Just like with Christmas music, it’s never too early to start holiday shopping. Well, okay, maybe that isn’t true, but you do want to start compiling ideas now. Plus, with Black Friday sales around the corner, you might find some great deals and save yourself some money.
Below are a list of some super cool gadgets, beauty supplies, and nerd-things for every type of kid out there. Some things like the cosmetic fridge and lipstick charging bank are sure to appeal to a teenage beauty queen. Others, like the wireless mouse with interchangeable side plates (can you say macros on macros?) and microphone setup will suit the gaming enthusiast. Bookworms and nerds (dubbed with the utmost affection, of course) will love a personalized leather journal and the moleskin notebook so smart, it lets them upload their hand-penned notes to the cloud. And, of course, there are the universally-beloved products that anyone and everyone can use: a microwave popcorn maker, a personal hammock, and a wireless charging lamp. With so many options to choose from, the only thing you really need to worry about now is where to hide everything.
Thanks for reading about our favorite finds from across the internet! FYI: We participate in affiliate programs and may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
This Weighted Mask Relieves Your Eyes After a Long, Bright Day
I work in front of the computer daily, and when I’m not typing away at my screen, I’m looking at my phone or watching Netflix. If this sounds like your teenagers, then you’ll want to consider popping a weighted eye mask into their stocking this year. All of these activities strain the eyes heavily and the cold mask is here to remedy that. It doesn’t have eye-holes, which is actually good because it makes sure they actually rest their oglers. You just pop it into the freezer or microwave for 15-20 minutes and then rest it on your eyes. Not to mention how amazing it feels after a long bout of crying (listen, hormones are just a thing we all gotta deal with and teens get them extra bad).
Get a Microwavable Popcorn Popper to Bring the Movie Theatre Feel to Your Home
Something I miss about seeing movies at the theatre is the warm, cozy smell of buttered popcorn. Making it at home is nice and all, but those bagged popcorn kernels just don’t really cut it. To up your family movie night game, get one of these microwavable popcorn poppers. It’s super easy to use, pops that corn fresh without any of the hassle that comes with doing it on the stove top, and the end result is delicious without breaking the bank.
These Smart LED-Strip Lights Can Be Synced Up with the Latest Tunes
These lights really took my music system up way more notches than I expected them to. They’re totally syncable and linkable. It was fun to create a design that worked with my space, and I get a lot of joy watching the strips pulse to the beat of my Spotify. Let your kids express themselves to the pulsating and colorful beats of Queen Bey.
This Mobile Fan is Dedicated to Preventing Phones From Overheating
How many hours are your kids spending on their phones these days? Our constant companions, phones are in great danger of getting too hot. We spend so much of our time, money, and resources on these little devices that it only makes sense to extend their longevity, however possible. I like this dedicated fan for its ease-of-use and plug-and-go feature.
This Friendship Charm Makes A Perfect Memento For Long Distance Besties
My sister and I are super close, despite being so many years apart. I purchased two of these super cute long-distance charm necklaces, featuring two coins with customized states, and gave one to her for graduation. Now, we have a way to feel connected even when really far apart. This is a gift that’s really great for siblings whose older sisters/brothers are away at college.
This Smart Lamp Helps You Sleep Better With a Personalized Routine
This cute little lamp is actually a helpful accessory that creates a personalized sleep-and-wake routine for you. It contributes to better-quality sleep with its gentle, pulsating light and sunrise alarm sounds that supports healthy cortisol levels. I like that you can control it by touch and app (a necessary function for the modern millenial) and that it comes with a library of soothing sounds; great for pre-bed meditation.
This Personal Ice Cream Maker is Handy Year-Round
If you’ve ever used an ice cream maker, you’ll know how delicious home-made ice cream is. They are fairly bulky, though, and as cold treats are less popular in the winter, you might not want to make such large batches. That’s where this personal machine comes in. It makes just enough ice cream for one or two servings and is easy to store with its compact size.
Be a Cool Mom and Help Them Elevate Their Selfie Game with this Ring Light
Being in front of a camera every day really throws into sharp, digital relief all of your flaws; or, at least, the flaws in your room’s lighting with its single bulb and occasional candlelight flicker. It also means you have to keep your socials up-to-date, and constantly walking around rooms to find the best angle of natural light was getting to be tiring. I sprang for this selfie light with a phone holder. It has different modes and my phone pics have never looked better. You’ll be the new fave parent fo’sho.
