What To Buy A 17-18 Year Old For Christmas
The older kids get the harder it gets to shop for them.
If you have a high school senior to shop for this Christmas you may wondering what exactly to buy them that they would actually use and enjoy and could potentially still use after they graduate as well.
I’ve come up with a great holiday gift guide for high school seniors. You’ll find gifts in all prices ranges from less than $15 all the way up to several hundred dollars. These gift ideas work great for your kids, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and even friends. You’ll find most gifts work both for guys and girls but there is even some specific gifts for each towards the end of the article.
You’ll find gift ideas for those seniors who already know what school they are off to the next fall as well as ones that may not be going off to college at all. Be sure to browse the whole guide to find the perfect Christmas gift (these gifts also work great for graduation gifts as well) for the 17-18 boy or girl in your life.
The Top Christmas Gifts For High School Seniors
Laptops Are The Top Wished For Christmas Gift With Teens and College Students
Acer Aspire 15.6-Inches Full HD Notebook Laptop
When people ask me what to buy an older teenager for Christmas, my number one suggestion is always a good quality laptop.
Students heading off to college are going to need a good laptop for papers and even for completing work online. But, laptops aren’t just essential for seniors going off to college as ones that may be heading into the full time workforce can use one to find jobs or take online courses as well.
If your budget allows it this holiday, I definitely recommend you take advantage of the sales on laptops and get your high school senior this most wished for gift. It’s not only a great gift that can offer some fun but it’s practical and functional for today’s teens.
Computer and Laptop Accessories Also Make Great Gifts
If your teen already has a good laptop or computer or you know that someone else may be buying them a laptop instead, consider buying some computer accessories for Christmas.
Some of the accessories that would make great gifts include a good quality laptop bag, laptop sleeve, a wireless printer, laptop desk, ergonomic mouse, portable hard drive and even some software programs like Photoshop or Microsoft Office.
Here are some of the best selling computer and laptop accessories to consider buying as a gift this holiday.
Messenger Style Laptop Bag – various colors
Seagate Expansion 2TB Portable External Hard Drive
LapGear Lap Desk – more colors available
Digital Picture Frames Are Perfect For Remembering Those High School Memories
NIX Advance Digital Photo & HD Video Frame
With it being the teen’s last year at high school they are bound to be taking lots of pictures so they can remember all these fun times and memories of their last year with a lot of their friends.
A digital picture frame is great for storing all those pictures in one spot. Plus, they can scan through the photos whenever they want instead of having to get them developed and put into photo albums (because who really does this anymore?)
Best of all if the senior is heading off to college in another city they can take the frame with them to their new college. This way they have all the pictures of family and friends right there, plus they can add more photos of their fun freshman years as well.
Yeti Or S’well Bottles Are a Hit With Young Adults
Yeti as well as S’well bottles are all the rage with young adults right now, especially the college age students who take their drinks on the go.
Both of these types of containers were made to keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for up to 12 hours which is much longer than your average travel cup.
It does seem to be that I see a lot more females with S’well bottles but they are definitely catching on with both males and females.
YETI Rambler 20 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler
S’well Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
S’ip by S’well Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Teens Love Gift Cards For Christmas (And They Are Practical Gifts)
Most 17-18 year olds love getting gift cards for Christmas as long as the cards are to places that they actually frequent. At this age, the kid has more freedom and is most likely driving himself places so he can use the gift cards to help him out with paying for items.
Some gifts cards that I would recommend for a high school senior include gas cards, fast food places or restaurants they like to eat at, Starbucks or other coffee shops, favorite clothing stores, or even a general VISA gift card they can use and refill as they head off to school.
Check out Amazon.com for a wide selection of gift cards . Plus, some times you will find they run special deals on gift cards as well.
Give Her Knowledge Of What To Expect In College and Life Beyond High School
If your child is heading off to school (especially if they will be staying on campus and not at home) there are some books that offer sneak peak into what they can really expect in college.
Most of these books have a witty banter to them and aren’t taken too seriously but there are some other options that really teach young adults about living on their own and being safe about it.
You’ll even find the book Do Your Laundry Or You’ll Die Alone is great for not only college students but for any young adult that may be venturing out on her (or his) own anytime soon.
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A Portable Charger Is A Must For All Those Smart Gadgets
Anker Astro Ultra Compact Portable Charger
With all the gadgets young adults have nowadays, a portable charger makes a great Christmas gift as well as a very functional one.
