The Moms Who Get It Awards 2025: Our Favorite Products for Tweens & Teens

Is it annoying that there’s a new trendy water bottle every couple years? Sure, but at least our kids are staying hydrated. This popular pick is one you’ve probably seen in backpacks and at sports practices all over the place…and your tween may even already own it. There’s a reason — actually, several — it’s so popular: Leakproof and functional, with a carrying loop and size options up to 40 ounces, it even gives you the option of using a straw or open spout to drink. Talk about a water bottle that has it all.

When we say this thing keeps food cold, we really mean it. We’ve packed camp lunches in this box on 90+ degree days, then waited to unpack the leftovers until close to bedtime, and still felt a little chill in the ice packs. So whatever your teen has going on, this will keep their food perfectly preserved until lunchtime at the very least. And since the ice packs are built right into the lining of the lunchbox, there’s no need to keep track of any cooling inserts – just throw the whole thing in the freezer overnight before packing it again in the morning.

Looking for something to keep in the pantry so that when the inevitable last-minute treat requests roll in, you’ll be prepared? This easy, great-tasting chocolate chip cookie mix from a women-owned brand is the perfect thing to have on hand so you never need to worry about scrambling for ingredients again. Just add one egg and some unsalted butter, and you’ll have great cookies ASAP.

We’re all trying to give our kids balanced meals with the protein, fruits, vegetables, and carbs they need. But filling, satisfying snacks are important too, and we love these Aloha bars (in flavors like chocolate chip cookie dough and vanilla almond crunch) for a quick pick-me-up complete with 14 grams of protein. Yes, they basically taste like cookies, but no bar in this variety pack has more than 4 grams of added sugar…and who doesn’t want a cookie after a long day of school and sports?

If your teens crave something sweeter than seltzer, but you’re not crazy about them drinking multiple full-sugar sodas a week, Culture Pop is a great compromise. The company was started by one of the founders of Nantucket Nectars, and makes fruit juice-based sodas with live probiotics (and no refined sugar or artificial/alternative sweeteners). Try fun flavors like orange mango, watermelon and lime, and black cherry — maybe your whole family will get hooked. Olipop, which has prebiotics, fiber, and minimal sugar, is another popular brand to check out.

For teens who prefer a savory snack, these beef jerky sticks are a satisfying, protein-rich option. Each stick has 100 calories, 10 grams of protein and zero sugar, so it’s great to throw in a lunchbox or keep in the car as an immediate remedy for after-school hanger.

For an added dose of fiber that actually tastes good, these snack bars (from the same woman behind Jeni’s Ice Creams) are our go-tos. Each bar has 13 grams of fiber, and every flavor is gluten-free, dairy-free, and made without refined sugar or stabilizers. We particularly like the Mango Cardamom and Brambleberry Lavender.

It’s not just a helmet…it’s a reusable art project your kids can display around the neighborhood with pride. These dry-erase helmets come with nontoxic markers and a stencil kit, so bike or scooter enthusiasts can easily decorate their headwear again and again.

Thought your big kid had grown out of mail-order activity boxes? Not so fast. With tons of options ranging from monthly subscription crates to one-off projects that make great gifts, KiwiCo has plenty to keep tweens and teens occupied. There are three monthly subscription options designed for kids in this age group: the Tinker Crate (for ages 9-12), the Eureka Crate (for ages 12+), and the Maker Crate (also 12+). Projects might include anything from building your own delivery bot to engineering a working printing press, and they’re perfect for keeping your kids challenged and entertained, without a screen in sight.

This eye-catching bead set comes with both multicolored alphabet beads and gold letter charms, plus gem charms, more beads, and some brightly colored cords for stringing it all together. So it’s basically a friendship bracelet-making party in a box. Swifties (and anyone else who loves a good handmade accessory) will approve.

Perfect for sibling games by the pool or family game nights at home — and a great thing to pack for sleepaway camp or even college — this game is a small but mighty addition to your entertainment arsenal. Since there’s a lot of slapping (cards) and movements involved, prepare for things to get physical…in a funny way, of course.

