I know some of us got to know each other back when I was pregnant with Henry, and so I will use a gentle tone as I mention that this post is for Henry’s birthday. Henry will soon be able to drive a car.
More pressingly, Henry will soon need birthday gifts to open. He gave me a pretty good list, but it’s all books. I said, “But…are you okay with a birthday present pile that’s all rectangles?,” and he said he didn’t mind if it was rectangle-heavy but he’d prefer if it wasn’t ALL rectangles. Well then, child, I need more ideas.
He likes Dungeons & Dragons, but he’s liked it for years so he already has as many dice sets as he wants, plus the various guides he wants, plus the dungeon master panel thing to hide his materials from the other players, plus a hoodie, plus a t-shirt, plus a stack of the magazines, plus a rugged-looking leather journal. He likes Terry Pratchett, but that’s mostly books, which he has, and he also has an Unseen University t-shirt. He likes books; we’re already getting him books. He likes t-shirts but, especially combined with handmedowns from siblings who ALSO like t-shirts, he has so many t-shirts. He likes candy, and for an adult I might look at Expensive Special Candy, but he is not at that stage, and Snickers and Kit Kats don’t cost very much, so I’ll get him candy but that’s not enough progress, because this is a long-looking paragraph of ideas but all we have gotten out of it is books and candy.
He is a theater kid; he has theater t-shirts; we have gone to plays. I asked him if he wanted one of those binders for saving playbills, and he was not interested. (I considered getting one anyway and filling it with the playbills of plays we’ve gone to, and giving it to him LATER—but I am having enough trouble shopping for CURRENT gifts he might not want, without working on POSSIBLE FUTURE gifts he might not want.) I have tried to get into the Experience Gifts trend, but the thing that stops me is how EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE that is to do?? With the exception of Rob, who wants NO ITEMS FROM THE MATERIAL REALM and so we give him a ticket to a symphony/play and he is happy and relieved, the Experience Gift thing doesn’t currently work for the way we do gifts or the way we do experiences: they come from different parts of the budget, and with different ways of calculating value. Birthdays FOR THE MOST PART involve items from the material realm.
He doesn’t have feelings about brand-name clothes yet, so I can’t buy him overpriced hoodie/shoes he’s been pining for. I’d thought he might like some dapper clothes/accessories (as a younger child he went through a vests/bowties stage, and then a blazer stage), but I discussed it with him and it sounds like he’d be better off going to Goodwill and looking for some fun inexpensive used dapper stuff.
You may remember that when the twins turned 16 we did a Significant Sixteen Gift: the post I just linked to is only about Elizabeth’s gift, which ended up being a birthstone ring; I can’t find any posts about it but we got Edward a watch in the same approximate price range. I had assumed we’d do something like this with Henry, and he and I had several conversations about what he might like (watch? dragon ring? maybe he’d like to get his ears pierced and get some special earrings?) before realizing the idea just wasn’t a good fit for him. It felt weird to both of us to be like “Okay, so then Edward and Elizabeth got a big bonus gift and you won’t get that”—but different things work for different kids, and Henry ends up going to more plays that don’t count as birthday gifts, so it balances out in the end.
Proofreading this post, my takeaway is that it says “Please give me ideas!! But not this or this or this or this or this or this or this or this or this or this or this.” It does not seem like a request that leaves the listener eager to jump in and help.
Well. What if instead this is just a post about ALL the ideas we’ve had for kids in approximately this age range? We can say things that work for the kids we know, even if those ideas don’t work for Me/Henry Specifically: the ideas might very well work for OTHERS of us who are trying to shop for people of this age.
I have considered this Take Bell t-shirt, except for our So Many T-Shirts problem:
(image from Amazon.com)
It doesn’t really work unless your family has played Untitled Goose Game. Speaking of which, that’s my next suggestion for anyone who likes playing video games:
(image from Nintendo.com)
This is one of the very few video games that is fun for the audience as well as for the players. I have laughed and laughed. The game and shirt make a nice bundle; that’s what we gave my nephew for Christmas last year.
At Elizabeth’s suggestion, we gave Henry a practice butterfly knife for Christmas; she said a lot of boys at her school were practicing tricks with them. I was not 100% keen on the idea of some sort of WEAPON, and she rolled her eyes and said it is not like that. He played with it quite a bit for awhile, gave himself a number of knocks on the knuckles, and did not then move on to threatening others with a real knife.
