There is a family I am acquainted with that is not going to be having any Easter this year due to financial difficulties. I have decided that I want to get baskets for the kids. The young boys, I get, I have one myself and can figure what they might like. There is a girl though, 18, and I have no idea what teenage girls like. Any suggestions would be great. I was thinking maybe like some nail polish or stuff like that, but I don’t recall ever seeing her wear makeup of any type, so, maybe not? Also, my money pile is sadly to small to swim in like Scrooge McDuck, with 5 children of my own as well, I would like to keep it not too pricey. Any ideas? Thank you in advance.
At 18, she will not be laboring under the delusion that the Easter bunny exists. It might be nice to get her a token gift, but at that age I was begging my mom to stop giving me gifts for anything besides Christmas and my birthday.
Anyway, just my opinion. She’d likely be happier with $5 or $10 in a card than with eggs and candy.
If you can, ask one of her younger brothers what her favorite candy is, easter or otherwise, and make up the basket with that. Assuming she likes candy as much as most people do, she’d probably enjoy that more than you trying to figure out what an 18-year-old girl you don’t know well might like.
I know my 14 year old daughter would make great use of an iTunes card.
I agree with keeping it simple- some standard Easter candy, and (if you can swing it) an iTunes gift card.
Is there anyone at any age that wouldn’t like a little basket of candy?!
If nothing else, she could share/give it to her siblings.
I think it is more the thought - and even kids that age might feel the nostalgia of being a little kid again sort of fun.
I can only point to personal experience. My mother got us easter baskets until we were all too old to really be getting them. I wouldn’t be surprised if I got one this weekend (at age 36). It’s always just been an assortment of easter candy, never any gifts. I never had a problem with the candy.
Personally, I think you’re never too old for candy. My mother still makes Easter baskets - mainly for my sisters’ kids, but because I don’t have any of my own kids, she makes me one too, and I’m 33. So every year when we go over for Easter dinner, she’s got one for me, with Cadbury Creme Eggs and Peeps and other stuff.
My husband thinks it’s silly, and I’ve often wondered if I should ask her to stop doing it. But hey, it’s candy! Chocolate and sugar are my crack.
Yeah, I also don’t think she believes in the Easter Bunny (duh). I just didn’t want her to feel left out, you know, it is a holiday for everyone. Except people who aren’t Christian, of course. They are, so why not include her? Since its an Easter basket, I figured candy as a given. Chocolate bunny, peeps, jelly beans, Reese’s eggs, Cadbury eggs, couple of Snickers, whatever else is on sale. I will already be buying candy, so that’s not really a big deal to spread each bag a little further. I guess the bunnies come separate and maybe a few extra packs of peeps?
I usually get my kids a few small toys as well, couple of matchbox cars, bubbles, a kite, they have a lot of inexpensive things to play with outside in the stores now. Thats what I figured for the boys, they are young enough to enjoy playing outside now that it’s spring. I just thought it would be nice to get something for her also. The itunes card sounds good, I have a 15 yo son who would like that. I do not know if she has an ipod, its not likely she does.
If you really feel that you want to add something to a basket of Easter candy, a gift card to Claire’s, iTunes or a fast food place (I remember some of my friends just barely having enough money for a coke when we would hang out at MickeyD’s). Nothing outlandish, but a little something to let her know that you’re thinking of her.
I don’t know from experience with easter baskets (not being Christian and all) but IMHO you’re never too old to enjoy bubbles and super-bounce balls and such. You might also consider primping girly things like a selection of single-use hair treatments or skin masks (they sell single-use packets in the drug stores around me) or a fancy chapstick. Or a not-so-fancy chapstick like Dr. Pepper flavor LipSmackers! Holy crap they make Girl Scout Cookie flavors now! Maybe a low denomination gift card like $5 for Starbucks.
Pastel fingernail polish is trendy and widely available right now. It’d be a cute Easter-y kind of thing. Fun socks will go down well at that age too.
You could stick with the outdoors theme - when her younger siblings are playing with toys and kites, she might be hanging out nearby, keeping an eye on them.
A colourful but inexpensive pair of flip-flops(you can guess her shoe size pretty well based on her height and flip-flops aren’t an exact size… I’m 5’6" and size 8s would do; my 5’4" mother would probably take 6s or 7s. , etc…some are even just Small Medium Large anyways). I just bought a pair for my brother-in-law at Loblaw’s (a grocery store) for 4$. Most girls I know can never have enough pairs of flip-flops.
If you feel comfortable choosing a reasonable pair, a pair of cheap trendy sunglasses (a pharmacy/dollar store style like thisor thismaybe) and a beach towel or picnic blanket could complete the set; she could sprawl out on the grass in the sun. Maybe toss in a stainless water bottle or sunscreen if you want a few more options.
All of the suggestions above are good. I also thought of hair accessories. I just bought like 2,000 ponytail holders/headbands on a BOGO deal at Walgreen’s for $3.00.
Funky or silly socks, jewelry, nail polish. Samplers of different perfumes (that can be done for free if you know how to beg properly at the fragrance counter of a department store).
Of course, you can’t go wrong with chocolate.
If you go into Old Navy, right in front of the checkout, there are tons of little things that would make great stocking/basket stuffers. Water bottles, notepads, all manner of kitchy shit.
I originally started to blast the OP because 18 is just too old for a damn Easter basket. Then I remembered that maybe two years ago, when I was 40, my BFF’s SIL made baskets for all of us who were at the beach that weekend. I called it Beach-ster Weekend. I got a cute little purse, a really cool pen, some peeps and some chocolate. And really enjoyed all of it. It was really thoughtful on her part, so nevermind my initial inclination to threadshit. She’ll appreciate it, I’m sure. I kinda wish someone would make one for me this year. * sniff *
I love that you’re doing this.
You’ve got some great suggestions already, the only thing that’s not listed that comes to mind is a magazine. For an 18 yr old girl maybe Teen Vogue or Seventeen?
I browse the bookstore magazine racks every year for a new title that fits somehow with what the kids are currently interested in. It’s fun for all of us 
I think just a normal Easter basket would be fine. No need to do anything out of the ordinary.
Mother of an 18 year old: she has asked for an iTunes card, or gift cards to Subway / McD’s / Target / Starbucks. I would suggest to stay away from girly personal things such as any make up / nail polish / perfume, unless you know what brand / colors she likes. One of TheKid’s aunts likes to buy her that stuff - all of which gets donated as she doesn’t wear make up / only likes a specific perfume. If you want to stay away from gift cards, I would suggest a small stuffed animal or sidewalk chalk. For some weird reason, give TheKid and her friends sidewalk chalk and they will be happy campers for hours.
She might like and need markers, colored pencils, Uniball pens, fun glitter or metallic pens, Sharpie markers, Post-It notes, etc.
If she has a favorite bottled water, tea, juice, soft, or coffee drink, a few bottles of that would be a nice treat and help fill up the basket. I would think about gum and Altoids, too.
Last year my 22 year old daughter got a basket with the standard assorted candy, some pretty nail polish and a 10 dollar Starbucks gift card.
Anything you do will probably be appreciated. It’s the thought that counts, and knowing someone considered her worth thinking about should suffice.
Give her an iPhone, all teenagers like electronics. Made out of chocolate, of course.