It’s no secret that finding the perfect gift for a teen can be a tricky situation. Give them something you liked when you were their age and you’ll seem out-of-date. (Psst! Here’s the reason why today’s youngsters are passing on family heirlooms.) Or give them something that seems “too-young” and you’ll risk receiving the dreaded eye-roll. While many parents and grandparents have caved-in and opted for the gift-card route, we here at Taste of Home believe that there’s a better way. That’s why we’ve assembled the gift basket of your teen’s dreams—and it’s so, so easy to do. Here’s how:
Step 1: Start With an Unconventional Basket
Gift boxes and fussy wrapping paper sheets are so yesterday. Get cool parent points by finding an item that serves as a gift in itself to house all of your teen’s favorite goodies. Maybe it’s a trendy new tote bag or locker organizer. We opted for a modern wire bin that’s perfect for storing makeup, magazines, DIY slime supplies—or that thing called homework.
Step 2: Get Your Goodies
The best part of about a gift basket is that you don’t need to rely on any one item to wow your teen. Pick 2-3 small items (in the $5-10-dollar price range), that you’d think she would enjoy (think: accessories, electronics, makeup) and fill the rest with goodies you pick up from the checkout lane or dollar store. To give you some inspiration, here’s what we filled our basket with:
- Trendy scarf
- Bangle bracelets
- Simple striped t-shirt
- Adult coloring book and colored pencils
- Essie nail polish
- Headphones
- Candy
Here are more ideas to love.
Mini Crock-Pot
Between after-school sports practices and long internship hours, your teen might not always have the chance to eat a hot meal. This mini Crock-Pot changes the game, making it easy to reheat leftovers, soups and more from almost anywhere. Fill the crock with one of our quick and easy soup recipes. Buy it here.
Bluetooth Speaker
Your teen will love that he can play his favorite playlists from anywhere with this portable Bluetooth speaker. The gadget’s slim design and exceptional sound makes it a fun yet practical gift option. Buy it here.
Fleece Blanket
This super-soft blanket will come in handy during long study sessions as well as Netflix nights. Available in several colors and sizes, it’s the perfect gift for any personality. Buy it here.
Microwave Popcorn Popper
This product may look like a trendy mug, but it's actually a personal popcorn maker. Nifty, right? Simply fill it with kernels, top it with a pad of butter and pop it in the microwave. It's especially useful for college students, just like these other dorm room recipes. Buy it here.
Instagram-worthy Letter Board
What's old is new again. This old-school letter board is just the place to showcase quotes, words of wisdom or tell the fam what's for dinner. Get it here.
Homemade Candy
Candy brings a smile, no matter how old you are. Looking to make your own? Try this Candy Bar Fudge recipe to start. It's stacked with layers of chocolate, caramel and salted peanuts. Yummy! Get Recipe
Fujifilm INSTAX Mini Instant Camera
Print photos in an instant with this pretty pastel camera. Looking for a place to start? Capture memories of our most beautiful cakes. Purchase it here.
Hilarious Socks
The bottom of these socks say it all. Psst! Craving soft-shell tacos? Try the real deal. Buy a pair here.
Makeup Cosmetic Bag
Pack knickknacks and goodies in this cute floral zip-top bag. That cluttered countertop will be a thing of the past! Purchase it here.
Water Bottle
Pizza lovers, unite! This water bottle serves as a manifesto for all those the gym bunnies who know that the best part of working out is the carbs you can eat afterwords. Purchase it here.
Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Taste of Home editors, who aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We welcome your feedback. Have something you think we should know about? Contact us, here.Step 3: Assemble
Since your gift basket won’t be wrapped, have a little fun styling the items you’ve purchased. Peel the plastic wrap off of books or take the tag off of accessories to give the gift a finished touch. Roll up a t-shirts and tie it off with a ribbon. Try to layer the items so that they’re all clearly visible, placing the shortest in the front. Use a softer item like a scarf or beach towel as a filler to prop up the rest of your gifts. (Neutral-toned tissue paper also works in a pinch!)
Step 4: The Finishing Touch
Don’t forget to top your gift with a personalized card. With today’s technology, the handwritten note is something of an endangered species, so pull your finest pen and teach ’em a thing or two. Add a special quote or word of wisdom they can hang on to for years to come.
And there you have it! Looking for a gift for the baker in your life? We’ve got a guide for that, too!