(image from Amazon.com)
This is going to reveal Edward (two years older than Henry) to be a little bit of a nerd—but when he found this $15-on-sale-for-$10 mechanical pencil assortment set in his Christmas stocking, he said “Why is this a STOCKING gift??,” and later said it was one of his favorite gifts of Christmas. (My dad, also a little bit of a nerd, is the one who suggested the set.) I had put it in his stocking because it fell into the category of “Anything practical a kid asks for in December goes into the Christmas stocking,” and Edward had mentioned in early December that he could use a mechanical pencil, and neither of us were sure what size lead he’d want.
(image from Amazon.com)
This cat tarot deck was another popular gift among kids of this approximate age. This is a recommendation not so much for this particular set (though it was enjoyed), but more for taking anything your particular kid is interested in and putting “_____ tarot deck” into a search box, because there are SO MANY TAROT DECKS.
(image from Amazon.com)
These push-up stands were one of my very few successful material-world gifts for Rob:
(image from Amazon.com)
It was a couple years ago. When it was far, far too late to obtain them in time, he said “Oh!! Shoot!! I just had a gift idea: I’ve been wanting push-up stands.” I happened to have a set I’d bought for myself and had not yet opened or used—so I ordered another set for myself, and wrapped the ones I had. He was VERY SURPRISED to unwrap them.
I have had this cheery toast/toaster nightlight friend in my cart for months and months, because I know it is perfect for SOMEONE but I don’t know who yet:
(image from Amazon.com)
I own Toast and it is my favorite gift from this past Christmas. Seriously, my husband and I are strongly contemplating matching Toast tattoos because we love Toast so much.
Five stars for Toast
Also, for a 16 year old, maybe gas cards or a set of gift cards for drive-thrus? I felt like a high roller when I could get anything I wanted at the Dairy Queen.
I think a Lego kit would be fun—- I recently got one that’s “succulents” and am enjoying putting it together (as a slightly nerdy adult). Perhaps there’s one that overlaps with one of his other interests (does he like Star Wars?).
This is such a great idea, there are Legos for every interest now, and I recently saw some on the work desks of FULLY GROWN ADULTS at my husband’s office, so Henry is probably not too old.
I got the orchid set for Christmas and it was fun to put it together but I also love having the completed thing on display far more than I thought I would, similar to having real flowers but without the allergy issues
Yes, my 15yo, who hasn’t been too into legos for a couple of years likes these. He got a bonsai tree for his bday and then asked for an orchid for christmas.
I would go to your local nerdy board game store and ask the employee what would be a good game to get for 16 year old boy who likes to play dungeons and dragons.
Yes! This was going to be my suggestion as well. Also, does he have a Switch, because the newest Zelda game just came out and is getting RAVE reviews.
Boardgames are so fun!!
If ya’ll go this route, I recommend “Terraforming Mars” I enjoy it immensely even though I thought it would be too sciencey. You play as a corporation and use events and tech cards to build up the planet. Also “Mountains of Madness” since he is a theatre kid– you draw cards as your group “climbs” the mountain and you have to coordinate a code while suffering from “madness” (like not being able to say verbs or having to touch shake hands with someone before they talk to them, and various sillier ones). Dinogenics (Build your own Jurassic Park) is fun but I think it was a kickstarter game might not be available.
For a fancy sixteen gift, if he liked mechanical pencils, what about a fountain pen or a special (maybe monogrammed/engraved) pen/pencil set?
A lock picking set. Seriously. They sell them on Amazon. It’s a lot of fun for kids who like puzzles. And maybe teaches a valuable skill?
There is also an Adidas shoe Lego set that I got one of my kids for a 15th birthday present, and it was a hit.
My son asked for a lock picking kit when he was 16 and he LOVED it so much. We also got him a few locks to practice on. It actually came in very handy when we lost the keys to a lock.
Yes, a lock picking set is a great idea! My wife was interested in “locksport” for a while, and it was such a fun thing to bring out at parties. Plus you can buy cheap locks to practice on because they’re the easiest to pick!
