Gifts for Teen Boys

Buying gifts for teenage boys can be irritating, fun and difficult all at the same time. Guys don't want cute things and they don't want anything that doesn't add to their already growing egos. If it ain't sick they ain't down. So this holiday season, put yourself in your teen's shoes and kick it with some of these hot tips.

Think sticks, rocks, dirt and bugs, these are guys we're talking about. If you can come up with some crazy reason to give your teen rocks, dirt, sticks and bugs then go for it but what I meant by that statement is when you choose the container you are going to fill think outside of the box.

Don't even think of using a real basket, just don't. Scrounge up a Van's shoe box or gut the insides of an old speaker, a small stainless steel trash can, a really cool Derby hat from PacSun or better yet, a small Styrofoam ice chest covered in band stickers. Get creative and think like a guy, a young guy.

Poster boy. When lining the inside of the container use posters or wall calendars. If you go with posters go ahead and wad it up until the wrinkles are really good and worn in. As an additional gift you can give a nice frame for the post so that it looks more like sick (that's teen lingo for cool) piece of art rather than just an old poster.

Try to avoid posters of bands or celebrities unless you specifically know what they like. Also if the parent of the teen in question is allowed to have posters of girls or if you are the parents go for it and make their day. They'll LOVE you!

As for using wall calendars, you can buy those anywhere. Find one that is filled with images of all things cool. If your container is big enough you can even put frames for these images in there as well. Like before, be sure to wrinkle, wrinkle, wrinkle.

Teenage guys love to eat. So give them what they want. Stuff their container with beef jerkey, hot Cheeto's, M&M's, a can of squeeze cheese, sliced salami and some Ritz crackers. Throw in a couple of coupon books from McDonald's or Burger King or wherever. If the receiver of the gift has a girlfriend, stick a couple of gift cards for Applebee's or some other nice restaurant.

Do your homework. When it comes to video games, movies and music, you are going to have to do your homework. Don't rely on what other family members tell you because they could be off in left field somewhere. Ask the teenager what he likes. Find a way to sneak it into a conversation or when he's out go take a peek at what he has in his room. Once you figure out what he likes stuff his basket with those things. Add some free movie tickets or video game rental gift cards, a gift card for iTunes or even a concert would be cool.

Guys like silly things. One of the great things about teenage guys is that they are still young enough to be silly. They love things like silly string, whoopy cushions, fart machines, artificial poop, fake vomit and such. Most teens don't get this kind of stuff every day so indulge their sillier side and go with the gags.

Hygiene is good for guys too. When boys become teenage guys they get interested in their looks just like the girls do. Some great things to put in a guy's gift basket are things like after shave, Clearasil face wash, manly smelling shampoo. Axe has some delicious smelling body wash and shampoos.

Craft it with intent. When you start gathering all the things that will go into your gift basket start asking yourself what the items in the basket have in common. Figure out a theme. If your basket is full of sports stuff, well then you have a sports theme basket. Flow with the go and go way overboard about it, be extravagant. Having said that, extravagant doesn't have to be expensive, it's all in how you present it.