This year we’re “adopting” two kids from our local Christmas-supplementation organization, which is something I did for the first time last year. There are ways in which it was so hectic and stressful (I don’t remember if I talked about it last year, but it was things like the perfect gift I had in mind sold out unexpectedly early, and then I ordered something else and FORGET TO ACTUALLY CLICK THE ORDER BUTTON SO I GOT TO THE DAY I WAS BUNDLING UP THE ITEMS AND REALIZED I WAS SHORT THE MAIN GIFT AND HAD TO RUN TO THE PHYSICAL STORE IN A SMALL SNOWSTORM *PANT PANT*), but overall it ended up being one of my top favorite parts of Christmas. I LOVE thinking about gifts and deciding about gifts, and I also LOVE being The Good Student and diligently checking off every single part of the organization’s instruction sheet. I imagine the people in charge making little notes next to my name about what a good job I did.
And in general, I find it fairly easy to get over the “But I don’t KNOW!!” hurdle in situations like this: everyone involved knows I don’t know; there is no way for me to know; no one else in my position knows either; this is why the organization asks us to send gift receipts. I will do the best I can, and I will buy nice-quality things, and I will trust the Christmas Fairies to guide my choices.
Each child in the program makes a little wish list. I would like to solicit suggestions/opinions from those who know more than I do on some of these wish list gift ideas. Last year we got an older teenager who wanted a hoodie, so I had five resident experts to consult; we also had a younger child who wanted Minecraft and Lego things, and again I had multiple in-house experts. This year I have a 14-year-old boy who wants slippers, a terrarium kit, and fidget toys; and a 10-year-old boy who wants slime, art supplies, and frog-related things.
Feel free to comment anything at all on any of those things. But also I have some more specific questions/concerns:
• Where do cool teenagers shop for their cool clothes? I would like to start there for the slippers. I am finding a lot of stodgy adult options online.
• I am interested in suggestions for good-quality, enduringly-fidgetworthy fidget toys. I would like to spend more money on fewer/better fidget toys, rather than getting a big set of cheaper ones.
• If you saw “slime” on someone’s list, would you assume slime or would you assume slime-making supplies? I guess I am assuming finished slime, but I am not sure: my kids missed the slime trend, so I have NO IDEA where to start. I might assume that someone who likes slime already has the basic slime? It appeals to me to get the Hot New Slime This Season or whatever; it also appeals to get the BEST slime. I just KNOW some of you know what the best slime is. Tell me what the best slime is, and I will buy it.
• The trouble with “frog-related things” is that someone who likes frogs probably already has an assortment of frog things, and duplication would be unhappy. Also, I know from my own children that, for example, a child who likes dinosaurs might have VERY STRONG OPINIONS about the SORT of dinosaurs (in our case: REAL dinosaurs, no cartoony/cute dinosaurs). Well. These are the limitations of this assignment. I wish I could ask follow-up questions, but I cannot. Maybe a frog Squishmallow? Is there a “best” frog squishmallow? A NEW frog Squishmallow the child wouldn’t have yet? What other frog things might a 10-year-old enjoy? A frog t-shirt? A frog throw pillow? A frog book? A frog Christmas tree ornament? A frog towel? Frog stickers? Why does this form not include the child’s favorite color(s)?
(image from Amazon.com)
• Art supplies is similarly difficult. What art supplies does the child already have? Is this a new interest or an old one? Why are these forms so limited? Well. I suppose the best would be things that someone who likes art could always use more of, and/or things that are rather expensive so they are unlikely to already own them. Maybe a really good set of colored pencils and a sketch pad? Or maybe a small basic starter set of the Chameleon pens Elizabeth gradually acquired many sets of? Or the micron pens Elizabeth says every art student has? Is a 10-year-old ready for those? Or should I be thinking construction paper, glitter glue, and stickers? THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW
(image from Amazon.com)
(image from Amazon.com)
You may wonder why I am starting on this SO EARLY, but (1) the organization collects the items fairly early, so that they can make sure they have everything, and (2) I learned last year that when I find The Right Thing, I should buy it RIGHT AWAY, because the good stuff SELLS OUT.
I would try American Eagle for slippers, or maybe Bombas?
I have a kid who loves pigs, and honestly T-shirts have typically been a big hit because they have many opportunities to use/see/wear it. Maybe a cartoony frog tee like this: https://www.lookhuman.com/design/407016-desert-rain-frog-pattern/3600-navy-xl
For fidgets, maybe a Shashibo cube? Or even a rubix cube?
