Please help, what do you give adolescents for Christmas besides money?

[StillCounting]

I have five-million-and-three godchildren and second cousins to buy for, many of whom (girls and boys) are now entering the 11 to 14 age bracket ...

No experience myself of teenagers as yet, and as we live abroad we only see them once or twice a year, so I am totally stumped as to what they would like!!

What do you buy your teenage children for Christmas?

Any advice gratefully received ....

I'm afraid I have to go down the vouchers route with the boys, which I abhor as it feekls lazy, but their parents assure me that that is what they want.

The girls get girly stuff - necklaces, makeup etc.

i-tunes vouchers, nice aftershave (for the boys) and perfume for the girls, um a voucher for a haircut at a good salon

Thank you LilRedWG and CherryMonster

those are very good suggestions

Please keep 'em coming ...

i tunes vouchers
cinema tickets/vouchers
girls easier than boys,makeup ,bodyshop stuff etc.

Thank you again Frazzled....agree that girls are much easier than boys ...

I think I may go down the voucher route (and will certainly reserve that option for future birthdays/Christmases) but it's sometimes a bit awkward ordering them from outside UK. In future, I will remember to pick them up when I am in Blighty ....

Also, I must confess to not really knowing what exactly what an i-tune voucher is [old fogey emoticon] although I have some idea, and I'm not entirely sure what would be compatible with equipment they have ....[although am grateful for idea because will take notes next time I visit!!]

Any other ideas anyone please?

Subscription to Viz (get parental permission!)
A ukulele (£20ish, easy as a recorder but cooler)
Toiletry set for men
Shakeaway voucher if they live nr a town with one
CD of a band you think everyone needs to hear

I'd be tempted to get a humourous book about coping with teenage stuff, esp for boys.
Make up brushes for girls (I was always too embarassed to buy and nobody ever thought I might want some!) Try The Bookpeople.

Can you get iTunes vouchers in Euros? I'm often stuck for ideas for my nephew in Amsterdam - I usually get him a DVD or book but he's music-mad so I'd love to get something along those lines. I tried to get a voucher from Ticketmaster that he could use in The Netherlands but it was impossible.

Last year I bought Play.com gift vouchers.

They arrived by email so I could just forward it on to the my sister in law for printing and presenting!

They seemed to go down well with both boys and girl, age 12 and 16.

Also free postage on whatever they bought.

This year i-tunes vouchers all round, I think.

Depending on how much you want to spend, how about a magazine subscription? 'Stuff' magazine is very popular with my dneph.

This is quite a good website for gadgets - I want one of those

I have a similar problem, my nephews are coming up to 13 and 10 (I think) and I also live overseas. I was thinking of buying them t-shirts, but am terrified of buying "uncool" stuff!! Wii games? Book vouchers? Books you think they should read? (I bought the older one The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and a book on being a teenager last year).

Spot lotion?

But that has reminded me I must find out from their mum what they actually want!

Thank you so much:

StewieGriffin'sMum PointsettiaBouquets Wilbur DaftApeth and
Claraquack

Some great ideas to follow up there ... much appreciated ... thank you!!

It is difficult isn't it ... there's a definite gap in the market after ages 9/10 .....

I usually buy clothes but am terrified like you Claraquack of buying something 'uncool'
Will investigate 'Boy in Striped PJs' - thank you

The Play.com site looks really good - thank you DaftApeth and the fact that vouchers can be sent my e-mail is a real bonus!

Wilbur - I'll try and find out if itunes vouchers are available - I assume they must be but I very rarely go in to those sorts of shops ... will keep my eyes peeled though ...

Pointsettia - make up brushes great idea (and light to post) and some of the boys might be just at the age where "after-shave" is actually cool and exciting!! Intrigued by Ukelele and Shakeaway too ... thanks

StewiesGriffinsmum -THANK YOU so much for the itunes explanation - relieved to know it's one size fits all and thanks for confirming that Amazon vouchers are available from overseas - that's an immediate help ! Also, very good idea about leisure centre/cinema subscription ...

Getting a bit more enthused about this now instead of dreading it!!

Plus pubescent boys tend to smell somewhat.

Teenage girls like Lush stuff.

Teenage boys like smelly stuff too, Bart Simpson sets?

Trendy pyjamus? DD likes the little pj sets in La Senza and I think they are doing an offer on-line at the minute, they come boxed etc! I think it was La Senza. I'll have a look as I meant to look for dd.

here it is

But unfortunately sold out but they say the offer is still in the shops.

I just asked ds 13.11 about the smellies and he said no! He said money! (But then he would lol).

Not being a lot of help!

Boots 3 for 2s sets.
lynx, Adidas, FCUK, smelly sets for boys
For girls DD likes the new Gok Wan stuff, FCUK, Ted Baker, any makeup.

Or what about a poster of a band or movie that they like and fill the tube with sweets, get a tin of Celebrations or minature heroes. That shouldnt be to expensive to send overseas.

Indeed Pointsettia

Thank you so much Monty27 (and your ds!) for the advice!! My nephew loves receiving money so I don't know why I am fussing really ....

But that's a good idea about the pjs

And some more good ideas (especially poster) tube, from you TeamCullen, many thanks

I think I am finally getting there thanks to all these suggestions!!

Def Itunes gift vouchers or this site has quite a few cool gadget ideas

be careful if buying make-up my daughter was bought some by her aunty last year and took an allergic reaction to it make sure they can wear anything.
New look vouchers are good as most areas have one.
I get teenage boys vouchers for GAME.

Ask their parents what the current musical/film/celebrity obsession is (I am thinking Twilight here! ) and get something related.

I always loved getting crafty or art stuff, but then I was into art and not as much into makeup etc.

OOhh, just returned to this thread to find yet more suggestions ..; thank you!

Will check out that site thanks Crystabelle

and yes, I should make some clandestine calls to parents BertieBotts while the teens are at school ... thanks for the advice ... I used to love art and craft stuff too

Have noted the warning about make-up Borderslass - thank you - have already invested in some lip glosses but luckily non-allergenic kind ... Thanks for other ideas too