Need great holiday gifts for teens? Need great birthday gifts for teens? Be sure you put at least one book on the list. Pass the comics and similar books that offer little. Show your teenager that you care about him or her by giving books that offer both appeal and value.

Most young adults (ages 12 to 18) agree that books are great gifts for teens, even though they may not remember to put them on the wish list.

Value of Books as Gifts for Teens

Books have value in a number of ways. When you purchase them as gifts for teens, you can be sure of getting at least one of the “values” they offer.

* Entertainment: The entertainment value of books makes them great gifts for teens. If you have ever watched a teenager read a riveting book such as Passport to Courage, you know that a book can be better than a great movie. Teenagers get caught up in novels such as this one. They don’t want to put them down. They want to find out what happens next. They are entertained – and that makes books great gifts for teens.

* Education: Books that are recommended gifts for teens will also educate young adult readers. They may educate overtly, so the teen knows the book is teaching. This is the case with non-fiction such as Character, a how-to book on building strong character in your life. Educational books make gifts for teens that you can view as an investment in their education for adulthood.

* Combination: The most valuable books are often those that combine entertainment and education. From time immemorial, great teachers and philosophers have used stories to convey truths that they wanted their listeners to remember. An entertaining fictional story, filled with vital educational information, is a great find. Such gifts for teens will subtly convey information you want your teen to have. An example is Date with Responsibility. Based on a true story, this best-selling teen romance novel actually teaches teenagers to act responsibly in every area of life. What parent doesn’t want a teenager to take responsibility?! What parent, teacher, friend, or grandparent wouldn’t think such books are great gifts for teens?

Lasting Gifts for Teens

Finally, purchasing books is a way to get lasting gifts for teens. Books that are well-written will be read more than once. They will be shared with other teens. They will be loaned to younger siblings. They may even accompany the teen when he or she becomes an adult and leaves home.

Personalize Book Gifts for Teens

When you choose books as gifts for teens, be sure to personalize them before wrapping them. Take time to think of the recipient. Picture the teen reading the book. Picture the teen being entertained, educated, or both. Write a note inside the front of the book. Address the note to the teen, so the book will always clearly belong to him or her. Sign it, expressing your hope that the book will be enjoyed.

Autographed Gifts for Teens

Autographed books are especially great as gifts for teens. Books such as those mentioned above are often available in autographed copies. If not advertised that way, ask if a book can be autographed. Some authors will do this free. Some will charge a small fee. Either way, it adds tremendously to the value of the book.

As I write this, it is nearing the end of September. It’s far too early to think of Christmas cards – or is it?

Christmas card companies begin sending brochures to businesses in late summer. They urge corporations to order early. Allow time, they say, for imprinting cards and having them delivered. You will then have to address and send them. You want them to arrive punctually, so don’t wait.

Reduce Stress

It is not necessary for individuals and families to order Christmas cards during the summer, but you can reduce stress if you order, or purchase Christmas cards in early autumn. Planning to get your cards in the mail no later than December 1st is a good way to be sure this task is not added to last minute shopping and other preparations. Here are a few steps to make the task easier.

1. Create a List

Sit down in a quiet place and create a complete list of people to whom you will send cards. Go through last year’s received Christmas cards to be sure you remember everyone. Go through your address book. Consider extended family. Add coworkers and employers. Include service people such as mail and newspaper carriers. Your Christmas card list should be done in October.

2. Update Addresses

Once you have your Christmas card list done, update addresses. If you need zip codes in the U.S., find them online at the USPS Zip Code Lookup site. If you have started early, you will have time to ensure every address is correct. It’s a good idea to create an address book on your computer. Stored on your hard drive, it will be ready when you need it – and easily updated.

3. Purchase Cards

Using your list, purchase the number of Christmas cards you will need. Be sure to have a few extra for people you may remember later. Boxed Christmas cards are less expensive than individual cards, but you may want several different kinds.

4. Address Envelopes

Plan to have all of your envelopes addressed before the end of November. Addresses should be handwritten in your best penmanship.

5. Add a Note

During December, personalize each Christmas card with a note and your signature. Even if you have your name(s) printed on the cards, sign them by hand. Thoughtful people set aside time to add personal, handwritten notes of one or two lines to all Christmas cards.

6. Mail Early

How early should you mail Christmas cards? Check with your local post office to see how many days are required to ensure the cards reach their destination before Christmas. Early Christmas cards are great. Late cards are not. If you are mailing Christmas cards to military personnel or other overseas contacts, be sure those are in the mail first.

Helpful Tip

If you find yourself addressing Christmas cards on New Year’s Day, put them away for next year. Buy some inexpensive post cards, and send New Year greetings instead. This Japanese tradition is a way to cover your tardiness. Make a note to start earlier next year.

In some countries, birthday gift keys are a tradition. It’s a nice tradition. The keys can be given as “the key to your future”, “the key to your middle ages”, “the key to happiness”, or some other sentiment.

Unique Birthday Gift Custom

Birthday gift keys are a wonderful custom unique to New Zealand and Australia. In that part of the southern hemisphere, birthday gift keys are given on the 21st birthday to symbolize the recipient’s coming of age. The key represents the keys to the family’s home. It implies that the twenty-one year old is mature enough to be trusted with such a key. He or she is ready to take on adult responsibilities. He or she is ready to come and go without a curfew.

The origins of the 21st birthday gift key and its celebration are unknown, but the symbol has been in use for many years.

Birthday gift keys are a beautiful custom, and one that translates readily to the northern half of the globe. It also translates to other stages in life in addition to that important coming-of-age birthday.

Appearance of Birthday Gift Keys

What does a birthday gift key look like? Is it small or large?

It would take many pages to describe the variety of birthday gift keys available. Then there would be more that are custom-made, or handmade by family members.

In general, the traditional birthday gift keys are large, and are made of wood. Among these, one might find the following variations.

* Message Variations on the shaft of the key range from sentiments such as “Congratulations and best wishes on your 21st birthday” to a simple “Happy 21st Birthday”.

* Birthday Photos on birthday gift keys are often fitted into a holder on the head end of the key. Most keys add a word or phrase above or below the photo. “Congratulations” or “For Someone Very Special” are but two of the possibilities. Often, the number “21″ appears boldly above the photo.

* Other Decorations on the head of the birthday gift key might include flowers, sports equipment, or other symbols that are important to the one having the birthday.

Although many birthday gift keys are of wood, birthday gift key jewelry is another way to carry out the custom. We saw a sparkling one styled as a 9 ct gold key pendant with cubic zirconium stones forming your choice of an “18″ or a “21″ in the middle of the shaft. A less elaborate birthday gift key came as a silver-colored key with a filigree head centered with either an “18″ or “21″ and a key chain attached.

Adopting the Birthday Gift Key Custom

You can adopt the birthday gift key custom in any of a number of ways. You can use it for any of the more important, milestone years. You can custom-order your key to feature the number and message you want. If you are a craftsperson or artisan, use your specialty to fashion birthday gift keys. Mount a large, fancy key in a frame. Add the recipient’s birth date and name. Finish with a few words of congratulations.

With a little imagination, you can give a birthday gift key that will be appreciated and treasured throughout life.