Parenting Teens

Okay, so the two bunnies and the little chick are a bit too cutesy and gushy for teenagers! I’m feeling a touch of spring fever and all into the season. So, sue me! No, wait, don’t! Steve, Chris and Kim at 451 Press will get all upset over that! Just send me private emails with all your complaints.

Do you still give Easter baskets to your teenagers? My daughter’s 16 now, and will probably still be getting them when she’s 80-if I’m still around, that is! Do you find it tougher to figure out what to put in them at your kid’s current stage in life? Following are a few suggestions:

The old standards:
*chocolate bunnies
*jelly beans
*Peeps
*Cadbury eggs(my own personal favorite)

If none of those work, pick out your teen’s favorite candy or snacks. I know parents who have put in bags of Doritos and a 2-liter coke!

*stuffed animals (or, these days, you can go with a stuffed version of a favorite TV character or a microbead
pillow)
*CD’s (these will go into any size baskets, and will be much appreciated)
*DVD’s of favorite movies or TV shows
*iTunes gift card
*movie theater gift card
*T-shirts with favorite characters or funny sayings on them
*pre-paid cell phone (or one with a family plan, if you’ve been planning to get them any way)
*minutes for pre-paid cell phone
*gift card for favorite eatery
*books(always great gifts for teens who like to read)
*carry bag or other accessories for mp3 player
*video game

These are just a few ideas. Also, you don’t have to use a standard basket any more (since they’re probably not going to use it to hunt eggs!). Stuff their gifts into some type of colorful storage bin they can use later. If they could use a new backpack, stuff candy, etc., into one of those. A friend I know used a plain brown grocery bag and had her younger children decorate it with Easter drawings, stickers, etc., then stuffed it with her teenage sons favorite snacks and drinks!

As a for-instance, my daugher’s basket is going to be a wicker clothes hamper (which she desperately needs!), stuffed with a body pillow(something she’s been asking for), a new CD, a gift card to the coffee shop she and her friends like to visit after school, and a t-shirt, along with some candy. With teenagers, you can be creative-giving both things they can use and things that are fun!

If you have ‘tweens, try looking in on Char’s post on Easter baskets for ‘tweens at Weary Parent. Hope everyone has a great Easter!

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