by Sarah Pflugradt
Let’s face it – teens are hard to shop for. Cash is always king, but giving a tangible gift says that you are paying attention to what they want. Gift giving is a little different for everyone, but typically the big gift giving holidays and birthdays call for giving something special – something they would not get any other time of year.
Pro-Tip: Most of the brands that teens want can be found at The Exchange (AAFES) or the Navy Exchange (NEX) for 10-20% cheaper with no tax. AND they will ship to your house.
Note: There are no affiliate links in this post – no money is made from your clicks.
Top 10 Gifts for Teen Girls
1. Birkenstocks
Who would have thought these German shoes would be taking over the United States. While most of wish we would have kept our Birks from the 90s (vintage?), they have made a comeback in a big way…with a big price tag.
The top 3 Birkenstock styles on the wish list this year: Boston, EVA, Arizona



2. Kendra Scott Necklace
Jewelry is always a good gift, but you don’t want to spend a lot on your teen that might still be learning how to care for nice things. At an affordable $55 for this birthstone necklace, you’ll score points with this one.

3. Hoodies
Teens are into comfort, and who can blame them. Hoodies are here to stay and last forever. It’s a great gift for a teen of any age.
Gap, White Fox, and Abercrombie are all popular this year.



4. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
Leave it to the teens to discover the newest beauty finds. This lip balm comes in 7 colors and is sure to become a backpack staple.

5. On Sneakers
The teen vote for these sneakers is high. There are so many different kinds of On sneakers, you might have to do some detective work to find out which style your teen loves the most. (Hint: These are much cheaper on NEX and BX websites).

6. ALOHA Collection Totes
This is sure to be a gift that is as unique as your girl! A popular gift in Hawai’i, a women-founded company, and a company that gives back. Check them out here.

7. Stanley Tumbler
How is the Stanley tumbler a cult classic? The origins are alive somewhere in the millennial mom group and have gravitated down to teens. Grab your teen a hot new color and be happy for hydration!

8. Experience
This was a popular gift when parents were polled. If you really know that your child will value an experience, go for it. We gifted our daughter Hamilton tickets for her birthday one year and it was a huge surprise — here are some ideas!
- Movie theater ticket or monthly memberships
- Tickets to their favorite Broadway or Off-Broadway show
- An Escape Room
- Tickets to a Theme park
- An Art Class
- A baking or cooking class
9. New Tech
New tech is never out of style if you’re looking for that “big” gift for your teen. If you’re a tech family, then you’re connected to each other and that helps you stay organized and happy. Maybe you have a teen going to college and a new laptop is needed. Teens who want the newest gear, new AirPods, or a new smartwatch might get big smiles when they open their presents.



10. Feed Their Hobby
Teenage girls have a WIDE variety of hobbies, it’s impossible to name them all — you can nurture their love for their hobby by getting them something special that they wouldn’t buy on their own. Here are some ideas:
The Makers
Sewing Machine (Check out this inexpensive one online at the NEX) + Gift card to JOANN Fabric
Ninja Ice Cream Maker (a bit of a splurge, but just think of the fun!)
Fancy Sprinkles kit
Athletes
Mikasa Glow in the Dark Volleyball
Chicken Legs running shorts
Nike Softball Glasses
Jolyn Swimsuit for practice
Arts
Music lovers will love their own personal record player + a record of their favs (Taylor Swift anyone?)
Customize their own water bottle for around $20 at Nalgene – these water bottles last forever.
100 Songs Every Theater Nerd Should Know – Perfect game for the theater kid in your life.