Gen Z Gift Guide: What to Buy Your Grandkids This Holiday Season

About Nicole Pajer

Nicole Pajer is a Los Angeles-based freelance published in The New York Times, Woman's Day, AARP, Parade, Wired, Glamour, People and more.

The holidays are here, and you have plenty of people to shop for this year. But what on earth do you buy your grandkids? Gen Z kiddos seem to be into so many things these days – TikTok, the latest tech gadgets, vinyl records. Navigating what to buy them can be just as tricky as trying to decode their generational slang. From mini drones to energy cleansing kits, viral cookbooks and beyond, here are some gifts your grandkids will love!

Prices current as of date of publication; subject to vary throughout the season

Mini portable microphone

This cute little microphone comes in a variety of colors, from pink to gold and blue. It can plug into most laptops, smartphones and tablets (though you may need an adapter to use it with your smartphone) and lets you record yourself with better audio. Whether you’re making a YouTube video, a podcast, or just want to sound more clear on a phone call, this tiny mic will work wonders.

Uniwit Mini Portable Vocal/Instrument Microphone, $8.99, Amazon.com

The 5 minute journal

Whether you’re jotting down something you’re grateful for, logging an affirmation or want to write about your day, this five-minute journal has you covered. Its pages are filled with daily prompts, asking its receiver “What did I learn today?” and “What would make today great?”

Guided The Five Minute Journal - Intelligent Change, $29.00, Intelligentchange.com

A ring light with a stand

Chances are, your grandchild is into recording some kind of video content these days, whether that’s for YouTube or TikTok. This ring light will help them to dial in their look, illuminating themselves in settings like “cool white, warm yellow and daylight.”

Sensyne 10'' Ring Light with 50'' Extendable Tripod Stand, $32.99, Amazon.com

A viral cookbook

TikTok is filled with viral cooking hacks and recipes. From sushi bowls to baked feta cheese pasta, GenZ loves logging onto the platform to pick up some cooking tips. This book is filled with some of TikTok’s finest recipes.

As Cooked on TikTok, $19.99, Amazon.com

An astrology book for beginners

This is perfect for the kid who doesn’t know much about astrology but wants to be able to hold their own in conversations that start with “what’s your star sign?” And hey, maybe by reading this they’ll teach you something about your own sign as well. It will be a great conversation topic for you to bond over for sure!

What's Your Sign?: A Guide to Astrology for the Cosmically Curious, $11.33, Amazon.com

Reusable notebook

This is just plain cool! It’s a notebook your tablet/smartphone/laptop obsessed grandkid can use to write in that, when scanned, syncs to the cloud and digitizes what they wrote. When they’re done, they can wipe the pages clean and use it again and again and again.

Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook, $34.99, Amazon.com

Heat styling brush

Blow drying your hair while holding a round brush can take so much time and effort. This is a round brush and blow dryer in one, which allows for quicker drying and styling. It’s the perfect gift for the high school, college kid, or graduate at their first job who loves to cut it close in the morning before class and work with a super fast routine.

Revlon One-Step Volumizer, $97.95, Amazon.com

Etsy Crystal Healing & Cleansing Kit

Sometimes you just need to try to clear away bad energy, or carry around a lucky charm. This crystal kit comes with everything your grandkid wants to summon good juju into their lives.

Crystal Healing and Cleansing Kit, $24.99, etsy.com.

Virtual cooking class

Does your grandchild love to cook? Or have they been wanting to learn? Cozymeal has virtual and in-person cooking classes where they can learn everything from the art of making dumplings to putting together the perfect vegan African feast.

Cozymeal Cooking Class starting at $39.00, cozymeal.com.

A cute little drone

Most drones are big and bulky but this little flier gets the job done with soaring in the air and recording aerial footage. It’s a great gift for the photographer in your life.

DEERC D20 Mini Drone , $49.99, Amazon.com

Vinyl records

Forget CDs, GenZ is making vinyl cool again. Pick up a vinyl copy of their favorite band. It’s sure to be a hit!

Their favorite vinyl record, many titles starting around $27.98, thesoundofvinyl.us

Tile mate finder

Losing things is such a drag. This little tile attaches to everything from keys to a purse and beyond. Then, when you lose it, you can log onto the free app, which will tell you where it’s at.

Tile Mate, starting around $17.99, Amazon.com

Air fryer

Air frying is all the rage these days – hello sweet potato fries! This one is glass and stainless steel. Plus it looks really cool and has a really fun name!

Big Boss XLarge Air Fryer, $107.83, Amazon.com

Fun martini glasses

If these glasses don't make you want to hop behind the bar and whip up a fancy cocktail, we don’t know what will. It’s the perfect gift for the Gen Z-er who loves to entertain.

Jupiter Beaded Glass Martini Glasses, $40, Westelm.com

3D Printing Pen

Doodling never looked so cool! This pen allows its user to draw 3D structures. Whether it’s making a tribute to your dog or bringing a flower to life, this pen can do it all.

3Doodler Flow, $79.99, Amazon.com