HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR TWEENS

Oh wow! Holiday gift shopping for TWEENS can be tricky! They are getting too old for toys yet still expect something AWESOME to unwrap. What do you give them that they'll be geeked about getting? 

VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS

Take gaming to the next level with a virtual reality headset. VR headsets immerse players into gameplay so it feels as if they've stepped into the action. Already have a PlayStation gaming console? Then expand upon it with PlayStation VR. 

Want to focus on a device that was created just for providing virtual reality applications and games? Check out an Oculus VR Headset. Watch an NBA game with a court side seat experience or explore a galaxy far, far away in the Star Wars: Tales from Galaxy's Edge game. 

Some developers like Survios are making games for both devices like Puzzle Bobble: Vacation Odyssey. Aim, shoot, and pop bubbles with your trusty bubble cannon using VR movement-based gameplay to match 3 or more bubbles of the same color and clear every stage. Follow Bub and Bob through exotic locations, like a desert oasis or a tropical island, as they solve puzzles along the way.  

NINTENDO SWITCH LITE

We drove out to Yellowstone National Park for a family summer vacation and if my kids didn't each have their own Nintendo Switch Lite I don't know if we would have kept our sanity during the long car ride. Tweens love video games and there is a great selection to choose from for this portable gaming device from Nintendo. 

Just released was Mario Party Superstars which Nintendo recently sent for my kids to review. They get to play games some classic games introduced for the Nintendo 64 and Nintendo GameCube bundled together in Mario Party Superstars that have levels and challenges they've never competed against before. My kids LOVE online multiplayer games and this video game lets them play along with their friends. I appreciate the family-friendly content of Nintendo Mario Party Superstars so my son and daughter can have fun online with their friends without parents worrying they are getting into trouble.

MOVIES

Because of the pandemic we haven't been going to see films at the movie theater. There are a bunch of films my Tweens have been wanting to see we haven't gotten around the viewing yet. One of those my video game loving kids want to see is FREE GUY starring Ryan Reynolds. This comedy tells the story of a bank teller who discovers he is actually a non-player character in an open world video game. Upon coming to that realization he decides to become the hero of his own story. Movies like Free Guy can be something to unwrap that are sure to bring a smile to a tween's face when opening.

TABLETOP GAMING

Wanting to step away from electronics that have kids focused on television and video game screens? Tabletop gaming is growing in popularity and can be a great way for tweens to have fun with friends and family. Not only entertaining these games can assist kids with cognitive thinking and social skills. 

My kids have had some exciting adventures with their friends plus we've had some fantastic family game nights playing Marvel United from Spin Master Games. This is a cooperative team game where players work together to defeat the master plan of a villainous foe. Each player picks a hero from Marvel's Avengers to choose to be and they use those characters skills and abilities to defeat villains that include Ultron, Red Skull and Taskmaster. Marvel United combines elements of board game and card deck building games that promote using strategy and teamwork to win the game.

Another game my kids have really gotten into, also from Spin Master Games, is Disney Sidekicks, which involves players teaming up to battle classic movie villains like Captain Hook, Scar, Bastion, Maleficent and Jafar. Here's the catch though, the villains have captured your favorite Disney heroes and it is up to sidekicks such as Abu, Lumiere and Tinker Bell to save the day!

Great for traveling is Pressman 6-in-1 Magnetic Games. It features Checkers, Chess, Chinese Checkers, Pahrchessi, Backgammon, and Snakes & Ladders. Turn a knob on this sturdy game case and the various boards will rotate for you to choose from. It comes with all the pieces you need to play each game which are all magnetized so they won't fall off the board. Plus, there is a handy storage drawer to hold all the game pieces. A great way to play classic board games that is easy to stash in a backpack or car to enjoy during down time when out and about.

CUSTOM ARTWORK

Create a custom piece of hand drawn artwork that illustrates your tween as a Star Trek caricature or Hogwarts student. Great for decorating a room or as a social media profile picture. Artist Matt Farra will create a custom portrait that will embrace your tween's fandom and delight them. Go to fanarti.com for a fan-tastic experience!

HEXMODS

Build and customize a remote control race car wth HEXMODS. Not only are HEXMODS cool looking but it is equipped with a hobby-grade RC tuner car chassis that lets you race it at speeds reaching 18mph. Even tweens who say they are too old for toys will want to play with this one! This car guy dad is even geeked about this toy from the robot building / toy making folks at HEXBUG. One of my favorite products from this brand that I already was a big fan of before the release of Hexmods.