These chargers can be used for most smart phones like an iPhone or Samsung phone as well as for devices like an iPad and iPod. They come in handy for those days where your teen may be out and about and need a charge or when they may forget to charge their phone overnight and heading into class their phone dies.
The charger seen here is super affordable and would even work as a good stocking stuffer for an older teenager.
Small Coffee Makers Are Wonderful Gifts For Caffeine Lovers
Save your teenager some money and buy them their own small coffee maker. There are some really nice personal coffee makers that even come with their own travel mugs.
This will especially come in handy for those students who may be living in the dorms in a few months or even those who move out on their own after high school.
If you buy an inexpensive personal coffee maker you can always include a selection of coffees to go with or a nice personalized mug.
If you have a little bigger of a budget, you can always go with a smaller Keurig for a gift. This really makes getting coffee on the go super simple and easy for the young adult.
AdirChef Grab N’ Go Personal Coffee Maker with Travel Mug
Keurig K55 Single Serve Programmable K-Cup Maker
Airtight Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker (& Iced Tea)
Keep Your Young Adult On Schedule With A Smart Watch
Apple Series 2 Watch for iPhone
Your young adult will be able to stay connected whenever or wherever they are with a smart watch. These smart watches allow you to use certain apps, check your email, send texts, record notes, and even keeps track of your heart rate and steps for the day.
They also allow you to check your calendar as well as set alarms to stay on track and organized.
Although I do recommend the Apple Watch for those who have iPhones, there are other smart watches that do cost less and are compatible with Android phones and Apple phones.
Although these watches do cost more than your average watch, they really do come in handy for teens on the go.
Plus, you’ll notice that these smart watches are becoming the latest in fashions as a lot of young and older adults can be seen sporting them. There are even replaceable bands that you can get to fit your outfits as well.
Root On His Future School With College Apparel and Accessories
NCAA Hooded Sweatshirt -multiple schools available
If your high school senior already knows what school they will be attending next fall you can start him off with some school apparel and accessories. Most college students tend to dress in their school’s apparel especially on those early mornings when they just want to toss on a t-shirt or sweatshirt.
Nowadays you can find clothing and accessories for every college online, unlike years ago when you had to have a local bookstore to get college gear.
You can pick him or her up some t-shirts or hoodies with their school’s logo on it as well as other accessories like a hat or scarf.
You can even consider other college branded items like a throw blanket, folding lawn chairs, a tote bag or travel mug.
Bluetooth Earbuds Are Used By Just About Every Teenager
SENSO Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
The cool thing about giving Bluetooth earbuds as a Christmas gift to a high school senior is that they can used for all sorts of things from working out and running to listening to books on tape.
Of course most teens simply use them for listening to music while studying, but this means that you don’t have to listen to their music when they are home.
The Bluetooth earbuds can work with any device that has the Bluetooth on it such as a smart phone, computer, laptop, iPod, and some tablets.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on a good set of Bluetooth earbuds. In fact some of the best earbuds that I have found don’t cost more than $45.
A Picnic Blanket Can Be An Unexpected But Fun Christmas Gift
As your teen gets older you may just be surprised at how often a picnic blanket in their vehicle can come in handy.
It can be used for concerts, at the beach or lake, or even get-togethers with friends in the park. It also comes in handy for some BBQs at friend’s houses or fall time bonfires.
It also offers a nice emergency blanket for their car as well.
Extra Large Picnic & Outdoor Blanket with Waterproof Backing
Large Outdoor Picnic Blanket Tote
Portable Huge Picnic and Beach Blanket
Keep Him Safe With A Roadside Emergency Assistance Kit
First Secure 90-Piece Roadside Assistance Emergency Vehicle Kit
This is one Christmas gift that can help ease some parent’s fears especially if your child will be driving to college come next fall.
I recommend the First Secure Emergency Roadside Kit (seen here to the side) because it not only includes everything you could possible need for your vehicle but also includes a 48 piece emergency first aid kit as well.
This may not seem like an all-exciting Christmas gift, but it’s something that is functional and your child will be thankful for it if they ever get a flat tire or breakdown anywhere.
Of course you can always add on a more interesting gift from this gift guide to go along with for something a bit more exciting.
