Christmas Gift Guide for Pre-Teens and Teens.

I love buying gifts and our pre-teen is super fun to buy for. He is hitting the age where he is not quite as into toys as he once was, but he is really into hobbies. Here is a list of pre-teen gift ideas for boys and girls. I wrote this list when we were pretty squarely in the pre-teen years, but by this Christmas (2025), I will officially have a teenager. I think this list is very appropriate for younger teen boys and girls. Be aware it will lean more toward “boy” items  because I have more boys to buy for. I have a blog on saving your sanity by starting buying gifts in July, but if you’re like me and did not do that this year, this post on pre-teen gift ideas is for you. 

A note on expectations: I love giving gifts, but I also want to be reasonable with expectations and budget. So, if our son asks for something way outside the budget, we tell him ahead of time it’s not in the budget. I think its totally fine to let kids know there is indeed a budget, that’s reality and helps set expectations appropriately. Would we like the kiddos to be super grateful no matter what they open on Christmas? Yes. But kids are still learning the concept of money and budgets and managing big emotions like disappointment. Clear is kind.

We have our son make a wish list but we make clear that it is a list of IDEAS for us, not a shopping list. 

I try to buy local as much as possible, and we do love experience gifts but I personally really enjoy opening gifts, so I do try to keep in mind a balance. As much as an experience gift or gift card might be fun for me as an adult, most kids and younger teens still like opening physical presents.  

In general we use the “Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.” as a guideline. Something to read also includes creative things such as art supplies and stickers. Hear me when I say guideline. I still want each gift to be enjoyable. Example: I don’t gift toilet paper and call it a need. ALTHOUGH as a grown adult if my momma wants to buy me a Costco size pack of TP, I’m here for it.

This contains affiliate links, as an affiliate, I might earn a commission from qualifying purchase.

I do want to note, this isn’t a random list of things I thought of to toss up some links. Everything on the list we either already own, or my sisters and I plan to buy for the kiddos on our lists this year.

As a side note, I originally wrote this last year, and so this is still true. I’m not just tossing random links up but also know this list is growing as my kid grows. This list also includes items purchased for cousins, Angel Tree kiddos and so on. I just wanted to clarify because Im all about keeping Christmas simple and it might seem off to have a massive list of items for one kid. ANYWAY. 

​Here we go with real-life gift ideas I am and have really used! 

Gift Ideas: Something they want. 

These are the best gifts I have found for my crew. They include kiddos who like tech gadgets, but have low tech parents ;). I’ve gifts for gaming enthusiasts-both of video games and strategy games. 

1. This cool little 3D pen has been requested by someone on my list. I think its a neat little gadget.
2. This Orbeez blaster. For your info, these aren’t very painful but you/the kids will want to wear eye protection #askmehowIknow. I linked some eye protection but you can get them for like $.99 cents per pair at Harbor Freight so if you dont need 12, maybe thats not the best buy for you. However, we buy a lot so that when friends come over there are plenty. Eye protection is a rule in our house for nerf, orbeez, paintball and air soft, if you dont have eye protection, ya dont play.
3. Games: We love Dutch Blitz and I’m buying the expansion pack for a stocking stuffer. We love Settlers of Catan, Moutain Goats, Sagrada, Azule. I linked the Walmart Settlers of Catan, its around $27 online but it was $25 in our brick and mortar Walmart last week. You might want to check there. We havent played this yet, Skyjo but I bought it as a family gift. We also love Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman which is the holiday version of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. We love games and we generally buy a few new ones for Christmas. Its a fun way to make a gray Ohio winter a bit more cozy.
4. Gabb Watch that’s the Amazon link, but at the time of publishing its cheaper to buy it directly from Gabb’s website. We purchased this but havent tried it out yet because Christmas has not arrived. I think its a great gift idea for a preteen because of the safety features, activity tracker and parent app. The watch is free on the Gabb website right now if you sign up a new line, and you get an accessory if you use the code SAFEKIDS25. I’m not affiliated with them in any way, I’m just reporting what we did.
5. Portable Bluetooth Speaker– My sister has this JBL portable speaker and I’ve used it often. I am planning to get this for our oldest. 
6. Lego Car
7. Lego Fox
8. Yo-Yo– I am told by several youths in my life that yo-yos are back. Not sure I understand it, but its a fun and inexpensive gift.
9. Roller blades. We dont have this exact pair, but very similar. Again with the 90s being cool again. I dont make the rules I just report my findings.
10. Walkie-talkies
11. Lolli Pop Maker

Something they need/ Something to wear.

