Today’s gift guide is dedicated to that sorta tricky age to shop for, when the kids hit the tween years and aren’t at adulthood quite yet. Their tastes aren’t fully formed and they’re reticent to tell you what they want, but at the same time, the wrong gift could equal a major misstep for the parents or grandparents that mis-buy. If you’re looking for some surefire gift ideas for tweens and teens, read on!
FOR THE TWEENS
Joe Fresh Kids Jewellery – From $6 @ Shoppers Drug Mart
For the budding fashionista in your household comes a collection of jewellery specifically for the younger set. Whoever designed it knows what the kids want – with eye-popping colours, fun nature and travel-inspired motifs, and updated takes on classic pieces like a ‘best friends’ necklace. With great prices like these, she can look totally trendy – and you can stuff her stocking or gift her an entire gem collection for Christmas without breaking the bank.
Speak Out Game – $24.99 @ Toys “R” Us, Superstore, Walmart, etc.
This hilarious party game was a viral sensation this past year – and is enough fun that any age can play and have a serious riot doing so. The concept is silly but simple: Insert a mouthpiece and try to get your teammates to guess what random phrase you’re saying in the allotted time. The team with the most points wins! But really, with this much fun, everyone’ll feel like they’ve triumphed!
Polar Bear Chenille Hat & Scarf – $29.95 @ La Vie En Rose
Your kids might be growing up, but they’re still your little snuggle buddies at heart. Gift them with an adorable hat and scarf set that’ll be the talk of the playground. Made from cozy chenille, this matching set is also available in a quirky reindeer variation – great if you’re shopping for siblings or friends!
Spooner Board Pro – $83.25 @ FlagHouse
It can be easy to fall into a winter slump when it’s chilly outside – but this indoor / outdoor balance board might inspire them to get off the couch. The spoon shape works on virtually any surface, giving kids a taste of what it’s like to surf or snowboard from their own living room or backyard. Designed to build core strength and present a fun balance challenge, these rugged boards are designed for young people 4′ and up – but even adults can take ’em for a spin!
FOR TEEN GIRLS
Incipio iPhone 7 Design Series Case – $34.99 @ Telus
Did you gift her with a brand new iPhone this season? Then be sure to protect your investment with a sturdy case that’ll keep it from scratches and cracks when she inevitably drops it mid-text. This translucent case from Incipio features an amazing rainbow hologram design that’s equal parts girly and glam.
Rihanna Crush Limited Edition Holiday Gift Set – $70 @ Shoppers Drug Mart
If Riri is her music idol, she’ll definitely want to spritz on some star power with this latest fragrance from Rihanna. Part floral, part oriental, the perfume is surprisingly complex, with notes of juicy mandarin and pink peppercorn muddle with pink rose, spicy ylang, and even undertones of musk and cedarwood. You can pick up a lush gift set of Rihanna’s Crush collection, including a rollerball and body lotion for serious fragrance staying power.
Chic Buds Crossbody Power Charging Purse – $69.99 USD
While I’ve included this gift in my teens gift guide, rest assured – literally every woman I know would love to have one of these little cross-body bags. Coming in over 10 colors from neutral grey or black to brilliant coral and plum, this chic little bag will ensure you never lose your charge again! Inside this chic charging purse you’ll find an ultra-thin battery that can charge up your phone or any USB device while you’re on the go. It even has built-in USB cords to make charging that much easier. With plenty of room for all your essentials and a cool chain detail, this must-have accessory will top any teen’s wish list this Christmas. Shipping is $20 USD (flat rate) from the states, but there’s also a range of retailers in BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec that carry it!
philosophy Snow Angel 4-Piece Set – $36 @ Sephora
Some traditions are worth preserving – even for teens! Inspired by the crisp winter air, Snow Angel is one of philosophy’s signature winter scents, but it’s only available for a limited time. Now she can lather herself with not one, but four different Snow Angel-scented products, including a 3-in-1 bubble bath / shampoo / body wash, body polish, body lotion, and a perfume spray.
FOR TEEN BOYS
Herschel Pop Quiz Backpack – $89.99
If you’re struggling with a gift idea for a teen boy, then go for something he literally needs in his life – like a backpack. This sturdy, classic style from Herschel comes in literally dozens of styles ranging from simple solids to cool prints and patterns, like the striped style I picked above. With plenty of space for his laptop, notebooks, and school gear, he can stay organized with internal mesh organizers too.
