The Best Gifts For a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy
If you have the good fortune to have a thirteen-year-old boy in your life in some capacity, whether by being a parent, through other family members, or friends, then you also can acknowledge how difficult it is to shop for them. Related by blood or not, thirteen-year-old boys can be tricky in the gift-giving department, and getting a straightforward answer out of their mouths can prove to be an even more tumultuous challenge. Still, you have to love them, no matter how out of touch with the youth they may end up making you feel.
So let’s say you have a birthday on the horizon and you’re expected to come up with the perfect assortment of presents to bestow upon the thirteen-year-old boy in your life. Rather than give away your plans, you turn to the internet in hopes of finding the best gifts out there. Luckily for you, Perfect Gift is in your corner, ready to provide you with countless gift options that will be guaranteed to make his day and yours all the more special.
Get ready to dive into the best gift options for a thirteen-year-old boy by scrolling and seeing what’s in store below!
1. Gift Cards
Giving him the freedom to shop for exactly what he wants
Gift cards are a nice way to show someone that you’re thinking about them without coming across as overly affectionate. For a moody thirteen-year-old boy who cringes every time you go to hug him, gift cards are the long sought-after answer to your gifting woes. Professional and practical, you will find gift cards to be as functional as cash but without any of the caveats that go alongside it (such as losing track of physical bills, which young teens may be prone to). Let’s take a look at some popular options available right now at Perfect Gift.
GameStop. Starting off our recommendations is a GameStop gift card, which is always an excellent choice when dealing with young boys and teenagers who spend countless hours glued to their TV screen, video game controller in hand. GameStop sells all the contemporary video games and related paraphernalia you could dream of having. With thousands of titles in stock plus fun merchandise of popular franchises, GameStop is practically heaven for any gamers in your life.
AMC Theatres. Young boys have a lot of energy stored inside of them, which requires almost constant entertainment to keep them from acting out. You can deliver them entertainment on a platter with an AMC Theatres gift card. Give them the ability to see all the hit, age-appropriate blockbuster films popping up in theaters near them with friends and family members, plus they can splurge on movie goodies like popcorn and candy.
Visa or Mastercard. A teen boy may not really know how great a Visa or Mastercard gift card is on the surface, but their parents will surely be aware of how awesome of a gift one is. With the ability to be used in a variety of different stores and online retailers, Visa or Mastercard gift cards act a lot like cash but without the clutter. Give one to a thirteen-year-old boy and tell him the shopping choices are up to him and watch him light up like a firework.
2. Nintendo Switch Lite
Grant him access to gaming whether he’s in the house or out and about
Compact and lightweight, this gaming console is just what any teen could want to stay entertained and enriched. Image courtesy of Walmart.
Does your teenager like to game while he’s on the go? If he’s always stuck on his consoles at home, then chances are he would be more than thrilled at the chance to play while the parents run errands and the like. And there’s few better ways to keep him entertained than with the help of a gaming device, which will have his fully devoted attention for hours at a time.
The Nintendo Switch Lite may already be more than a few years old at this point, but that doesn’t mean its popularity among gamers has waned. In fact, Nintendo consoles stay relevant for many decades, which explains why their prices never seem to substantially drop. Though he’s thirteen and ready to be treated like the adult he isn’t, he’s still a part of the youth and will drop pretty much anything he’s doing to get in a few extra minutes of play time. And that is why something like the Nintendo Switch Lite is the perfect gift to keep him occupied and give you some peace of mind.
3. A Mini Fridge
He can stock up on his favorite foods with this thoughtful gift
A mini fridge is a great way of giving a teen some semblance of independence. Image courtesy of Home Depot.
This one might have you thinking, “huh?” so let us explain. Thirteen years old is a prime time for seeking out independence and not having your parents hover around you 24/7. Thirteen-year-old boys love spending time in their rooms or the house’s entertainment rooms, secluded from prying eyes and the constant drawl of overreaching parents. If you believe your thirteen-year-old kid to be responsible enough, then something like a mini fridge to keep snacks and drinks inside can be just the thing that grants them a slice of independence and a taste of what the real world is like.
There’s no limit on the types of mini fridges out there to choose from, though you probably want to go with an option that isn’t too expensive or complicated to hook up. This Home Depot Mini Fridge is a fairly affordable option that is no larger than a fridge you would see in a college dorm room, giving your thirteen-year-old boy enough space for some refreshing food and beverages like soda and juice. Its sleek design makes it blend in nicely with the style of your kid’s room, and the limited space means it is simple to keep clean, giving your teen a nice little weekly chore to be responsible for in exchange for the privilege.
4. Phone Suction Mount
He can stick his phone to almost any surface with this tool
Help him be prepared to make lasting moments with this nifty tool. Image courtesy of Octobuddy.
