If we’re switching towards gender-neutral everything, why don’t we also turn toward age-neutrality? Well, due to logical reasoning, it makes clear sense why we won’t. Still, how many of you wished to buy something for yourself but feared being judged for being “too old”? Perhaps it was a book, a piece of clothing that was socially deemed “inappropriate” considering one’s age, or maybe you felt jealous of a kid who received a gift you would love to have for yourself? When it comes to gifts, especially as we get older, it becomes expected to give practical gifts or items that can be used in the household. Hoover is a prime example of that.
Nonetheless, while Henry The Hoover is very much appreciated, some of us would love to get a LEGO set, board games, a plushie, or have an over-the-top Disney-themed cake for our birthday party. And this thread on AskReddit really proves that there are many of us out there: children stuck in adult bodies. A while back, user devious_egg asked, “Adults, what is something you’d love receiving as a gift but no one even considers giving you because you’re an adult?” And well, the answers did not disappoint, making it clear that some of the most anticipated gifts for young adults and adults alike are, in fact, gifts meant for children.
Below, we’ve compiled some of the best responses from the thread, sharing fun gifts for adults and gag gift ideas that are not precisely labeled as gifts for adults, yet many would love to receive them as one. Do you agree with any of these unconventional gift ideas for adults listed by Redditors? If so, give those you would like to receive yourself an upvote! Have any more gag gifts for adults (actually meant for children) to add? Share those in the comments!
#1 LEGO Set
“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.”
Image source: CanYouBeHelped, www.lego.com
#2 Art Kits
“Used to get them almost every year as a kid. When I started going to college, the kits stopped coming.”
Image source: strangedrow, amazon.com
#3 Board Games
MrsMurphysChowder replied:
“I would like someone to play them with me.”
Image source: Applejuiceinthehall, amazon.com
#4 A Homemade Birthday Cake
Image source: WillingWeepow
#5 Scavenger Hunt
“So I’m 34 now and no longer with this girl but for my 32nd birthday my girlfriend at the time did a scavenger hunt around the house with little gifts for each step and a weekend away as the final gift. Definitely one of my cooler birthdays as an adult.”
abrokenelevator replied: “I’m doing this for my anniversary coming up!! I’m having so much fun making the clues and the gift is one of those Steven Singer gold-dipped roses, which I only just found out my wife always wanted. We recently got into escape rooms/escape room games so I’m taking ideas from those.”
Image source: Teejaymac
#6 Light Up Shoes
twirlerina024 said:
“Those sneakers that light up whenever you take a step”
laurakeet1209 replied:
“Took my kids shoe shopping last week and they had Heelies. I was tempted.
Image source: twirlerina024, heelys.com
#7 Water Gun
“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.”
Image source: hangriest
#8 Remote Controlled Car
“They were fun when I was 8 and they are even more fun now.”
Image source: VintageShrill, amazon.com
#9 Cartoon Socks
Image source: amazon.com
#10 Calico Critters House
“I just want to sit and play and send those darling animals on adventures and forget that the real world is on f*****g fire.”
Image source: birdmadgirl74, calicocritters.com
#11 Stickers
Matthias_Cro said:
“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.”
malytwotails replied:
“If you have a hard time committing to putting stickers on things, buy some sheets of magnet paper. Put the stickers on that, cut them out, and now you have a bunch of magnets you can use for years!”
Image source: Matthias_Cro, amazon.com
#12 Laser Tag Set
Image source: DrByNight, amazon.com
#13 An Invite To Go Out For Ice Cream Cones
Image source: macaronsforeveryone
#14 A Trip To Legoland
Image source: LurkingAintEazy
#15 Fossil Kits With Fake Bones
Image source: Federal_Badger_6062, amazon.com
#16 Tetris Console
Image source: amazon.com
#17 Plushies
“I still have plushies. I would like more plushies, please.”
Image source: mochii69
#18 A go kart
Image source: Pitiful_Fox7081, amazon.com
#19 Crayon Set
Legitimate-Ad1784 replied: “Totally just ordered the gigantic Crayola box (I wanna say it was at least 164 colors) and when my husband asked why I said it’s for our daughter who is 19 months, and just discovered crayons and coloring books a couple weeks ago he laughed when I confessed they were for me because I am SO EXCITED that she is starting to color and I cannot wait until we can sit and color next week when they get here.”
Image source: Forsaken_Republic_98, amazon.com
#20 T-Rex Toy
“I would love a realistic-looking, high-quality T-Rex toy that I can pack in my suitcase and take with me wherever I go. It should be big enough to swallow a Lego human whole. I still think T-Rex is awesome.”
Image source: _InDrumpfWeTrust_, amazon.com
#21 Kinetic Sand
Image source: _Moink_ , amazon.com
#22 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 within 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.”
Image source: gladysk, amazon.com
#23 Microscope
Image source: moi85, amazon.com
#24 Wrapped Package With Unknown Gift Inside
“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.”
Image source: paleo2002
#25 Optimus Prime With The Trailer Gen 1
Image source: mdkubit, ebay.ca
#26 Hooded Totoro Sweater
Image source: bloodytigger, ghibli-shop.com
#27 Roller Skates
Image source: Dazzling-Toe-4955
#28 Action Figures
“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.”
voiceofAFO replied:
“I, a woman in my 30s – 40s, bought Star Trek action figures as they came out from my favorite shows. ST: TNG, ST: DS9, ST: Voyager. Also owned the Enterprise-D and a Klingon Bird-of-Prey, and a Klingon Vor’cha Battle cruiser from the same company, Playmates.”
