Holiday Gift Idea for Teens: Custom Ornaments

Each year from the time my kids were toddlers, my Mom would give my daughter an angel ornament, and my son a drummer boy. I honestly didn’t know how much my kids loved these until a year or two ago when we were decorating the Christmas tree. My daughter assembled all her angels – and there was quite a array of them – and told us excitedly how she already had the beginnings of her own Christmas tree decor. She’s a funny one; she already envisions her own home… she’s already picked out her colors, her dishes…and her own Christmas tree is a fully formed vision in her head.

Giving your teens their own special ornaments is something that can be fun for you and you are limited only by your imagination. Donna Silva sent me this note; her ideas for taking this to the next level are inspiring:

“I have purchased each of my boys (ages 16, 14 and 12)a Christmas ornament each year pertaining to something that they have accomplished during that year. By the time they are adults and are out on their own, they will have all their life story in Christmas ornaments to start their own traditions and share their memories with the special people in their lives. My 16-year-old has a license plate ornament that has the year, and the words “STEER CLEAR! Andy’s got his LP”. My middle son is Scrooge in a play this year (so his ornament goes without saying), and my youngest was in a junior police academy over the summer, so he has a policeman ornament with his name and year. It’s really fun to see their faces when they see the ornaments that I picked out for them for that year…oh yeah, I keep it a surprise from them till it’s time to hang it on the tree. It’s also nice for me, as a parent, to be able to think back on the year, and pick out something that I feel is important or an accomplishment for each one of them.”

ShopChristmasOnline.com is one easy online ordering center. Here you’ll find ornaments celebrating cell phones, braces, drivers licenses and much more.

Another approach to the ornament theme is to make handmade ornaments for your teens, or with your teens. My Mom used to make us a Temari Ball each year and these, too, are favorites on our tree. My mother has shared her presence with us for many years through her ornament gifts, and even though she is now too frail to join us for Christmas she is with us in spirit throughout the holidays.

Food for thought for more ways to connect with your teens during the holidays.
Enjoy!