BEANIE BABIES

Ty has made an extra special effort to fly in rather than ship by sea their Christmas edition Beanie Babies to make sure they are in stock for the holiday shopping season. From Howlidays Dog to Fudge the Reindeer these dolls are adorable and full of holiday spirit. My tween aged daughter likes to think she is all grown up but I still catch her snuggling Beanie Babies all the time. But who doesn't love hugging a Ty Beanie Baby?

REPLICA MOVIE PROPS

Know a tween who is a Harry Potter fan? Immerse them in their fandom with a replica of a prop from The Noble Collection. From jewelry that Hermione Granger wore in the Harry Potter films to wands the characters battled with during the movie's action scenes these are some items that fans are sure to relish. 

Replica movie props can be so much fun whether for imaginative play or as interesting room decor. Planning ahead for next year? Hasbro is wrapping up a crowd funding campaign for a prop replica of the Ghostbusters proton pack. What kid,or kid at heart, wouldn't want that?! It is scheduled for delivery during the holiday season of 2022 from hasbropulse.com. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKAH 

Good luck with your holiday gift shopping! Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season! I hope the tweens in your life are geeked about whatever presents they receive and this time of year is full of memorable family moments. 

Some of the products featured in this post ageekdaddy.com may have been received for promotional consideration. Buy a product through a Geek Daddy link in this post and this blog might receive a small commission at no additional expense to your purchase. Thanks for reading and supporting ageekdaddy.com! 

CELEBRATING DADS WITH THE CARE BEARS

Care Bears fans can show a dad in their life how much they care about him on Father Day with these fun gift ideas.  The best gifts don't have to be bought and here are a few ways to make a hand-made present that will touch dad's heart.  Celebrate #DadsWhoCare this Fathers Day!

Kids can show their Papa Bear how much they appreciate him with a printable Fathers Day card that lets them personalize it with their own comments and drawings.  School's out for most children before Fathers Day arrives so if they didn't make a class project for Dad this free printout is cheaper than a $10 store bought card that is also a much more personal sentiment which kids can easily do at home.



As a dad myself, I can also assure you that moms and kids can never go wrong in giving a guy a sweet treat for Fathers Day.  California Donuts have created awesome Care Bear donuts and they've kindly provided A Geek Daddy the info so you can do them yourselves.  Baking up a batch is sure to put a smile on dad's face.  Or if you're not a whiz in the kitchen you could also just buy some plain doughnuts and decorate them.

What you will need:

• 1 dozen donuts 

• 2 cartons of white frosting 

• 1-2 drops of blue, white, and black food coloring 

• 1 small bag of candy melts, any color 

• 2 quart zip-up plastic bags

Preparation:

• Crush 2 donuts and stuff into the remaining donut's holes 

• Place one carton of frosting into one bowl, and split the other carton into two bowls 

• Add 1-2 drops of blue food coloring into the larger bowl of frosting and whisk 

• Add 1-2 drops of black food coloring into one of the two smaller bowls and whisk 

• Leave the other small bowl of frosting white 

• Dip donuts in blue frosting or brush with a small spatula I

• Insert two candy melts for the ears 

• Paint the ears with the same frosting covering the bear  

• Let dry for 30 minutes 

• Place white and black frosting in separate small zip-up bags 

• Zip both bags shut and cut a small hole in the bottom corner of each 

• Squeeze a small amount of white frosting in a circular/oval shape to create the mouth 

• Squeeze a small amount of black frosting in a circular/oval shape to create the eyes 

• Dip the toothpick in the colored frosting bowl to draw the nose, mouth and eyebrows 

• If you don't want to literally duplicate  Grumpy Care Bear's appearance you can always reverse the smile for some added cheer

• Take a photo and share on social media using #MyCareBearsDonuts 

GRAYTON AUTOMATIC WATCHES

** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review **

Grayton Automatic Watches have earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval

As a wedding present, my wife gave me a kinetic wrist watch because she knew I really was craving a really nice timepiece.  Kinetic energy from the natural body motions of your wrist generates electricity for a self-recharging battery that powers these type of watches.  I wore this watch almost everyday for more than a decade and it worked great -- the date and time were always accurate and never had to change the battery.  Then one day the watch just died.

I took it to a jeweler to see what was wrong.  Turns out the life span for the batteries on a kinetic watch aren't indefinite and need to be replaced about every 8 to 10 years.  Oh yeah, and the replacement battery would cost me more than my wife originally bought the watch for.  As I was pondering whether to repair my kinetic watch, Grayton Automatic Watches approached me about trying one of their products instead.  They promised me an excellent watch that I would NEVER have to change a battery to power it ... EVER.

Grayton provided me with a complimentary watch and I can honestly say it has performed impeccably with keeping accurate time.  This is particularly impressive because my new watch isn't powered by a battery but rather through the movement of the gears inside of it.  Just wind up the side switch a few times each morning and you won't lose a tick off the clock's pace.  I occasionally check the time against other electronic clocks during the day and my Grayton Automatic Watch is as accurate as when the date and time were first set on it.

