It is 2023 and you now have a teenager or two… or if you are me, 3 now. As our children enters their teenage years, you’ve probably noticed that many things are changing. Their interests, preferences, and even their friends are evolving. One significant change that often goes overlooked is the shift in how they want to celebrate their birthdays. Covid 19 changed so much for so many and yet…. some things are back to normal. Some things though have opened our eyes to what is important in life. Now we think more about and how to celebrate together however we can. While it might be tempting to stick with the same old traditions, there are compelling reasons to consider starting new birthday traditions with your teen.

1. Connection in Transition: Adolescence is a time of immense change and growth. Your teenager is navigating a path towards independence, which can sometimes lead to distance between parent and child. By involving them in the process of creating new birthday traditions, you’re opening a door for connection during this transitional phase.

2. Acknowledging Their Autonomy: Teenagers are striving to assert their independence and individuality. Allowing them to have a say in how they celebrate their birthday not only acknowledges their autonomy but also reinforces their sense of self-worth and responsibility.

3. Reinventing the Fun: Childhood birthday parties may no longer hold the same allure for your teenager. Starting new traditions can inject fresh excitement into their special day. It’s an opportunity to explore their evolving interests and passions.

4. Building Lasting Memories: Memories made during adolescence can have a profound impact on one’s sense of self and family bonds. Creating unique birthday traditions provides an opportunity to build lasting memories that your teenager will carry with them into adulthood.

5. Fostering Responsibility: Planning and executing new traditions can teach your teen valuable life skills. They’ll learn about budgeting, time management, and the importance of commitment as they take an active role in shaping their birthday celebrations.

6. Adapting to Changing Interests: Your teen’s interests are likely shifting, and what brought them joy in the past may no longer hold the same appeal. Starting new traditions allows you to adapt to their changing tastes and preferences.

7. Strengthening Family Bonds: Involving the entire family in creating and celebrating new birthday traditions can strengthen family bonds. It’s an opportunity for everyone to come together and show their love and support.

8. Encouraging Reflection: Birthdays are a time for reflection. Encourage your teen to think about their past year, set goals for the future. They might want to focus on expressing gratitude for the people and experiences that have shaped them.

While it can be tempting to cling to the familiar, starting new birthday traditions with your teenager can be a transformative and enriching experience for both you and your child. It’s a chance to connect, acknowledge their autonomy, and create lasting memories that will carry forward into their adult lives. Embrace the change, and together, you can make each birthday a meaningful and memorable event.

Two of our teens have transitioned from birthday parties to exploring something as a family out in the world. Last year it was SixFlags…. in November (and wow was it near perfect!) This year it was an amazing Science Museum. I can only guess what our next teen will choose to do in the spring.

We still gather on their birthday with loved ones. We have their favorite foods, cake, board games, and a few thoughtful gifts.

This year I was taken back by the thoughtful ness of one of the adults in our 16 year old’s life who gifted incredibly perfectly. While I was busy looking at bigger needs and wants, this friend gifted in a way that clearly made our daughter feel seen. One gift was a roller skatting bag to hold her skates. I hadn’t ever thought of this. It wasn’t costly but it’s value, the gratitude Libby had was so clear to see. Another gift was light up wheels and park time is now often “getting dark time”. She loves them.

Another gift was a coffee/tea mug that is so very cat themed and has a tiny spoon with it. She got other gifts that day those were the most thoughtful I think. So this is part of my advice, ask others how they see your teen and be open to hearing the answers. Sometimes we have blinders on because parenting takes so much emotional and mental weight. Sometimes our children light up in different ways with different people. These kids have whole worlds going on and no matter what we think, even if we homeschool for all the reasons, there are always things we do not know, and will not ever know. It takes a village. Please though, be so very careful about the people you allow in your village.

,Here are some great gift ideas for teens in 2023 and 2024. This might help you in starting new birthday traditions with teens, or simply help you find something teens love.

Personalized Gifts: Consider personalized gifts like custom-made jewelry, monogrammed items, or a photo album filled with memories.

Tech Gadgets: Many teens are tech-savvy. Consider gadgets like wireless headphones, a tablet, or a gaming console if it aligns with their interests. Things like old cameras are in style again, perhaps we are moving past selfie culture. Our 16 year old daughter adores her drawing tablet. Our soon to be 18 year old son collects different kinds of computer mice, different ones for different purposes and ones made for different hand shapes. Fancy computer mouse tech is being my understand truth be told but he adds them to his pinterest gift lists and tries to explain them to me sometimes. I love his passion for tech and his attention to detail. (This is a midrange gaming mouse I am told is fantastic.)

