It is that time of year again, where thoughts start turning to the coming holidays. With Halloween about to pass us by, and Black Friday right around the corner, it is the perfect time to start making that Christmas list.

A Tech Girl’s Life writer Nicole wrote a great article earlier this month on how to best plan for the shopping season. But I thought we would get a little bit more specific today, and start looking at the items that every teen is going to be craving this year. Especially with so many solid products currently being sold, and coming items that are going to be hitting the market just in time for the post-Thanksgiving spending spree.

iPhone
Steve Jobs may have left us, but his legacy lives on. Even people who have steadfastly avoided getting into the Apple craze have to admit that the newest generation of products are very tempting, perhaps even impossible to resist. Your teen – especially the older ones – are probably prone to drooling at the mention of the iPhone 5, which is on its way.

The good news is that companies like Verizon have been pushing the recent model, the iPhone 4, off of shelves to make way for the mysterious new generation. You can find iPhone 4′s for as little as $120, making it the perfect time to gift your teen with that coveted smartphone that everyone loves. Kids who are 16 or older can, of course, help pay for the upkeep.

Kindle Fire

This might be a gift you want to request for yourself. Tablets are extremely useful things. Not only do they have a ton of entertainment value as they let you play games, listen to music and watch your favorite TV shows and movies, but they are also educational. While the iPad is the most popular currently being sold, with Android compatible hardware a close second, there is another option.

The Kindle Fire is going to be released on November 15. It is the first full color, high powered tablet from Amazon. Which means it is reading specific, despite the secondary features that put it on par with others. Believe it or not, kids will probably be more inclined to read with one of these babies, and you can make it a condition of the purchase.

If you want to further press the importance of reading, why not go with the cheaper (but still awesome) Kindle 3G Touch or 3G traditional models?

Games

This holiday season is a HUGE one for game releases, with some of the most anticipated titles of the year all due in November. It would be impossible to name everything being put on shelves between now and Christmas, so here is a list of a couple that are probably on your teen’s wishlist:

• Assassin’s Creed: Revelations – The AC series is wildly popular, and the last two games are considered some of the best console works ever made. Now you can join Ezio once again in the third installment. Release date November 15, 2011.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – There is next to no chance your teen gamer doesn’t play (and love) the CoD series. Now the third MW game is coming out, and they are probably going insane. Release date November 8, 2011.
• Halo: CE Anniversary – Welcome to the series that will never end, and that is a relief to many. The Halo series is always popular, and we have the much anticipated new installment to look forward to. Release date November 15, 2011.
• Zelda: Skyward Sword – Who doesn’t love Zelda? Even a lot of parents are beside themselves with excitement for this one. The newest release in the beloved Zelda story will once again reunite us with Link as he saves the day.

Keep in mind that these four titles are not only just a few of the incredible games coming in November, but there are other not-to-miss titles that are being released this month. Think Gears of War 3 and Batman: Arkham City. You might want to have a chat with your teen about what they are hoping for, because there is a lot to choose from this year. It is like a gamers dream come true.

Conclusion

The good news here is that you have a lot to choose from when it comes to gadgets. While they are more expensive, that tends to happen with gifts as you get into the teens. They are useful, multi-functional and many have been reduced in price. So, check out your options and watch your teenager go crazy when they open their gifts this year.