What were your 8/9 year old girls' best presents?

[Dancergirl]

Youngest dd is 8 (9 in February). I seem to have got her presents a bit wrong this year so want to get some ideas for her 9th birthday.

She's always loved lots of toys, dolls, Sylvanians etc. She put on her list (only about 6 weeks ago) lots of new clothes for her dolls including dance stuff and nightwear. I bought her these plus a surprise I thought she would love - a Fur Real Star Lily unicorn (cost £££). She played with it a bit but was a bit underwhelmed and told me this evening she thinks she is going off/outgrowing dolls.

Nothing wrong with that but it's so sudden, it's as if she's grown up overnight.

As Christmas was a bit of a disappointment for her, I'd really like to get it right for her birthday so need some good ideas. My older two dds are teens now but were still very much into toys at that age. I know it's very different for her having two older sisters, plus her school friends are into music, clothes etc so there is obviously influence there.

So should I take the 'no toys' thing seriously or is it just a passing phase? And what would be nice age appropriate presents for her? I'm not keen on electronic stuff for young children so I wouldn't be comfortable with an iPod or tablet just yet.

[ScarlettDarling]

My dd, 8, loved 'Descendants' stuff from the Disney store. It's all merchandise from a movie about the high school sons and daughters of the Disney princesses! She got the backpack, annual, "spell book", sound track CD etc.

She also loved a balloon modelling kit! And the "creepy hand" truth or dare game.

[MunchMunch]

My dd has just turned 8 and her presents consisted mainly of monster high/ ever after high dolls but she also received a gymnastics balance beam which she loves as she's gymnastics obsessed and a Nintendo 3ds xl which has also gone down well.

It's such an awkward age isn't it?
I would see over the next month the kind of things dd mentions that she likes and maybe get her things to do with that. Are there any hobbies she does that could inspire you with a gift?

Although surprise gifts would be nice, sometimes you just have to ask outright what they'd like and get them what they ask for. I'm sure your dd still loved her presents

[Chrysanthemum5]

My dd (8) tells me her best present was a diary (£1 from pound land!) which she loves! He also like modelling clay and at shirt design kit. Plus david Williams books

[Mincedpie]

Dsd is 9 nearly 10 and still very much in to dolls. She loved her monster high dolls (bloody creepy) but also loved the rhythm gymnastics ribbons, Mog cat, connector straws, scratch pads (amazon, scratch the surface to make colourful patterns) and popcorn maker.

Very tricky age!

[JimmyGreavesMoustache]

a Tudor doll and some extra clothes for it. seems a little more grown-up than some other dolls she has
Hot Wires
Harry Potter bits - gryffinfor mug, golden snitch keyring
Now CD
Mallory Towers books

[G1veMeStrength]

DD was 9 in October. She's a big Harry Potter fan so quite easy to get presents she likes -
But also, she's had Hexbugs and loves them even though they are as pointless as they look iyswim. Also really enjoying one of those Grown Up Colouring books.

[Fizrim]

DD is a similar age and still loves Disney princess/Monster High Dolls - one of her friends has dumped them completely! A big hit this Christmas has been some Doh Vinci things that someone has bought her. She is also getting into music, loves the Now CDs and used to have Pop Party ones before that. Also likes her tablet and DS/computer games.

[Dancergirl]

jimmy we have both Matilda and Amelia! They were bought originally for dd2 when she was about 8 or 9 and then passed down to dd3 who loved them as well. She did say something about wanting Lydia the georgian one too but hasn't mentioned it for a while.

[fedup0f]

My DD loved her honeygirls bear from build a bear, her grown up art set/sketch pads, a massive nerf rebelle crossbow/gun set. She also loved all of her books - got a lot of her favourite authors - and has finished one already!

[Dancergirl]

Up till VERY recently I wouldn't have said it was a tricky age certainly not for dd. It was only a few months ago I took her to Smyths to spend some saved up pocket money and she chose an equestria doll and some shopkins which she was delighted with. The change is so sudden!

[Wandastartup]

Penny board or roller blades?

[youngestisapsycho]

DD9 loves her Monster High dolls, Top model design books, and her favourite present was Lego friends pop star Tour Bus. She also loves bath bombs, any make, not just Lush. She still likes Playmobil too.

[youngestisapsycho]

Oh, and she got a pair of Heelys, which she was really happy about, but can't quite get the hang of them (lots of falls!)

[thegiddylimit]

DD1 is 8 in a few days. She loves reading and got lots of books but was a bit concerned in the morning that was all she was going to get because she still wanted toys. She was happy with her haul of (mainly) books, including a notebook (she loves writing stories). She loves her watch and a tabletop theatre her little sister got. They spent the afternoon playing 'Guess Who' and 'Twister'. Lego, and crafty or sciency kits are all liked as well. Plus clothes, even though she's not that girly generally.

She's getting a diary and lego elves stuff for her birthday plus more books and clothes.

[Eigg]

Seriously thrilled with her heelys.


Also some 'grown' up bits of jewellery.

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

Dd has never really been into dolls. She is the same age as your dd. Hits have been camera and voice recorder along with speed stacking cups, adult colouring book. She also has an MP3 player which is a long term favourite. I know that they are gadgets but they aren't as absorbing as a tablet and we have control over which music/ audio books go on. I still remember going to choose a double tape radio cassette player at a similar age and I loved it. Also loved having my own camera too.

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

A teapot for one with matching cup and some flavoured teas.

Dr Who colouring book.

David Walliams' new book which she read yesterday. Today she's read an Anthony Horowitz and half of Skulduggery Pleasant. Little House On The Prairie next.

And... a pogo stick!

[SymbollocksInteractionism]

Heelys, Bluetooth speaker, jigsaws but has mainly been playing with her brothers star wars ships!

[CantGetYouOutOfMyHead]

Heelys.
A disco light.
Lego.
Monopoly.
Intricate colouring books and fine-tipped pens.
Stationery sets.
A Harry Potter scarf.
Anything Equestria, Monster High or Ever After High.

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

A metal detector was very much enjoyed on her last birthday too. She wants to be an archaeologist.

[motherwithheadache]

Dd not much into dolls now. She liked the things mentioned, do vinci doh, popcorn maker. Harry Potter fleece. Also necklace, rucksack, bath towel, slippers. (not all Christmas gifts...)

[bigbadbarry]

Heelies here too. And a metal detector.

[bigbadbarry]

raxa so glad mine is not the only 9-year-old with a trowel!

[heymammy]

Stand out gifts for Dd2 (9.5) have been AquaBeads, Pokemon cards, David walliams book, Tomodachi Life for 3ds & Minecraft story books.

She hasn't played with sylvanians in months and whilst she loves the idea of Shopkins and buys them with her pocket money, she just doesn't play with them anymore. Weird age I think...especially if they have older siblings, they move on from 'playing' sooner.

[Dancergirl]

Heelys are popular then! Dd might like them, in fact we were out today and she was watching a girl wearing them. Are they easy to 'do'?