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2014 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Teens

November 15, 2014 By Leticia

Tech Savvy Mama's 2014 Holiday Gift Guide Best Gifts for Teens

What to get choosy teens? Surprise them with something they’ve been wanting and saving for or wow them with something new so they can be pioneers among their friends. These gifts build upon their interests and desire to constantly stay connected thanks to smart devices that allow them to instantly share to their social networks. Some of them are total splurges but they’re guaranteed to up your cool factor.

Ozobot

Ozobot ($49.99)— Ozobot is perfect for kids who are interested in coding but need a concrete object to understand the building blocks of the coding language. This one-inch robot moves kids from augmented reality to physical play as they use color — black, red, green and blue –to program Ozobot to follow a path forward, backwards, fast, slow, right, left and more. Ozobot’s ability to see colored lines and know the difference is truly amazing plus it works on physical surfaces like paper or digital ones like smartphones and tablets. It works with the free OzoLuck, OzoPath and OzoDraw apps in either the Google Play for Android or iTunes store for iOS devices. Since sometimes seeing is believing, check out this video to see Ozobot in action.

Polaroid Cube

Cube by Polaroid ($99)— With retro styling and a nicer price tag than other action cameras on the market, Cube by Polaroid is a great choice for teens who want to capture the action wherever they may be. Waterproof cases, tripod mounts, pendant cases, suction cup mounts, and more accessories are highly affordable with most around $25 and just a couple reaching the $40-50 range.

Selfy Mini Tripod

Selfy Mini Tripod by iLuv ($19.99)— Teens can step up their selfie game thanks to the Selfy Mini Tripod that makes it easier to grab that perfect solo shot or one with friends thanks to a case with a built-in wireless camera shutter. Simply attach your phone to the case and set up the lightweight and highly portable tripod on its flexible legs to grab your perfect shot.

1 Voice Bluetooth Ear Warmers

Ear Warmer with Built-In Bluetooth Headphones by 1 Voice ($59.99)— This week’s cold snap that hit the East Coast served as a reminder that winter is truly on it’s way. Cold weather gear that does a great job of integrating tech is always sought after by today’s plugged in generation. Whether you’re commuting to work, working outside, or digging your car out of the snow, 1 Voice Ear Warmers keep your ears warm in the cold thanks to toasty warm fleece while you listen to your favorite tunes with Bluetooth enabled ear muffs that stream high quality music from your mobile device. 1 Voice not only keeps your ears warm but also help to elminate the problem of ear buds that constantly fall out of your ears. When you come inside to warm up, simply charge them so they’ll be ready to use again.

Monster Inspiration Lite Silver

Inspiration Lite Headphones by Monster ($229.95)— For a long time, my Bose in-ear headphones have been my go-tos for travel and everyday use but they’ve just been replaced by Monster’s Inspiration Lite headphones. This pair of folding headphones fits nicely in the enclosed pouch for tucking in my purse or bag when traveling and delivers fantastic sound whether taking a call on the in-line mic, listening to music on my mobile, or watching a movie on my tablet. The cushioning is pillow-soft on my ears that makes this on-ear style a dream to wear. Noise cancelling is a certainly a bonus too to block out external noise so I can concentrate on what’s really important. Magnetic interchangeable headbands let you customize your pair to fit you personality quickly and easily. Inspiration Lite by Monster is well worth the investment.

Samsung NXMini

NXMini Camera by Samsung (starting at $377 on Amazon) — Out of all the Samsung Cameras I shoot with, I have to say that the NXMini gets the most attention. Perhaps it’s the bright white color that is eye catching or the fact that it turns on by simply flipping up the screen but what really wows people is the ability to recognize a smile or a wink to take a selfie. Yes, just flip up the screen and smile or wink and the NXMini snaps your photo, a feature that earned it the designation of “the ultimate selfie camera” by Mashable. The NXMini is always in my bag, easy to pull out and take fantastic photos discretely. It fits nicely in a clutch for a night out and comes in five fashionable colors. Looking for other cameras as gifts this holiday season? Here’s my guide to the Samsung Cameras I’m never without!

