Person Asks “What’s Something You’d Love Getting As A Gift But No One Considers Giving You Because You’re An Adult?”, 30 Folks Deliver
Getting gifts is awesome.
As a kid, or as an adult, doesn’t matter, you get a gift and it makes you feel good and it gives you stuff to do with that gift afterwards.
But—there’s a huge but—for some reason, people adjust to your age when it comes to getting you a gift. And while you can’t blame them for wanting to get you the perfect gift appropriate to who you are as a person, some people don’t grow out of LEGOs and art supplies. In fact, there is nothing to grow out of, those are legit timeless gifts. Gifts that we still want.
The lovely people of Reddit have been sharing the gifts they wish they would still get, even as adults, but most deem gifts for children. And, believe you me, them sharing gift ideas will quite likely make you want them too.
Bored Panda has collected the best answers from the now-viral post, which accumulated over 54,200 upvotes and over 100 Reddit awards, and created a curated list below. So vote and comment on the gifts you’d love to get yourself, and if you can’t find them in the list, why not leave us a comment with what you wish you still got for [insert occasion here] in the comment section below!
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I got a call from a friend, she said it's a birthday and we should all come over. I got the date/time and event correct, but not whose birthday it was, although I was confident it was for a kid. Why else would she say, bring the whole family?
We show up and I'm frankly concerned by all the craft beer with bows and balloons on it. I set our gift bag down and we join the party. Shortly after, her husband shouts with joy and wants to know who got him the big Lego set.
Well, that was me, and, uh.... You're welcome.
So, my answer is Legos. Adults want Legos.
I'd like to get a birthday or Christmas gift that I had no hand in planning or acquiring. Like, a wrapped package that I genuinely have no idea what is inside.
twirlerina024 said:
Those sneakers that light up whenever you take a step
tourniquet13 replied:
I want these to be standard Olympic uniform, just imagine Usain Bolt in light up shoes.
Stickers. I won't put them on anything and you'll never see it again once you've gifted it to me but it will remain forever a highly cherished gift.
macaronsforeveryone said:
An invite to go out for ice cream cones
FireITGuy replied:
A former team I worked on had an ice cream social day, and the only rule was you ABSOLUTELY couldn't tell the new people ahead of time.
It was one of the coolest things to just watch new employee's process of confusion turning into pure joy when everyone in the office just got up at once to leave and we got to convince the new employees that yes, we were really all going to get ice cream on company time.
I miss that job. Pay was [horse dung], but they really did know how to make a workplace enjoyable.
I am 40 years old and I still invite my friends to eat pancakes, waffles or milkshakes! We love do it !
Board games, puzzles. I gift them a lot hoping someone will return the favor
No one has given me an Easter egg in years. I love Easter eggs, and make sure my kids and ex-wife are sorted each year. But no one ever gets me one in return.
I felt the same way about not getting a Christmas stocking any longer - not since childhood. My best friend gave me one recently, filled with goodies, it was wonderful.
Dazzling-Toe-4955 said:
Roller Skates
southpacshoe replied:
I had a bucket list item of joining a roller derby league but I was past 40 and everyone I talked to said “Don’t do it ..you’ll get hurt”. Eventually, I didn’t tell anyone and went and tried out. I played for 4 years as a blocker and it is strangely one of the things that I am really most proud of. Go get the roller skates.
i have a friend who did roller derby and loved it. She messed up her knee for life, but she loved it while it lasted.
Winter_Cheesecake158 said:
Those drawing things where you put a pen inside a circle and it moves like a cog inside a bigger circle and creates a pattern
BexYouSee replied:
Spirograph!
got one for christmas! it was fun for a while and i'm sure i'll dig it out again at some point
Art kits. Used to get them almost every year as a kid. When I started going to college, the kits stopped coming.
I got a new box of crayons every year to start school - all the way through college. :)
12pk of playdough, the ultimate 150 crayola crayon set, the one with the sharpener and some drawing paper. I turn into an eight year old!
Actually_Avery said:
Plushies. Give me all the plushies.
eggcracked2wice replied:
The only reason I, a 26 year old guy, would not like to receive plushies is that I already have an unacceptable quantity.
Plushies !!! My 7 year old son and I both have a giant panda comforter (the ones from Ikea!)
Remote controlled cars, planes or helicopters. They were fun when I was 8 and they are even more fun now
Oh yeah, so much better than 40 years ago. Advancements in battery and radio technology have made it so much easier to get into it and less of a kick in the bank account. Only thing missing now is time to play with them.