JBL Clip 2 Portable Speaker – $79.95 @ Indigo
If your teen never wants to be far from their tunes, then gift them with a rugged, portable wireless speaker. This lightweight model from JBL is designed to clip onto anything – from a backpack to a belt loop – and is weatherproof enough that you can take it to a friend’s place for a pool party or rock out in the woods during a rainy camping trip. With up to 8 hours of playtime per charge, you can actually link multiple JBL speakers together wirelessly for an even bolder sound.
Spikeball Kit – $83 @ Amazon.ca
If he’s a sporty type, then he’ll love to challenge his friends to this fast-paced two-on-two game. Featured on Shark Tank, this portable game draws inspiration from four square and volleyball – your job is to hit the net between you and a partner three times, before your opponents have to do the same with control – and so it goes. Simple to learn, exhilarating to play, it’s a fun way to encourage your teens to get active.
FOR EVERYONE
Enamel Pins – $12 each @ People I’ve Loved
I’ve noticed that pins are really trendy with teens and tweens these days – and I’m so here for that! Apparently so is People I’ve Loved, a quirky design shop based out of California that carries everything from fresh cards to encouraging socks to a very teen-apropos door hanger that’ll teach you to knock. The pins however, caught my eye. They’re witty, cute, and come in a bunch of varieties. Plus nothing about them really says guy or girl – you can pick these up for all the youths on your list to outfit their bags, jackets and more.
Trivial Pursuit 2000s – $19.95 @ Toys “R” Us, Loblaws, Walmart and Superstore
It can be tricky to recruit the kids for a family game night – but perhaps if you give them a game they have a shot at winning – nay, destroying you at, they might be up for it. With the aughties behind us, Trivial Pursuit has released a new exclusively 2000s edition of the classic trivia game, to test your memory on events from the past 16 years. With fun categories on topics like Places, Entertainment, Events, The Arts, Science and Tech, and Sports and Hobbies, there are over 1,800 questions in this game – and a whole new way to play as well.
Vichy Normaderm Collection – From $14.95
The teen and tween years are synonymous with acne. If you want to stand a chance at stopping zits, then opt for a brand that knows what it’s doing. Vichy’s Normaderm line is specifically formulated for oily, acne-prone skin. The trick is to go after acne on all fronts: 13 different products in the line can be mixed and matched to help clean out pores, balance out oiliness with moisture, and spot-target zits. They even have a correcting concealer for those important parties and photo ops that’ll actually dry out the skin while covering up blemishes.
There you have it! 14 fabulous and creative gift ideas for tweens and teens – all easily available in Canada! You know what else is available? A $360+ prize package I’m giving way, which includes the following:
$50 Joe Fresh Kids Jewellery Collection
Incipio iPhone 7 Design Series Case
Chic Buds Crossbody Power Charging Purse
philosophy Snow Angel Set
JBL Clip 2 Speaker (Black)
Vichy Normaderm Collection
Here’s how to enter for your chance to win it all!
1) First off! You must be a Canadian Gift Guide subscriber to enter this giveaway. Just find the ‘Gift of Gab’ box on the righthand side of this page and either hit ‘Follow’ or enter your email address. Once you’ve done that, leave me a comment by December 20, 2016 telling me your three favourite gift ideas for teens and tweens featured in this post!
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 21, 2016 to select the winner(s), who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.
4) Bonus Entry Opportunities:
Follow Shoppers Drug Mart on Twitter and send out a Tweet about this post + giveaway that links back here, and tags them + me (@cdngiftguide). Leave a link back to your Tweet in the a separate comment below.
Follow Erikson on Twitter for the latest news on their electronics brands and send out a Tweet that links back to this post and tags them + me (@cdngiftguide). Link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.
Follow Chic Buds on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos or take a photo of your favourite colour of charging purse and share it on your feed. Be sure to tag them + me (@cdngiftguide), and mention CanadianGiftGuide.com’s giveaway in your post! Share a link back to your post in a separate comment below.
Follow philosophy Canada on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos or take a photo of your favourite gift idea of theirs and share it on your feed. Be sure to tag them + me (@cdngiftguide) and mention CanadianGiftGuide.com’s giveaway in your post! Share a link back to your post in a separate comment below.
Follow Vichy Canada on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos or take a photo of your favourite gift idea of theirs and share it on your feed. Be sure to tag them + me (@cdngiftguide), use the hashtag #vichyworksforme, and mention CanadianGiftGuide.com’s giveaway in your post! Share a link back to your post in a separate comment below.