, which makes five to eight.

Tyrsen Pickleball Set with Net
PHOTO: Amazon
Orig. $110 $90 at Amazon Orig. $170 $81 at Walmart

Pickleball is a trendy sport sweeping the nation, and tweens and teens are no exception. This set comes with everything they need to set up a pickleball tournament in the driveway or backyard: a wheeled net, eight pickleballs, four paddles, court markers, a drawstring bag for the balls and paddles, and an Oxford carrying bag for the net so they can take the team on the road (or to a friend’s house).

Create an escape room at home with this clever aquatic-themed game. What starts out as an ordinary visit to the aquarium becomes extraordinary when the players transform into fish. It takes skill and wit to solve these tricky puzzles to break the spell and escape to safety. Don’t worry, there’s a hint and solutions book so no one gets stuck as a fish forever.

Makeup brushes need regular cleaning to avoid bacteria growth that can lead to acne and rashes. Encourage your budding teen or tween makeup artist to maintain proper cosmetic hygiene with this makeup brush cleaner that makes it a breeze to clean and dry brushes in no time.

Whenever they need to kick back and relax, teens or tweens will thank you for their new pair of Original Cloud Slides. These slides offer sturdy support and incredible comfort thanks to their thick, cushioned insoles. Designed to relieve sore feet and joints, teens and tweens will love having these slip-on shoes outside or around the house. Choose from seven colors: orange, blue, pink, yellow, white, green, or black.

Do you know a teen or tween who's a budding gardener? Nurture their green thumb with this creative kit, allowing them to grow their own miniature garden. They can plant three types of seeds—cosmos, zinnias, and marigolds—that grow in a tin planter they can paint for an even bigger burst of color. The kit has a tin planter plastic liner, soil, three seed packets, wooden plant markers, a watering bottle, and paint supplies.

Whether they want to keep cosmetics and skin care products cool or keep bottles of water or soda at hand while doing homework, this mini fridge is the perfect gift. This 12-volt fridge keeps its interior temperature between 32 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit. It can hold up to a six-pack but takes up little space at only 65 square inches. It’s also got a convenient carry handle so they can easily move it. Choose from black, white, teal, blue, or pink.

Take “hanging out” to a new level with this hammock chair. There's no need to worry about finding a sturdy enough spot to hang the chair from—this egg-shaped swing chair comes with its own stand for easy setup. It offers all the fun comforts of a porch swing/hammock in the form of a chair they can place anywhere, indoors or out. The rattan chair has a seat cushion and a steel stand for sturdy support (up to 350 pounds).

Whether they’re unwinding after a stressful day at school or getting in touch with their artistic side, the Mindfulness Coloring Book can give a moment of peace to any teen. With over 30 pages of sheets adorned with motivational quotes, coloring can become a relaxing and mindful daily habit. 

A comfy set of loungewear can go from school to home to sports practice, and this tie-dye set doesn’t compromise on style either. It comes in 19 colorways and has a loose fit for ultimate comfort. 

Whether your teen has a long-distance BFF or is away from home, the Bond Touch Long Distance Bracelet Set can keep them feeling connected. The bracelets sync to an app, which they can ping to send a vibration to the other bracelet. They can send up to 10 taps, allowing them to create a long-distance code language. 

Safely stoke their competitive side with this magnetic dart board. The double-sided board has one traditional board for darts and another for archery. You can hang the board inside or outdoors, making it the perfect addition to any family game night or teen hangout. 

A trip to the café is always fun, but not as much fun as bringing the cafe experience home. This set has everything they need (except for the milk of their choice) to whip up tasty boba drinks in the comfort of their own home. The kit comes with boba pearls and enough flavoring to make 16 drinks—with four each of strawberry, mango, lychee, and taro.

If they love experimenting with the latest beauty trends, the Kitsch Satin Curling Set is a must-have in their collection. This super-smooth foam set produces waves and curls without the damage or hassle of a heated iron. Plus, they can test out different curling methods to find their favorite.

Accessorize your tweens' favorite tech with these adorable crochet headphone covers. You can select from six existing yarn color combinations or customize one of your own. The covers are available in the plain yarn design or with coquette-inspired bows that will bring them joy. 

Questions You Might Ask

What do teenagers want? 

Fuel their passions with a gift that expands their creativity or gives them another way to explore an interest. For the creatively inclined, crafts, art supplies, or journals are as entertaining as they are relaxing, making for a perfect gift. For others, it’s makeup and hair products, which allow them to experiment with new styles. 

Tech devices and video games continue to top the list of gifts for teenagers too. New headphones or a Bluetooth speaker are a safe bet, according to Chantelle Hartman Malarkey, a lifestyle expert. We especially like the Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones and the Sony Wireless Bluetooth Speaker.

What are preteens interested in?

“Everyone is rocking and exchanging friendship bracelets,” says Malarkey, noting that making bracelets surged in popularity recently. There are many craft kits, like the Spread Love Bracelet Kit, to give them all the tools they need to create adorable bracelets they can share with friends.

You might find that preteens are interested in many of the same things teens are, especially if they have older siblings. However, if you’re concerned about finding age-appropriate gifts, there are plenty of options to stimulate their creativity and encourage personal growth. Malarkey says that yard games are great for those kids who like to be active—we included the Tyrsen Pickleball Set with Net and Flying Orb Ball on our list.

What is trendy right now for teenagers?

“Teens want self-confidence and clear, acne-free skin,” says Malarkey, noting that she was impressed with The Gryt Kit, which helps teens get into healthy skin care habits. “As a parent, of course, we can get the video games and clothing they want, but we want to instill confidence and practicality can really go a long way,” Malarkey says.

And even though teens take plenty of photos with their phones, instant film cameras are trending again. “Teens love them and love to take photos with friends,” Malarkey says.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Barbara Bellesi Zito, a freelance lifestyle writer based in Staten Island, N.Y. To compile this list of best gifts for teens and tweens, she researched products from top brands and consulted Dina Sweeney, the chief merchandising officer at Kidpik, and Chantelle Hartman Malarkey, a lifestyle expert, for their expert advice. 

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