Legit anything that glows in the dark. I think it’s so fun but since I’m grown I get basic non-glowy stuff
Stunning_Aide76 said:
Candy
h110hawk replied:
I finally convinced my wife that what I wanted for Christmas was "nothing" and it's insulting / rude / dismissive of my feelings to get mad at that. Now I get a few of my favorite candy bars as a stocking stuffer and am super happy.
emeraldrose484 replied:
Best gifts I ever got when I was little - my brother's girlfriend at the time (who has now been his wife for 25+ years) gave me just a gift bag filled with a bag of chocolates and fun pencils. She did this for both Christmas and my birthday one year. What better gift for a 7, 8 year old? 30 years later, still sticks out as one of my favorite and most unique gifts.
Who doesn't want candy. That's one gift everyone my family gets, no matter the age.
A trip to Legoland or Build a bear. Always wanted to go to both places, but never got to.
I am absolutely craving a trip to a park with a playground in it so I can ride the swings. Swings were a happy place for me as a child. I don't drive; and can't afford ride services. I always got eye rolls
Swings are awesome and everybody should use them, regardless of their age. And those zip line swings are still one of my favourites, when a playground has one, I’m gonna ride it.
A super soaker with the LATEST super soaker technology!
My birthday is in August, northern hemisphere, so I would put it to use straight away.
When I was 35, I went to my nephew's 9th birthday party and they had a super soaker/water balloon fight. I was in the middle of the melee, having a blast. My mother and other guests looked at me askance, but the hell with them! My inner kid will prevail. I'd do it again today.
Pitiful_Fox7081 said:
I mean…. A go kart
Joo_Unit relpied:
There is a bunch of kids in my neighborhood that race around in hoverboards attached to a go-kart chassis. Its like real life Mario Kart and never have I been more jealous.
Angelsunrise said:
A sit n spin
ohdearitsrichardiii replied:
I have the deluxe version in my office, it has a back rest and armrests so you can spin really fast and not fall off
Every day, I wake up and wonder why I can't fit my fat a s s on a Sit n Spin any longer. I spin on my office chair but it's not the same. Same for Hippity Hops.
I would love a realistic looking, high quality T-Rex toy that I can pack in my suitcase and take it with me wherever I go. It should be big enough to swallow a Lego human whole. I still think T-Rex is awesome.
(By realistic I mean like Jurassic Park and not like Barney)
This is a fertile land and we will thrive. And we will call it... This land
Load More Replies... strawbryshorty04 said:
A onesie!
SusieSweethart replied:
I had a coworker get me one for Christmas one year. It’s covered in cats wearing Santa hats and it one of my most prized possessions. It was so simple but you could really tell she took the time to pick something that she knew I’d love
one of my favourite pics ever is of a good friend in a Totoro onesie. wish i could share it here, but she'd rather i didn't.
An original Polly Pocket! They were so well made and I just love how perfectly miniature everything was.
-A lite brite. I bought one for my 5 year old son for Xmas so i could use it and he loves it. It makes me so happy.
-Any kind of gimmicky candy or treats/cookies. I love that stuff.
-Rainbow brite or cabbage patch kid stuff. I love it and will snatch up anything i find at a thrift store. Actually I'm currently working on restoring 5 thrifted cabbage patch kid and my own childhood one this weekend.
That's a lite Brite??? Bro those are so cool!! They've kinda always been past my time so I only really saw them in museum play places n stuff when I was younger, but I adores all the things like that. Guess I never really thought of owning one lol
sadsadhippo said:
A trampoline
Scoobypoopypoo2 replied:
Just make sure you get written permission slips from all the neighborhood dads that want to jump on it
A few Nancy Drew books. My parents didn’t have money for books. The small Catholic school library offered books on saints, US presidents and their wives. The public library wasn’t in walking distance.
I lied when Susan Sample, a classmate, accused me of befriending her for the “sleuth’s” books.
55 years later, I’ll fess up; yes, I preferred my time with Nancy more than you.
Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, The hardy Boys and Maggie Muggins and any others you would like to toss in!
Imsickoftheirs**t said:
A teddy bear
Mcnugz9 replied:
I’m only 24 but a guy I’m talking to gave me one instead of flowers (he said because they would die on the 4 hour drive home) and I completely melted. I forever want teddy bears over flowers.
When I asked him why he got me anything at all he said “just because. You can take it home with you” we’re long distance 🥺
I'm 57 and one of my most prized possessions is an 18" all white Winnie The Pooh Bear. You are never to old for a furry friend.
DrByNight said:
A full laser tag set with at least four guns
batmanhen1812 replied:
There’s a brand called Recoil that’s very similar to laser tag, and you use your phone to join a game and put it on your gun. Then if you’re outside it’ll show a map and you can radio teammates and stuff. Pretty cool.
