While most presents fade fast, a thirteenth birthday calls for something with real glitter. Ignore the financial safety net another ho-hum board game or money-in- an-envelope offers. If you want your present to leave a legacy, go for concepts that leap off the shelf and land exactly in their memory bank – click for more hints about this page!
Allow artistic license right out of the box—a pair of striking white sneakers and strong fabric markers. Every blank inch suddenly opens up terrain. One minute the sea of drawings is there; next it’s their chosen band logo or the mascot from last summer’s camp. Those original sneakers start a conversation.
Boost it by front and center inclusion of them in a tailored comic adventure. Hire an artist to produce a wacky story—perhaps they are a superhero with teleporting power and a hamster sidekick or they are solving mysteries with their closest buddy on every wild page. Taking front stage on the cover says “happy birthday” like nothing else.
A small three- dimensional printer generates a universe of useful magic. Let their room be bursting with ideas and test runs, each thing branded with their own style; knickknacks, phone holders, wobbly little creatures.
Many times, events exceed any kind of gift. Set up an outdoor stargazing party with blankets, a telescope, and an always supply of roasted marshmallows. Even if it’s only a short walk outside, it will seem galaxies far from the daily.
Stretch the excitement across the whole year with monthly subscription boxes. Maybe they are eating Japanese hot snacks one month, which causes a volcano to erupt the next, then straight after untangling the most recent sticky notes in wild shape. Every fresh delivery brings the spark back on their face.
Sometimes an adrenaline dose helps one to remember the best. An indoor climbing expedition might challenge their bravery and result in buddies bragging rights. Alternatively arrange for them to return home carrying their own hand-crafted swirl of color from a glassblowing session.
Use instant cameras to go conventional. Snap, shake, stick; then back off. Every one of them a slice of life as it happens, fresh memories find their home on the wall or tucked into a cherished book.
Also take into account common incidents. Spend a day helping at an animal shelter, planting plants, or working on practical projects. See pride blossom when one transforms the landscape.
The ideal presents are sparks, a little fire kept ablaze all year long. Look beyond the expected and strive for the extremely remarkable. You let a young trailblazer celebrate thirteen in real, original style.