Books: If your teen loves to read, a collection of books from their favorite genre or a subscription to a book club can be a thoughtful gift. If you have a teen that loves to read, please know that they are magical. You see human’s attention span has been shrinking at an alarming rate. Some studies say is 45 seconds and some say our current attention span is just 8 seconds. Reading books is now a vintage hobby it seems in the world of fast news, drama, and propaganda tweets. Some kids like digital books but the readers I know like hands on books and beautiful book marks.

Bookmarks add something special to a book gift.

Every new gifted book I think should come with a special book mark. But that is the book mouse in me. Our oldest daughter (age 24) was halfway done reading a book that she just felt she had to gift her 16 year old sister, she plans to get another copy herself and read it so they can talk about it together. Apparently it is incredibly insightful and inspiring. My 13 year old and I are now reading it too, trying to catch up to the other two girls. It is an adventure that my soul needs but already on chapter 3, it kind of scares me truth me told. Why? Because sometimes the truth hurts. Lets see where this book goes.

When Women Were Dragons: A Novel Hardcover – May 3, 2022

by Kelly Barnhill (Author)

There are special people out there that take others on reading adventures. Why not start a tradition with your teen of each year reading the same book?

Art Supplies: For artistic teens, high-quality art supplies, such as sketchbooks, paints, or a set of professional-grade colored pencils, can be inspiring.

Fashion and Accessories: Trendy clothing, fashionable accessories, or a gift card to their favorite clothing store can be a hit.

Sports Equipment: If they’re into sports, consider gear or equipment related to their favorite activity, such as a new skateboard, soccer ball, or yoga mat.

Music: A subscription to a music streaming service, concert tickets to see their favorite band, or even music lessons if they’re musically inclined can be excellent choices.

One tradition that a friend and her daughter have is on her birthday they play a piano song together. Neither have played the piano with any real time in years but they find it so much fun. It is such a simple birthday tradition but it has so much meaning.

“Thank you so much to Crystal Cumberland for all these years of friendship and support, you inspire more than you know and have shined through all the darkness.”

Hobby-Related Gifts: Identify their hobbies or interests and choose a gift accordingly. For example, if they’re into photography, a new camera or camera accessories could be perfect. A lot of teens were forced out of crammed spaces together during the pandemic and they discovered their love of nature, hiking, fishing, geocaching.

Outdoor Gear: If your teen enjoys the outdoors, consider gifts like a camping set, a bicycle, or hiking gear.

Wellness and Self-Care: Encourage self-care with gifts like scented candles, a spa day, or a fitness tracker to help them stay active and healthy. There are many selfcare personal planners, books to guide, wellness community subscriptions. One of the gifts our 16 year old daughter loves is a deck of cat cards that help with emotional regulation. Plus, they are adorable.

Cooking or Baking Supplies: If they enjoy cooking or baking, high-quality kitchen gadgets or ingredients for a special meal can be a delightful surprise. Our 17 year old son loves to bake. He bakes when stressed as well and goodness he has made a lot of bread as of late. He has requested a hand mixer even though there is a Cuisinart mixer on our counter, friends are letting him borrow it as they do not use it often and our kitchen is bigger. So I will be researching good hand mixers.

While it is an older tradition, gifting things like dishes and towels for when the teenager eventually moves out is still a lovely tradition and it is coming back given how hard it is for this generation to move out with this kind of economy. With that in mind, gifting small fridges and microwaves for their bedrooms are items they can go to college with someday or move out with. This one is in our home and I love it: Galanz GLR31TBEER Retro Compact Refrigerator with Freezer Mini Fridge with Dual Doors, Adjustable Mechanical Thermostat, 3.1 Cu FT, Blue

Subscription Boxes: Subscription boxes tailored to their interests, whether it’s gaming, beauty, or gourmet snacks, can be a gift that keeps on giving. Teens still love getting mail and that love might stick with them even when they start getting bills! For now, let them enjoy the love of getting mail specially for them.

Experience Gifts: Consider experiences such as tickets to a theme park, a hot air balloon ride, or a cooking class that they can enjoy with friends or family.

DIY Kits: Creative DIY kits, like jewelry-making, model-building, or even a coding kit, can provide hours of fun and learning.

Gift Cards: If you’re unsure of their preferences, a gift card to their favorite store or a prepaid credit card can give them the flexibility to choose what they want. So many teens were able to embrace their love of gaming during the pandemic. Gaming online helped them be connect with the outside world and be social again. Steam is one of the biggest gaming stores out there and so steam gift cards are perfect for nearly all gamers.

Remember to consider your teen’s unique interests and personality when selecting a gift. Tailoring the gift to their passions and hobbies will show that you’ve put thought into their special day.