Image source: lonewolflondo, amazon.com
#29 Spirograph
“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.”
Image source: Winter_Cheesecake158, amazon.com
#30 Electronic Project Kit
Image source: SoulWager, amazon.com
#31 Chemistry Set
Image source: rossdrew, amazon.com
#32 Animal Ottoman
Image source: amazon.com
#33 Remote Controlled Boat
“I’m gonna go look them up and buy a mid-range one off Amazon right now!”
Image source: Pitiful_Fox7081, amazon.com
#34 Nerf Guns
Image source: traf56 , nerf.hasbro.com
#35 Pokemon Cards
“Honestly, I’d be thrilled to get a pack of pokemon cards. Would be a great reminder of my childhood, and a cool treat to once again open a pack and see what I get.”
Image source: razor787, amazon.com
#36 12pk Of Playdough
Image source: Forsaken_Republic_98, amazon.com
#37 Coloring Books
Image source: Far-Ad9143, amazon.com
#38 Hotwheels
Image source: OldEast5877, shop.mattel.com
#39 Onesie
Image source: strawbryshorty04, amazon.com
#40 Bubble Blower
“I only had like 2 in my entire childhood and my family didn’t know you can just… REFILL it with water and dish soap. They refused to get them because they were ‘not worth it’.”
Image source: tarnishedhuntress
#41 Magic Grow Capsules
“I’d like some of them pills that turn into dino-sponges when you put them in water.”
Image source: mpapillon12333, amazon.com
#42 Water Growing Dinosaurs
“The mini dinos you put in water and they would grow 100x their size over night.”
Image source: goblingirl , amazon.com
#43 Polly Pocket
“They were so well made and I just love how perfectly miniature everything was.”
Image source: cnfmom, shop.mattel.com
#44 Rocket Kits
Image source: SoulWager, amazon.com
#45 Trampoline
Image source: sadsadhippo
#46 Easy Bake Ultimate Oven, Baking Star Super Treat Edition With 3 Mixes. For Ages 8 And Up
“I know, I know. I could go buy one for myself.”
Image source: SprainyJones, amazon.com
#47 Lightsaber Chopsticks
Image source: amazon.com
#48 Build A Bear
FreezingNote replied:
“My partner took me to Build a Bear when I l was 30. My parents never let me as a kid and it was pure joy!”
LurkingAintEazy replied:
“Aw, so lucky. Did you build anything? Or just looked around?”
FreezingNote replied:
“Oh, I built a bear! I still have him all these years later. He’s wearing a tuxedo and sunglasses, and I call him Bear, James Bear (a joke as we both love James Bond movies).”
Image source: LurkingAintEazy, buildabear.co.uk
#49 Easter Egg
“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.”
boots311 replied:
“Funny side story. every year, my stepdad’s family (which is huge. 8 kids all married & 30+ children) would have Easter egg hunts. One for the littles & one for the teens & older. My trick was that I’d always put a piece of cheese or broccoli in an egg for a kid to find. The reaction every year was classic. One kid will say, I got a dollar, next kid, I got a piece of broccoli! Haha”
Image source: thorGOT, amazon.com
#50 Cheese Balls
“Utz cheese balls. All I get are socks. I have socks, I don’t have cheese balls.”
Image source: reddit.com
#51 Paintball Gun
Image source: mildewmoisturizer
#52 Sit And Spin
Image source: Angelsunrise, amazon.com
#53 Rock Tumbler
Image source: jus256, amazon.com
#54 Megatron Gen 1
Image source: mdkubit, ebay.com
#55 Hulk Foam Fists
Image source: GothamBrawler, amazon.com
#56 Yo-Yo
Image source: SquilliamFancySon95
#57 Doll House
Image source: amazon.com
#58 Mini Squishies Glow In The Dark Toys
“Legit anything that glows in the dark. I think it’s so fun but since I’m grown I get basic non-glowy stuff.”
Image source: I-like-bagels15, amazon.com
#59 Glitter Markers And Glitter Pens
Image source: tombraider96
#60 Pogo Stick
Image source: Fuzzy-Conversation21, amazon.com
#61 Lunchables
Redpatiofurniture replied:
“Don’t do it. They’re horrible as an adult. Keep that beautiful memory. Don’t ruin it.”
Image source: almostaccepted, lunchables.com
#62 Cowboy Hat
“My boyfriend grew up watching those old western movies. John Wayne is still his hero after 23 years of life. He never even had a play cowboy hat growing up, and he had always wanted a black one. I got him this nice solid black cowboy hat from George Strait’s line (didn’t know he had one until I went shopping lmao) for Christmas one year. I’ve only seen that man cry just a few times in our 5 years of dating, and that was one of them.”
Image source: reddit.com , amazon.com
#63 Trebuchet
Image source: SoulWager, amazon.com
#64 Rubik’s Cube
Image source: DpwnShift
#65 Garbage Pail Kids Collectible Cards
Image source: aq-r-steppedinsome, amazon.com
#66 Zombie Boy
Image source: etsy.com
#67 Toy Trucks
Image source: Empty-Lock9143, amazon.com
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