“This is an important developmental time and one during which teens turn away from their families and start to pay more attention to their friends,” family psychologist Jennifer L. Hartstein, Psy.D., tells Verywell Family. “They tend to lean into their peer groups, connecting over things that they enjoy together, like hobbies, sports, etc.” At this age, kids’ brains are developing at different rates, and they’re starting to understand abstract thinking. That’s why, with this gift guide, we selected a wide range of gifts and toys that we hope will appeal to 13-year-olds of different maturity levels. Whether your kid is focused on building the coolest Lego set, exploring their creative side with arts and crafts, or just wants a more adult feel to their bedroom, we’ve created this list of the best gifts for all types of young teens.  Here are the best gifts for 13-year-olds. Price at time of publication: $45 Price at time of publication: $299 Price at time of publication: $70 Price at time of publication: $65 Price at time of publication: $40 Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $55 for 2 Price at time of publication: $80 Price at time of publication: $90

For the Kid That Loves a Trend

Price at time of publication: $130 Price at time of publication: $19 Price at time of publication: $25 Price at time of publication: $29 Price at time of publication: $60 Price at time of publication: $14 Price at time of publication: $60

For the Gamer

Price at time of publication: $27 Price at time of publication: $70 Price at time of publication: $100 Price at time of publication: $295 Price at time of publication: $30 Price at time of publication: $200

For the Stylish Kid

Price at time of publication: $60 Price at time of publication: $31 Price at time of publication: $17 Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: Starting at $110 Price at time of publication: Starting at $250

For the Kid That Loves Personalization

Price at time of publication: $100 Price at time of publication: $13 Price at time of publication: Starting at $170 Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $44 Price at time of publication: $19 Price at time of publication: $30

For the Kid Updating Their Bedroom

Price at time of publication: $80 Price at time of publication: Starting at $48 Price at time of publication: $26 Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $16 Price at time of publication: $19

For the Creative Kid

Price at time of publication: $200 Price at time of publication: $120 Price at time of publication: $19 Price at time of publication: $22 Price at time of publication: $10 Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $80 Price at time of publication: $25 Price at time of publication: $15

What to Look for in Gifts for a 13-Year-Old

Age Appropriateness

“You have to know your child,” Hartstein tells us. “Sometimes, what works for one 13-year-old will not work for another. Do some investigating into what it is your child wants to have or wants access to. Determine if you think they have the maturity to handle it, and go from there.” Many kids want to spend a lot of time on screens and will be asking for gifts that will have them spending time online, and it’s important to monitor that, says Hartstein. “I think parents have to be paying attention to not only how much time is being spent online but if it is coming at a cost to other things for young people. Then, it is time to worry,” she says.

Interests

Again, this is about knowing the child you’re buying for, but some things are universal, Seppala explains. “Thirteen-year-olds enjoy watching movies, TV shows, and videos, although most enjoy watching shorter clips through social media like YouTube or TikTok. Some 13-year-olds enjoy playing games, whether it’s video games, online games, mobile games, or traditional board games and puzzles,” Seppala told us.  Of course, some kids like to be more active, Seppala says. “A lot of young teens are also interested in being active, whether that’s playing sports or hanging out with their friends at trampoline parks, skating rinks, skate parks, waterparks, or indoor rock climbing gyms.”

It’s OK to lean into trendy gifts for 13-year-olds, says Seppala. “Younger teens are often living in the present. They’re not really thinking about their future, so it’s not uncommon to buy a gift that’s the latest trend or fad or something they may even outgrow in the near future.”

Why Trust Verywell Family

Tanya Edwards is an experienced parent and food, beauty, and health journalist who has been writing and editing parenting stories for over a decade. For this story, she scoured reports about the most popular toys and gifts, talked to several 13-year-olds, and spoke with experts. “This is an important developmental time and one during which teens turn away from their families and start to pay more attention to their friends,” says Hartstein. “They tend to lean into their peer groups, connecting over things that they enjoy together, like hobbies, sports, etc. Many 13-year-olds love being on screens, playing on TikTok especially. They still enjoy playing with their friends; it just looks different than it may have before.”