High Life : How to Raise a Gifted Teen With No Returns, No Exchanges

Trends among teen-agers come and go without parents paying much attention, so when it comes time to purchase holiday gifts, Mom and Dad are often left without a clue.

Hot Topics asks, “What is the most popular gift--within economic reality--parents can give their teen-age son or daughter?”

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“A savings bond, because it will collect interest and by the time they really need money, it would be there for them.”

Lakeola Higgenbotham, 17,

senior, Brethren Christian

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“Love.”

Debbie Slota, 17,

senior, Brea-Olinda

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“Compact discs or cassettes. They are relatively cheap, easy to find and provide endless hours of listening pleasure. Also, they are easy to return if you and your kids don’t have the same tastes.”

David Boodman, 18,

senior, Edison

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“A watch, since it is something we would need every day.”

Shakhar Karnik, 14,

freshman, Huntington Beach

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“Money. You can use it to get whatever you want or you can save it for later.”

Tannaz Sarbaz, 17,

senior, California Lutheran

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“Spending time with my parents. We do not spend much time with each other, especially now after their divorce.”

Rene Gonzalez, 15,

sophomore, Rancho Alamitos

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“Clothes and a radio.”

Trang Zu, 15,

sophomore, Garden Grove

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“Anything having to do with music--like tapes, CDs, Walkmans and Discmans.”

Erica Swensson, 13,

freshman, St. Margaret’s

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“Advice is the most economical gift my parents can give me.”

Victor Fung, 15,

sophomore, Laguna Hills

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“A four-runner truck, because I don’t want to ride my bike.”

Jonah McCarthy, 15,

sophomore, University

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“School supplies; they’re needed year-round.”

Johanna Kim, 16,

junior, Katella

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“Clothes. Just clothes.”

Thao Tran, 14,

freshman, Los Amigos

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“The gift of caring. Whatever the parents give the child, it’s the love and caring feelings behind it that count.”

Helen Flores, 15,

sophomore, Edison

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“It all depends on the family budget; on the average, probably clothes, CDs or money.”

Christine Yi, 17,

senior, Garden Grove

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“A hug.”

Scott Tang, 17,

senior, Huntington Beach

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“Gift certificates.”

Justin Yeh, 18,

senior, St. Margaret’s

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“Probably something electric, like a CD player or video games. I don’t think these are practical gifts (because) by the time we get out of high school, they’ll think of a better way to record music.”

Miriam Lensch, 16,

junior, Brethren Christian

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“Clothes, because you need to get dressed.”

Kaea Pahulu, 15,

sophomore, Katella

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

What is your favorite holiday tradition?