10 Brilliant Non Tech Gifts For Teens To Get Them Off Their Screens

Trying to tear our teens away from screens in today’s world seems virtually impossible. They need them for school, they use them to “chill” and listen to music, it’s how they connect with friends, and it’s often even how they have fun (hello gamers) and socialize.

But part of this issue may be that we’ve just stopped trying or we’re not offering up enough fun alternative options to tech for our teenagers. There is a world out there for them to explore and have fun and it doesn’t require the use of a cell phone or a computer.

These non-tech gift ideas for teens are some of the most popular items from our other teen gift guides that parents are purchasing year after year. They get great feedback from parents and teens alike. Look and see what might be a gift idea for your teen son or daughter or maybe you’ve got both.

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The Best Non-Tech Gift Ideas for Teens and Tweens

1. Earth The Board Game

One of the hottest board games out this year, Earth is like nothing we’ve seen so far. Players (you can play solo or on a team) will receive an Island, Climate, and Ecosystem card during set-up. Using these double-sided cards, each player sows their strategy by selecting one side of the card to place face-up in their play area. The combination of these three cards introduces asymmetry to the game by providing variable starting resources, bonus abilities, and unique end-game scoring objectives. It is interactive, involves strategy, and demonstrates how our actions impact others.

Also noteworthy in board games: WingSpan

Board games for teens don’t have to equal BORED. Believe it or not, many teens still really enjoy a family game night. There are so many great new games on the market that are engaging and require real strategy, making them more interesting and challenging for older kids (and adults, too).

Wingspan has been gaining in popularity around the world in recent years. Yes, the game is about birds. But you’ll be shocked at how into your teen or teens will get. Ultimately all players are bird enthusiasts—researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors—seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife preserves. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations as you collect them, gaining each player a certain number of points. But be careful; you have to pay attention and really think about which birds you want and how they will help you or work against your opponents.

If you’re not sure that these options work for you, then there are tons of other options to consider here: 40 of the Best Board Games for Teens

2. The GoodGuygiene Subscription Box

This is one of our favorite gifts for a tween or young teen boy–especially if it’s time that they level up their hygiene game (and you can use code PTTGoodGuy for 15% off)

Equip your young guy with a regular box of confidence that introduces cool personal hygiene swag from top brands developed just for teen and tween boys. GoodGuygiene picks 4-6 personal care items based on a different hygiene theme every other month – so no product overlap – that will set the stage for lifelong healthy hygiene habits and put HIM (not mom) in the driver’s seat! And bonus, all products are toxin-free, cruelty-free, and backed by you know—science.

We especially love this box idea because it’s gets tween and teen boys who often go silent during this time to start talking, so it’s a double bonus. Don’t forget to use code PTTGoodGuy for 15% off.

Note: For makeup and beauty product enthusiasts, we love IPSY.

3. Ninja CREAMi

There is one thing that teens love more than screens, and that is food. At least most of them. There are many great foodie gifts for teens, but this one has been getting all the attention lately, and it’s no surprise why. Yes, making your own ice cream can be pretty awesome.

The Ninja CREAMi doesn’t just make ice cream; your teen can also whip up some Gelato, Sorbet, or Frozen Yogurt. And since they are controlling the ingredients, there are options for organic, dairy-free, sugar-free, or many other concoctions in the included recipe book or on TIKTok and Instagram.

If this whets your teen’s appetite to spend more time in the kitchen, you might just encourage them to explore their full range of culinary skills with this post: 15 Easy Recipes for Teens to Help Them Learn to Cook.

Also deserving a shout-out is the Yonana frozen fruit soft serve maker. If you have a teen that loves to make bowls for breakfast or snacks, this can be for you!

4. Tosy Flying Disc

Sunshine, fresh air, Vitamin D – all things today’s teens are missing out on the way too much. Getting these young people outside feels harder and harder to do, but it really is so important. It can help boost their moods, improve their overall health and wellness.

The Tosy Flying Disc is a top-seller this year, especially for college kids and older teens looking for something fun to do at night. It basically is a frisbee with loads of lights that make it look like a spaceship soaring through the dark.

Our middle schoolers are also loving these glow-in-the-dark sports balls, like this football and basketball.

Also cool is The Ramp Shot Game Set. It was the the number one Game Of The Year in 2022, and has been featured on NBC, Today, Amazon Launchpad, and more. It is a four-player outdoor game that utilizes two quality plastic ramps and four racquetball-style balls. Think cornhole but more fun and lighter. The grooves on the top of the ramp make for unpredictable bounces, keeping everyone on their toes and ready to make the big play. This ultra-competitive game is unique, perfect for teens, and ideal for the backyard.

Want more ideas to get your teens outside, then check out this post: Great Gifts for Teens Who Love The Outdoors

5. Life Skills For Teens

When they are stuck behind a screen all the time, teens may be missing learning some valuable life lessons. It’s why many teens struggle with face-to-face communication and self-esteem. Sure, they’ll say they can look it all up on YouTube, but the Internet can sometimes be hard to trust. Plus, eventually, mom and dad may not always be available (or a teen may not want to ask and feel stupid.)

The Life Skills for Teens book is one of the best and most useful practical gifts for teens because it has a little bit of everything in it, from basic budgeting to how to use appliances to grocery shopping. It’s everything you want your teen to know but yet they don’t want to hear about from you, the parents. Bonus gift. Check out: Money Skills for Teens.