Definitely following this one, as have hard to buy for grandson turning 16 in August. Will check with my daughter to see which are most favorable
Oooh, I know! The new Zelda is getting fabulous reviews. Tears of the Kingdom.
Yes! It was released on my son’s last day of high school, and he has been playing it pretty much non-stop since Friday.
Something that comes up a lot in RPGs with creative Dungeon Masters is PROPS.
Fake beards, fake swords, wigs, hats and masks that embody a character — maybe even a container like a cauldron that you could fill with candy. This is an area where Etsy excels. There’s a lot of pressure in the coming years to have a great Halloween costume or to pull together a Ren Faire outfit (or there was, I have not been a youth in a Minute.) and having statement pieces to build off of is very useful.
It’s also useful to have props like thick paper and envelopes, wax seals, odd beads and charms, and things that can be used as maps.
Socks? My teen son loves unique socks, and they are not findable in good shape at a thrift store. (Cats are the preferred theme at our house.) A wallet, for the new drivers license? Or a stick-on phone case pocket for the same? I also like the gift card idea, my teens love that. Panera mac and cheese must taste better when purchased by gift card. If he is a puzzle person, there are cool 3D wooden puzzle kits that my daughter likes (grand piano and hot air balloon were her favorites). They aren’t really puzzles, more like building kits. Good luck! Tell us how it turns out!
Two of my three boys love socks — I used to send seasonal ones in care packages to my oldest, and I’ve gotten ones linked to TV shows my kids like (Schrute Beet Farms socks, for example).
There are a couple of books with the puzzles (or sorts of puzzles) potential Betchley Park employees had to solve to prove their worth. I know it’s a rectangle, but maybe it’s not as rectangular as a regular rectangle.
Does Edward cook at all? I’ve given people “make your own hot sauce” and “make your own soda” kits.
How about a Book Experience? Like a gift card from each bookstore within a certain radius? One of the local libraries has a used book for sale section so that could be added, in a pinch? Gift card for a college bookstore for where the sibs go? Oh, or a book of the month subscription?
I was all BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS and could hardly read the remainder but I did and so I’m trying to find book-Adjacent ideas…
BOOKS.
Lolsigh
Would he enjoy an escape room type puzzle? Someone gave me Box One, by Neil Patrick Harris. I think you can buy it from Target. I just started it, but it’s making me very happy so far!
Does he like board games?
One Deck Dungeon is a solo/coop game that might appeal to D&D players. I love the art, which features non-sexualized female characters for *all* the characters. Also it’s small and only about $20. There is also a very slick adaptation on Steam, if he prefers to play on the computer.
So Clover is a fun word game that would appeal to anyone who likes Codenames, or maybe Taboo. Would he have someone to play with?
A 1 year subscription to Board Game Arena is about $30. If one person has a paid subscription, they can play any game on the site with friends/family, even if those folks just have a free account. This includes casual party games like Just One (by the same folks who did So Clover) as well as tons of popular board games. You can also play w/ random online folks, but I don’t have personal experience with that.
Could he use a nice game controller? I love my PowerA Spectra (for my Windows laptop) because it lights up in pretty colors, and it’s cheaper than the official Xbox ones. It makes PC gaming much better, although if he likes the type of game where you walk around and look at things he probably already has a controller.
Does he need bookends? I gave a Portal-themed pair (from Etsy, 3d printed sculpture of a player halfway through two portals) to a gamer I know.
I know folks already said Lego but I’m just going to point out that they have some really cute Lord of the Rings BrickHeadz models out now, for $15-20.
I don’t know if he watches Jill Bearup on YouTube, but she has a great set of Merch, including sweatshirts and aprons that say, “Not Actually Armour” and “Just Stab Me Now”. Admittedly, those are not jewelry-type presents but…
What about a pocket watch, with a fob and whatnot? Or a nice fountain pen, since he likes mechanical pencils? Or a briefcase a la The Blues Brothers for him to hold his DMing stuff in?
Happy birthday, Henry! Speaking as a former Theater Kid who is now a Theater Adult, I am happy to hear that Henry has taken an interest in it!
