ISO: "Experiences" Gift Ideas for Teens

My kids would love: museums, wine and design (for kids with no wine), ballets, movies, sporting events, laser tag, Sky Zone, etc. My parents do this for their birthdays each year and they LOVE it. Maybe you could do a family gift to a really fun place??

My kids (teen and preteen) like go-carting, ice-tubing, laser tag, trampoline park, water park, amusement park, zip lining, ropes course, rock climbing, museums, mini-golf, bowling, roller skating, hockey games, baseball games, down hill skiing and movies. They love to get gift certificates for any of these activities, and I appreciate not getting more "stuff". They also appreciate iTunes and PSN cards.

I like how creative you're being. Experiences are great gifts. I do want add, though, that you truly should consult with their parents for a couple of reasons: Their folks can tell you what the kids would most like and would actually use; the parents will know, for instance, that Sally can't do anything that only occurs on weekends because she has activity X on weekends most of the school year, while Billy can't do anything that involves a sport because he hurt himself playing basketball and doctor said no skydiving (OK, tongue in cheek there but you get the idea). And you don't want to get a cooking class for a kid who might be able to do a one-time, half-day cooking workshop, but whose other activities would mean that an eight-week cooking class is not going to be attended regularly. And so on. I'm not putting down your idea, which is great! I'm just saying to consult and choose with care since you probably don't know in detail what activities these kids have or what their schedules are like (and preteens/teens can be VERY busy people).

You might even find three or four options and give each kid a choice.

You want to ensure that the experiences will really get used and that a gift certificate for something you chose with care doesn't end up sitting in a drawer because "We just couldn't find a good day for it that worked with our (parents') schedule to drive her there" or "We ran out of time and the certificate expired" etc.

Also, I know your budget is limited, but consider giving them an experience that includes one other person. Some of the things you mention, like skydiving or even some shows or concerts, would require an adult to be present too, which means another ticket; giving a single ticket could mean it's hard for the kid to use it without the family purchasing another one for the accompanying adult. And other things would simply be more enjoyable for your nieces/nephews if they can take a friend along. Pay for an outing for kid plus a friend and you'll be considered the best aunt ever.

This could be as simple as a movie theater gift card, by the way, if they like seeing movies in theatres. Throw in gift certificates for popcorn etc. if the theatre does that. Most chains and independent theatres now offer cards. Rock climbing on indoor walls, with harnesses and instruction, is very popular in our area too, as is laser tag.

If you have a Painting With a Twist near you, they often do sessions where kids or teens can attend. My 11 yr old loved it!

Is there a K1 go kart place near any of them?

yes yes yes! so much better than everyone just sitting around exchanging fistfuls of cash!
riding lessons, or a trail ride.
trip to a climbing wall or session with a rock-climbing teacher.
whitewater raft excursion. (or lazy float-down-a-river one.)
ticket to be in the studio audience of game or talk show they like.
session with pro trainer in a good gym.
and i love you cooking classes, concert or indoor sports event!
ETA beaver canoe FTW!!!!!!
khairete
S.

My kids would be totally into what Beaver Canoe mentioned. In fact I am going to steal some of her ideas.

My tweens and teen would love money. They'd think you were the most awesome coolest aunt ever. They don't get much money from us and when they do it's usually dog eared for some specific purpose. Like going for ice cream after a YW/YM activity at the stake center.

To send them something when you aren't positive it's something they'd like then it's sort of a disappointment to open it and see something they didn't really want.

Like if you sent my girl tickets to go to a trampoline park in a nearby city that would probably fall flat since we have access to a tumble trak 4 days of the week. But they'd love to go ice skating in that same nearby city.

Can I suggest you plan this carefully with the parents? They sort of know what their kids would love. You can always ask the kids to give you a Santa's Wish List that you can pick from.

If you can't come up with a specific event, then give them gift cards to a local movie theater that they have easy access to. We have teens, and for a few years now relatives have gifted them with movie gift cards at the holidays and they are MUCH appreciated. It allows them to go with friends and buy concessions without having to hit up mom and dad and potentially being told "not this time" simply b/c of budget concerns (or if you don't like just spending willy nilly on your kids, hello....).

Just be sure to check what theaters are around. We did have one year where family gifted them with gift cards to theaters that are over an hour away. At the time gas was over $3.50/gallon, and it was absurd to think we would go multiple times so they could see a movie. It would have been cheaper to buy them a ticket ourselves to al local theater each time. (I managed to get a refund from the theater company and bought replacements from our local theater, thank goodness, even though the cards say no cash refunds).

It's a wonderful gift. If they want to see Star Wars, or the latest Disney flick, or a scary movie, or whatever... Our kids saw The Hobbit this way. :)