You’d do almost anything to get a teenager off of their phone for more than five minutes, but you also know how integral a phone is to a teen’s life nowadays. If you know a thirteen-year-old boy who was recently gifted his first phone, then you at the very least want him to have the equipment he needs to comfortably use his new tech. A phone suction mount is a perfectly inexpensive gift option that will make using his phone hands free a breeze so that he can share important moments with his friends, making memories that will last a lifetime.
The Octobuddy Classic Suction Mount is a great tool to utilize your device hands free. Compatible with most smartphones on the market, this suction mount can stick to an array of different surfaces to make using your phone while your hands are occupied a breeze. Plus, the suction mount pops off of any surface it adheres to with minimal effort, so you don’t have to worry about struggling to get your phone back once you wrap up streaming, calling, or whatever else you may be doing. It’s also incredibly affordable, so if you are tight on cash you can still get him something special and practical.
5. Quality Backpacks
Help him get his life together with functional accessories
Spacious and with organizational compartments, this backpack is every messy teen’s dream. Image courtesy of The North Face.
Whether it is for school or for taking on outdoor adventures with his rowdy friends, every thirteen-year-old boy needs a dependable way to carry and store his stuff. A dependable backpack can easily turn into one of his favorite companions by safely storing his belongings and making it easy to keep track of everything he takes with him, which is great since teen boys aren’t renowned for their ability to keep up with what they have on their person. With a backpack slung over one shoulder, all they have to do is remember their bag and everything else will follow suit.
There are a nearly infinite number of backpacks and bags out there available for purchase from all sorts of retailers, but there’s a difference between a cheap backpack and one manufactured with quality in mind. Take for instance the Jester Backpack from The North Face, a company consistently celebrated for their high-quality bags. Grab a sleek monochromatic or dual color design, with options like black, gray, blue, and dark green. With the ability to fit all of the essentials, even including a laptop, no thirteen-year-old boy will ever be unprepared for life again.
6. Soccer Balls
Get him off his butt and on his feet with this fun and sporty gift
A simple soccer ball can change the way your teen looks at participating in sports. Image courtesy of Amazon.
You probably wish your teen would spend more time playing outside with his friends, and he definitely will if he has the right stuff. While you may not be able to eliminate his passion for things like video games and being online, you can surely round out his hobbies with some sports gear. Even something as noncommittal as a ball or outdoor game set will give him the inspiration he needs to step outside of the house and hone in on his sports abilities.
The great thing about sports gear and equipment is that there is practically no limit on what’s available to buy. But if you want to keep things relatively inexpensive, then look no further than a simple ball designed for sports like soccer, football, and basketball. He may have no skills when it comes to kicking or throwing a ball, but everybody has to start somewhere, and that’s just what he’ll do when you surprise him with a Tango Glider Soccer Ball. Even if he only busts it out once in a blue moon, that’s still better than never. Additionally, he can share with all of his friends and play in imaginary tournaments right in the backyard.
7. Water Bottles
Keeping your water cool and your body hydrated
Staying hydrated on the go has never been so cool. Image courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Any parent of a teen can tell you that keeping their kid hydrated is a challenge in and of itself. With so many sugary, carbonated beverages out there on the market, getting a teen boy to drink plain water regularly is nearly impossible. Still, it’s incredibly important that teens meet their daily water intake, and it is your responsibility as an adult to encourage them to drink water whenever possible. And the first step in encouraging more water consumption is gifting them a really cool water bottle they can take with them whenever they venture outside of the house.
While everyone else is up in arms over the Stanley brand, you can find an equally as compelling water bottle with the Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle. Its sleek design, built-in straw, and overall leak-proof design makes this water bottle ideal for rowdy teenagers who are prone to spillage. Double-wall vacuum insulation keeps your beverage chilled while running around on hot days, and its wide mouth opening means you can easily slip in some ice cubes without struggle.
8. Portable Speaker
Giving him the freedom to blast his favorite tunes
Now he can take his tunes on the go and share them with his buddies. Image courtesy of Walmart.
Just like teenagers from decades past, music holds a powerful grip on the youth of today. Whether they’ve got their earbuds in and are excelling at ignoring you or happen to be blasting their tunes so loud the entire house feels like it's vibrating, the hold that music has over teenagers is as astounding as ever. So instead of repeating the mantra that all music today blows and isn’t like it was “back in the day,” why not give them some encouragement to build up their music repertoire with something like a portable speaker?
A new pair of wireless earbuds is always great, but sharing music tastes with friends is equally as important when it comes to building lasting relationships. The JBL Clip 4 Waterproof Speaker offers a fantastic way to listen and to share music with those around him. Durable and more affordable than some rival speakers, this music-playing device is exactly what the doctor ordered for a moody teenager. It’s also available in a range of different colors, from black and red to blue and green tones.
Teen Boys Are Special
You can show them just how special they are with an assortment of stellar gifts that they will be sure to fall in love with. Even if getting expressive emotion out of them is harder than searching for a needle in a haystack, they won’t be able to suppress a sincere smile once they see what kind of gifts are in store for them. Spend less time stressing and more time making memories that will last forever!
