Gear

Birthday Gifts Your 13-Year-Old Will Love

Shopping for a 13-year-old isn't easy. Here's your way in.

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Once upon a time, your kid’s birthday gifts were as simple as stuffed animals and toy trains. Now, as they embark on that whole adolescent thing, give them something they’ll covet — we rounded up our favorites at every price point.

Gift Ideas for a 13-Year-Old: Board Blazers LED Underglow Skateboard Lights

When did skateboards take over the world? We’re not sure, but teens will dig these slick lights to add to their skateboards (or scooters, if that’s not so 6th grade).

Buy Now $20

Gift Ideas for a 13-Year-Old: Polaroid Snap Touch Instant Digital Camera

Mom and dad will be jealous of this upgraded version of their now-vintage (sigh) Polaroid that jazzes up snapshots with borders, filters, and digital stickers. Print your pictures or connect with the Polaroid app for more options.

Buy Now $166

Gift Ideas for a 13-Year-Old: Glamping Hub Gift Card

With 30,000 treehouses, tipis, yurts, cabins, and more sweet pads to choose from, new teenagers will rejoice in the power of picking vacation digs. And you’ll be glad they’re still down to hang out with you. (That secluded, riverfront Maine treehouse probably helped your case.)

Buy Now $75

Gift Ideas for a 13-Year-Old: Linkt Craft Kits

Jumpstart your teen’s creativity with this box full of everything they need to make necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. (The kit also offers a subtle lesson in generosity when the recipient sees the joy of gifting their own creations to others.)

Buy Now $20

Gift Ideas for a 13-Year-Old: Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Parent Program

Conservationists in the making will enjoy this program where teens will receive a package on animals like African penguins, beluga whales, green sea turtles, and more. The feel-good present also includes educational info on the species and how to get involved with ocean conservation.

Buy Now $75

Gift Ideas for a 13-Year-Old: The Little Market Spa Packages

Featuring great bath additions like candles, soaking salts, and sugar scrubs, you may want to pick one up for your wife, too. Yes, this will pair well with that spa party or makeup tutorial class she’s inevitably clamoring for to fête the big 1-3.

Buy Now $54

Gift Ideas for a 13-Year-Old: mPie

Got a budding engineer at home? This kit helps teach the basics of circuitry and hardware components in an accessible way.

Buy Now $99

Gift Ideas for a 13-Year-Old: WTFact Scratch Map

For the middle schooler who can tick off cities in Malaysia, your globetrotter will appreciate this giant map filled with scratch-off trivia.

Buy Now $35

Gift Ideas for a 13-Year-Old: Q-BA-MAZE 2.0: Ultimate Stunt Set

If your minor can solve a Rubik’s Cube like it ain’t no thang, he or she will love this critical-thinking puzzle of interlocking pieces.

Buy Now $130

Gift Ideas for a 13-Year-Old: Overwatch MVP Backpack

If you have a young gamer who’s a fan of Overwatch, they’ll be psyched to get this sleek backpack that fits their laptop for gaming on-the-go.

Buy Now $55

Gift Ideas for a 13-Year-Old: Altec Lansing Baby Boom Speaker

Ideal for a son or daughter who loves hiking or spending time outside, this powerful speaker is waterproof, shockproof, and basically everything-proof. It comes with a carabiner to hook onto bags and is available in a bunch of funky color combos.

Buy Now $30

Gift Ideas for a 13-Year-Old: RampShot

Your adolescent may not be tailgating (you hope) but they’ll go wild for this “corn hole on steroids-” type game for endless hours of backyard or beachfront fun.

Buy Now $60

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