Bemo

 

Bemo Social Camera by Logitech ($129.99)— Being a Vine or Instagram superstar can tax the memory of one’s mobile device. Logitech’s Bemo social camera fits in the palm of your hand and captures high quality 720p HD videos with its 8 megapixel lens in just one touch. This highly portable water-resistant device is perfectly sized to keep in your pocket so it can go with you wherever you go this holiday season. Capture the antics of ice skating with friends, new tricks on the slopes, or magical moments with loved ones throughout the holiday season then personalize and edit your videos with headlines, music, filters, and clipping tools before sharing edited videos with family, friends, and your social networks with the Bemo app.

Kano

Kano ($149.99)— Teens who code and want to take their skills to the next level will enjoy Kano, a computer and coding kit. Designed for all ages and computing experiences, Kano creates a whole new computing experience that allows technology consumers to engage in hands-on creation of the technology they love using. Kano functions much like any computer that integrates play with learning as kids build popular games and use code to compose music. I appreciate that for the price, the kit comes with everything you need to build your Kano hard drive. It includes the popular Raspberry Pi, illustrated colorful instructional storybooks that help guide kids through the process if they want to tackle building independently, DIY speaker, and keyboard. Just add your own monitor and you’re ready to use your new computer. This makes a great winter break project for DIY kids who have an interest in building computers and coding.

ChicBuds Clutchette Power

Clutchette Power by ChicBuds ($49.99)— Never have a dead phone when you’re carrying Clutchette Power that charges your phone in the bag. Inside the chic Clutchette there’s an ultrathin battery and built-in USB cords with room to carry your keys, lip gloss and other essentials. Metallics make it a stylish clutch perfect for carrying alone and small enough to throw into a bigger purse or bag, making it the perfect companion for the jet-setting professional to the ever-active and always on the go teen.

Belli

Belli Skincare (starting at $22 each) — There’s no better time to teach good skincare habits than from an early age. The Belli line of products is nicely packaged for a luxe look that will make your tween want to take care of her skin using Belli’s gentle products.

EyeDoll Chatter Makeup

Eyedoll Chatter Makeup ($14.99 each)— American EyeDoll mineral eye shadow kits contain three colored eye shadows and three lusciously scented shimmers, each wearable alone, and even better mixed. Eye shadows and shimmers come packaged in a darling keepsake box that includes a brush and how-to instructions and makeup tips. Mix, blend, and then share your individual look with friends with the Eyedoll Chatter free iPhone app.

Related

Filed Under: Gift Guides, Parenting Tagged With: teens

Previous Post: « 2014 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Tweens (ages 8-12)
Next Post: Collegiate Inventors Competition Showcases Emerging Ideas & Tech for Our Future (w. giveaway) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. James Robert says

    November 15, 2014 at 10:56 am

    My daughter would really like the Bemo Social Camera. I like the size of this one and she could carry it with her

  2. Nicole Dz says

    November 15, 2014 at 9:28 pm

    I think a new camera or headphone is a great gift choice, also a iPod seems great for teens. Great picks to choose from here.

  3. joeyfromsc says

    November 18, 2014 at 12:35 am

    these are all great!! I LOVE the Kano kit! I never knew something like that existed haha

    Thanks for sharing!!

    Joey J.

  4. Laura J says

    November 19, 2014 at 2:32 am

    Oh great ideas! I love the Ozobot! I have never heard of anything like that before. So neat it can help them learn to code!

  5. ConnieFoggles - Connie says

    November 22, 2014 at 11:57 pm

    Love the Bemo camera! I may add that to my daughter’s wish list.

  6. ellen beck says

    December 1, 2014 at 10:25 pm

    I have kids on my list who are teens they are so tough to shop for and I always keep getting boring gift cards. This gave me some great ideas.

  7. Nicole Dz says

    December 2, 2014 at 8:31 pm

    Great picks! I love the Ear Warmer with Built-In Bluetooth Headphones, great for teens who run and are apart of track.

