Xmas presents for DD, age 3.8?

[ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts]

Hi,

I am looking for inspiration for Christmas presents for my DD who will be 3.8yo.

Most of her toys at the moment are getting a little babyish for her now and we'd like to get things that will last her quite a while.

She loves to take pictures so I was thinking of getting the Vtech Kiddizoom camera. Does anyone have any opinions on how 'worth it' it will be? Are they any good?

She is also still using Mega Blocks so would love to get her some proper lego. Does anyone have any recommendations for good sets for her age range? I particularly don't want those kits where you build one specific thing, just a random bucket of a mixture would be perfect but there is so many about I don't really know what I'm looking for. When I was younger, there used to be the sets with little flowers and windows, base plates and all sorts, do they still do that?

Anything else considered a must have for a girl of her age?

TIA :)

[PomBearAtTheGatesOfDawn]

We got Kidzoom last year for my three youngest - they were 8,6 and just gone 4 at Christmas, and they LOVE them. They really are one of the best toys we've had - all three of them can work them, and use them, and like playing with them, and not one of them has broken at all so far miraculous in this house They are very robust, and actually surprisingly good cameras - DD got some great videos of the lions and tigers at Longleat this summer. The ONLY thing I would complain about is that we can't make it connect to the pc to get them off the camera, and I have a feeling but would never admit it aloud that it's our fault for "doing it wrong" somehow.

[ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts]

That's really good to hear. Will definitely add that to the list then! :) Thank you. And I'll read the instructions first ;)

Bumping for any other input :)

[WhatWouldLeoDo]

DS age 3 has the kidizoom - it's not the greatest camera in the world by any stretch of the imagination but it's great for that age group and is really robust.

Re Lego - have you looked at duplo? You can get lots of boxes of mixed bricks with windows etc. Try all the major toy retailers and the Lego/duplo website.

[WhatWouldLeoDo]

Oh, the other thing DS loves (and my 4 year old niece) is playing 'cafes' and shops so what about a cash register and some wooden accessories to 'sell' - bigjigs, plan toys, santoys etc do lots of stuff like this. Have a search on Amazon.

[girliefriend]

Playmobil stuff always popular, play medical kit, have you seen mulberrybush.co.uk (sorry don't know how to do links!!) but they do loads of nice toys. At nearly 4 I would start getting the normal lego rather than the bigger stuff.

[cardibach]

One of my mosr successful presents was when DD was about that age. Not techie, though, but rather retro! I bought a big storsage box and filled it with dressing up clothes - some character ones bought in Woolies (don't know where you get tehm now) and some just old clothes. SHe loved it, played with it for ages, then it moved house to be used endlessly by her half sisters (she is 15 and the youngest half sister is still using it).

[tassisssss]

Kidizoom camera is fab, I saw it for 29.99 tonight in tesco.

My lot loved duple from ages of 3-5 but if you want to go for proper lego this pink box is lovely!

Otherwise suggest mini micro scooter, zhuzhu hamsters, dollies, jigsaws, craft kits and playmobil