CR Gift Shop

Giving gifts to teenagers can place you in an awkward position if you’re considerably–or even just a little bit–older. Teens seem to have a culture and language of their own, and nothing is worse than giving a present that just doesn’t fit someone’s personality. So, how do you pick gifts personalized for them that will be loved by the teen in your life?

You can do a little rough homework by knowing the sex, age, and interests of the teen you’ll be shopping for. Hey, nobody said it would be hard homework! The point is that many people forget that there is quite a developmental span between the ages of 13 and 19, males and females, and between the home-schooled algebra whiz and the captain of the high school football team.

For girls of any age, you can’t go wrong with jewelry. Brushed Aluminum dog-tag necklaces in a variety of colors are very popular and universal in their wardrobe applications. You might also consider giving a classic silver heart charm bracelet, which has had quite a surge of recent popularity. Don’t forget dangling earrings, designer watches, and cool rings too.

If you’re gift-buying for the teen guys, there’s a simple formula that never fails: treat a young man as if he is the full-grown adult he aspires to be. This includes shaving kits, cologne, hair gel, and other manly cosmetics in a nice case. Also, consider a personalized grand beer pilsner glass or an engraved silver plated bottle opener.

For either sex, buying clothes for a teenager is risky business! However, there are some universal clothing gifts that always hit the mark. For example, funny graphic tee-shirts are always in style. Just remember, there is a big difference between what you think is funny and what a teen finds funny. Consider buying wool skull caps and matching scarves, which works for boys or girls. Quirky socks and humorous boxers never go out of style, either.

Perhaps you can narrow down their hobbies or activities a little bit more. If you’re buying for a sporty teen, you might think about a nice, stylish sports bag to hold extra clothes and gear for those gym days. If you’re shopping for a gadget guru, consider a messenger style lap-top bag or an over-the-shoulder carry all for cameras and MP3 players. For sports enthusiasts there are a number of choices - like golf gifts for a golfer. This could include a cool golf gadget like the iGolf GPS Caddie II or something simple like a golf gear organizer. Bags and totes are always needed and can be monogrammed for a special touch.

Remember, understand your recipient and shop accordingly. Buying for a teen doesn’t have to be a daunting task if you use the internet to research your ideas, lean just a little toward “classic” gifts, and promise to remember that you were once a teen yourself. Hopefully, these suggestions have given you some guidance. Good luck and happy shopping!