I’d look on Etsy for frog themed slimes!
This might be more than you want to spend and/or not cool for a kid. But I just bought a pair of Bomba’s Sunday slippers (I got 20% off since it was my first order) and they are amazing! Highly recommend.
I have a 10 year old nephew that likes slime and penguins. When he says slime he means ready made slime, and he really likes the crazy aaron’s thinking putty’s (which are much more slime like than silly putty like in my opinion, and come in a huge variety of different options). He also loves penguins and both he and his older sister have become huge fans of the jellycat brand of stuffed animals after receiving one as a gift. Jellycat has frog options, but I’d recommend the Ricky Rain frog version because that is going to be their softest plush (the big attraction of the brand) https://www.amazon.com/Jellycat-Ricky-Rain-Stuffed-Animal/dp/B09RN4YCXG/ref=sr_1_2?crid=378PU39DOWV4F&keywords=jellycat+frog&qid=1699045690&sprefix=jellycat+frog%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-2
My eleven-year-old loves the jellycat stuffies and put a ton of them on her list last year, so I second that.
Seconding Jellycat and Aaron’s Thinking Putty FOR SURE!
I think for art supplies a good idea would be to think about what a ten year old might have to create for school projects, and maybe they don’t have those things? Like markers, etc. I remember always feeling bad when kids in my class would make stuff and they only had a few markers or had to use a pen.
And then Elizabeth’s advice on Micron pens and a small sketchbook, because those are for a “grown up” artist and a ten year old might appreciate that.
I can speak a teeny bit to the fidget toys, but my sample audience is only a ten-year-old and myself. My ten-year-old loves things that squish — NeeDoh, Mochi, etc. They get SO gross (like… lint etc sticks to them), but they really scratch that fidget itch and since they get gross, I would guess that kids who like them go through a LOT of them. My favorite fidget is the fidget that looks like a pea pod, and you can squeeze the peas out of the pod one at a time. They are adorable and you can attach them to a keychain or a backpack and they are sturdy and don’t get gross easily.
For the art supplies, my (again, ten) artist just likes FRESH supplies. So your ideas are excellent, I think. But also, the big kits have a lot of wow factor around here. The ones with watercolor paint and charcoal pencils and pastels and colored pencils. Also: pads of good quality drawing paper. My kid used to love the art supplies from Kid Made Modern, but it looks like they have a very limited product line now. Their arts and crafts library is really super, though. But more on the crafty side than the art side, perhaps.
My eight year old daughter loves drawing and crafting. I think Suzanne’s suggestions both of fresh art supplies and kits have a lot of appeal. This might just be my daughter, but I think she’d be disappointed in the Micron pens because they were just black and so much of art for her is in the color. I don’t know if that’s because she’s younger though. Also, although I think my kid would want “real” art supplies, I feel like there’s no way to go wrong with adding glitter glue or stickers too because they’re just fun!
I know one of Swistle’s superpowers is creating the best gift boxes so I feel like there’s no way to go too far wrong here.
Puerto Rico has a frog called a coqui and they have them on T-shirts all over. You could get T-shirts and also a noise maker that makes the sound of the frog?
My 10 yo loves slime , ready-made , AND the make-it-yourself kits! she especially likes the kind that includes sprinkles and sparkles and such.
She loves art and is always so happy with a nice , new marker set.
Ten might be a bit young for Micron pens, but some slightly older (i.e. middle-school-aged) kids like them! (How do I know this? One time I was subbing middle school, and a kid noticed my Micron pen and said excitedly, “Ms. Bee! What size Micron are you using?” And I said “05” and he was like, “Awwww yeahhhhh!” I was very amused. I love middle schoolers.) Maybe a set of Micron pens and a set of markers or colored pencils, in case he wants something more fun than plain black pens? And maybe some drawing paper too—as a former kid who liked to draw, I was usually good on pens and markers but was constantly running out of PAPER.
I like the frog shirt a lot! Stickers are usually a good call, especially since you already know he likes art supplies. Might I also suggest enamel pins? Or frog socks? Or a frog notebook for drawing in?
I think the basic slime would probably be fine—even if he already has some, that stuff gets gross after awhile so it’s always good to have a fresh supply. I think Etsy also has about a million types of slime if you want something a bit more interesting. I think a lot of kids like the kind that has glitter or foam balls or little plastic bits or whatever in it. Maybe one plain and one fancy?
I want to meet the kid who requested slippers and a terrarium kit. Those things are also on my wishlist.
For the 14 yo I would get Uggs, that seems to be what all the kids wear at our HS.