You'd think this type of craftsmanship in today's day and age would cost you thousands of dollars to obtain but these watches for their quality are very affordable priced between $200 - $300 dollars.  Amazingly with all the gears moving about inside these watches are very quiet.  I have to hold mine right up to my ear to hear a subtle tick tock of its clock.  It has a very sturdy casing to it yet is very light to wear.  The watches have a classic vintage look of days gone by to them which I find very appealing.

Because electronics and batteries aren't involved with the inner workings of these watches as long as you take care of and treat them right they can last through a lifetime and possibly even be passed down from generation to generation.  One of these watches could be considered a family heirloom one day.  That makes them an especially great gift idea for an anniversary, birthday, Fathers Day, wedding or other special occasion.  These watches come very nicely packaged which is another advantage to providing one as a gift.  Though I've enjoyed mine so much have to say you may actually want to get one just for yourself.

Grayton Automatic Watches come in Men's, Women's and Unisex sizes.  With my 5' 5" frame I have small wrists and prefer medium-sized wrist watches.  Grayton's Unisex variations are designed for women who want a slightly larger fit and men who want a more moderately sized watch that doesn't look feminine.  The Grayton Unisex watch with a silver case and blue dial is a perfect fit for me!

The one negative I can refer to about my experience is that Grayton has an overabundance of gold colored cases when I was more interested in a silver version.  Of the silver ones they had those tended to come equipped with a fabric wrist strap instead of leather or metal ones.  I find fabric is too casual limiting occasions when you can wear it and inferior quality to leather.  Take a look at my wearing the watch with my suit.  It really doesn't go well for wearing to work or a special occasion where you need to dress up which unfortunately really impacts my opportunities to wear this great watch.  Grayton's website doesn't allow consumers to mix and match a wrist strap with a watch and rather forces you to choose from the pairing they've selected for you which is a shame.  You can purchase an additional strap you like along with your watch but it costs more and you have the pain of switching it out yourself.

All in all though the watches themselves are exceptional and very affordably priced allowing them to be obtainable for the average family.  And while I wasn't particularly happy about the watch I wanted only being available with a fabric strap, I did find the canvas to be more comfortable and durable than ones I've worn in the past.  Plus you never have to buy new batteries for one of these watches from Grayton!  Based upon how much I've enjoy my Grayton Automatic Watch, they've definitely earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval.

For more information or to check out their selection of watches, please visit grayton-watches.com

Give DAD a treat for Fathers Day from GourmetGiftBaskets.com

** A Geek Daddy received the featured products for free**

As Fathers Day approaches, it was nice of GourmetGiftBaskets.com to send some special treats our way out of respect for A Geek Daddy being one of their favorite dad blogs.  The Belgian chocolate-dipped Oreo® cookies they surprised me with were delicious and what father wouldn't appreciate that they spelled out #1 DAD.  Neck ties are a popular Fathers Day gift, but take my word on it after having devoured a yummy box of Oreo Cookies for Dad from GourmetGiftBaskets.com, one of these decorated cookies is the type of "tie" I'd prefer to get. This gift pack includes 12 classic Oreo cookies each individually dipped in gourmet chocolate and are decorated to let the dad in your life know how special he is to you.

GourmetGiftBaskets.com also sent us a Deluxe Meat & Cheese Sampler to try out which was simply delicious.  I enjoyed this assortment of artisan meats, cheeses and crackers along with a Strongbow Hard Apple Cider while lounging on the back deck enjoying listening to a Detroit Tigers baseball game on the radio.  Enjoying this gift basket, that included applewood smoked garlic summer sausage along with Chipotle Cheddar, Jalapeno Jack and Wisconsin Swiss, while listening to a ball game made for a wonderfully relaxing weekend afternoon.

Fathers Day is June 19th and GourmetGiftBaskets.com has a huge variety of present ideas to select from.  From golfing to fishing and barbecuing to gardening, GourmetGiftBaskets.com has something that will appeal to all interests and tastes!  Summer Seasonal Beer Bucket, Caught the BIG One - Fishing Gift Basket, Hole in ONE Golf Gift Pack, Gardening Gift Basket, and Barbecue Enthusiast Gift Basket and the Gourmet Breakfast are some of the most popular Fathers Day gift suggestions available.