A Pair of Bluetooth Earbuds That Will Make it Easier For Them to Pretend Not to Hear You
I’d always been one of those people who thought wired devices were superior because you’d never run out of juice when it mattered. However, since I reluctantly made the switch to Bluetooth earbuds, I can tell you my world has been turned upside down. No more tripping on cords or tangling myself and my chair up in everything. I can get up and refill my coffee without leaving the call and missing important meeting notes. As a wireless convert, I can advocate for this one. Just try to make eye contact with your t/ween before you say anything you need them to hear.
This Bath Pillow is the Perfect Relaxation Companion
I love baths, with or without bubbles. As comfortable as they are, though, something that always put a damper on my home spa time was the inability to completely sink into the relaxation when all I had to prop me up was the cold porcelain of the tub. Thus, one of the best purchases of my life was this bath pillow that contours to your neck and shoulders. Let your guys soak some of their schoolwork stresses away and they might just be a bit less cranky on the weekends.
This Cosmetic Organizer Will Work For Anyone’s Needs
This multi-compartment organizer is the best for storing everything from makeup to desktop knickknacks. From sticky notes to bronzer, the many drawers, slots, and compartments are great for providing everything with its own home. Trust me when I say how much better you feel when all those tiny things are confined into a dedicated place. I really like this one for its compact design; even though it stores so many things, it doesn’t actually take up a lot of room overall.
ThiA Portable Fridge is Perfect for Their Skincare Holy Grails
With the amount of money we spend on caring for our precious skin, it’s pretty important that we take good care of all the products. I remember starting to care for mine as young as 12 years old, back when Proactiv was The It Product for acne. If your teens love beauty and everything about it, then they’ll love this dedicated fridge to keep their holy grail products. You might even want to chuck a couple sheet masks in there before wrapping it all up.
Get Your Smart Aleck a Smart Writing Set For Their Notetaking Needs
Back in university, I still took notes by hand even though I brought my laptop. I found a lot of people preferred handwriting notes to commit information to memory better. Unfortunately, there’s a reason that paper notes have fallen out of favour; they’re harder to preserve, understand, and share. When I invested in this smart notebook, it made a huge difference. I could take the notes in the way I wanted to, while they made their own way onto the Cloud. That way, I could access them from my phone or computer, even if I left the papers at home. Great for kids who are in their senior years preparing for college or even the younger ones that, you know, like taking notes (it couldn’t have just been me?)
A Lipstick Charging Bank Will Go Effortlessly From the Stocking to Their Backpack
Teenagers are known for being on their devices all the time, so no one will be upset to find a couple of these compact power bank in their stocking Christmas morning. They’re compatible with most USB styles and can give enough juice for a couple hours’ charge. They’re about the size of a chapstick, charge fast, and are super cute to boot.
This Bluetooth Projector Lets You Control Movie Night From Your Phone
BBQ and drinks on the porch means backyard movie nights are the clear next thing to follow. Even though it’s getting colder, you guys can simply bundle up in a cozy sherpa blanket and watch this generation’s equivalent of Clueless and Heathers. Anyway, this bluetooth projector is perfect for just that. You connect it to your phone and stream to your heart’s content onto a big surface.
This Portable Photo Printer Lets Your Kids Experience Physical Mementos Like When You Were Their Age
Only they can do it from their phone, wherever they happen to be. They also don’t have to wait at/go back to the store after they’ve all finally developed. I personally have one of these, and while I love the convenience of polaroids, I hate the price point that it comes with. The colors are vibrant and it’s relatively fast.
Maybe Your Teen Beauty Queen Would Like a Charging Case That Also Holds Their Accessories
Something about having an accessories case that lets me charge my phone while also cleaning it just appeals to my basic desire to own things that have multiple purposes. This neat gadget uses 8 industrial-grade LED beads on the top and claims to kill 99.9% of bacteria on the surface of your phone in 3 minutes. It has a magnetic closure and a clean, minimalist design that even fashionistas will love.
This Super Cool Friendship Lamp is Great For Siblings, BFFs, and Highschool Sweethearts Alike
Whether it’s for your best friend or your fiance, this Friendship Lamp is a one-of-a-kind, sweet and thoughtful present. IT connects to your home’s WiFi. The ‘friendship’ aspect comes from the fact that when you touch one lamp, they all light up. My long-distance SO and I use these to connect non-verbally. When one of us is thinking of the other, we simply touch our respective lamp and the other person knows they’re on our mind. For t/weens who can’t seem to be apart from their best friend or high school sweetheart for more than a minute at a time, these lamps are great to tide them over until the next time they see each other (you know, four hours from now).
