Main present for a just about to turn 8 year old?

[BirthdayForAChildWhoHasitAll]

DD turns 8 in a few weeks.

I have absolutely no idea what to get her for her birthday.

I’ve got her a couple of books, and some clothes and a new glasses case. But I’m stuck for a main present.

She seems to be outgrowing toys plays very occasionally with her dolls house but that’s about it, already has an ipad (bought by ExH), and hasn’t asked for anything at all – she usually has something she wants, and asks for.

To make it even more complicated, she’s suspected dyslexic, suspected Developmental Co-ordination disorder and has hypermobility.

Out of school she does Swimming and Brownies. She already had costumes/uniform, a camp blanket, subs and fees pays, plus badge book for Brownies and a few teddies and dolls related to both Brownies and Rainbows (which she did before Brownies). So nothing related to her activities.

She seems to have outgrown princesses, we already have two animals adopted from WWF, she has 2 bikes (one with me and one with ExH) and a scooter which she can’t ride due to the HM (we do practise). She’s very chatty, happy in general and that makes it harder as she takes everything in her stride.

She’s have a party with her friends which she’s never had before and will probably be her only whole class party, they’re painting a pot.

She’s incredibly small for her age so doesn’t really need anything in the next size up shoes or clothes wise (clothes last at least 18 months with her, shoes can last 8-12 months she grows incredibly slow).

It just seems she’s at a difficult age, and she may get harder before getting easier. Most of her clothes are still age 3-4 or 4-5 so quite babyish, I do hunt for more “grown up” stuff but it’s hard. So I want her birthday to be everything she wants.

So ideas? I have a few weeks.

I would do a few smaller/medium things, rather than one big thing in that scenario. That can work really well.

Or would she like an experience type of thing like a trip to see a musical? If that is in budget.

@BertieBotts

I would do a few smaller/medium things, rather than one big thing in that scenario. That can work really well.

Or would she like an experience type of thing like a trip to see a musical? If that is in budget.

@BertieBotts I can do experiences but her dad (ExH) does a lot with her like that so it won't feel like a birthday present iysim. That's why it's so hard. My parents used to get me a day out at this age plus some smaller presents but DD does that stuff all the time so it won't really be a present.

Last year adds best present was a zoo season ticket.

She got really excited with her Den making kit at Christmas.

Hmm OK. Even if it was something specific or one off? I'm thinking the Harry Potter studio tour kind of thing, or owl/alpaca experiences seem popular recently. These are sort of personal to the person doing them so might seem a bit more special than an ordinary day out.

Is there anything that might help with her hyper mobility? Trampoline? Wobble board?

@DownWhichOfLate

Is there anything that might help with her hyper mobility? Trampoline? Wobble board?

@DownWhichOfLate We have a wobble board and I don't have a garden and live in an upstairs flat so can't have a trampoline without upsetting my neighbours.

@BertieBotts

Hmm OK. Even if it was something specific or one off? I'm thinking the Harry Potter studio tour kind of thing, or owl/alpaca experiences seem popular recently. These are sort of personal to the person doing them so might seem a bit more special than an ordinary day out.

@BertieBotts ExH does stuff like that all the time with her, she's an only child and he likes to flash the cash plus it makes parenting her easier if she's distracted. Makes my job harder when it comes to birthdays though.

How about some pretty jewellery, a pendant/necklace?
Or a torque shape bracelet for the charms she could add to in the future?

I'm going to have this problem as DD is 8 later this year.
Last year her main present was a trip to the theatre to see Disney's Beauty & the Beast; but other than Frozen there aren't any other shows on I think she'd like.
Does your DD like crafts?

My daughter is the same age and is getting a “bedroom makeover” - would that be possible? She’s had the same curtains and duvet cover etc since she was a toddler so it seems like a good time (and she has literally everything else she needs). We’ve given her a budget and she’s choosing new things (mostly fluffy cushions at this point) and we’re negotiating about a feature wallpaper wall, but you could always choose for her if you want it to be a surprise.

My DD is around the same age (9). If your DD is having a big party she’ll get more presents than usual, so you probably only have to get some medium things rather than big things. For ideas though, these are some of the things DD has got for birthday and Xmas the last couple of years:

• Lego Lego and more Lego! DD is Harry Potter mad right now, so a big HP set is ideal for a birthday main present.
• a kids’ Fitbit - surprisingly these are all the rage at school amongst years 3 and 4!
• a mini drone - you can get cheap indoor ones that fly with sensors, and though they run out of battery charge quickly, they’re great fun.
• Sylvanian Families? A bigger house like the lighthouse or manor? DD has some and isn’t that fussed, but lots of her friends are obsessed with SF.
• Gravitrax or a big marble run?
• a big art set?
• a music box - for her 8th birthday I got DD a musical jewellery box from Djeco - not expensive but she was delighted to get a “grown-up present”. There are some lovely designs out there by Djeco.
• is she into gemstones or STEM? There are some fab science sets for around £40 like the National Geographic gemstones and rocks kit, or the Hot Wires electronics kits.