This would be nice but I would really like to do the paintball thing!
VodkaMargarine said:
Heelies
drawerofcircles replied:
My husband got me a pair for my birthday this past year. I’m still working on my uncoordinated balance. But I love shuffling around the basement!
I'm 53 and my partner buys me action figures constantly. I would have loved all the superhero shit that's available today when I was a kid so he gets it for me now.
What I really really want is for all those incredible happy and fun toddler clothes and prints to be made in adult size, because that's my middle-aged aesthetic.
Cute clothes, 100%. I still want to get myself a cute bunny winter hat that's also a scarf and mittens. Anybody who thinks I'm too old for it can go suck on a lemon. Edit: I went and got one. It'll be too late for winter this year, but I'll have it for next year. :)
Load More Replies...I don't care anymore if someone looks at me when I'm wearing a band aid with a cute bunny or other funny drawings. No, I'm not a kid anymore but I just like them.
I'm a great gift giver. I love to give the perfect gift. I listen all year and make notes when someone says they want or like something. I love making baskets w all the things people like too. And when it comes to my daughter I really go all out w the surprises every birthday Christmas and Easter. She loves when I wrap every single little thing in her stocking too.
I feel sorry for all the people who think those fun things only belong to kids. I mean, we are all still kids at heart, buy the onesie, buy that remote racing car, play hide and seek with your friends. Who cares what other people think. Live your life to the fullest with all the toys you want !
Yeah, and on the other side, don't gatekeep people out of your Very Serious hobby because they aren't as serious about it. It's cool to build the Lego Titanic, for sure, but it's also cool to build a 20 piece lego Harry Potter... even if you are a 50 year old lawyer (just to be clear, Lego enthusiests are not actually a community I have seen gate keeping trouble with, it's just a familiar example).
Load More Replies...It's funny (meaning "very sad") how adults all still have a kid inside them, but the majority don't know how to deal with it and think it's bad. All grown ups are kids with much more experience. There is absolutely no reason to feel bad because something that makes you happy when you were younger still makes you happy.
I still want all the lego, transformers, hot wheels, etc that I asked for as a kid and never got because "GiRlS aReN't AlLoWeD tO pLaY wItH bOy ToYs!"
I have everything I need (which is little), so my gift of choice is: nothing. Please let my birthday or Christmas pass without giving me stuff I don't actually need.
Puppets. I love puppets. Also, I don't understand why they are not more common as gifts for kids, too. They can be taken anywhere and inspire creative play.
i once went to central park when i was a kid & saw a man with a puppet (not a hand puppet, it was a marionette). he had a basket for donations & he was making his puppet walk, dance, & so much more. it was years ago so i don't remember exactly what he did, but i do remember the absolute joy & awe i felt standing & watching the magic of puppetry. more puppets, please!! it's a lost art.
Load More Replies...You're an adult. Just buy it yourself and stop waiting for others to make you happy especially if you're just hoping they randomly guess you want this crap.
I want character cake, like a big Sailor Moon cake and a bunch of Archie Comic stuff.
I would love to get people gifts like this. I always just make the assumption that if they want stuff like that, they have bought it for themselves.
When I was younger I always wanted those shoes with wheels in them and a chemistry set (still want them)
I got a tamagotchi and push button water toys from my SIL for Christmas and let me tell you that was my favorite present. I have played both multiple times. They also always get me something fuzzy. I dont like getting gifts, I prefer giving, but the little simple things are always my favorite!
I'd like an adult-sized Big Wheel. Recumbent bikes just aren't the same.
this made me so happy! I was always told I was childish for liking and wanting these things...
I wish people would give me Annette Himstedt dolls for presents
I would love to have an electric racetrack set like I had when I was young. The kind with the bendy track that went up the wall so it was "gravity defying ". Lol. That thing brought me so much joy.
I have a pink Minecraft figure glued to the dashboard in my car. (I'm 71)
I don;t get people. I really don't. You are an adult - if your bills are paid & your must-do chores are done - you can do whatever you want with your money and time. Go, buy yourself a toy, go to a park with swings, use trampoline, pick up some friends and make water war with water guns... Just enjoy your life - you have one. I have / had / done each and every thing of ones listed above: I have plushies, go to ice cream instead coffe, I got myself a "kiddie pool" for our small garden. I intednd to be happy, not a perfect cog in society's machine,
I'm very happy that you have done exactly what you wanted in your life. However, if it was that simple then people would do it. You have no idea what is going on in people's lives so just cut everyone some slack, extend some compassion, and realize that not everyone has the same privileges in life that you do okay
Load More Replies...I don't ever know what to say when people ask me for a gift idea. I say they can check my book it's on Amazon. I don't really want a lot.
