By Libby Kamrowski, Timberline High School Intern to Thurston Talk
It’s that time of year again, the time to panic about impressing your child/cousin/niece/nephew with a gift. What do they want? What are the “cool” brands? What is something that they can show off to their friends? Where do you even begin?
Hold your horses, gift-givers. You don’t need to reevaluate life itself on the basis of this one present. Let’s defuse this Tannenbaum together.
First, think about the personality of this dweller of Earth between 13 and 19 years of age. Think about what kind of person they are: an artsy type, technology-obsessed, a sporty spice?
Jenna King, a senior at Timberline High School, can advise you about the creative type. As a bold dresser, always sporting clashing patterns without a care, shopping for a girl at Forever 21 or American Eagle is her broad suggestion. “I like a lot of stores in downtown Olympia – Dumpster Values, Archibald Sisters, Psychic Sister,” said King.
Thrift shopping is an excellent way to get a unique find for a unique person, and an even better way to spend quality time. Trying on vintage clothes together will likely lead you to walk out with a funky find and after a good laugh.
For the less-hipster-but-still-in-touch-with-the-trends, there are easier, more commercial, alternatives. This is aimed for the pop music listeners, the selfie-takers, the lovers of technology.
“We want something that makes us different from other people. Some people don’t want to blend in, they want to feel important,” said Michael Otter-Johnson, who sports Apple technology, not out of place with his outfits from Aeropostale and H&M. In this case, a gift card paired with a loving card would suffice, leaving your trendy teen to their own devices.
But what if you need to impress a casual or athletic teenage boy? Have no fear, Brennon Kaleiwahea is here. As an avid athlete and embracer of video games, his views likely line up with what you need.
“I usually hit up Fred Meyer for electronics, it’s really underrated there. They have every game. And honestly, I love Ross if you’re trying to find a bargain on clothes.” From his informed teenage perspective, the hottest video games include Madden 25, Grand Theft Auto 5, Call of Duty: Ghosts, and Battlefield Four. All just in time for the release of the new Play Station Four.
Speaking of video games, Kris Stewart shares the love, especially with an interest big on League of Legends. Looking beyond a single two-dimensional type, he’s an example of translating direct personality traits to material goods. “I like writing poetry, and I like bike riding a lot,” Stewart reflected. “Whenever I receive box sets of books, I get really excited because I know I’ll be spending a lot of time reading them.” Stewart also enjoys the atmosphere of Starbucks, so a trip to Barnes and Noble would be in order if you have an introverted, cozy kid.
But not all gifts needed to be wrapped with the festive paper dredged up from the back of your closet. A one-on-one lunch date is a perfect bonding opportunity, if you deem your relationship close enough. Adults, be casual. We love bubble tea (look no further than Bubble Island or Souru Teriyaki), adore Ihop, and will always accept food more exquisite than what the dollar menu offers. We’ll appreciate the outreach more than you think.
If you have a son or daughter who has gone off to college and can’t make it back for the holidays, it’s likely that your gift will be even more enjoyed. A care package doesn’t have to contain a $400 Xbox (it’s probably a bad idea to send that through the mail), but you should give a taste of home. Throw in some favorite treats, a letter riddled with love and family inside jokes, a favorite shirt or two that had to be left behind, and a couple necessities that might have been sacrificed due to the college life. The gifts go farther now more than ever.
If your circumstances require you to be less personal, such as shopping for a co-worker’s son or daughter, stick to the classics. Gift cards are the free-for-all extension into caring, not just for the givers worried that more specific options would fail. Starbucks is universal (the controversial intelligent life on Mars are actually Starbucks baristas), and iTunes is accessible to anyone with Internet feeds. A certificate for a chain such as Forever 21 or Panera Bread can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their preferences.
Lastly, adhere to the direct device of my age demographic. “Simple is fine. Don’t try to over-think it. Every girl could use a new necklace, every boy wouldn’t mind a new hat. Make sure to imagine them wearing it, and make sure it’s similar to something you’ve seen them wearing,” said King.
It’s not as hard as you first thought, was it? Chopping down this year’s Christmas tree will probably require more effort.
