Their birthday has come around again, and you’re probably on the hunt for a show-stopping gift that’ll convey just how special they are to you! While you could take the easy way out and opt for one of the latest kids’ toys or teenage gadgets, designing your very own personalized gift can make for a much more thoughtful keepsake. When it comes to picking out a gift for the birthday honoree, it’s essential to consider their personality and interests so that you land on a gift that they’ll actually appreciate and use. There’s usually no one-size-fits-all gift to delight every child or teen, so a little extra thought is crucial here.
In this post, we’ve rounded up 24 of our favorite personalizable birthday gifts for kids and teens, narrowing them down into handy age categories. Regardless of the age that they’re turning, it’s very likely that one of the following custom gifts will remain treasured by the recipient for years to come! This guide will make it easy for you to nail the perfect custom gift for any young recipient, from toddlers all the way up to those in their late teens.
Age 0-5
For the very little ones, something as simple as a blade of grass can be fascinating, as they navigate this brand-new world that they’re living in (these birthday gifts are definitely more impressive than a blade of grass, though). The following custom gifts are great options for babies and toddlers who are still developing their personality, likes and dislikes, making them a little easier to please.
Baby Bodysuit
A lovely, custom baby bodysuit is just what their wardrobe is lacking! Available in a range of different sizes and colors, these cute pieces are suitable for newborns up to 24-month olds.
Teddy Bear
Gone are the days of generic teddy bears! Each of our gorgeous plush animals comes with a t-shirt that can be easily personalized with your choice of text and imagery. Whether they’d like a bear, a unicorn, or a sloth to be their fuzzy companion, we’ve got them all.
Baby Blanket
A baby blanket is an essential item for newborns, and can often be a huge source of comfort for a child as they grow up. Our personalizable blankets are of high-quality and can be ordered in three different sizes. Opt for one of our best-selling milestone blankets or choose a design that’ll match well with their bedroom color scheme.
Baby Bib
Make feeding time easier for their parents by choosing them a wonderful new baby bib! Made from 100% polyester fleece, these are machine washable and dryer safe. Add their name, initials, or even the name of their current favorite food to the bib for a unique and fun touch.
Toddler T-Shirts
Our toddler shirts are an awesome gift that’ll guarantee smiles all around! Get them a birthday t-shirt that references the age they just turned, or go for one that includes a hilarious pun or kid-friendly joke.
Lunch Box
A stunning personalized lunch box is a practical yet thoughtful gift for any little one in Pre-K or Kindergarten. They’ll adore having their name on their lunchbox, and will feel extra excited to see what snacks were packed for them each day!
Age 5-10
When kids reach the 5+ age category, they become more aware of what they enjoy doing in their free time, and tend to gain lots of new (sometimes fleeting) interests and hobbies along the way. However, the next set of gifts that we’ve come up with are essentially timeless for younger kids across a wide age range, and are something that they’ll likely come back to again and again.
Kids Puzzle
Puzzles are a fabulous way to help kids develop their fine motor and problem-solving skills! Completing a puzzle is a largely rewarding experience, especially if the finished puzzle image is a custom one! Add their name to the puzzle, or upload a sentimental picture. Once they’ve grasped the hang of the puzzle-making process, why not challenge them to complete it at a faster speed next?
Cornhole Set
Cornhole, a popular lawn game loved by many, is a great chance to get your little ones moving while engaging in some friendly competition. Teach them how to play this fun game while they’re young, and they just might grow up to be a cornhole master! With Zazzle, you can create a customized cornhole board, and also pick the color of the bean bags to throw in.
Soccer Ball
Treat the star soccer player you know to their very own personalized ball! Whether they’re already part of a soccer team or just like to play alone in their backyard, this regulation-sized, hand-stitched soccer ball can be adorned with your choice of imagery and text.
CamelBak Water Bottle
Having a reusable, leak-proof bottle is essential for school, sports practice, and travel. Treat them to their very own personalized water bottle complete with their name or initials, so that it’ll never be misplaced! These high-quality and sustainable bottles are dishwasher-safe, and also free of BPA, BPS, and BPF.
Sticker Set
Stickers are a fantastic way for kids to personalize their items for school, decorate their bedrooms, or create fun arts and crafts. Available in a huge variety of themes, colors and shapes, our contour kiss-cut stickers use removable, low-tack adhesive, leaving no sticky residue. So they’ll be able to reuse and reposition their stickers whenever inspiration strikes!
