Gifts for the Teen
Rewards for cutting the lawn and washing dishes
This is the one age group that’s especially connected to the electronic age. Most teens have grown up with video games and are now being introduced to (or even fully educated in) technologies like high definition. In addition, they’re the first true wave of the cell phone age, and will in the future, for better or worse, ensure that no one can ever go anywhere without being accessible by telecommunication.
You’ve probably noticed that we’ve dismissed gender boundaries in the "Teen" and "Kid" sections. The majority of electronics trends stem from manufacturers who refuse to limit profits to half of a potentially massive market - that’s why all of the following categories are applicable to both teen girls and guys:
It’s hard to argue the removal of gender bias with any of the above products, as use is generally pretty equal for each sex. Perhaps the only realm that still remains predominantly male-oriented is gaming, and even that is getting a bit shaky. Although home systems have existed since the 1980s, when Atari and Nintendo introduced us to male figures like Pac-Man and Mario, it’s taken far too long for developers to make their games appealing to females. However, as we mentioned, the times they are a-changin’. Manufacturers of systems like the Nintendo Wii and DS are increasingly making a concerted effort to reel in casual gamers for fun games that can be picked up and even mastered right away. (That’s not to say there aren’t some kick-ass Halo girls out there - because there are, and we like ’em.)
Here are some of the name brands you’ll want to keep an eye out for when shopping for your teen this holiday season.
- Motorola
- Apple
- Sony
- Panasonic
- Alienware
- Dell
Some of the products here are purely for entertainment purposes - and hey, that’s what the average teen adores. But a few might serve more practical functions as they move on (and out, hopefully) in the future. We’ll highlight some of the products that can be long term gifts and serve a greater purpose than simply instant gratification. With that said, if Mom and Dad deserve something like an MP3 player or HDTV, why can’t the hormonal - yet lovable - teen?