What I really really want is for all those incredible happy and fun toddler clothes and prints to be made in adult size, because that's my middle-aged aesthetic.
Cute clothes, 100%. I still want to get myself a cute bunny winter hat that's also a scarf and mittens. Anybody who thinks I'm too old for it can go suck on a lemon. Edit: I went and got one. It'll be too late for winter this year, but I'll have it for next year. :)
Load More Replies...I don't care anymore if someone looks at me when I'm wearing a band aid with a cute bunny or other funny drawings. No, I'm not a kid anymore but I just like them.
I'm a great gift giver. I love to give the perfect gift. I listen all year and make notes when someone says they want or like something. I love making baskets w all the things people like too. And when it comes to my daughter I really go all out w the surprises every birthday Christmas and Easter. She loves when I wrap every single little thing in her stocking too.
I feel sorry for all the people who think those fun things only belong to kids. I mean, we are all still kids at heart, buy the onesie, buy that remote racing car, play hide and seek with your friends. Who cares what other people think. Live your life to the fullest with all the toys you want !
Yeah, and on the other side, don't gatekeep people out of your Very Serious hobby because they aren't as serious about it. It's cool to build the Lego Titanic, for sure, but it's also cool to build a 20 piece lego Harry Potter... even if you are a 50 year old lawyer (just to be clear, Lego enthusiests are not actually a community I have seen gate keeping trouble with, it's just a familiar example).
Load More Replies...It's funny (meaning "very sad") how adults all still have a kid inside them, but the majority don't know how to deal with it and think it's bad. All grown ups are kids with much more experience. There is absolutely no reason to feel bad because something that makes you happy when you were younger still makes you happy.
I still want all the lego, transformers, hot wheels, etc that I asked for as a kid and never got because "GiRlS aReN't AlLoWeD tO pLaY wItH bOy ToYs!"
I have everything I need (which is little), so my gift of choice is: nothing. Please let my birthday or Christmas pass without giving me stuff I don't actually need.
Puppets. I love puppets. Also, I don't understand why they are not more common as gifts for kids, too. They can be taken anywhere and inspire creative play.
i once went to central park when i was a kid & saw a man with a puppet (not a hand puppet, it was a marionette). he had a basket for donations & he was making his puppet walk, dance, & so much more. it was years ago so i don't remember exactly what he did, but i do remember the absolute joy & awe i felt standing & watching the magic of puppetry. more puppets, please!! it's a lost art.
Load More Replies...You're an adult. Just buy it yourself and stop waiting for others to make you happy especially if you're just hoping they randomly guess you want this crap.
I want character cake, like a big Sailor Moon cake and a bunch of Archie Comic stuff.
I would love to get people gifts like this. I always just make the assumption that if they want stuff like that, they have bought it for themselves.
When I was younger I always wanted those shoes with wheels in them and a chemistry set (still want them)
I got a tamagotchi and push button water toys from my SIL for Christmas and let me tell you that was my favorite present. I have played both multiple times. They also always get me something fuzzy. I dont like getting gifts, I prefer giving, but the little simple things are always my favorite!
I'd like an adult-sized Big Wheel. Recumbent bikes just aren't the same.
this made me so happy! I was always told I was childish for liking and wanting these things...
I wish people would give me Annette Himstedt dolls for presents
I would love to have an electric racetrack set like I had when I was young. The kind with the bendy track that went up the wall so it was "gravity defying ". Lol. That thing brought me so much joy.
I have a pink Minecraft figure glued to the dashboard in my car. (I'm 71)
I don;t get people. I really don't. You are an adult - if your bills are paid & your must-do chores are done - you can do whatever you want with your money and time. Go, buy yourself a toy, go to a park with swings, use trampoline, pick up some friends and make water war with water guns... Just enjoy your life - you have one. I have / had / done each and every thing of ones listed above: I have plushies, go to ice cream instead coffe, I got myself a "kiddie pool" for our small garden. I intednd to be happy, not a perfect cog in society's machine,
I'm very happy that you have done exactly what you wanted in your life. However, if it was that simple then people would do it. You have no idea what is going on in people's lives so just cut everyone some slack, extend some compassion, and realize that not everyone has the same privileges in life that you do okay
Load More Replies...I don't ever know what to say when people ask me for a gift idea. I say they can check my book it's on Amazon. I don't really want a lot.