Does he have a favorite play or musical? If it’s one that’s currently playing on Broadway or on a national tour, you can probably find merchandise from the show online. (Not just t-shirts but posters, coffee mugs, water bottles, etc. I’ve even seen umbrellas.) Playbill.com has official merch but it can be pricey, so you could also check Etsy for fan-made/unofficial stuff. (Etsy is also good for shows that aren’t currently running on Broadway and might not have official merch.)
I’ve been coveting a bag from Scenery Bags for ages and ages. They’re a company that makes bags and other accessories out of recycled backdrops from Broadway shows. Some of them are probably more feminine than what Henry would want, but the smaller ones could work as pencil cases. They are a “main gift” level of expensive, though.
This might be too close to the “binder for storing playbills” idea, but one year when I was around Henry’s age, my parents bought me a small poster for my favorite musical and had it framed along with our tickets from when we saw it. Maybe something like that would appeal more than a binder, since he could hang it on his wall and look at it all the time, instead of keeping it put away on a bookshelf?
My dad gave out Rocketbook notebooks for Christmas last year and they were a huge hit with artists and nerds alike, young and old. You can write or draw in it and then scan the page QR code to upload it to Google Drive or OneNote or what have you.
If Henry will be getting his driver’s license right away, what about a gift card to his favorite fast food place/coffee shop so he can go on his own?
One D&D thing I did not see in your list of things he already owns was a dice tower. They are used to ensure unmanipulated dice throws – fashioned like an actual castle tower, the inside has a structure that leads to an outside element where the dice land, without anyone being able to influence how they fall. They are a fun accessory.
If he likes Terry Pratchett, there’s a good chance he would like the book Good Omens (written by Pratchett and Neil Gaiman together), which, I know, another rectangle, BUT there is a great mini series adaptation that came out on Prime and that you can buy as DVD-set (yes, also a rectangle, but a different KIND of rectangle, which should count for something). It has David Tennant and Michael Sheen playing the two demons and they are crushing it. The series really is so well done and very entertaining, I can recommend it without reservations. It also was so well received a few years back that they are currently making a second part, due to come out later this year. Which might even make for a convenient follow-up Christmas present, or birthday present next year.
Another Pratchett-gift could be a version of the mimic-chest from the first Discworld adventures. I am sure there are tons of options ranging from look-alike versions made to hold keepsakes all the way to tricked out animatronic versions that snap at your fingers if you want to open them, with convenient variations in price point.
Something else again that I know I would have appreciated at that age is a pocket knife, specifically an Opinel one. They are simple but excellent, both really cheap and something that he’ll likely have for the rest of his life. I’d always go for the carbon instead of stainless steel, since it’s sharper and holds its edge much better. The carbon does rust if it’s not taken care of, but that also means he’ll learn some knife care as well. And it honestly is sufficient to wipe the blade down after you cut an apple. I think I have the size #08.
And looking up the sizes, I have just now found out that there is a picnic set of this knife which comes with spoon and fork bits that attach to the knife, which would be convenient to keep in my handbag as well and which I now want. And might actually buy. This also is something that I would have loved as a teen, because it neatly hits the useful/gadget middle ground I have always been enthusiastic for.
https://www.opinel.com/en/nomad-cooking/picnic-plus-complete-set
My 17-year-old son and I played the goose game together! We loved it!!
Since he will be driving soon, gas gift cards would be greatly appreciated. So would gift cards to any fast food places he will be able to drive himself to.
Maybe you could gift him and some friends some time at an Escape Room venue; that seems like it would be a lot of fun.
Been thinking someone in my life needs this: a subscription to the Fantastic Strangelings Book Club. https://www.nowherebookshop.com/fantastic-strangelings-book-club
Ooohhh. This is so fun looking.
Henry sounds like someone I would like to hang out with!
Maybe some book-adjacent gifts? Book plates, book stand, book ends, book marks, special editions, signed editions?
I second the suggestions for costumes, either D&D related or otherwise. A good wig or cape is a gift that keeps on giving.
There are some great role playing games that aren’t D&D but use the same game mechanics. Star Wars RPG’s are fun and easy and really dig into the Star Wars world in a very fun way. We have the Edge of the Empire and Age of Rebellion series and they’re both great.