I was coming here to chime in similarly–in our area, “slippers” currently means a slide-style, fleece-lined, slide-type situation like these from Uggs:
https://www.ugg.com/men-slippers/?msclkid=a43ee82033061e0f01718d655cb18eab&msclkid=a43ee82033061e0f01718d655cb18eab&gclid=COrsyqTsqIIDFVnvcwQdKloP8Q&gclsrc=ds
These from Crocs:
https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2694477/crocs-classic-fuzz-lined-adult-clogs.jsp?skuid=61438108&ci_mcc=ci&utm_campaign=MENS%20DRS/CAS/SEASONA&utm_medium=CSE&utm_source=bing&CID=shopping20&utm_campaignid=470254723&utm_adgroupid=1238051084185804&msclkid=0e8c5345f4c61729af33360084e0b15b&gclid=0e8c5345f4c61729af33360084e0b15b&gclsrc=3p.ds
Or these from Birkenstock:
https://www.dillards.com/p/birkenstock-mens-zermatt-shearling-slippers/511455217?sku=9506109&cm_mmc=Yahoo_BingPAs-_-Vendor%20-%20Birkenstock%20-%20Shopping-_-Birkenstock-_-f2e02c1f9ad415a05be1495aea888653&cm_mmc=Yahoo_BingPAs-_-Vendor+-+Birkenstock+-+Shopping-_-o-_-f2e02c1f9ad415a05be1495aea888653&msclkid=f2e02c1f9ad415a05be1495aea888653&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Vendor%20-%20Birkenstock%20-%20Shopping&utm_term=4580565454671921&utm_content=All%20Birkenstock%20Products
The brand names are unnecessarily expensive, but I’m sure you could find similar styles elsewhere!
Should have added that they wear them as street shoes, so you’re looking for more of a clog/hard-soled situation than a house shoe.
My comment with links seems like it got lost, but I was just coming to say the same:
If you Google photos of men’s slippers from UGG, Crocs, or Birkenstock, you’ll get the general idea (should be plenty of dupes out there for that style)!
It’s here now! It just got stuck in the moderation filter because of the links.
My oldest is 8 so a bit younger – but she LOVES a squishmallow and so do all her friends.
In terms of art stuff, my oldest is super artsy and so is my
9yo goddaughter. I would suggest: oil pastels, those lovely pens with fine tips one end and a wider brush the other end, a couple of different sized sketch pads and maybe a watercolour set?
One Christmas pre-kids, when my husband had just been laid off, he picked 2 tags to do this and I was initially so mad/stressed out. But purchasing the gifts and wrapping them did get me into the spirit more than I would have guessed. We’ve done it almost every year since. As for advice, my boy nephews 6-13 would all be thrilled with a squishmallow so if there is a frog I feel that would be a hit. I would recommend Crazy Aaron’s Putty for the slime. Although my 13yo wants to be clear it is putty, not slime, he says it’s super close and THE MOST fun. Finally, May I suggest some packs of Crayola Model Magic in the art supply kit. EVERYONE loves it and I feel like it’s a somewhat specialty product that would feel extra special beyond paper, markers, etc.
My high schooler says boys wear these or similar (basiclly ugg dupes) https://www.target.com/p/men-39-s-michael-moccasin-scuff-slippers-goodfellow-38-co-8482-brown-10/-/A-88724689
I used sketchpads throughout my childhood. I remember it being hard to find ones without lines in the store. I figure you can’t go wrong with a blank notebook.
Maybe this poster on the frogs of Madagascar? I’ve been eying it myself, proceeds fund research on the frogs.
https://www.redbubble.com/i/poster/Some-Frogs-of-Madagascar-to-Scale-Version-1-1-by-markscherz/151830709.G7H47
The Tangle fidget toys are popular with my daughter and her friends.
The Crayola Super Tips markers are pretty inexpensive even for a 50-pack, and it’s fun to just have a new pack of so many colors, along with a box or pouch to put them in! And the Prang 16-count pan watercolors are good–also a nice thing to have new, maybe with a pack of brushes?
I’m sure it varies by the kid, but according to my 10yo niece “the good slime” is peachybbies. They do drops and it used to be hard to get any! It looks like they have some in stock right now. (peachybbies dot com)
Okay so I bought this frog squishmallow for myself and it is delightfully huge and I always end up using it as a pillow when I watch TV and I just kind of love it?? And then it led to me buying many more squishmallows. they have been my go to gift for kids birthday parties. I feel like the giant ones make a big impact as a gift too.