Want some other ideas for helping to prepare your teen for life as a grown-up, check out this post: 50 Simple and Useful Life Skills for Teens You Can Teach Quickly or get our downloadable list here.

6. Popdarts

This simple, silly game is so much fun and anyone can play. It’s a combination of lawn darts and regular darts that you can play on any smooth surface, including a refrigerator, countertop, table, car window or floor. You simply set up the target and then throw the darts. Whoever gets the closest and scores the most points, wins. What we love about this game is it’s simple, portable, and fun for the whole family.

Honorable mention goes to Super Skills — Action Game for Competitive People. This game has you do 120+ different challenges, like stack cups blindfolded, or pick up dice with chopsticks. Just be prepared, someone may cry….and it might be you!

7.Purrble

As our kids would say, we are low-key obsessed with these plush stuffies that can help your kid of any age struggling with stress or anxiety, which is so many teens today. Life certainly has changed for teens as they struggle to do all the things. They won’t always accept a hug from Mom or Dad (but it doesn’t mean we should stop trying). However, this can be another way for them to find some comfort in their overwhelming world.

Born from research, The Purrble companion’s heart races to show emotion. Hold and pet your friend to slow their heartbeat into a gentle purr. You will be surprised to find you calmed yourself in the process. Studies show that by calming someone else, we can learn how to calm ourselves.

We also highly recommend The Breathing Buddha for guided breathing and meditation (and he looks cute too!)

Got a kid with anxiety? Then there are lots of other great gift ideas on this post: Comforting and Stress-Reducing Gifts to Help Your Anxious Teen

8. Fountor watercolor by numbers set.

Sometimes, the trick to getting teens off screens is to help them find another hobby that interests them. Allowing teens the chance to express themselves through some kind of creative pursuit gets them into a “flow” state, which helps develop focus, relieves stress and anxiety, and boosts self-esteem as they feel like they’re accomplishing something that has meaning.

A watercolor paint set is one option that appeals to many teens. It is a more straightforward art craft to pick up fairly quickly (and yes, a little tech intervention from YouTube can be helpful). Once they get the hang of it, they’ll be surprised how quickly their skills develop. They can always branch out into other mediums.

If you’re looking for other art-oriented gifts for teens, here are a few other ideas:

The Master’s Guide To Drawing Anime

Hand Stamped Jewelry Kit

Professional 3D Printing Pen

Drawing and Sketching Kit

9. LEGO Architecture New York Skyline Model Kit

Believe it or not, Legos are not just for little kids. The company has been increasingly targeting teens and adults with more complex and intricate sets. The architecture line in particular has become popular, tapping into the nostalgia for this childhood past time. But feel free to explore their other sets aimed at older lego lovers.

LEGO NASA Apollo Saturn Rocket Kit

LEGO Millennium Falcon (Star Wars) Kit

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle Kit

LEGO Shelby Ford Mustang Kit

For a full list, check out Lego Sets For Teens That Make The Best Gifts

10. Electronic Drum Pad

Who among us hasn’t wanted to rock out for a drum solo every once in awhile? These drum pads (with earphones, you are welcome), can help your aspiring rock artist to learn the drums and get their aggression out. It’s a great way for your teen to do something creative and a lot of fun!

So, while this drum set might be just the thing to get your teen to put down their phone and engage in a new activity, there are plenty of other options for musical gifts they might enjoy.

Another major fad is a return to the old fashioned record player. Teens are flocking to record stores all over the country, spending hours perusing both new and used albums. It feels almost like the 80’s again. Here are a few top-selling record players and some other music-related gift ideas for teens.

Victrola Vintage Record Player

TurnTables Belt Drive Record Player

Alesis Melody Keyboard

RockJam Acoustic Guitar

BONUS

11. Hexeum Telescope

We’re always telling our teens to reach for the stars, but what if we could literally give them the stars. Okay, maybe not exactly, but there is so much wonder to be discovered in the night skies. Most of our teens probably rarely get to look up and appreciate the beauty in the stars above, and yet what we can see with our naked eye is only the tip of what exists in the cosmos.

The Hexeum Telescope will open our teens up to a whole new world. There are more than just stars to learn about, but all the stories that accompany them. Each of the constellations has interesting lore that has been passed down through history.

There are also some amazing apps out there right now to help you find the constellations, which you can then see even more clearly on a telescope. Star Chart and Sky Map are two simple, easy-to-use apps that make star gazing fun for even the most inexperienced astronomist!

The Gift of Experiences

This is a bonus category, because there is so much that can be included here. But if you want to get your kids off their screens and potentially even create a chance for some quality family time, consider giving the gift of an experience.

This can be anything from tickets to a local sports team event, a theater performance, or a concert. You could give them lessons to take an archery class or to try something crazy like glass blowing. Plan a day trip to a popular attraction or amusement park. Go to a museum of some kind – art, science, etc. Think about what interests your teen has and then find a way to connect it to a meaningful experience of some kind. We’ve got even more ideas for you here: 50 Experience Ideas For Teens.

Still looking for other non-tech gift ideas for teens. Here are some of the most popular items from our Teen Boy and Teen Girl Gift guides.