Teen Birthday Card Hub
Modern, low-cringe birthday card messages for teens — written to sound like a person, not a poster on a school wall.
Use these examples as starting points. Adjust the tone, swap in your own details, and keep anything that feels like you.
These are written to be edited. Keep a structure you like, change the details, and drop anything that doesn't sound like you.
Here are a few "flavors" you can choose from — you can stay in one lane or mix them together.
Not every "card" is on paper. These short lines work well in chats, comments, or captions.
When you're done writing, do a fast check with these questions:
These teen card examples mix real-world teen feedback, writing best practices, and AI-generated drafts that we edit for tone — aiming for something that feels human, not robotic.
Last reviewed: January 2025. Always adjust wording to your specific teen, their boundaries, and your relationship.
Aim for honest and specific rather than poetic. Use words you would actually say out loud, keep it relatively short, and focus on one or two real things you appreciate about them. You can always add a little humor, but let at least one sentence be straightforward and kind.
Light jokes can be fine if you know their sense of humor well, but avoid jokes about appearance, weight, or topics they may be sensitive about. Jokes around “you’re getting so old” can land strangely for teens who are still figuring out adulthood.
It can be both. Many teens appreciate one line that makes them smile and one line that clearly says, “I see you and I care about who you are.” You do not have to write a speech; two or three honest sentences are enough.
Keep it simple and respectful. You can mention something you genuinely notice — their kindness, creativity, or sense of humor — and offer a general wish for the year ahead. Avoid personal advice or big life lectures unless you have that kind of relationship.