“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” – Dr. Seuss
Oh, The Places You’ll Go! Hardcover by Dr. Seuss
“Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” is a classic gift for high school grads because its themes of awe, amazement, perseverance and adventure strike a cord with just about every young adult who’s coming of age and stepping out into the unknown. But, ten copies of this book won’t do your high school grad much good. There are so many other good gifts for your adventurous, gadget-loving teen. Here are four gift ideas that are sure to bring cheers of delight:
Trip to the Big Apple
nerd york city: a geek’s guide to gotham
Is there anything more adventurous than exploring the Big Apple with a fresh, youthful set of eyes? Even if your grad is not moving there for good, a summer trip to the big city gives them a chance to be adventurous and independent. Pre-purchase the flight, hotel room and can’t-miss activities like a Broadway show (Insider tip: these sell out months and even years in advance). Make sure to give your teen some extra cash in the card to venture out on his or her own and find the coolest restaurants and things to do in the city.
Smart Apartment
Nest T200577 2nd Generation Learning Thermostat
When living on their own for the first time, teens often miss the comforts of home. Make your child’s home more comfortable by turning their apartment into a smart home. For example, the Nest thermostat can be programmed from anywhere and can auto-tune to save energy and much-needed money that’ll be better spent on pizza delivery. Also consider purchasing an Apple TV to transfer TV shows, sports, music, movies and videos straight from his or her computer to the TV without any wires.
DNA Ancestry Kit
Ancestry DNA Testing Kit Geno 2.0 by National Geographic
Combining history and science, mapping the human genome is a technology that has only recently been made affordable for the masses. If your grad loves genealogy or wants to know more about where he or she came from, National Geographic’s Genographic Project Participation and DNA Ancestry Kit gives him or her the ability to track the migration paths of his or her ancestors. Your teen can learn what percentage of his or her genome is linked to different regions of the world and fill in the gaps of human history.
DIY Computer Kit
Intel Galileo Gen 2 Board Single GALILEO2
For a techie teen, there’s nothing more exciting than being able to take the latest gadgets apart, put them back together again and create the next big thing. If this sounds like your grad, the Intel Galileo Gen 2 Board is designed specifically for makers, students, educators and DIY electronics enthusiasts. With more specs than ever, this DIY computer kit is a gadget geek’s dream.
High school graduation is a big deal to your teen because it is the first time he or she can really decide what to do with his or her life. Encourage your grad to be adventurous and fulfill his or her dreams.