This Lapdesk with a Device Ledge Will Improve Their QoL and Maybe Even Incentivize Homework Time
A lapdesk is basically essential for anyone with a couch and/or a laptop. I mean, you’ll probably want to have at least the laptop. Of course, I’ve been using mine to journal on at night, once I’m already in bed. It saves me from having to hunch over the paper and is super comfortable to use. I imagine if I’d had this as a kid and could use it on the couch, it would have made Saturday morning homework much easier and more comfortable.
This Instax Mini and Film Set is Sure to Spark Creativity and Joy
I’ve owned one of these Instax minis for years now, and it’s still going strong. I love taking it off its dedicated shelf for special occasions that I can then string up the prints along a set of fairy lights (call me basic, but it’s super cute, okay). This set is particularly good because it comes with 120 exposures, more than enough for bringing on some adventures with their BFFs.
This Multi-Purpose Scrub Will Have You Excited to Get Out of Bed
As a certified night owl with a license to stay up way too late every night and question my choices every morning, I can attest to this scrub being at least a pleasant addition to my start-of-day routine. Handmade in small batches in Chicago, this pface and body exfoliating scrub is a lush blend of peppermint, rosemary, and lavender. If it’s able calm me down at 6 in the morning, maybe it’ll work miracles for your teenage bedhead, too.
A Yankee Candle Oil Diffuser That’s Made of 100% Recyclable Tritan Plastic
This ulltrasonic aroma diffuser from Yankee Candle is a great gift for your teen who might be stressing from school and could do with some aromatherapy. It lights up in 10 different colors, providing multisensory stress relief. There’s also an auto-shutoff when the tank gets empty, so you don’t have to worry about them accidentally setting something on fire.
A Microphone Setup to Make Them Feel Like the Gaming Gods They Are
This microphone setup is super useful. I use it for streaming and online gaming, where clarity is a huge factor in team-based competitions. Your like-minded teens and tweens (yeah, I’m one of the cool kids, what of it?) will likely appreciate it and feel extra pro to boot.
This Reading Pillow is Sure to Be a Crowd Favorite
This reading pillow is one of my all-time favorite things to have around. I keep mine on my bed these days but move it out to the living room when I have guests and need an extra comfy spot for movies. Your tween-agers who spend most of their time in their rooms being cool and doing their homework on time will love having one just as much.
This Echo Dot 4th Gen is a Super Handy Device For Anyone
One of Amazon’s own most popular items is the Echo Dot. It runs Alexa who(which?), in turn runs your home. I use it to turn off my lights, play music, and even lock my doors; all with only my voice. One of my favorites, though, is to pause and rewind Netflix without having to get up or use the remote. Any kid worth their salt will know how much more efficient this will be.
The Fashion Fitbit Band for Adding A Splash of Glam to Their Tracker
While I love my Fitbit, it does look pretty jarring when I’m dressed up for a night out with my girls or to a fancy restaurant. Any teen will agree that it looks kinda ‘sus’ that way. So, I was really excited to find these super cute bands that match so many of my outfits. It really ties together the aesthetic. And not that I particularly care about tracking calories, but when your dance moves count as steps, it doesn’t hurt to add them to your daily goal.
Get Them an Adorable Bluetooth Speaker That’ss Perfect for Lunch Breaks and After School Club Meetings
I really love this rose-gold bluetooth speaker. It’s compact and super cute and makes an excellent mini gift for the music aficianado. For those who love having their tunes on them at all times, you can’t go wrong with one (or even two) of these speakers.
These Smart Bulbs Let Them Get in Bed Then Turn Off the Light
Once you go smart, you never go back. When it comes to lightbulbs, this is especially true. You’ll never again go to bed and then groan when you realize that the lights are still on. With these smartbulbs, you only have to tell Alexa to turn that light off and she’ll do the rest. Your kids might grow up a little spoiled with these things (back in my day, we had to go uphill both ways just to turn the light off!) but hey, they’re good kids. They deserve it.
These Smart Plug are a Great Addition to a Tech-Savvy Household
I’ve been using these smart plugs to set timers for devices such as my lamps and humidifier. Now that the nights are getting colder, I’ve also hooked up a space heater and fan near my computer. The plugs are able to connect to both Alexa and Google Assistant, and your techy teens are sure to get used to them in no time. Maybe too used to them.