One teen gift that never seems to fail is one of those galaxy light projectors. They were super hot during the pandemic but continue to pop up on my friend’s kid’s gift lists. I impulse bought one during an Amazon flash sale and at the age of 38 will frequently pull it out with friends after a couple of drinks and we all lay around in the living room staring at the ceiling. It’s a good time for the whole family is what I’m trying to say.
For candy, perhaps one of those mix bags of different flavors of KitKats? You can turn it into a game of “guess the KitKat flavor” which is plenty fun.
I don’t know how fancy he gets with his D&D and you mentioned he has enough dice but this place has unique stuff, including mechanical pencils: https://wyrmwoodgaming.com/
They also have a really cool tarot deck: Corrupted Tarot. I bought it after staring at it in my cart since Oct. I restrained myself from buying the fancier version.
Zelda is a great idea unless he already got it for himself the minute it released.
For my 16th birthday my parents gave me a nice key chain with a meaningful ornament on it, and a copy of the key to the car. My aunt and uncle gave me a keychain and either a gas card or a $20 with a note saying it was for gas. (Couldn’t start learning to drive until turned 16 in PA. Not sure if that’s a similar situation for you or if he’s already learning.)
The sixteen year old boys I know have gotten:
Weight bench and dumb bells (<$200 on Amazon)
Or if they are getting a car (new or hand me down): car wash coupons, oil, filters, ramps, creeper seat (ie stuff to work on/take care of the car).
A more affordable “experience” gift might be the birthday person + 3 friends going to an escape room.
My kid is also very into Discworld (also D&D) and doesn’t like most gifts, but a couple of posters from https://www.discworldemporium.com/ were a big hit last Christmas so I just want to plug that site. The posters are great quality and amazingly detailed, and the site has a bunch of other stuff (games, puzzles, figurines, socks) as well. However it’s not cheap, and furthermore is based in the UK, so you have to take into account the extra shipping cost and delivery time.
Angus also used to say he would like gifts rather than just money, but gave few ideas. It was annoying, but it’s also extra gratifying when you get it right. The push-up stands story is awesome, and I LOVE that toaster nightlight.
For Angus at sixteen I assume it would have been video games, weights, chocolate, – at some point before he left for college I got him a mini-fridge for his downstairs bedroom and that was a big hit
This was the best-received D & D shirt I ever gave, but yeah, so many t-shirts:https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/You-Reach-Out-To-Push-The-Orc-Off-The-Bridge-by-ryanhcs/35118710.FB110
I didn’t realize the tarot thing until my daughter got Drag Queen Tarot cards, which, awesome.
A hit with teens in my life this past Christmas was a Universal Yums box of treats from other countries. It feels like something you may have already thought to do with your kids but maybe not. Also I think it’s mean to try to gaslight us into believing Henry will be 16 when he’s clearly still a tiny child wearing tiny clothing from The Children’s Place.
when my now-18 was around that age, the biggest hit (other than expensive clothing, which mine *did* appreciate) was a set of LED strip lights for his room that made it into more of a man-cave than a kid’s bedroom
for my D&D fan, a giant soap in the shape of a d20 die was a funny find at the local game/comic shop
IKEA
Do some
Good value led light strips now!
I was going to suggest this Terry Pratchett board game! It’s discontinued but if you can find a second hand one on eBay it is very satisfying to play if you know the books. https://www.board-game.co.uk/product/discworld-ankh-morpork/
Have you shopped at ABE books? It has first edition, signed books from the author you mentioned in a birthday present price range.
Japan has some really odd flavored Kit Kats. You can get an assortment of the odd ones sent via Amazon.
You’ve had experience getting several kids off to college now. Is there something that is gift worthy at 16 that would be cool to take off to college in a few years? Small TV for his room, AirPods, etc?
My 16 year old is a theater nerd and we bought 4 of these shadow boxes from her favorite plays. They turned out beautiful and were a meaningful but not super expensive way to update her room decor at the same time.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/786929851/broadway-collage-shadowbox-decor-for?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=broadway+shadowbox&ref=sr_gallery-1-7&sts=1&organic_search_click=1
Freeze-dried candy. I have learned by watching Prepper Tik Tok that prepper moms like to buy a freeze dryer to preserve a basement full of vegetables, but then they freeze-dry candy and sell it on Etsy as a side-hustle. I recently bought my sister some freeze-dried skittles and the whole family was entertained, and you can also get Nerd ropes, starbursts, gummies, etc.
