When your kids grow out of toys, it becomes harder to think of gifts for birthdays and Christmas. Here are some gift ideas that have been big hits at our house with our active outdoorsy teens and pre-teens.
Personalized Water Bottles
Everyone loves having a good water bottle. Find one in a great color and personalize it with a few cool stickers. You can find stickers for any hobby/passion on etsy.com. (Plan to spend about $20.)
Spike Ball
This is a great game that is easy to store and haul around. It’s a favorite lawn game at our house, especially with teens and adults. (Spike Ball sets cost $40.)
Dodge Balls
A good set of foam dodge balls can be used for countless games and activities. You’ll be surprised how often you’ll pull them out. It’s a great thing to have as a youth group leader for when an activity gets cancelled at the last minute. (These cost about $50.)
Giant Sling Shot
We’ve used this giant sling shot so many times. It shoots water balloons, dodge balls, stuffed animals, potatoes, and mini pumpkins. (At least, those are the things we have shot with it.) We’ve used it for surprise birthday attacks on friends, at school carnivals, and to shoot vegetables at targets across a field. Buy two if you want to have battles or competitions with teams. (Plan to spend around $20.)
Nerf Guns
These babies are synonymous with classic fun. A Nerf battle never fails to delight the kids at our house. Everyone builds their bases/forts and the war begins. Teenagers seem to love Nerf play every bit as much as little kids. (Prices vary from $10-50.)
Hammocks
We put two fence posts in our yard near a big tree so our kids can hook their hammocks up whenever they like. So many books have been read in these hammocks! They’re also just really fun to play in. Our kids have figured out how to do all kinds of tricks twisting and turning inside. (You can find hammocks for $15-30.)
Frisbee Golf
If you have a frisbee golf course near your house, you might want to try this fun leisurely sport. It’s more challenging than it looks but it’s accessible to all ages and physical fitness levels. (The set pictured above costs $20.)
Longboards
After you watch “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” you’ll know why you need one of these. Most people think they are easier to ride than classic skateboards. (These vary a lot in price, starting at $55.)
Double Dutch Jump Ropes
These are fun to take with you to any gathering. You’ll be surprised how many people have jump rope skills and how much fun it is to watch. Make sure you buy two ropes. We like the 16 ft length. ( Our set cost $24.)
Tandem Bike
We found a used tandem bike for $200. It was money well-spent. Seriously, we all love riding it. It’s just impossible to feel sad while riding on a bicycle built for two.
Pickleball Equipment
If you haven’t tried pickleball yet, what are you waiting for? Pickleball courts are popping up all over the country. It’s a sport where grandma, dad, and little sister can all compete. It’s really fun. You can learn how to play in a few minutes by watching tutorials on YouTube. (You can get a set of two paddles for $20 or four for $40.)
Indoor Hammock Swing
Our cousins have this swing hanging from the ceiling in their toy room. You can do all kinds of cool twists and turns and dream of being an aerialist or acrobat one day. It would be a fun addition to a teenager’s bedroom. Very cool. (These start at $40 online but you can get really fancy ones for much more. Our cousins have a heavy duty version from funandfunction.com called the raindrop swing. It cost $300 but it will last forever!)
Sleds/Tubes
A tractor tube is really fun for sledding and floating. The bigger the tube, the more people you can fit on it! (I can’t put a price on this. It all depends on where you buy them.)
Wearable Blankets
My teens love these wearable blankets. There are several brands. Two of my kids have the Comfy. Our cousins have the Huggle. They wear them almost every day. (You can find these for $25-40.) After a day of active fun, it’s always good to come home and get comfy!
Card & Board Games
Check out our favorite card and board games.