This Light-Up Creator’s Kit is Perfect For the DIYer and TikTok Fanatic
Reviewers are raving about this creative creator’s kit, saying they’d “bought … crafting kits on amazon before but none of them were this cool.” That’s understandable, once you see that this box is filled to the brim with reflective, customizable accessories. Some items you’ll find in this kit are reflective one-size-fits-all gloves, hairbands, stencils and more. It’s the perfect gift for your TikTok-obsessed teen, as well as anyone who loves dancing, fashion, crafting, and making fun, short videos.
This Lamp with Wireless Charging Will Upgrade Their Bedsides in More Ways Than One
If you want to help your kid up their bedroom decor game while still appealing to their inner need to stay connected at all times, then this Qi Wireless Charging Lamp is the perfect combination gift for that. I love the sleek, contemporary design and it’s been nice not having wires around my bed. They can also move it to their desk if they need to, as it’s so light and portable.
This Breakfast Sandwich Maker Pretty Much Makes the Sandwich For You
For your kids who are athletes and/or night owls, this Breakfast Sandwich Maker is sure to get their going the right way. In a single motion, they’ll have a perfectly stacked, put-together sandwich, complete with ham, eggs, and (if you can swing it) a slice of tomato or two.
This Insulated Tumbler with Straw and Flip Lid is One of My Personal Favorites
I’m one of those people who really like my drinks either really intensely cold or so hot you could poach an egg in it. An insulated water bottles like this one are my jam. My favorite part of this one, and the reason I’m so partial to it, is that it has a built-in straw that stays put. It’s also leakproof, like actually leakproof (don’t want to destroy anyone’s homework!) and comes in so many different gorgeous colors to suit your children’s personal styles.
This Pair of Handcrafted Infinity Earrings Are So Cute
Handmade in Minnesota using Copper wire, Pillar of Salt Studio finishes these earrings in an antique lacquer, giving them an earthy, boho vibe. I absolutely love mine; they go so well with both summer dresses and fall jumpsuits. Your teenage fashionista will love styling their trendy outfits with these.
This Leather Journal Will Look Superb With Their Initials Engraved On The Cover
Something about journals, especially leather ones, just sends me to a calm and peaceful happy place. Maybe it’s because I’m a writer, but the mere smell of fresh paper and soft, supple leather is enough to put me into a good mood. Encourage your teens to get into the habit of jotting down their thoughts and feelings, especially as they’re at an age where they’re prone to intense ones. Hand-cut and bound with thick, full-grain leather and acid-free paper, this refillable journal is perfect for just that. It brings me joy to open and write in it (pro tip: try a fountain pen with this!) and I love that you can add more paper as needed. Don’t forget to get their initials engraved!
This Glass Planter Set Is a Super Pretty And Unique Way to Display Their Plants
Gift your green-thumbed eco-warrior one of these elegant glass planters. It has a beautiful, contemporary look that also makes it easy to remember to change the water. They’ll love the aesthetic of their favorite plants in their own special container. As for me, and it has to be said, this remains the only receptacle in which I’ve put plants and not immediately watched them die afterwards.
A Kindle Reader is a Superb Alternative to Traditional, Heavy Books
Whether your child is a bookworm or just wants all of their textbooks in one place, they’ll love having a stylish e-reader that will lighten up the load they have to carry to school. This one from Amazon is a handy, lightweight and backlit option to keep their favourite/current reads on is amazing. It comes in a set with a fabric cover and supports WiFi (a must!) Plus, you might even be able to see the surface of their bedside table again.
This Keurig Single Serve Coffee Maker is as Good for Hot Chocolate as it is Coffee
I know a lot of teens and definitely tweens shouldn’t be drinking coffee. But for those who do, or even those who like a nightly serving of cocoa or chamomile tea, this Keurig Single Serve Coffee Maker is an excellent gift idea to consider. They can keep it in their room or on a side table, which kind of lends it a grown-up feel. And we all know kids just love to want to grow up.
This Cozy Mug Sweater is The Perfect Companion For Fall
You’ll love seeing your kids cozied up with a wool blanket, settled into the couch with a steaming mug of hot chocolate that’s wrapped in this cute mug sweater. Nandy’s Nook knits these with acrylic yarn and wooden button closure. You can even leave it on when reheating beverages in the microwave. Plus, if your mug is somewhat oddly shapened or sized, they’re perfectly happy to take custom sizing requests.
