This year, the hottest gift items are a technological dream come true for young people ages 8-18, otherwise known as tweens and teens. Just about everything they want is high-tech this year.
Do the research. Be creative. Shopping for tweens and teens does not have to be a budget blowing experience. However, if it's a must have item, consider buying it now to save money and avoid the Christmas madness rush.
Great Gift Ideas for Tweens and Teens
Laptop Computer: If a he or she does not already own one, a laptop is a great gift choice. Now days, it's almost impossible to study or do research and write papers for school without a computer. Having a laptop makes completing projects easier because of its portability. Laptops are priced as low as $300 or can cost as much as $2000 or more. Try to choose a laptop with only the features needed. A good laptop would have at least 2 GB of memory, a CD/DVD player and writer, 7-in-1 media card reader and at least a 6 cell battery that will last about 4.5 hrs on one charge.
iPod Touch: For a hand held version of a laptop computer, consider the iPod Touch. This little $190-$200 gadget is a hand held pocket computer and portable game player all in one. Teens can listen to music, watch movies or TV, serf the web and check their email. It has built in Wi-Fi.
Sony Walkman Mp3 Player: Remember the old Sony walkmans? Walkmans are not just for music now.
The newest one is a $75 8GB MP3 Video Player with a built in FM tuner for radio. It has a long battery life. It can deliver up to 30 hours of music or 4 hours of video on a single charge.
Xbox, Playstation 3: Console game systems are fun gifts the whole family can enjoy. The average cost of one of these systems is about $300. It not only plays games but can be the family DVD player as well. There are a variety of game choices out there: educational, sports,adventure,role playing, board games, even music. The most popular one right now is called Gutar Hero 5 where players can pretend to be a rock star right in their own living room. Game prices range from an average of $20-$60 each.
Nintendo DSi, PSP 3000, PSP Go: For a portable game system that will double as a music and movie or TV player, consider getting one of these. The two most popular are the Nintendo DSi and the PSP 3000. There's also the Apple iPod but it's more of hand held computer and not just a portable game system. Both the Nintendo DSi and PSP 3000 play games and movies. The DSi has a built in camera.
The PSP 3000 is the first integrated portable entertainment system designed to handle multiple applications: music, video, photo, Internet, and wireless connectivity with games as its key feature. The PSP 3000 cost a little more than the Nintendo DSI. The average retail price of the PSP 3000 is about $170 while the DSi is only about $160. The newest version of the PSP is coming out for Christmas. It's the PSP GO and it will retail for about $250. The average game cost about $40 each. Family members as young as 5 can enjoy any of these portable gaming systems.
DVDs and CDs: Consider buying movies and music this year. The average cost of either a CD or a DVD is $10-$20 each. It's sometimes hard to choose CDs for a tween or teen unless they tell you what kind of music they really like. DVDs, on the other hand, are simplier to purchase. With the constant release of new media, it's hard to go wrong with DVDs. Consider buying the whole collection of the Harry Potter Series or Twilight this year.
Gift Cards: Tweens and teens are constantly on the go. One way or another they are social networking all the time. Help young people keep up with their peers. Buy gift cards they can use at restaurants, movie theaters, department stores or anywhere in between. Visa has a gift card that looks like a credit card and can be used anywhere that takes Visa. They'll love it!
A Few More Things to Consider
Make sure to choose age appropriate gifts. People tend to forget that tweens and teens see themselves as young adults.They are caught in the middle between a child and an adult. It can be difficult to choose just the right gift. They love music, games, TV, movies, shopping and hanging out with their friends. Keeping that in mind will make choosing the perfect gift child's play.
Amy Wingfield - Amy, a freelance writer since 1999, has combined her passion for writing and for Christian music.There's always a story behind the ...