I’m going to group these together because this is obviously a very child/family specific category but here are a few ideas. In this category I tend to buy things they already use or need but maybe a slightly more fun version. For example, a seasonally scented soap or body wash ect.

1. Hat and Gloves
2. Football gloves
3. Under Armour Shoes We have found these shoes to be the best for the younger teen range. Our son is in men’s sizes, but still has a very narrow foot. These shoes fit him really well.
4. Dr Squatch Soap is a hit in our house and we usually only buy on special occasions. I am planning to buy this peppermint one for a stocking stuffer
5. Other ways to buy things kids need, but with some holiday pizzaz would be fun socks, hair brushes, skin care, body wash, bubble bath, bath bombs, hair care products, fun tooth brushes, snacks they love but aren’t the usual because #inflation. I actually buy quite a bit of this because kids love opening stuff and its a pretty cheap way to increase volume without increasing the budget a ton.

Teenage Girls: I honestly feel like preteen girls and teen girls are probably easier to buy for in this category because generally, they enjoy clothing, accessories, and skincare products more. 

1. Skin Care– I have said it before and I will say it again. I love La Roche Posay Skin Care, especially for teens. Almost all is unscented and I think its really reasonably priced. Here are a couple sets I am looking at for my niece. For “normal skin“, For dry skin, and for acne prone skin. It’s not the flashiest but it’s what my son and I both use. But hold on, I’ve got some more ideas. 
2. Dime Natural Fragrance Sampler-I love this brand. It is my favorite perfume brand ever. I use Lovely Sweet Dreams, as I love vanilla. But I linked the “Core Memory” because that is what I would have reached for as a teen. I also highly recommend the scent sampler. 
3. Natural-ish Fragrance
4.  Skin Care Fridge– Listeennnnn. This is likely not a need but neither were our blow up chairs and couches in the late nineties and early 2000s. However, it might be a need if you are very strict about natural skin care. If your skin care is truly “all natural” it likely should be refrigerated. 
5. Face Masks– I think that face masks are just part of being a teen girl. I still remember covering my face with Noxzema back in the day after watching the Parent Trap. A face mask just feels fancy! 

Ideas for Something to read. (or create)

We do buy a lot of books, but we also listen to a lot of books. I have linked a Yoto player down below. 

1. We love the Hardy Boys books.
2. The Wingfeather Saga is a favorite of ours.
3. We have and love this beautifully illustrated copy of The Hobbit.
4. We love this copy of The Lord of the Rings, its got Tolkien’s notes, illustrations and hand drawn maps.
5. Colored pencils. I love this brand of pens, so I’m looking forward to trying these pencils out.
6. Lord of the Rings coloring book , Harry Potter Coloring book OR books like it.
7. Water Colors , Paper
8. Santa Dogs Puzzle
9. This pretty copy of Anne of Green Gables
10. This would also be a great category for a Yoto Player, Yoto cards or Audible gift cards. 

Stocking Stuffers – I tend to fill our son’s stocking with more fun versions of things he already uses. 

​Just some quick stocking stuffer ideas

1) Fun soap like Dr Squatch, 

2) Lip Balm

3) Hot Chocolate bombs or packets

4) Water Bottles

​5) If your kiddo already has an Instax camera or something simlar, this is a great oppotunity to refill film.

6) SD Card for cameras and video games

7) Gift cards to 

8) Face Masks for teen girls.