I love popcorn!  So  I have to say I'd be delighted if my wife and kids surprised me on Fathers Day with the Backyard BBQ Popcorn Sampler.  HINT! HINT!  This gift pack is one of my favorites from the Fathers Day Gift Idea List at GourmetGiftBaskets.com as it contains a variety of interesting and unique flavors of popcorn Honey Mustard, Hickory Maple Bacon, BBQ Ribs, Chipotle BBQ, Cajun, Buttered Corn On The Cob, Dill Pickle, Zesty Ranch, Sun Dried Tomato, and Watermelon.  Each flavor is packed in its own sealed bag for freshness and contains two cups of popcorn.  Oh yeah! I want to try this out!

 

What dad wouldn't appreciate being surprised by finding a tasty treat at his door step?!  Don't get your dad a tie, socks or underwear for Fathers Day! Show him you care by sending something special from GourmetGiftBaskets.com.

Wahl Fathers Day Grooming Giveaway

My grandfather grew up as a child from a poor family during the Great Depression and developed from that experience the mentality of never paying someone to do something that you could do for yourself.  So this human resources manager for a Detroit manufacturing plant also took on the role of being a barber for his kids.  He took such pride in this role that my grandfather even invested in purchasing professional hair cutting tools and installing a real barbershop chair in his basement.  Once my dad and uncles had grown up and started families of their own, my grandfather would always be filled with glee when his children brought their kids over for a haircut.  I still remember being amazed as a youngster that my grandparents had a barber's chair in their house when my dad would take me over for a visit and to get a trim.  Whenever I see an old-fashioned barber pole it generates warm memories of times spent with my good ol' grandpa.

Though probably not realized at the time they were given, these haircuts created treasured father-son and grandfather-grandson bonding experiences for our family. It turns out we aren't alone in grooming being an important bonding experience for the males in a family.  Research by Wahl, a leading manufacturer of professional and home grooming products, indicates that hair cuts and shaving play a big part in male family bonding:

• 50 percent of guys learn to groom from their father or a father-like figure.

• According to 90 percent of men, the first grooming experience is truly a memorable bonding experience shared between father and son.

• The tradition of teaching is not going away any time soon as 8 in 10 men say they would teach, have taught or are planning to teach their son how to groom. 

Since grooming experiences can play such an important role in male bonding, why not consider hair cutting or shaving tools and accessories for a Fathers Day gift.  I've personally used and trusted Wahl products for years and am glad to partner with them in highlighting their grooming items as a gift idea for this Fathers Day. Who would like to give a dad for Fathers Day a Stainless Steel Li+ Facial Hair Trimmer or an Elite Pro Hair Cutting Clippers?  A Geek Daddy has one of each to giveaway.

UPDATE: Congrats to our giveaway winners Victor from Jacksonville NC & Bik from Rowley Massachusetts 

To be eligible for this giveaway you must follow @Geekdad248 on Twitter and retweet our original contest tweets embedded below before May 22, 2016 @ 11:59 pm EST.  Must be a US  resident over the age of 18 to participate.  One entry per person per giveaway item and we'll randomly select  winners from all eligible entries.  Only one prize per household.

Follow @Geekdad248 & RT for chance to win a @WahlGrooming Facial Hair Trimmer - A great FATHERS DAY gift idea! #ad pic.twitter.com/M2PVQEtsI1

— A Geek Daddy (@GeekDad248) May 15, 2016

&

Follow @Geekdad248 & RT for chance to win a @WahlGrooming Elite Pro Clipper - A great FATHERS DAY gift idea! #ad pic.twitter.com/KIuy4WcSjW

— A Geek Daddy (@GeekDad248) May 15, 2016

Stainless Steel Li + - Wrapped in sleek armor of stainless steel, this trimmer offers impressive features including innovative green smart-charge technology, which shuts the unit off after its fully charged.  It also hosts a series of interchangeable heads for detailing, shaving and haircutting.  Long lasting battery (four hours of run time) and a handy carrying case make grooming on the go uncomplicated.

 Elite Pro Clipper - The latest and most powerful corded clipper from Wahl.  Its bold retro look, self-sharpening blade technology and premium stainless steel reinforced guide combs allow for a fast, precise and uncompromising hair cutting experience.

Since 1919 when Leo J. Wahl invented the first practical electric hair clipper, his company has been a leader in the grooming industry.  97 years later men still turn to Wahl as a dependable source for their grooming product needs.  This Fathers Day consider an Elite Pro Clipper, a Stainless Steel Facial Hair Trimmer or another item from the Wahl catalog for a useful gift that will make the dad receiving it very happy.



For more information, please visit grooming.wahl.com

Disclaimer & Rules / FTC Notice  

A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but Wahl is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize. By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion. A Geek Daddy Blog hosted this contest and blog post based upon Wahl providing the prize to the selected winner. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. Must be a US resident over 18 years old.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this giveaway as a benefit to our readers.  A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive any financial compensation or complimentary products for publishing this post.