Frog link:
https://a.co/d/0LAeaAu
My kids love the Science Comic series. The frog book was just released and my 9 year old enjoyed it: Science Comics: Frogs: Awesome Amphibians https://a.co/d/aWKenu6
Also maybe some frog themed slime? https://peachybbies.com/products/froggy-cubes
For the art supplies, I think 10 is old enough to appreciate “real” art supplies. For my own kids, I go on Blick or Jerry’s Artarama and check out what’s on sale – I figure they can work out something fun to do with any medium. Elizabeth is right about every art kid loving Micron pens. Posca markers are cool right now too. For paper, make sure that the type of paper matches the other art materials (ie, don’t get sketch paper and gouache paint – if it’s not obvious from the descriptions, get Elizabeth to double check).
For art supplies I think those kits that have a mixture
of supplies (markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc.) are great. They usually come in a little case and everything has its own little spot. It feels really fancy special but you can find some on Amazon that are reasonably priced. We’ve received several as gifts in my house and they’ve always been hits. My 11 year old has one on her Christmas list this year.
My sensory-seeking teenager loves Shashibo cubes. They morph into tons of shapes and they’re magnetic, so you can attach them together to make even more cool patterns. https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/C6AFE529-434F-4AF7-9C49-FF5D6418B951
I second the Crazy Aaron’s thinking putty. You can also get slime kits where the slime is premade but it comes with stuff to add in so they can customize it.
I think replacement art supplies – markers, paints, etc. is a good idea. My artistic kids have always loved having sketchpads and something like a set of nice colored pencils or pens as well. An artistic kid who likes slime might also like clay. My youngest loves air-dry polymer clay, and you can get a giant pack of colors for not much money (it’s like Crayola model magic, but much cheaper and better packaging):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP6X44N2/ref=sspa_dk_detail_6?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0BP6X44N2&pd_rd_w=o9hhn&content-id=amzn1.sym.0d1092dc-81bb-493f-8769-d5c802257e94&pf_rd_p=0d1092dc-81bb-493f-8769-d5c802257e94&pf_rd_r=148Y8BH6RAG4PHYWG48F&pd_rd_wg=Hf68m&pd_rd_r=4dfdeaf3-8dd0-4e9b-9463-e4ef9741e1e1&s=kitchen&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwy
Maybe I’m misunderstanding the program you’re participating in, but I assume this is for kids who don’t have a lot yet? If that’s the case, I would not worry too much about what they already have, and always include some basic stuff with some more specialty items. Like, if I were to buy art supplies, I’d get a hefty sketchpad/stack of good white paper and a proper set of markers/coloring pencils (including a quality sharpener!), maybe even glue and proper scissors, and then find some fun stuff like colored tape (my daughter loves the metallic ones), colored paper, glitter, a specific type of paint, etc.
I’d go with premade slime. That way the kiddo can just play with it and not need measuring cups/bowl/post mixing cleanup and or adult supervision to enjoy the slime.
You have some great ideas. It is hard when they aren’t giving you more details. I think they should update their form. I think an informative frog book, so he can learn stuff about frogs – plus a frog t-shirt and a small frog toy. My kids always liked the very realistic animal toys.
I’m out of the loop on fidget toys.
I see a lot of teens wearing slippers out of the house as if they were actual shoes. They look a bit like moccasins.
Good luck!
This is one of our favorite things to do each year/ :) Slime means ready made slime…I do always think about for these gifts how likely it is to drive the parents crazy. Slime is messy and sticks everywhere (at least at my house), so I would probably get a small thing of slime vs a huge set. That way the request is filled, but hopefully won’t drive anyone bonkers.
For art supplies, my similarly ages kids would love any big set (even if it isn’t super high quality). A nice set of good colored pencils would also be good. This sounds goofy, but my kids have gotten a ream of copy paper and loved it so they have their own paper supply for a year/
One thing I always try to remember for these type of gifts is what will actually last/ provide lots is entertainment since the child presumably doesn’t have much….so lots od art supplies are great (or we also often gift a classic box of legos), but even a huge slime kit will probably be trash soon.
Have fun shopping!!
Fidgets: I’ve given both the Shashibo cube and the 50-pack of fidgets from Am**on to kids this age (they’re about the same price). The 50-pack is the hands-down winner, for the wow factor when it’s opened and the staying power. We have some fidgets that are going on 2+ years of use.