  8. ellen beck says

    December 8, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    My niece would sooooooo love that Selfy Mini Tripod by iLuv. She has discovered instagram, and is such a ham. She posts pics with her friends and volleyball and other sports teammay=tes all of the time. She is wild on selfies (with others especially)

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Welcome! I'm Leticia, founder of Tech Savvy Mama and a DC Metro area dwelling mom with a tween and teen. With a background in classroom technology integration and school administration, I use everything I learned from teaching children, teachers, and principals as a professional blogger, social media strategist, and freelance writer.  Read more...

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DC area blogger & middle school computer science teacher focused on edu, family tech & teens. ❤s= 🚀 #STEM 🏃 w #StJudeHeroes 🏝 #Haiti

Leticia Barr (she/her)
This year seems like the year of a million first d This year seems like the year of a million first days of school but today has been the best one yet! 🎉 Being in person with my 8th graders who elected to return to school felt amazing. They all said being in school was far better than being on Zoom! 👩‍💻 After not feeling like I had closure last year when schools closed and stayed closed, it is so nice to end the year this way before my students become high schoolers! 🎈
#monday #mondaymood #teacherlife #teacher #teachinginapandemic #teachersofIG #school #middleschoolteacher
18.30 {Sunday afternoons} Sunday afternoons are fo 18.30 {Sunday afternoons} Sunday afternoons are for baseball! ⚾️ We thought last fall would be the final season for his team that has been together since 2nd grade but I'm so glad they're back together this spring! Sitting in the sun watching my guy play baseball is one of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday afternoon! 🧢 
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17.30 {Treat yo self} I always think about buying 17.30 {Treat yo self} I always think about buying bagels on Saturday mornings when I wander by post-workout but the honest truth is I'm starving and just want to head home and stuff my face and caffeinate. Today there wasn't a line so I felt like the universe was telling me it was a good day to treat myself to a bakers dozen and a tub of candied salmon cream cheese! 🥯 Even if your treat isn't carbs make sure you do something for yourself today!
💕
#saturday #saturdayvibes
#everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #treatyourself #bagel #callyourmotherdeli #freshfarmmarkets #dtss #dmv
#ad There have been times where I’ve struggled t #ad There have been times where I’ve struggled to comprehend the news over the past year. 📰 As a parent and teacher, I want my own kids and students to be news savvy but it’s difficult when not all the headlines, photos, and stories in the daily newspaper or on news sites are right for them. Fortunately, I was recently introduced to The Juice Interactive News Digest! The Juice provides fantastic unbiased content written by credentialed journalists that teaches kids in grades 5-12 about current events in an age-appropriate way. 🌎 Stories are the real deal and provide multiple opinions so kids can use critical thinking and media literacy skills to develop their own opinions. And as a bonus, The Juice’s multimedia content is highly engaging and keeps kids wanting to learn through videos on topics they’re interested in. 🎥 For more information, check out the link in my bio. ⤴️
#news #media #currentevents #medialiteracy #criticalthinking #teaching #learning
14.30 {Selfie} Fun fact: I used to be awful at sel 14.30 {Selfie} Fun fact: I used to be awful at selfies but practicing over the years, and watching friends who are masters, has definitely helped! A few tips:
➡️ If you feel like you're never looking in the right place, sunglasses can help. They hide your eyes and can take the pressure off. 🕶
➡️ Figure out what hand you're most comfortable using to snap photos. I'm right handed so usually take photos with my right hand but every once and awhile I switch. 👋
➡️ Find your best angle. Pro tip- higher is better. Go above your eye level. 👀
➡️ Stretch! Hold your arm out as far as possible. I'm short so my arms are short but somehow I make it work. 😂
➡️ A Pop Socket is your friend! Having something to hold on to definitely helps me stretch and get the best angle with less worry that I'll drop my phone. 
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#wednesday #selfie #everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #selfietips #sanfrancisco #visitCA #latergram
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10.30 {Saturday morning} I got up to start my day 10.30 {Saturday morning} I got up to start my day at Orange Theory but someone wanted to stay in bed! 😂🙄😂
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🐴 working with an incredibly talented set of colleagues
🏡 part of a community who cares so much about us as teachers. ♥️ 
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#bgshowdown #teacherlife #entrepreneur #worklife #workfromhome
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