This is our BIG week here in Smartyland – our annual holiday toy gift guide. We divvy ’em up by ages and our Smarty bloggers get to work helping Santa figure out who gets what.
We bring you our Gift Guide for Tweens & Teens (these terms are totally interchangeable!), by our Smarty tween & teen team, we brought in the teen experts themselves for this bad boy!
Apple AirPods Pro – Apple AirPods are wicked popular among teens.
Magazine subscription – Let’s bring magazines back!
How about a new bike from our Smarty experts at the Bike Source in Park Road Shopping Center?
Springfree Trampoline. This gift never gets old, for any age:
ENO Hammock. So fun just to hang in the backyard, stacked one on top of the other, super fun and great for sleepovers!
Camp & Adventure Under the Tree!
This is the best grandparents gift EVER. Whether it’s day camp like Camp Thunderbird, dance camp like Jami Masters School of Dance, or overnight camp like Camp Harrison, super popular teen adventure trips like Moondance Adventures, they will all be a hit!
Voice and Music Lessons Charlotte Star Room has the BEST voice lessons in the QC (and if you’ve got a birthday coming up, check out their awesome Pop Star Parties!). They also do video production, so if you’ve got a budding artist or theater lover, some time with the professionals at Charlotte Star Room is the perfect gift. We also love Bold Music Lessons if you’re looking for in-home music lessons. They teach all types of instruments and are a top-rated group of music professionals who are willing to do all the driving for you by coming to YOUR house. The gift of music is always a winner!
Teen Boys
Remote Control Quadcopter Drone with HD Camera – This takes amazing aerial shots and videos as well as doing sweet moves, tricks, flips, and rolls with just one button.
UGG slippers – boys love UGGs too!
Champion Sweatshirts – nothing oozes cool like an old school Champion hoodie!
Razor Ripstik RipSurf Caster Board – The rip surf’s patented design allows riders to carve and cut like a real surfboard, but on dry land.
Sports jersey – NBA, NFL, MLB, 1-2-3 – you get the idea!
Sports: Speaking of sports, you can’t go wrong with sports equipment. A jersey or any merchandise from their favorite player or team will be sure to put a smile on their face! If he is an athlete, ask him if he needs any new equipment (odds are he will, teenage boys tend to be rough, regardless of the sport). Any boy would also love tickets to a professional sports game to see their favorite team (we have the Panthers, the Hornets, the Checkers, the Knights, the Hounds and Independence all right here in the QC!) Fingers crossed the 2021 seasons will be back to normal.
On-Demand TV: Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBOGo are all great subscriptions for teens on your list.
Gym: The Greater YMCA of Charlotte needs our help now more than ever, so put a Y membership in their stockings. Every teen will enjoy that all year-long.
Clothes: This is what we usually end up buying for him when we can’t think of anything else, but clothes can be a great gift! A Vineyard Vines pullover or Patagonia jacket will look great on any guy! Just make sure it is something that he would like to wear instead of something you would like him to wear!
REI: If he’s the outdoorsy type, a trip to REI will do you wonders. Camping, fishing, or hunting equipment can make a great present! You could also plan a trip to take him on where he can try out his new gear!
For his stocking:
Ca$h and food gift cards, boys are always starving: Chick-fil-A, Cookout, Chipotle, McDonald’s, Starbucks – you get the idea!
Teen Girls
LED Photo Hanging Clips with Remote – She will love lighting up her walls.
On Running Shoes – are on trend this year. Like running on clouds.
Drybar The Baby Brush Crush: Heated Straightening Brush – What every teen girls wants/needs on rushed school mornings.
Jo Malone Perfume – just like mom, she’ll enjoy any fragrance you pick for her!
P448 Sneakers – like Golden Goose, but cooler and less expensive (but still pricey :-0)
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Make-Up Eraser Cloths – These cloths remove the toughest makeup with just warm water (including waterproof mascara!)
Glossier Products – for the make-up queen
Shea-Infused Socks – Infused with rich, hydrating shea butter, these super-soft, super-cozy socks keep your feet warm & pampered.
Workout Clothes: Lululemon shorts – all teenagers wear these:
Gift Cards to her fave boutiques and restaurants:
Sephora, Boem, KKBloom, Vestique, Bakersfield Tacos, Paco’s Tacos, Bricktop’s, Brixx, Rico’s Acai, Tupelo Honey, Superica, Jeni’s Ice Cream, and more!
Fitness: We will get back to a new workout normal in 2021. A membership at the Y, her favorite yoga, barre or cycle studio – our faves are Pure Barre, Carolina Barre & Core, Cycle Bar, VIBE5 Yoga & Fitness. Or find one close to your house! Make sure you ask for the student rate!
