Jimmy used to greet the gifts you bought him with cries of delight. However, as he approached the teen years, he grew less enthusiastic. How do you find the right birthday gifts for teenage boys or girls?

You May Already Be Choosing the Right Gifts

If you are feeling inferior because the presents that teen in your life is unwrapping just aren't generating screams of rapture, don't be. A million dollar check may get you a slightly surly thanks from a teen who is struggling to shed childhood behaviors and become a "cool" adult. If you are picking out gifts that are related to the teen's interests and hobbies, he or she may just be unwilling to act like a little kid, which translates as any excited behavior.

Don't Be Afraid of Toys

Sometimes, a goofy toy that was a childhood favorite is a great hit with older teens. It shouldn't be a main birthday gift, though. Slinkies, silly putty, or a keychain sized Etch-a-Sketch can be a fun way to reconnect with childhood memories without feeling too uncool.

Gift Certificates Are Always a Hit

They may not be fun to give, but gift certificates are fun to get. Chose a trendy store that has clothing that reflects what the teen wears, not what you wish he or she would wear. I still remember the gift certificate someone gave me to a very stuffy boutique when I was a teen. I dressed in a fairly preppy fashion, but everything in that store was what Jackie "O" would have worn when she was older. So not me! I bought my mom a sweater with my birthday gift certificate from that out of touch family friend.

Hobbies Are Great

You may think that the teen you are shopping for doesn't have a hobby, but do some checking before you discount this idea. Air guitar, giving makeovers to friends and skateboarding are all hobbies, even if they aren't the traditional stamp collecting type hobbies. (And yes, Victoria, you can give air guitar related gifts! Think DVD.)

If you discover that the teen doesn't have a hobby, find one that could interest him or her and take a chance. It could fall flat, but you could hook that teen on a new hobby for life. Art supplies for grownups, a nice leather journal, or sports lessons are all gifts that could work. Just don't give sports lessons to a teen who has never cared for sports!