The 10 Best 14 Year Old Girl Gifts
Special Honors
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 With this handy little camera, you can help your teenager document her journey through adolescence. It prints photos instantly so she can share them with friends right away, and the image quality is quite good considering the price. It also has a built-in selfie mirror. fujifilm.com
Fitbit Inspire Give your daughter the gift of fitness with one of these smartwatch activity trackers. With one of these on her wrist, she'll be able to monitor her steps, sleep, and heart rate patterns so she can reach her goals faster. It's a great way to show your teenager the importance of health and wellness. fitbit.com
Crosley Radio Voyager Turntable Fans of all things vintage will love this old-school record player, which has modern updates such as an auxiliary input, headphone jack, and Bluetooth receiver. It's lightweight yet stable at 5.5 pounds, and it's available in black or pink to match her personal style. nordstrom.com
Editor's Notes
November 20, 2019:
Teenage girls are not all alike, and we tried to craft a list that reflects that fact. Here, you'll find an extensive nail polish collection and a clever cosmetics organization bag. Along with the typical fashion-oriented gifts, we've also included more high-tech goodies that speak to the modern teenager, such as headphones, a tablet, and — of course — a selfie stick. But if you're trying to draw your daughter away from digital media and toward literature, perhaps a young adult novel or teen-appropriate romance will pique her interest.
New additions to the list include the STMT DIY Journaling Set, MKay Over Ear Headset, and Gucci Heart Pendant. These three items were added because of their wide appeal and overwhelmingly positive reviews from kids and parents alike. The Wonder Workshop Cue Robot, Lobkin Bluetooth Headphones, and Qianse Love You Forever Pendant have been removed from the list due to a combination of quality and availability concerns, and the Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet has been replaced with the latest version of the device.
The Transition To High School
A larger pool of students means greater opportunities to make new friends.
The age of 14 is a time of great change for most teens because it usually coincides with their freshman year in high school. Keeping in mind the multitude of changes going on in their lives during this time of transition can give you plenty of gift ideas. Girls this age will be facing higher expectations at school, dealing with a wider social network, and exploring new levels of independence with their limited free time.
With a larger school to navigate, more homework, and college looming on the horizon, 14-year-olds have a lot of adult-sized concerns on their plate. Teachers and parents alike will expect more of them academically, and the GPA becomes the all-important measure of their progress. Studies show that about half of high school students experience significant stress on a daily basis. It's not all bad news; however, as many experts agree that a moderate amount of stress can be motivational. Girls this age need help getting organized and will often appreciate a planner or even some kind of desktop storage for all their school supplies.
Entering high school ushers in plenty of positive changes as well. A larger pool of students means greater opportunities to make new friends. Most schools offer an array of diverse activities for students to continue existing interests or to try new things like academic and volunteer clubs, honor associations, and performing arts, as well as sports. Between the increased social life and all the ways to get involved, many teens don't spend a lot of time at home.
If you're a parent, you might need to remind your 14-year-old to slow down every once and while. A birthday or holiday gift that encourages taking an afternoon off and a little relaxation could be the perfect thing for a busy, over-worked student. Most teen girls would welcome gift sets of at-home spa products or cosmetics for doing make overs with friends.
Gifts You Know She'll Love
Choosing gifts for teen girls can be intimidating because the average modern teen already spends a surprising amount of money shopping for themselves. At this age, they also have developed strong opinions about their personal style. When choosing wearable gifts such as accessories and jewelry, it's usually a safe bet to stick with neutral classics that can be paired with other clothing in their preferred style. As an added benefit, they may actually keep it longer because it won't be out of fashion in a year or two.
Electronics remain a popular gift for high-schoolers, and there are quite a few options out there, even when shopping on a tight budget.
Another kind of accessory many young teens will appreciate is a purse or wristlet. As young teens spend an increasing amount of time socializing outside of school without their parents, they'll find they need a place to put valuables, especially as long as cell phone sizes increase and jeans continue to get skinnier.
Electronics remain a popular gift for high-schoolers, and there are quite a few options out there, even when shopping on a tight budget. If you are looking for a special gift for the rare teen that doesn't have a phone yet, you can find budget-friendly smart phones to get her started. For girls already immersed in technology, you can augment their experience with headphones, personalized cases, or even a selfie-stick.
For a teen you don't know as well, (or haven't seen since they're favorite thing was Hello Kitty), you can check their social media accounts to get caught up on their interests and extra-curricular activities. This is an easy way to find inspiration for that perfect gift. Personalized gear that can be used for their favorite sport or hobby can become a treasured possession.
Don't Forget The Fun
When younger teens enter high school, they often make an effort to appear more grown-up. Often times, this results in too much screen time and an unhealthy tendency to become more sedentary. But the truth is, sometimes all they need is a little push to remember the joys of play time. A gift that encourages some fun time and reminds them of their younger years could end up being one of their favorites.
A gift that encourages some fun time and reminds them of their younger years could end up being one of their favorites.
Fourteen-year-old girls who aren't involved in sports can especially benefit from a present that encourages them to get active. Rekindling one of their childhood interests with the gift of a skate board, scooter or roller blades can also help them get around while they are impatiently awaiting their chance to finally get a driver's license. When choosing special family gifts at holiday times, instead of getting more stuff for their rooms, consider fun backyard games that everyone can do together like Frisbee, badminton, or even a simple bag toss game.
Given that teens spend less time at home, any gift that fosters some precious family time will be welcomed by girls and parents alike. They may not want to admit it, but an old-fashioned family fun night can break the bad habit of each person retreating to their own corner of the house on the few evenings when everyone is actually home. It might be time to update their board game collection to some more mature games that can be enjoyed with family and when friends come over.