Birthday Party Gift Ideas for Tweens
How do you decide what to give as a gift when you’re invited to a birthday party? This age-old question seems to get more and more difficult to answer as technology becomes even more advanced. The hardest market to shop for? Tweens. If you’ve been invited to a tween’s birthday party, you’re in luck because we’ve come up with a few gift ideas that we think will help even the pickiest person have a happy birthday.
Book sets, craft kits, and mini drones – oh my!
According to several media outlets, these types of gifts are all the rage these days. Believe it or not, coloring books and journals are even making a comeback for tween girls and boys too. Check in with your children to find out what the birthday boy or girl seems to like to guide you in making your perfect choice.
An age-appropriate board game
Let’s face it, kids get plenty of screen time. Getting a board game could be a nice change of pace that is interactive for their entire family. Besides, board games have come a long way since the limited choices of Sorry, Monopoly and Chutes and Ladders. Not only are there games that involve multiple people, but there are also now games that are educational, encourage working together, and even ones that have modifications for solo play.
Passes for an activity or adventure experience
Want something that will get the birthday tween moving? Why not consider a couple of hours at your local bowling alley or a day of zip-lining? By giving a gift that involves an activity, your recipient can have another day of celebration with fabulous memories to boot.
Gift cards
This is one gift you truly can’t go wrong with. Getting a gift card to a local mall, the movie theater, a local restaurant, or even a Visa gift card allows the recipient to get whatever they want. And, if nothing else, they can always trade it in on a gift card site.
Gifts to Avoid
Avoid clothing unless you’re 100% sure of the size and styles the recipient would like. Don’t get anything too flashy or expensive. Again, unless you’re sure the recipient will love it, try not to buy anything that’s personalized or engraved as these items often cannot be returned. Finally, be careful of purchasing any food items as gifts due to allergies the recipient may have.
Don’t forget to check in with the parents
Regardless of what you choose to buy, it’s never a bad idea to check in with the parents of the birthday boy or girl. Some parents are a little more strict when it comes to what they want their kids to receive. For example, getting a makeup kit for a tween that a parent deems too young could be controversial. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
If checking in with the parents beforehand is not an option, it’s a smart move to include a gift receipt with your present. This way, no matter what, the guest of honor can either enjoy the present they received or at least be able to trade it in for something else that will enjoy.