In my experience with a similar program, the kids who make wishes live lives where there is almost nothing extra to spare for fun or for high quality items for them, so you’re unlikely to double anything, whatever you buy. And it makes me happy that someone like you is putting together their gift, because I know you will do it with so much love and care as well as a sense of fun.
For the art supplies for the 10 year old, I’d go with something with colour. The Micron pens are great, but already a bit in a special area. I’d personally look for a good quality set of markers with thick and thin sides, but not a school set but more in the artist realm. Specifically, I’d look for sets that have lighter and in-between-colours, and that’s a recommendation regardless of what specific kind of supplies you get (markers, watercolour, oil pastels…), because every set right down to the dollar store kind will have primary colours, but getting your hands on something that allows for more nuanced expression is truly amazing for any kid that likes to paint and draw.
You could get a many-colours marker set and add a booklet on manga-drawing to that and one or two specialty markers. 10 years is just the age where a budding artist will want to begin drawing characters from their favourite shows or games and learn how to use different techniques for drawing as well, and a lot of it is manga style these days.
Plus, what someone else already recommended, good paper. The kind where your lines don’t show through on the other side, and where colours don’t bleed or make the paper curl when you go heavy with covering an area with a marker.
What could be a nice addition is one of those folders with pages of transparent sheet holders inside, where they can put their favourite drawings for safe-keeping and showing, or collect small pictures, stickers and other stuff to make collages. Maybe a bit oversized and not just letter size (for longer-term usefulness), though anything that also works with the paper size you buy would already work well.
For the kid with the frogs:
The squishmallow sounds great, because it’s a double-hit for something generally popular that the kid might otherwise not be able to own, while also being of a specific kind they love.
A soft frog blanket with a fun design could also be nice. I’d make sure to get a bigger one, a lot of the ones that are supposedly kid-sized seem really tiny to me. I looked for “frog blanket” and there was an overwhelming amount of options, so I’m not going to link a specific one, but you’d have the most fun picking one yourself anyway if that is what you decide to go with.
For the things I loved, I was also happy to also receive smaller fun things I could easily take with me or use, like a frog-shaped eraser or pencil sharpener, A pen with a frog on the top, a frog-shaped coin purse. A drinking bottle with a frog design, or a frog cup. Or something cool for my room, like a glowing frog night light, or a neon-frog shape for the wall (these days more likely LED tube, but you get the ghist).
What could also be fun is a book on special frogs, because there are so many amazing kinds really. Especially tropical frogs – colourful, poisonous, huge, tiny, what have you.
Also stickers, or an enamel pin.
And, of course, some Harry Potter chocolate frogs would do well for the candy side of things, if you are allowed to add sweets.
I don’t have suggestions but I do run a similar operation to the one you’re talking about, and I totally make notes about who did a great job, so that’s real
I would like to suggest Ooly art supplies. They have tons of cool, appealing, interesting art supplies like watercolor crayons, color changing markers, etc.
My 11 year old loves sharks and art supplies, and while the suggestions above are great, he might also like some sculpey or foam air-dry clay, a light-up tracing board (I think I suggested that one for Elizabeth a few years ago and it was a hit, right?) and yes he loves the micron pens lol. For his shark obsession he loves t-shirts, stickers to put on his water bottles/notebooks/etc and stuffies. Have fun!
Last year I got my then 15 year old nephew the ‘SHASHIBO Shape Shifting Box’, my friend got one for her then 12 year old son. (We both listened to the same podcast), they were a big hit with the kids and the adults who also needed to play with them.
This sat on my shopping list all Christmas. I’m so glad to see this comment. I’ll pull the trigger this year. Thanks!
In my area of the country (California) all of the teenagers I know (my own children and their friends/cousins) Urban Outfitters seems to be the overall favorite “cool” store to get clothing and room decor, etc.
I find the pricing on certain things to be a little on the high side for what the item is, but it’s very popular with the kids :)
My teenager tells me these are popular for slides.
https://www.amazon.com/Massage-Slippers-Slipper-Shock-absorbing-Household/dp/B0BDQ4MQYQ
I ordered them for her and felt they were the most awful thing I put on my feet and so did she. Crocs rule.
Also, when I googled frog hoodie, I think in general that would a definite yes or a hard no. I wouldn’t go there with a kid I didn’t know, especially as a major portion of the gift. The weird eyes on your head like you are wearing Kermit is…weird.