Give The Gift Of Experiences
Instead of giving your teen a physical item for a gift, instead gift them an experience. It could be something that they have always talked about doing or maybe something you saw coming up in your city that you know they would love.
An experience gift is great because it provides memories for years to come. You can even join your child for the experience and make it extra special. Or if it something out of your comfort zone then send them along with a friend instead.
Some ideas for this type of gift include:
- Concert
- Skydiving
- Bungee Jumping
- Zip lining
- Cooking lessons
- Overnight trip to favorite area
- Sporting Event
More Christmas Gifts For High School Senior Girls
If you are looking for some more Christmas gifts specifically for a high school senior girl, there are a few more ideas that I have for you.
Jewelry
Dogeared Going Places Compass Disc Gold Dipped Chain Necklace
Get her a special piece of jewelry that she has always wanted or one that has special meaning to her. There are so many great jewelry pieces to choose from but I recommend going with something that will be timeless as a special Christmas gift for her last year of high school.
You can even get her a piece that has special meaning such as the one seen here . Even if she is not heading away to college she is still heading for new adventures and growing up into adulthood.
Planner
An 18 year old girl gets quite busy with all the extra curricular activities, parties, school events and not to mention senior projects that she can definitely use a planner to keep schedule on course.
There are so many beautiful planners and they have even become quite a big thing for females that you can find all types of planners now. There are your basic life planners for all of your events and items and then there are specific ones for fitness and just for school.
Bag
It could be the latest handbag that she wants or a cute tote bag for all her stuff. Even an overnight bag makes a great gift for packing for college or spending the night over a friend’s house.
Beauty Basket
You might have to do a little bit of research for this gift and find out what her favorite beauty products are as well as what she may be wanting but hasn’t bought yet.
You can then take a few of those items and place them in a fun basket (especially one she can use again for some organization) and make her a personalized beauty basket for a Christmas gift.
Of course you can always include other items besides beauty stuff including things like fun socks, a personalized cup, some of her favorite coffee or tea as well as even include a gift card to her favorite stores.
Journal
Although everything may be digital nowadays, written journals are making a comeback. They make some really pretty journals for young adults to choose from as well as even accessories like bookmarks and stickers to go with them.
You can even combine a gift of a planner with a journal if she is really into creative journaling and wants an option for both. And throw in a package of colorful gel pens or fine tip markers for a complete Christmas gift.
A journal makes a nice gift because it allows her to write down her feelings as she moves onto a new chapter in her life.
Q&A a Day: 5-Year Journal
Twilight Garden Journal
Leather Writing Journal Notebook
More Christmas Gifts For High School Senior Boys
There are also Christmas gift ideas for high school senior boys as well. These gifts work great for both students who may be going to college next year as well as those who may be venturing out into the full time workforce.
Multi-Tool
A multi tool can come in handy for all sorts of things especially once they get to school on their own. It’s nice to have on you for traveling in your car as well as for fixing things around your dorm room.
There are multi-tool of all sizes but truthfully the best ones are the smaller, sleeker ones that easily fit into your pockets or at least a small compartment area in your truck or car.
This would even make a nice stocking stuffier for your high school senior boy as you can find some multi tools for under $20.
Dress Shirts
Dress shirts come in handy for all sorts of things for a high school senior boy. They will need a dress shirt for any award banquets as well as graduation.
They can wear these shirts for things like college interviews or job interviews as well. Then, they can take the shirts to college for special events like fraternity banquets or special recognitions for school.
Basic Essentials Basket
If your 18 year old boy is like most other 18 year old boys, then he probably has either run out of underwear and socks or out of deodorant and hasn’t really cared.
Most teen boys can always use a restocking on basic essentials like underwear, socks, deodorant, shaving cream, razors, lotion, and body wash. This can also be a good time to stock up on some of his stuff if he is going away to college in the fall as well.
You can even include some other fun items in the basket like his favorite candy or snack as well as a gift card to his favorite fast food place. It makes a nice, personalized gift basket for him that also comes in handy.
Most of these gifts can also be used as stocking stuffers and can even be used for graduation gift ideas as well. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a new laptop as there are inexpensive gift options that are sure to please as well.
Although a 17-18 year old may not be the easiest person to buy a Christmas gift for, as you can see there are quite a lot of options available for good Christmas gifts for high school seniors . Try to choose gifts that you know will be put to good use and ones that fit their personality and style.