please help - need ideas for 5yr old girl!

[FarmerKate]

Am at my wits end...youngest DD has birthday within days of Christmas, has older siblings so not lacking in toys anyway, and has no idea what she would like for Christmas/birthday... I never get to the shops so have no idea what is out there... She likes both girlie and non-girlie stuff, but already has dolls&everything they could need (!), dolls house, dressing-up clothes, bike, etc. We have a £50 budget (max!) for birthday&same for Christmas...any ideas would be much appreciated! Am feeling like a rubbish Mum for not instinctively knowing what she wants

[lilolilmanchester]

hey, you're not a rubbish Mum - that's a tough challenge.

Do you have someone who could look after the older ones, so that you could take her to the cinema/a panto, on her own, and maybe for a meal? Just doing that with her Mum and/or Dad might be a special thing for her?

What about Playmobil/lego/knex kits?

Does she have all the dolly things like a crib/high chair/pram/stroller? Probably from what you say.

new games, jigsaws, stuff for playing shops?

Long time since mine was 5 but might be something in the above.

[lilolilmanchester]

oh, and my DD had a blackboard & chalks , which she loved at that age... you could also add "stuff" for playing schools?

[WowOoo]

Would she like a Moshi Monsters tree house? That's what ds, who is 5, is getting.

[Marne]

Dd2 (5) is getting for christmas:
Moshi monster toys and duvet cover.
Moon sand (i know i know, not sure what i was thinking)
Sylvanian family hotel (to share with her sister)
Play dough
Hama beads

She already has the moshi monster tree house which is ok (but falls appart).

[winefairy]

These butterflies in a jar have been very popular with my DD and her friends. Really unusual gift and frighteningly realistic! I was very impressed for once. Video . And on Amazon for £13.99.

[lilolilmanchester]

penguin pile up is good - and the older ones would enjoy playing it too

[RueDeWakening]

A game she can play with her older siblings? DD likes ludo, snakes and ladders - anything from Orchard Toys seems good here :o Elefun or Monkey Madness are also good. Or jigsaws.

A day out? Eg panto trip (I always got a trip to the panto for my close-to-Christmas birthday, I think to avoid yet more tat & wrapping paper in the house!).

A jumbo craft pack - PVA glue, feathers, glitter, card, paper, wiggly eyes, foam, felt, lolly sticks, stickers, paint, crayons? - or just give her a voucher for Hobbycraft and she can pick her own stuff out.

Spirograph?

A selection of the Mister Maker craft kits - always popular here sadly

[KWL51]

argos have some offers on of the dreaded pink and plastic stuff, whihc i relented to. after all it is about what she would like.
dd is 5 as well and we got barbie sisters on a bike, hair salon whihc came with half price fashion set and a camping set as she has the camper van coming too, and as it was over £40 we got 15% off quote toys40 at the till or online.
the 15% off is for any toy spend opver £40 instore or online.

[FarmerKate]

Thanks everyone - brilliant ideas - am heading for a quiet night of internet Christmas shopping, by the fire, glass of wine in hand... Thank you!!!