Age 10-15
Ah, the tween and early teenage stage! They’re growing up fast, and are starting to become more independent, possibly ditching some of their older interests. Opting for one of these gifts will ensure that you’ll have an excited gift-opener on your hands, and not one that believes their gift is too “childish.” Blending their newfound quest for maturity with a personalized touch is a surefire way to secure the ideal birthday gift!
Throw Pillow
Having a cool bedroom is often a top priority for a lot of kids in this age category! A colorful and chic throw pillow can help brighten up their bedroom, and allow them to really make the space feel like their own. Their new personalized throw pillow will be sure to impress any friends who come to visit.
Tennis Balls
For aspiring tennis players, having a set of your own custom tennis balls is a dream! Add their name to the ball design so they can keep track of them at practice. With this creative gift, they’ll be sure to feel some extra love every time they serve.
Wall Art
Is their bedroom wall lacking a little flair? A piece of customized wall art is a clever gift that they’ll be sure to admire for a long time. Choose an inspiring image, phrase, or slogan that’ll help motivate them to seize the day every day!
Journal Notebook
Journaling is an amazing way to reduce stress, process emotions, and promote self-discovery. Give them the gift of reflection by providing them with a beautifully personalized journal to write down their thoughts and goals!
Kids T-Shirt
Chances are they’d appreciate a one-of-a-kind t-shirt to show off to their friends! With thousands of personalizable designs and many different t-shirt colors available, you’ll be sure to find a garment that fits their personality to a T.
Skateboard
A custom skateboard is definitely one of the most gnarly gifts we offer on our site! Whether they’re a skilled skateboarder or would prefer to use the board as a decorative item for their room, this is a truly unforgettable present.
Age 15-17
As they move through the final few years before adulthood, it may prove most challenging to select a gift for a kid of this age. Don’t despair, though, because we’re convinced that the next round of gifts will make even the moodiest and hardest-to-please teenagers smile! These gifts are practical and useful, but with our customization options, you can make them extra-special.
Towel
Perfect for swimming lessons, beach days, or pool parties, a personalized towel is an out-of-the-ordinary gift that’ll delight them. Pick a vibrant and colorful print, or go for a minimalist monogram design, depending on their taste.
Wallet
Whether they’re just receiving a weekly allowance, or have got their first part-time job, they’ll need somewhere to store their cash, cards, and identification. Crafted with super-durable nylon, these trendy, personalizable wallets are built to last.
Dart Board
This gift is sure to hit the bull’s-eye! This regulation size dart board can be easily customized and will make an extravagant addition to their bedroom, games room, or living room. This set includes 6 brass darts; 3 American flag dart flights, and 3 UK dart flights, so they’ll be spoiled for choice!
Yoga Mat
Encourage them to reach their highest state of zen with one of our high-quality and stunning yoga mats! Ideal for the teen who has an interest in pilates, gymnastics, or yoga, these eco-friendly yoga mats provide a soft cushion feel and a mesh center membrane for added stability.
Hoodie
A comfy hoodie is often the best item of clothing to wear at school, at the gym, or simply when lounging around the house. Why not pick them out a cozy new item of clothing? Pick a slogan or image that would appeal to them, and add your choice of personalization if you see fit!
Desk Organizer
If they’re hard at work studying for high school finals, it’s safe to say that desk organization may not be on the top of their priority list. Make it a bit easier for them to keep their writing supplies in one place by giving them a wonderful desk organizer!
Customizing Your Gifts
It only takes a few clicks to personalize any of the aforementioned gifts! Once you’ve chosen the template design you like, click on the blue ‘Personalize’ button to the right of the design you’ve chosen. Here, you can enter your own custom text. If you wish to add any extra imagery, change fonts, and explore the cool features of Zazzle’s design tool interface, just hit ‘Edit using Design Tool.’ While our Independent Creators have provided thousands of customizable gift designs suitable for kids and teens, you may still prefer to make your own gift entirely from scratch. To do this, head to our custom gifts page instead and start from a blank canvas.
Now that you’ve reached the end of our post, we hope that you’ve gotten some inspiration in regard to a gift you’ll pick out for the lucky kid or teen in your life. And, make sure to design a heartfelt birthday card to go along with your gift, too. If you’ve got any more kids or teens gift ideas that we haven’t mentioned today, feel free to comment below – we’d love to hear from you!
Ella is a content specialist from Cork, Ireland. Her passions include spending time with her two energetic dogs, fashion, photography, and trying new vegan food!
