The coolest Christmas gifts for teenagers

Seen the viral videos of a Korean longboarder practically dancing as she skates? We can credit her (and perhaps the thirst to get out of the house due to COVID-19 restrictions) for the explosion in interest towards skateboarding and longboarding. Get your teen started on the sport with a new board from Odyssey Boards, Singapore's first longboard brand. Each piece is designed and assembled right here in Singapore, and the shop sells both longboard completes and decks at affordable prices. 

Available online and in stores 

Digital is out, and analogue is in – when it comes to photography at least. This generation of teens are keen to slow it down, and it helps that film has an appealing grainy aesthetic too. Pick up automatic compact film cameras for beginners and casual photographers from the likes of filmthrills and filmm.io. But if you've got an enthusiastic giftee with the patience and dedication to go all in, then spring for something like a Canon AE-1 or Minolta X700 which has both automatic and fully manual modes to suit the evolving photographer. 

Available online

White Crocs for a white Christmas. There was a time when Crocs were not something you wanted to be seen wearing, but if you've spent even a hot minute on Tik Tok, you would know that teenagers are making it – well, cool again. And yes, specifically white Crocs. But if your teen is the funky sort, switch it up with printed Crocs shoes, bleach-dyed Crocs sandals, or even Jibbitz charms they can use to accessorise their new kicks. 

Available online

You can't go wrong with tech gadgets, especially not when it's as sleek and beautiful as the Apple iPad mini. This latest release from Apple is small yet functional, perfect for the teen who's always on the go. They can stream videos, play games, create art, take notes, and so much more, all within a compact 8.3-inch display. The iPad mini also comes in attractive new colours of space grey, pink, purple and starlight to suit every preference and personality. The basic WiFi only model with 64GB of storage retails at $749. 

Available online

For the brainy teen, a fun jigsaw puzzle would provide a fun and fitting challenge this Christmas season. Lifestyle brand State of Matters stocks some of the prettiest puzzles we've seen from brands like Areaware, Piecework, Fits and State of Matters itself. The pictures range from mind-bending geometric pieces and kid-friendly illustrations to still life photographs and illustrations by female artists. Most, if not all, are a 1000-pieces a box, so your teen will be occupied for quite some time. Join in the jigsaw fun and make it a family bonding moment!

Available online

Nothing says Christmas like a pair of socks, and PH5 has got some really funky ones on SocietyA. These colourblocked will give an instant lift to your teen's outfit, and when paired right, can look anything from preppy to edgy. We love the lavendar plaid design, but these Noah Logo socks also come in sky blue plaid, barrel brown plaid and clover green. Oh, the socks are woven from sustainable yarn too. 

Available online

If you know a young 'un who always has their nose in a book, hand them a book by a local author this Christmas season. Fans of murder mysteries can expect plenty of thrills and spills in The Flesh Hunters by Jocelyn Suarez, which is part of the Epigram Books Fiction Prize series. The tale begins with a series of killings by a suspected Hunter, a bloodthirsty hybrid between man and animal with a predilection for human flesh. We follow forensic psychologist Walter Kirino who goes on the serial killer's trail, and along the way is forced to explore the question: where is the line between Hunter and human? 

Available online