Christmas presents for nieces (8,10,12,14)

[LittleMissGreen]

We are going to see our nieces this year at Christmas. We see them rarely as they live abroad so I don't know them very well, so I don't know much about what they like/don't like. Can't easily ask parents (it's complicated). Any generic girl ideas would be very useful as I only have boys, and they pretty much only like Lego.
They are 8,10,12 and 14. As we are seeing them I would rather get them a proper present rather than money which could as easily have been sent in the post. Travelling by car so size not too much of an issue. Preferably about £10 each.

[NorwaySpruce]

LOTR/Hobbit Lego (there are some new sets out) iTunes cards, a board game like Qbitz, Minecraft stuff, theatre tickets, cinema passes?

I think, looking at that, most of the tween girls I know are quite geeky

[butmumineedit]

How about the Hunger games DVd, or Boots have some fab presents in the way of smellies.

For the 8 yr old how about a craft making kit.

[MissLurkalot]

Nerf dart guns are fab. They do nice pink and purple small ones.

[BeattieBow]

stationary always goes down really well with all of my girls - stuff from paper chase preferred.

otherwise they are all different and like different things.

My 9yo is into minecraft
my 11 yo is into youtube and Zoella (superdrug has a range of her makeup) and Alfie Deyes has a book out recently. (I think Zoella is also releasing a book soon).
my 14yo is into make up

[marne2]

I have a 8 year old and a almost 11 year old. My 8 year old still likes toys ( Shopkins, sylvanians families, lego ) but also likes things for the bath like bath bombs, shower gel and other smelly things.

My 10 year old loves, minecraft, lego minecraft, hunger games, Percy Jackson and anything soft and cuddly ( blankets, fluffy socks ), oh and she has asked for a sketch pad and pencils as she loves drawing.

[OddBoots]

Do you live in a country that is part of their family history/heritage? If so then maybe something quintessentially of that country?

[SasherinSuite]

How about onesies for each of them plus smellies?

[LittleMissGreen]

Thanks for these :-)
Didn't even think about things like Minecraft.

[Guitargirl]

Do you live in Britain and they don't? I would buy things they are not likely to get in their own country. As others have suggested Paperchase and Lush are good bets. Also Accessorize.

[PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom]

That's a difficult age spread I'd say. I'd steer clear of 'girly' stuff unless you know them well enough to know it would interest them (would appeal to my 3 year old but my 5 year old passes all girly toys pretty immediately to her sister) and the oldest (possibly the 12 year old too) is probably pretty much into adult stuff.

Have you thought about pooling the money and buying something you could all do over Christmas. Bit of a cliché but a board game? Or a computer game? Or something outdoors if they live somewhere warm? Sometimes on family visits you are all glad of an acitivity, especially if you don't know each other that well.

[LittleMissGreen]

We are in Britain, they are mainland Europe. Happy to pool money and an activity/game could work - we tend to be outdoorsy walking people and I think from facebook they probably aren't.

[BeattieBow]

also One Direction.

(and there are one direction onesies in Primark at the moment!).

[OddBoots]

My 11yo would be gracious but would be inwardly horrified by anything 1D - she thinks herself far too old to like them.

[traviata]

I'd get accessories, from Primark, Accessorise, Top Shop, or similar.

Something like gloves, belt, bag, fancy tights, hat, purse, wallet, necklace, scarf.

12 and 14 y/o - try Primark or Top Shop first, and look at slightly 'rock' or 'punk' styled things - they are regarded as very British by the overseas teenagers.

8 and 10 y/o -something with animals on, eg gloves with cat ears etc.