My nearly 16 year old (side sob: yes, found you when you were pregnant with Henry and feel like it was really me who grew up with you; weep, sniffle) is also into theatre/film and asking for a fancy camera, editing equipment, and microphone. Feel like all of those things have their own scary corners of the internet where people feel really strongly about the *only* way to go.
My son – who is younger – wants a ukulele which seems like a fun gift for any age.
My sixteen-year-old plays guitar; so, one of his main gifts was a pedal for his electric guitar. He’s been playing “Smells Like Teen Spirit” a lot and it sounds amazing, I gotta say.
Once my kids hit tween stage, “upgrades to bedroom furnishings/decor,” e.g., new desk chair, not-rocket-themed quilt, became a helpful category of gift ideas. Probably because we cheaped-out on the stuff we originally bought for their room. ,This has continued to be useful into their teens.
I have a friend who makes dice and DnD adjacent stuff and she makes some cool tumblers that Henry might like. Does he like to take drinks with him? A “Tears of my Players” tumbler could be a good gift! Here is her site:
https://tiffaniestreasurechest.square.site/shop/Resin-Tumblers/7?page=1&limit=60&sort_by=category_order&sort_order=asc
For an “experience” idea, I am taking my own soon-to-be 16 year old and her (mixed-gender) friend group to an amusement park as a birthday present.
Echoing the LED strip lights. I’m adding ideas here not because I think they will be good for Henry but because they may spark an idea for someone else: 16 year olds I have known have liked slightly upgraded outdoor equipment, like backpacks, Camelbak water bottles, hiking shoes, climbing equipment such as holds or carabiners, smartwool socks, and so forth. Sports equipment was also welcomed: batting gloves, a new bat or glove for a particular position, a watch with a good timer, etc.
Dnd mini figures, model paints and brushes? Would go down a treat around here.
16th b-day presents for my kids, verbatim from my blog. Some won’t be applicable.
Kid #1: We got him a charger he doesn’t have to share, which should cut down on family friction, and a set of extra soft jersey sheets in light blue because the flannel sheets we got him for Christmas were an unexpected hit. There were also several iTunes cards from various relatives, totaling and impressive sum of money, a pair of green and white striped summer pajamas, and two Ursula LeGuin books, because Noah and I are reading the Earthsea Cycle…I also bought a copy of Stephen King’s The Gunslinger because the Dark Tower series is next up
Kid #2: Their main gift from us was their legal name change, but we also got them a book they wanted (Song of Achilles), some gourmet black cocoa powder, two kinds of chai, and a pair of pajama bottoms with strawberries on them…They also got gift certificates and money from both grandmothers and my sister. The money is supposed to be to put toward a pair of Doc Martens [Note: they spent it on other things.]…several pairs of earrings. The ones North liked best have little astronauts on them.
My about-to-be-15-year-old only ever wants money and his birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks. However, he is very keen on frogs lately, so I bought him a cute tree frog painting on a 5x5x2 block from a local art show I attended recently, and I’m going to give that to him along with some money which he asked for. It’s one of a kind and small and portable enough that I could see him taking it with him when he goes off to college to personalize his space. Coincidentally, his sister went to a paint-your-own ceramics place and painted a frog onto a tile for him. I realize this is very specific to my kid, but I thought I might as well mention it.
I find that there are some niche subscription boxes that can be fun (there are nerdy ones if he likes things associated with DnD even if not the exact game) and there are DEFINITELY candy ones. Plus, everyone likes getting mail! And you can do just a month or two, depending on what it costs. I have a similarly nerdy, easy going brother, and one year for Christmas I ordered him just a month or a subscription box that came with sodas and candy from different places around the world. He and his friends (the next time they got together to play games!) got to try all the weird treats and drinks and I think it was a fun experience for them!
On the off chance you still need ideas, and since someone else mentioned fun socks, I wanted to suggest a subscription to the Awesome Sock Club. All their profits go to charity, so it’s kind of like two gifts in one.
I was just going to say the same thing! I’ve had a subscription to awesome socks for ages now & it’s such a fun surprise every month. My daughter usually tries to claim them,but my son & I also love them so we try to share…so many fun patterns.