This Sherpa Weighted Blanket to Keep Calm and Carry On Through School, Love, Netflix, Sleep and More
I am a huge proponent for ever-more popular weighted blanket. Even if we weren’t in the midst of a global pandemic, just the stresses of daily life is enough to make you want a long, comforting hug to get you through the anxious moments. This one is a reversible fleece-and-sherpa blanket that has both the weight and the extra luxurious softness that we all love in the winter. It makes for the perfect couch companion (other than our pets, of course).
This Nintendo Switch Lets Them Game on the Go
Maybe you can’t get them the PS5 they’ve been begging for for a year. Fortunately, Nintendo’s Switch is still a great alternative and very available. If you’re already a fan of Nintendo games, then this is a must-buy for you. If you’re merely a casual gamer, which I was going into it, you’d probably still get good value out of it with the many games available, and being able to access both the console and handheld modes. I personally love the convenience of popping out the handheld and taking it with me to chill in the yard with the dogs, but it would be just as great at Grandma’s house for when the grown-ups are talking.
These Hand-Poured Candles are Made For the Soft and Kindhearted Individual
Hand-made candles always have an element of love and warmth to them that mass-produced, store-bought candles just don’t. They go great with globe/fairy lights for a soft and sweet gift set. These ones from Sweet Water Decor are poured by hand in Pennsylvania, making them both handmade and local. The jars they come in are durable and the labels, you can tell, are printed with care. My favorite is the eucalyptus spearmint, especially during rainy days when you want a candle but maybe don’t want to fall asleep quite yet.
This Giant Mousepad has Customizable Lighting for the Best Experience
Until a couple years ago, I never even knew giant mousepads existed. Now, I’m discovering that only are they available and awesome, they come in pretty colors that even light up (like this one). It’s more than worth the time it takes to add to your cart and bundle up with some other techy presents for the gamer in your house.
They’ll Love a Roomier L-Shaped Desk For Homework
An L-shaped desk changed my life and I wish I’d had one when I was still in school. I’d have had so much more room to spread my books out on, making it easier to ignore them all at once. An L-desk also leaves room to take handwritten notes without having to fight my keyboard for space. Your kids will even be able to charge their phone and tablet and Fitbit and eReader and smartwatch and … you get the point.
This Carbonated Bubble Mask is a Fun Way to Clear Out Those Pores and Have a Fun Spa Night
Bubble masks are such a fun addition to spa night with yourself and the homies. They work just like regular clay masks, with bentonite clay and other cleansing ingredients, to clear out your pores while you make funny faces with a bunch of bubbles on your face. Great for a funny little stocking stuffer that they can use with their friends.
This Lash Lift Kit Will Bring Out Their Beautiful Eyes For #OotD
Long lashes are never not trending on Instagram and Twitter and I find that girls are starting to perfect their makeup really young nowadays. When I was that age, I was definitely still rocking turquoise eyeshadow and ignorance that my eyebrows could even be ‘fleeked’. I would not have known what to do with this lash lift kit but today’s teens and tweens sure will.
This Wireless Mouse is Unrivaled in Speed or Battery Power
If you have yet to experience a wireless mouse, I’m here to say I highly recommend trying it out. And this is coming from someone who was the biggest wired stan. This one from Razer is said to be 25% faster than other mice (mouses?) and boasts up to 100 hours of battery usage. It even has interchangeable side plates. I’ve definitely noticed an increase in comfort and movement, as I don’t have to think about as many wires snagging here and there. Your gamer kid will love you for this one.
These Ice Pop Molds Turn Their Fave Drinks into Frozen Favourites
Have you ever had a strawberry-banana popsicle? It’s actually so delicious and even better when you make it yourself. Have fun with the fam by making some very different, very tasty frozen treats using these ice pop molds. I’ve been enjoying shirley temple popsicles this past summer, but now that the weather’s cooled down, it’s definitely time to turn some hot cocoa into cold cocoa (i.e., fudgsicles).
This Adorable Mini Humidifier is Perfect For Their Bedroom
I have really, really dry skin and eczema. This combination makes any room that’s drier than a pool highly problematic for me. Since I found these compact, cute humidifiers, though, my skin has been much happier. Plus, they’re so adorable, even pickier kids won’t be able to say no.
They’ll Be Fighting Over This Cotton Hammock with a Portable Stand
No matter how old your kids get, they’ll never be too old to appreciate or feel spoiled by a freakin’ personal hammock. Lounging, naps, and movies with the fam will be even better in this super cozy, cotton personal hammock. The only issue is taking turns (and that means parents, too).