This cute, easy-to-use Instax Mini camera gives your teen the ability to print their own photos on the spot. The 2 inch by 3 inch photos print and develop in under 10 seconds…and it wouldn’t be 2025 if there wasn’t a tiny selfie mirror built right into the camera. Note that you’ll have to purchase film for the camera separately (or get a bundle here).

For kids, teens, and even grown-ups, these magnetic fidget cubes are nothing short of captivating. With lots of different patterns to choose from, and a design that makes them easy to combine, these make the perfect gift – because even if the recipient already has one, you’ll just be doubling their fun.

You can’t go wrong with anything related to the Squishmallow phenomenon (unless you buy one of the gigantic ones for another kid without giving their parents a heads-up). This three-pack of mystery Squishmallows makes a good gift, but at this point the lovable stuffies have inspired a thriving line of craft kits that are bound to be a hit, too.

These noise-canceling headphones are a fantastic buy for your hard-working high-schooler. You can plug them in or use them wirelessly, and a single charge should last for up to 24 hours, meaning they can help your teen focus whether they’re doing homework in their room or on the bus to an away game. Invest in them now and they should easily last through college. One Skimm editor raves that she’s had them forever and can’t get enough.

If you’re in the market for a major gift for a teen who loves gaming, or just a big upgrade to your family’s general entertainment lineup, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the latest and greatest video game console, an easy pick for both solo play and family use. Use it with your TV, or as a tabletop or handheld gaming system, and don’t be surprised when your teen starts offering to host more friend get-togethers at your house.

Even in the age of texting and TikTok, kids and young adults love to get mail. And a magazine that comes just about every week of the year? That’s extra cool. We’re consistently impressed with how The Week Junior mixes age-appropriate politics, news, and entertainment coverage with fun facts, engaging visuals, and smart media literacy training for kids. Reading it with your whole family can be eye-opening, entertaining, and overall just a whole lot of fun.

Kitsch has a wide range of fun and functional hair accessories, from a spray bottle for help with detangling and styling to satin scrunchies for preventing frizz and plenty in between. Their relatively low prices also make them an accessible entry point to the world of hair care. Just don’t be surprised when you borrow your tween’s heatless curling set and immediately decide you need your own.

A hand sanitizer your kids actually ask you to buy? That’s an easy sell. Made with 70% alcohol, plus aloe vera and radish root ferment filtrate, this sanitizer comes in trendy little rectangular containers and fun scents like Mango Passion, Wild Watermelon, and Vanilla Blossom. 

Order this cult classic toiletry case, then set aside some time when it arrives to observe your teen exploring it in wonder for the first time. There’s just something so smart and neat about the way this case is constructed, with multiple expanding compartments and a little mirror for use with skincare, makeup, jewelry, and more. The hard sides help protect the case’s contents, even when you’re traveling, and the little handle makes it easy to carry around at home, at camp, or in a dorm.

With the slightest tint and a mineral formula that includes titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, this is a great daily SPF option. As adults, we love it too, so this two-pack is perfect for sharing with your teen who’s just getting into skincare.

This 96-count set comes with two different sizes of 100% hydrocolloid pimple patches. They’re star-shaped, and available in bright colors like purple, green, and yellow, but if your teen prefers, they can opt for a less conspicuous clear version, too. We love how these patches help kids feel confident in their own skin, even when a pimple strikes…and wish we’d had them in our medicine cabinets as teens.

You may try a bunch of different deodorants before settling on one your tween feels good about, but allow us to put in a good word for this fun unicorn-themed option made with shea butter. Its watermelon/apple/melon scent is designed to last for up to 24 hours, and it doesn’t have any aluminum, baking soda, parabens, or dyes.

The tween skincare trend is still going strong, but we don’t blame you if you’re a little reluctant to indulge your child’s requests. These types of products can get pricey fast, and also, not all skincare ingredients are recommended or necessary for sensitive young skin. Bubble’s Every Face routine feels like a good compromise, because it’s specifically formulated with young enthusiasts (13 and under) in mind. The three-piece set includes a gel cleanser, hydrating moisturizer, and daily mineral sunscreen, all packed in cute, colorful bottles tweens will be proud to keep on display.

