What are the best gift ideas for a spoiled 16 year old?

Question

My daughter is turning sixteen and for the most part, has everything she wants. So - what do you get that a 16 year old would love and appreciate (AND NOT A CAR)!!!

Answer 1

I don't know you or your child, but honestly, if you have spent 16 years spoiling your daughter to the point where even her own mother has no trouble calling her "spoiled", then I doubt she will truly appreciate anything you give her, as she has evidently not learned the values of sacrifice, delayed gratification, and working for what one wants.

That said, and since you claim she has all the material possessions she wants, try giving her something I think is far more valuable: a little culture. Purchase memberships for the two of you to your local art museum, science museum, opera company, botanical gardens, theater company, adult education centers, etc. Schedule time for the two of you to attend performances, lectures, hands-on classes, plays, and other events at these institutions. At first, she will balk and pronounce it "lame", but insist she accompany you. I guarantee after the first few times, she'll love the events, and the time you spend together. She will gain knowledge and insight into art, music, history and dance, begin to make larger-world connections to some of the things she studies in school, increase her vocabulary, and become a more well-rounded person. The two of you will talk more, too; you never know when a conversation about a design on a 5th century Chinese vase will lead to a discussion of situations in her life of which you weren't even aware.

Finally, this is a gift you can give her with lasting value. At 35 years old, I can name maybe five of the objects I was given as birthday or Christmas gifts. However, I still remember vividly all the plays, concerts, circuses, museums and art shows my mother took me to as a child. The time I spent with her is part of our bond, and made me the arts lover I am today.

Answer 2

You could always give her the world,

so get her a membership to the arbor day foundation which come with some saplings to plant in your yard,

Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs to save electricity (only ones with a listed "color temperature" over 3000k (warm "soft white for a living room) or higher for a more daylight White feel),

Or LED lamps which are even more efficient,

Hang dry her designer jeans (they'll last longer and use less energy),

A new bike (well that is just mean for a 16 year old I guess),

And go to green-e.org and learn how to go Carbon neutral with your electricity.

When her friends ask her what she got for her birthday she can tell them she gave up her birthday present this year so her parents could green the house and save the planet.

And you know... some nice new organic cotton designer jeans so she has something to show her friends.

Answer 3

Spend time with her...do something like see a play, or tour a museum. Something that uplifts her and gives her experiences which are far more valuable than "things".

Consider doing some volunteer work together. If she is spoiled and grateful that is one thing, if she recognizes that she is very lucky and won some sort of birth lottery than that's good.

If she is very casual about her good fortune and expects things at every turn, you've got some work to do to turn her around. Kids that have these feelings of entitlement are in for cruel shocks in the real world.

Build on your relationship with experiences--not more stuff!

Good luck!

Answer 4

Well -- let's see -- An American Express Gift Card -- or her own credit card- or her own cell phone - or her own laptop - an I-Pod - It really depends on her -- I am answering from experience by the way -- I have a 16 year old daughter -- and she has many friends -- so since you know your daughter best the question should ask to her --what would you prefer -- and then give her a few reasonable choices -do this a few times with different groups of choices- that's what I do this way she doesn't know which one I will get her

Answer 5

maybe if you didn't give her everything, you wouldn't have this problem, but now that you do, i would suggest....

a guitar (sounds like she needs a hobby)
jewelry (u can never have to much of that)
she can't possibly have every CD in the world, so get her a few of those
clothes, shoes, make-up, (every girls best friends).

just walk around the store. there is most likely going to be something that she doesn't already have.
good luck.

Answer 6

hmm
get her something that she dosnt have that wont spoil her even more such as a clothes i know it is kinda dul but if you dont want to spoil her more you can do that an risk her going on a tantrum or you can buy her something she already has and she will get angry so really it is a gamble whatever you get her.

Answer 7

Maybe some Good Time-Out!
Failing that a Calligraphy Set!

Answer 8

a JOB - she might not love it and appreciate it now but when she gets older she will love and appreciate that you made her work for what she wants!! My ex husband was spoiled shizless and when his dad died and the money stopped he didn't have a CLUE how to work for what was needed. I on the other hand was made to work for what I wanted and when I was about 30 I thanked my mother for doing that for me!

As far as just a gift for Xmas - I let my 13 yr old shop on the Victoria's Secret website for Xmas - she got a sweatshirt, a totebag and a makeup kit and is SO excited!

Answer 9

Well, I'm not sure, maybe you already have one, but a dog or cat would be great. Or even some other animal. No matter how much stuff she has, she would probably love a companion.

Answer 10

uhmmm u get her a 1 way ticket to alaska and tell her to find her way home and then laugh bc now u can spoil urself instead of her :-)