My daughter is and always has been seriously into art. Her aunt asked about getting her one of those giant all-encompassing art kits in a wooden box for Christmas one year when I think she may have been 10-12 and I told her not to since the paints in particular are of very low quality and my daughter already had decent quality versions of the paints she used (large tubes of art-student-level paint – you only need a few colours, black, and a large amount of white if they’re good quality because then you can mix many of the other colours you want). She ignored me and got it anyway and my daughter was really disappointed, even as a tween, when she tried to use the paints – the colours were all muddy and just didn’t match the colour boxes on the tubes/trays, and it was really hard to get the results she wanted. So, in my experience, those boxes are good for very small kids but not once they get into double digits and are more skilled.
These were all hits at her tween age: a huge, reasonable quality marker set, micron pens, watercolour pencils, actual watercolour paper, fineline metallic pens and a set of black index-card sized paper packs.
My 15 year old loves frogs too. He’s been happy with things like a frog t-shirt (though I bet he’d also like the one you posted) and a frog painting. A poster might be nice?
Washi tape is also a hit sometimes, depending on the recipient. I got myself some but can’t bring myself to use it because it’s so pretty.
Target has great sensory bins that have slime, tools, things to mix in the slime all in a tub together. My 8 year old girl loves them. And slime doesn’t really last all that long, it starts to separate. So, even already having slime doesn’t take slime off her list.
Art supplies is perpetually on our list, too. At 10, we were moving from construction paper and glitter to sketch pads, nice colored pencils, pastels, pens. Basically she was trying out nicer art supplies to see what she liked. My 8 1/2 year old was still at pipe cleaners and glitter last year, but this year I would be inclined to do water colors, pastels, or pens. Something new to try out. Do you have Sam Flax? The staff there are amazing at suggestions for that type of thing
Not to add to the stress, but I’m not sure slippers means bedroom slippers. In my house, that term is used for what I would call slides. Shoes you slip on with one big strap across the front. It confuses the heck out of me. Maybe this is regional, though. Perhaps ask your young adults? And, remember, you are sending a gift receipt. They can fix it if you guess wrong
Finally, I used to work with kids in foster care who were the recipients of these programs. High quality gifts chosen with care (i.e. Not the embroidered hand towel or the cheapest Walmart sweatshirt) were always received with excitement. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t quite what they meant on their list. Your gifts will be a hit, whatever you choose. I can pretty much guarantee it.
The answer to the slime question is absolutely https://peachybbies.com/
My 10 year old daughter is obsessed. Also if you order multiple slimes, they come with additional fun items.
Just here to agree about the slippers. Leather looking, fleece lined, hard soled. My teenage boys have been wearing these for a few years: https://www.minnetonkamoccasin.com/men/styles/slippers/pile-lined-hardsole-men
This fidget is really one of the very best. Feels nice being flipped around. My kids’ favorite! https://www.amazon.com/Fidgetland-Noah-Anxiety-Classroom-Approved/dp/B01EYRMJOO?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1
OH. Watercolor pencils are *magic* if kids have not yet met them *and* often come in a nifty tin (which feels more “grownup” than a box). You color and then add water and oooh, and you can color over a wet part of the paper to get really intense color, etc., or you can ignore the watercolor aspect and just use as colored pencils. I had a smallish set – maybe 12? – and it was still abundant for most uses, because you can layer the colors, etc.
(I have since sort of graduated to Inktense, but 1. those are super-spendy and 2. *they are permanent after you wet them, once they dry* so I would not give them to anyone under the age of discretion. They do have more vivid color than regular watercolor pencils, but regular watercolor pencils are already pretty magical, so I think that is fine, and regular watercolor pencils are more likely to be able to wash out of clothing, etc., which is good. But if you are looking to give something really fun and a little bit out of the box to someone older, I endorse the Derwent Inktense pencils or blocks.)
My high-schooler has a friend who likes frogs and he got her a stuffed Kermit the Frog playing a banjo. Oddly enough, we found it at Best Buy. And the guy at the counter got so excited when he saw it, “I love that one too! I have it at home.” So, fun for multiple ages?
The cool kids are wearing Ugg slippers. If you don’t want to spend Ugg money, Costco usually has a pair that looks just like them.
Seconding a jelly cat frog. The best stuffed animals in the world!!!!
And a shout out for posca pens and alcohol markers, these are the art supplies all the arty kids are desperate for around here.
The quote “I LOVE thinking about gifts and deciding about gifts, and I also LOVE being The Good Student and diligently checking off every single part of the organization’s instruction sheet. I imagine the people in charge making little notes next to my name about what a good job I did.” makes me think that Auntie Swistle must definitely be a relative of mine. And hey, we share the Dutch heritage, so there might even be something there :P