Adidas Sambas are still going strong more than 75 years after they were first designed. Since they’re both trendy and well-made, they should make both you and your favorite teenager happy.

When you first got your period, tampons and pads may have been the only options offered to you, but times have changed. This first period kit from Knix comes with seven pairs of leakproof period underwear in three different styles, plus a reusable pouch. It’s an investment, but it may be less intimidating than tampons for a newly menstruating teen, and you’ll save money on disposable period products down the line.

First bra shopping is another tween/teen rite of passage, and while it’s never a bad idea to go and try a bunch of different brands in person, you can also make things easy by starting with Bleuet, which gets only positive reviews at Skimm HQ. A customizable starter bundle includes three different styles, and the 60-day return policy means that if your first-try bra size is wrong, it’s no big deal.

We love Target’s tween brand, Art Class, for all the same reasons we love their Cat & Jack clothes for kids. You’ll find everything from essential tees and sweats to cute charms and even bags, all at extremely reasonable prices.

These pretty, minimalist studs with designs like cupcakes, stars, roses, and even pandas are bound to be a hit as holiday, birthday, or just-because gifts. They’re hypoallergenic and designed to go easy on sensitive skin, plus, their flat, screw-on backs make them incredibly low-maintenance and comfortable to wear overnight. We’re fans of Studs’ cute little earrings, too.

When it comes to buying dressy clothes for kids and teens, there are tons of resources we recommend, but from a pure value perspective, H&M is one of your best bets. With dedicated special occasion sections for girls and boys ages 9-14, and suit separates, for example, starting at just $27.99, this is a great place to start your fancy-clothes search. Girls have lots to browse in the Women’s dress section, too.

This 7” Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for your most voracious little readers. One charge can last months, and they won’t need a separate reading light to stay up late with their favorite books, since the subtle backlight makes it easy to read anywhere. With no social media, it’s distraction-free…and it’s also waterproof, so the inevitable spills won’t cause major damage. If you’re looking for something designed specifically for kids with a curated collection of appropriate books for age 12 and under, try the Kindle Paperwhite Kids instead.

12-month undated planners have calendars, activities, reflection prompts, reading logs, and more, and at 7 inches by 9 inches, they’re the perfect size for bringing to school or toting along to errands and appointments. Personalize with your tween’s name and a background color of their choosing, throw in a set of fresh multicolored pens, and you have a great gift on your hands.

If your teen finally has their first phone — or even if they’re just bad at remembering to charge their MacBook — this portable charger will keep them powered up on-the-go. The USB-C charging cable is built-in (one less thing to lose), and if you’re worried about your kid forgetting to charge the power bank in the first place, the good news is that when they’re near a plug, they can charge their power pack and mobile device at the same time.

For bright, cheerful desk accessories that make old-school analog organization fun, Ban.do is a fantastic resource. Whether you’re shopping for a middle schooler, high schooler, or even a newly minted college student, they’ll appreciate a cute lap desk, notetaking kit, or magnetic calendar to keep track of their commitments…Wouldn’t you?

You gave in to the years of phone requests…now we’re gonna take a wild guess that you want to make sure that phone doesn’t immediately break. For a quality case they’ll be excited to pick out, try Casetify. Cute patterns, phone charms, and even collabs with movie favorites ranging from Marvel to Toy Story…it’s all there for you to explore together.

One Skimm’r says she bought this for her 10-year-old on the recommendation of his friends’ parents. She writes, “We were debating between this and the Apple Watch, but liked the price point of this and that it doesn't offer access to the whole internet. This has felt like a great first step into the smartphone/watch world.” A family app allows you to text your child, and a customizable “school mode” lets you restrict games and other distractions during class time. There’s even the option to add a debit card once your teen is old enough to be out making purchases on their own.

A slightly more grown-up version of our Favorite Kids’ Backpack, this collection offers more tween-friendly prints and designs, including collabs with LoveShackFancy, Hello Kitty, Roller Rabbit, Lilly Pulitzer, and more. With Large and XL size options, and matching lunchboxes and water bottles to stock up on, these are backpacks you can count on using for several years.