10 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Teens

Oh, Valentine’s Day. You either love it or hate it, but you can’t help but admit that it is a little fun to have a dedicated day to remind those closest to you how much you love them. 

Sure, you’ll probably get your spouse a card or cook their favorite meal, and if you have little ones at home, they’ll be delighted by making homemade Valentines for their schoolmates with you (so.much.glitter), but what if you have teens at home? It’s probably tempting to ignore the cheesiest of holidays so that you don’t inflame the highly flammable preteens and teens in the home, but you might also consider a little gift for them this Valentine’s Day. 

These 10 little Valentine’s Day remembrances will help them to remember how cherished and loved they are, without garnering you too many eye rolls or exasperated, “MOM!”’s. 

Accessories for their phones

Every teen who I know is glued to their devices, and during a global pandemic, a new (clean) phone case certainly can’t hurt. My preteen and teen love fun cases and protectors for their devices and, with spring around the corner, it’s fun to switch out cases to fun, bright colors or school colors. 

Gifts for the pets

My kids are obsessed with our family pets. In my home, immediately after Christmas, both kids have birthdays, so by the time Valentine’s Day rolls around, they are maxed out of gifts. Valentine’s Day gifts for the pets will be super fun for the kids to shower on the spoiled pets and won’t add more junk that you have to find space for in your kids’ rooms. Consider picking up pet treats, maybe new bowls or collars in fun colors, and toys.

Bath and beauty products

Shower gels, bath bombs, hair products—all consumable, coveted, and, when wrapped up and presented as a gift, feel a little more fun.

Gift cards for fast food

My teens really enjoy getting gift cards for their favorite fast food restaurants. The little bit of freedom that comes from having their own money to spend at a restaurant tickles them and, often, they enjoy footing the bill for our whole family to get food. 

Gift cards for apps, movies, games

Our device-loving teens love a gift card for purchasing apps, music, movies, and games on their phones and tablets. Another “consumable” that won’t take up space in your house. 

Outrageously large candy

When my kids were smaller, and especially on the heels of Christmas, I was always mindful about Valentine candy and not wanting to inundate them with yet more sugar. But, as they’ve gotten older, it’s become a custom to get them one outrageously large candy bar or giant gummy bear for Valentine’s Day. They are delighted at a ridiculously large version of their favorite candy and, hopefully as teens, they’re better at judging what is an appropriate serving. 

Replenish their school supplies

This sounds boring, but at this stage in the school year, your teen’s school supplies might be getting a little sparse. Some shiny, new notebooks (maybe with fun colors or designs) and their favorite mechanical pencils (my kids have strong opinions and are super picky about their mechanical pencils—who knew?) will be a sight for sore, mid-school year eyes. 

Swimsuits/beach towels

I used to put new swimsuits, beach towels, goggles and pool toys in my kids’ Easter baskets every year, but this year, I think we’re all antsy to get out at the first hint of warm, sunny, spring days and a trip to the pool isn’t out of the question. Maybe new pool supplies would be a fun Valentine’s Day gift and a good reminder that warm days are coming. 

Books

There’s always a good excuse to give books as gifts and Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to give the gift of reading.

Room decor

My kids love anything fun to decorate their rooms with. Use Valentine’s Day as a good excuse to freshen up the throw pillows in their rooms or get a new piece of wall art. A nice potted plant for their room is also a fun idea and gives them a living thing to care for. 

And if all else fails, just write your teen a heartfelt note telling them how much you love them. Make no bones about it, they will undoubtedly roll their eyes and pretend that it’s dumber than dumb, but it might also be the note that they pull out of the bottom of their drawer to read when they’re feeling less-than or unsure of their worth. 

Use Valentine’s Day as a chance to get as sappy as you want with your teens and to remind them of how loved they are and how important they are in your family—both things that all teens need to be reminded of on Valentine’s Day and every other day of the year. 

Jenny
Jenny is a 40-something, married mother of two (Anna, 2007 and Jack, 2009), who migrated to the Hill Country after doing a 14 year stint in Houston. When Jenny isn’t walking her slightly neurotic (and completely beloved) rescued Weimaraner, she enjoys writing, making to-do lists, and folding laundry (and sarcasm). Jenny holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi, and completed graduate coursework in Guidance and Counseling. She is a freelance writer who writes a weekly pet column for a Houston newspaper, and is a contributor at Dog Friendly San Antonio, New Braunfels Monthly and San Antonio Woman, as well as assorted other publications. You can also find her on Instagram (introvertsguidetosobriety). Favorite Restaurant: Bohanan's Favorite Landmark: The Alamo (duh) Favorite San Antonio Tradition: Wurstfest (not technically SAT, but closer to Jenny's stomping grounds).