A lot has changed since 2020.  Notably, the trends and behaviors of kids and teens. So following up after the Holidays, I decided to compare gift lists for teens from 2020 and 2026.

To summarize these two gift lists (here and here) from 2020, shoppers were suggested to choose from a variety of products that mainly fell in these categories: comfort, fun, beauty, relaxation, decoration, and music. Examples were a card game, LED lights, Nike or Vans sneakers, music lessons, jewelry, a hydroflask, and more. My favorites and present-day suggestions from these lists are roller skates, headphones, and a film camera. Roller skates (for $100) are arguably past their prime, especially in teens, but still a fun and cute option for sporty middle and high schoolers. Headphones and film cameras, especially the former, are still popular choices and can be found on many gift lists from last Christmas. There were also some options that I think are no longer desirable to modern-day teens. A night sky projector seems more tailored to children, and many Hackley students already take music lessons – or don’t have the time. Finally, most of the gifts on these lists are far more affordable than many modern-day picks. Some classic styles of Vans are around $55 dollars compared to the Samba and Gazelle sneakers that top $100. Apart from the lone perfume or headphones, most products (the projector, face masks, hydroflask) can be found on Amazon for $20-30. Few clothing was shown here, but the few tops that were featured were around the same price.

Now I’ll move on to these two lists (here and here), which are both NYT Wirecutter articles updated within the last 2-3 months. These gift ideas mostly fall in the following categories: decor, beauty and skincare, relaxation, clothing, tech, practical necessities, clothing, and art. However, the beauty and skincare as well as the relaxation sections far outweigh the ones in the previous list. First I will point out that the lists contain many little necessities or stocking stuffers like a NeeDoh fidget, a wallet, socks, blemish patches, an Octobuddy, lip products, and a point-and-shot camera. These products likely come out to around 20-30 dollars – like many products from the previous list. However, other options like a $250 record player, $400 drone, $100 drink carbonator, $100 jewelry stand, $200 weighted blanket, $200 earbuds, $400 bean bag, and more change the vibe of the whole list. Although great picks (gotta love a drone and weighted blankets are the best!), this takes away from the ease and affordability of the 2020 list. My favorite picks from this list – regardless of price – are likely the Instax photo printer, Uggs, and earbuds (these gifts range from $100 to $200, though). And considering prices, I love the wallet, fidget, and camera. There aren’t many options that I don’t like, but I am frustrated by the price of cologne, leggings, and the record player (I got my turntable at Barnes and Noble for less than $100!). I’ve also noticed that there are more practical items in this list. While not as much fun, a wallet, socks, an alarm clock, a suitcase, a portable charger, or blemish patches are useful for maturing teens.