This post is part of the 2021 Christmas Planning series. You can find other posts in the series here.
I have shared this gift idea spreadsheet before but have included it before the gift ideas for Aussie teens for new readers. If you want to skip straight to the gift ideas click here.
Shareable gift idea spreadsheet
I have three wonderful sisters, the youngest of which is THE MOST organised person I know! It is often around this time of year she will email me asking for ideas on what to get the kids for Christmas!
As a group, we decided a few years ago to create a shared spreadsheet where we could list gift ideas for our kids. There is absolutely no obligation to buy from the list, they are just ideas. Sometimes I buy from the list, sometimes I don’t. It is super handy though when I have no idea what to buy a niece or nephew! When we buy from the list we simply cross out what we have bought as soon as we have bought it, so others know not to purchase it.
Below are the instructions and a free template to download, that I shared last year.
I have created a template for you to use if you think this is something that will suit your family. As with the master checklist the spreadsheet contains some extra columns for notes etc. To be able to enter into the spreadsheet you will need to click on ‘File’, then ‘make a copy’ to have your own version you can edit.
Click here to download your Christmas gift idea spreadsheet.
To then share this spreadsheet with your broader family, click on the share button in the top right-hand corner.
It will then bring up a pop up box for you to enter the email addresses of the people you wish to share the document with. Enter them and click done!
Then your family members can view and edit the document on any device – so even on their phone when they are out shopping!
Christmas gift ideas for Aussie teens
Status Anxiety Flip Wallet – our boys all love these flip wallets. They are big enough to fit their necessary cards but small enough to fit comfortably in pockets.
LEGO Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe – our youngest received this last year for Christmas and he has created and recreated it a number of times. I have helped a few times and it is actually a really calming activity to build and pull apart this LEGO!
Poppy Lissiman Croc Wallet – Poppy Lissiman is an Australian born designer. Her designs are handmade, high quality, and something a little bit different. All handbag and wallet accessories are made using only vegan (or faux leather) products.
Hope is a Verb is a handbook made especially for our divided and divisive time. This book will give those of us who are overwhelmed a remedy to the stress that threatens our capacity for hope. Focused on the idea of hope as a choice, this book shares a road back to a hopeful mindset that will help create the conditions necessary for real change.
Eco Tan Gift Pack – create your own gift pack to help your teen have a more eco friendly and less toxic tan! Choose from items like:
Clothing the gaps Frank Green Reusable CUP – Clothing The Gaps is a Victorian Aboriginal led and controlled, and majority Aboriginal owned social enterprise, co-founded by Laura Thompson (Gunditjmara) and Sarah Sheridan (non-Indigenous).
The cup has a ceramic inner layer and stainless steel outer layer. It’s triple-walled and vacuum insulated for the ultimate temperature control to keep beverages hot or cold for hours. You can buy larger water bottles as well.
Kendama – The kendama (けん玉, “sword [and] ball”) is a traditional Japanese skill toy. It is takes a bit of practice to get the action right but it is a lot of fun. Our fourth child was gifted one of these for his 14th birthday and it was very popular with all the kids!
Minimalist notebook – this gift is perfect for the writer or creative teen. The MD Notebook from Midori is a minimal notebook where the design efforts have been put into the choice of high-quality materials and craftsmanship. The traditionally thread-bound notebook opens flat and and you can choose if you want grid or lined paper. The Midori MD paper used was first developed in the 1960s as Midori’s original diary paper, and has continuously gone through quality improvement until today. This paper is adopted for writability and is fountain pen friendly. It prevents smearing or bleeding through easily.
Dr Bronner’s Follow the Rainbow Travel Pack – the perfect travel pack for the eco-conscious teen. The ingredients are simple, effective, vegan and best of all, biodegradable, so they are gentle on the Earth.
Toiletry bag – this leather toiletry bag is currently significantly discounted. You could add some of your teens’ favourite personal products to the bag to complete the gift.
Monikers – Monikers is a party game based on the public domain game Celebrity, where players take turns attempting to get their teammates to guess names by describing or imitating well-known people.
In the first round, clue givers can say anything they want, except for the name itself. For the second round, clue givers can only say one word. And in the final round, clue givers can’t say anything at all: they can only use gestures and charades.
T2 Wanderer – perfect Christmas gift for the tea drinnking teen. It comes beautifully boxed and includes a double walled glass flask and a mix of teas.
The Daily Stoic Journal – 366 Days of Writing and Reflecting on the Art of Living – if you have a philopshical teen in your life then this gift is perfect for them.
What gift ideas would you recommend for the 12 – 18 age group?
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