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With all the amazing options out there, shopping for gifts for kids can be a challenge. That goes double when it comes to buying gift for 14-year-old teenagers because there are so many great roads to go down: There are tech gifts at every price point, creative gifts for artsy kids, accessories and cosmetics that let them express their personal styles plus games, fidget toys and other items that are just plain fun.
The Good Housekeeping Institute is here to help narrow down the best gifts for 14-year-olds. It tests all kinds of products throughout the year, covering everything from drones to beauty items. It also tests tons of toys to determine the annual Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award winners. The engineers in the labs test for safety, durability and ease of use, meaning big-ticket gifts will last as long as your teens' interest in them. Then we found more best-sellers, editor's picks and other little, trendy items to keep things fun.
As you can see, great tech gifts, cosmetic items, fun fidget toys and ways to personalize their rooms are at the top of 14-year-olds' lists this year. If you're looking for more great gift ideas, check out our top picks for the best gifts for teens, gifts for teen boys and the best gifts for teen girls on Amazon.
Everyone, from elementary students up through senior citizens, seems to love getting in on the Kanoodle fun — no wonder it's been a social-media sensation. To play, challenge cards offer the start of the shape, and people have to use their logic and critical thinking skills to figure out how to fit in the rest of the pieces to make a pyramid. If they like it, they can move on to other Kanoodle versions, like Kaoodle Head-to-Head or Kanoodle Genius.
RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards
There are dozens of fonts to choose from with this necklace, so you can find one that matches your teen's style. It comes plated in 18k gold, and also has chain length 18" with a 2" extension.
Gamers are always excited to play a new Super Mario Bros. game, and last year — the year of The Super Mario Bros. Movie — that went double. This new entry in the Mario franchise, which is available for Nintendo Switch, was praised for its beautiful visuals and entertaining game play.
RELATED: Best Gifts for Gamers
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Lokai bracelets are all about balance: Each white bead has water from Mt. Everest, and each black one has mud from the Dead Sea, reminding us of our own highs and lows. This one has a surf-inspired design, and $1 from every sale goes to ocean-biodiversity organization Oceana. But there are also designs inspired by their favorite sports teams, Disney movies, favorite artists or good causes like animal rescue, BCRF or the Make-a-Wish Foundation, so you can find one that's in line with what they care about most.
Teens who are getting into cute makeup routines will love these astrology-themed brushes, which come in an adorable box to match their zodiac sign. There are six in the set: a foundation brush, a precision cheek brush, a mini complexion brush, a fluffy blender brush, an oval detail brush and an angled definer brush.
RELATED: The Best Astrology Gifts
If they're into Netflix's One Piece, let them declare their allegiance to the Straw Hat Pirate Crew with this tee. It comes emblazoned with Luffy's Jolly Roger, so other One Piece fans will definitely take note.
RELATED: The Best Gifts for Anime Fans
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You'll love this because it'll remind them to stay hydrated, they'll love it because it's gone absolutely viral on TikTok. Our experts loved how much water it's able to hold, how slim it is (it can fit into a car's cup holders) and the comfy large grip. You can even get them fun accessories to go with it.
LEGO fans will delight in putting together Mando's iconic ship in this Seal-holding set that comes in at just over 400 pieces, which make for a satisfying build. But the best part, of course, is the minifigure of Grogu, aka "Baby Yoda." It also comes with Mando and Peli Motto minifgs and droid, darksaber and jet pack accessories.
This set comes with four different eyeshadow shades, each keyed to a different Hogwarts house. If they're feeling mischievous one day, they can go for the Slytherin shades, and the next day they can try the Hufflepuff hues. It's part of a larger Harry Potter collection, which also includes a "bewitching brews" lip gloss set, glittery herbology lipstick and a lip mask that comes in a cauldron.
RELATED: The Best Harry Potter Gifts
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If they're into mysteries, they can use their powers of deduction to solve this at-home escape room game. Up to four players can decipher clues, solve puzzles and work together to unravel the mystery that unfolds in a seemingly abandoned castle. This one is rated "expert" level, but if they're new to escape-room games, you can also get Exit: The Game sets at novice and intermediate levels.
The slides are so comfy, they've racked up more than 14,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. They're super flexible, they come in a rainbow of colors and they're easy to wash, too.
You can get their name, initials or an inspirational saying. After you decide, you can pick from a bunch of fonts, colors and symbols to really customize it. No matter which route you go, they'll love it.
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The options almost seem endless for what they can use it for when you think about it. It has a lid, which makes storing their school supplies a breeze, it's sturdy enough for them to use as a snack tray and it sits perfectly on their lap for when they are doing homework or using their laptop. It comes in a lot of different colors, too!
Take this to the park, to the beach or the school courtyard, wave it around, and it easily fills with air and becomes an inflatable couch. When chill time is over, it folds up small enough to stash in a backpack. Plus, it comes in a ton of fun colors and patterns.
They can spend hours folding and unfolding this mystery cube. When it unfolds, it forms any number of different shapes and reveals different patterns inside. Then it becomes a puzzle to get it back into its cube form again.
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Whether they're just looking for some groovy decor for their rooms or want a cozy spot to curl up and read, this extra-large flower is immediate comfort. It comes in several colors, and they're also available in smaller sizes ($25 – $37).
This is a pop-up book, but it's not for little kids. Instead, the pages unfold to become amazing things, like a working planetarium that can project constellations onto the walls, a speaker that can amplify sound or a playable musical instrument.
Teens can deal with any acne in a better and more fun way than we ever did thanks to these celestial Hydrocolloid patches. Starface claims they improve pimples overnight while protecting them from bacteria and infections.
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With this station, they'll be able to keep their devices neat, organized — and fully charged, which means no more excuses for missed text messages. It has the capability to charge an Apple phone, Apple AirPods and Apple Watch all at once, though there are also similar charging stations for Samsung devices.
They can personalize their lockers, their rooms and their school supplies easily with this surprisingly affordable photo printer, which prints pics from any phone or social media account. (You do need to be able to install an app.) It connects wirelessly with Bluetooth, and prints onto 2” x 3” sticky-back paper. (You can always get more paper refills to go with it.)
Marisa LaScala
Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.