What about a Pandora bracelet for your daughter, or an alternative personalised item like that? Something special as a keep sake would be nice. Boys are a lot harder to buy for. I guess maybe really look at other things he is into other than basketball, or if he follows it and has a favourite player, maybe a signed jersey? Being that they will be learning to drive, maybe personalised plates would be nice.

Books are always good. Some DVDs are worth it – maybe you want to introduce them to something like a TV show that’s not streaming. You could do something like buy them membership of an online book club (like Rebel Readers). Maybe a gift card for something unexpected – a choice of experiences, maybe?

Thank you all so much! These are fab ideas! I’m really going to look into the experience and outing side of things! I keep forgetting that they are old enough that not everything needs to be gift wrapped! I like the jewellery/watch ideas and am going to start researching those! I’m so relieved to read so many others are in a similar boat! It really does get tricky

You’re time. Either a weekend away, together or separate or a fun activity you can all enjoy that is perhaps a bit of a spurge or on a bucket list or a little way away so you’ll need to stay overnight. A concert? Some Christmas event? Adventure Park Victoria does a great light show at Christmas? Or Sovereign Hill. Or Uluru!

Teens are definitely hard to buy for. What if you bought them an experience rather than a gift. Something you could do as a family. For example a hot air balloon ride or a flight simulation etc, something memorable or similar. Experiences are always a great way to bring people together.

It’s definitely harder to buy for teenagers now once. As a previous comment suggested, a piece of jewellery or nice watch or even a sports/fitness watch if that isn’t something they already have. We like to gift experiences whether that is tickets to a sporting or music event, perhaps tickets/membership to the NBL if they like basketball. Otherwise a gift voucher to a store you know they will love or to the movies.

Along with my comments below about brunch or lunch and a shopping trip; the other thing we like to do is experiences. It is so much fun to find experiences that people in the family love to do and give as a gift. The experience and the photos and memories from it endure.

For his last birthday we gave my son a gift of experience; he wanted to go to a race game with his friends and we also went indoor sky diving together. I gave some small gifts beside this; a visor for his helmet in the design he wanted, a hoodie and a game.
For her last birthday we gave our daughter a new double bed and Dr Marten’s shoes

A fun activity to do for a birthday when children get older is to give a birthday card and gift card/s or voucher/s with a birthday outing date. Then we go out and have brunch or lunch and then spend time together shopping and looking for things needed or desired together. It can be a whole lot of fun!

Gosh im feeling it this year with my neice and nephew especially! They’re at the early teen age and now trying to think of presents has become stressful as it’s a hard age group where they are no longer interested in toys and games. I am probably going gift card that they can choose to spend as they please

When my daughter turned 16 she had a beach party with about 20 friends. My gift was the party itself. I set up the party tables, decorated them, provided all the snacks, drinks, bought pizzas, birthday cake, cupcakes, and cleaned up afterwards. It was a lot of work, but the day went smoothly, everyone had a good time, and my daughter enjoyed her birthday and appreciated my efforts.

When we turned 16 us girls got a nice piece of jewellery. We both received a gold chain for our birthdays and a gold bracelet for Christmas. They were the first quality pieces I had and I still wear mine today. My brother’s received a nice watch. If they are into jewellery that could be an option.