My DGD is coming up to 8 and loves anything arty /crafty. Squiggle pens and the like. Consumables are good. She's also into Encanto at the moment so I've bought her the dress and matching handbag which I know she'll love.

@nightwakingmoon

My DD is around the same age (9). If your DD is having a big party she’ll get more presents than usual, so you probably only have to get some medium things rather than big things. For ideas though, these are some of the things DD has got for birthday and Xmas the last couple of years:

• Lego Lego and more Lego! DD is Harry Potter mad right now, so a big HP set is ideal for a birthday main present.
• a kids’ Fitbit - surprisingly these are all the rage at school amongst years 3 and 4!
• a mini drone - you can get cheap indoor ones that fly with sensors, and though they run out of battery charge quickly, they’re great fun.
• Sylvanian Families? A bigger house like the lighthouse or manor? DD has some and isn’t that fussed, but lots of her friends are obsessed with SF.
• Gravitrax or a big marble run?
• a big art set?
• a music box - for her 8th birthday I got DD a musical jewellery box from Djeco - not expensive but she was delighted to get a “grown-up present”. There are some lovely designs out there by Djeco.
• is she into gemstones or STEM? There are some fab science sets for around £40 like the National Geographic gemstones and rocks kit, or the Hot Wires electronics kits.

@nightwakingmoon

• Lego is a good idea
• Fitness Trackers and Smart Watches are banned at school
• A Drone might be a good idea
• Syvlanian Families I'm just selling off her lighthouse and Manor House as she doesn't play with them anymore, she got 2 years out of them though. She went through a phase of being obsessed with them and plays with the actual figures in her bigger dolls house, it's huge, as big as me (I'm 5ft 2 tall for context)
• She has a marble run she doesn't play with anymore
• Art set she wouldn't use, due to the DCD and Dyslexia she finds writing and drawing difficult enough at school so doesn't do it at home. She loves Brownies but it's enough craft for her
• Will look into a music box
• Will have a look into something like that, she doesn't have a strong subject at school, which is probably why she hates it so much, school say she struggles to remember things but does seem to enjoy them in the moment

She is so hard to buy for now.

Has she got a tablet? The kids kindle is a good one to start with if not

@superstar84

Has she got a tablet? The kids kindle is a good one to start with if not

@superstar84 Yes she has an Ipad bought by ExH

• Science kit (chemistry kit or science magic kit)
• A day out that her father might not do - e.g. afternoon tea and nails?
• Stationery (e.g lockable diary - maybe to help encourage writing/drawing if she struggles)
• jewellery making kit (you can get very nice ones with glass beads and wire or cheap and cheerful)
• credit for the app stores to get a few games for her iPad

All else fails ask her to write a birthday list?

It's a tricky age!

@CakesOfVersailles

- Science kit (chemistry kit or science magic kit)

• A day out that her father might not do - e.g. afternoon tea and nails?
• Stationery (e.g lockable diary - maybe to help encourage writing/drawing if she struggles)
• jewellery making kit (you can get very nice ones with glass beads and wire or cheap and cheerful)
• credit for the app stores to get a few games for her iPad

All else fails ask her to write a birthday list?

It's a tricky age!

@CakesOfVersailles Tea and nails is a good idea her dad would never do that!

A lockable journal might be a good idea actually as she gets self conscious over her writing, if she knew she could lock it and I'd never look she might want to do it.

Does she really need a "main present", i think kids reach an age where lots of little bits are more fun or they appreciate the few things they really want / need and don't just stuff for the sake of having stuff to unwrap. It's a funny age, they're people with their own developed personality who probably want to be older than they actually are!
If she doesn't have a list then put some money in her savings account!
Or theatre tickets?
Or does she have a little bag for her day trips? www.cathkidston.com/en-gb/kids-and-baby/kids-3-12-years/kids-backpacks/

Dd has the vtech diary thats password protected and has a couple of games on it then a notebook inside

It was about £20 in smyths

[quote emmathedilemma]Does she really need a "main present", i think kids reach an age where lots of little bits are more fun or they appreciate the few things they really want / need and don't just stuff for the sake of having stuff to unwrap. It's a funny age, they're people with their own developed personality who probably want to be older than they actually are!
If she doesn't have a list then put some money in her savings account!
Or theatre tickets?
Or does she have a little bag for her day trips? www.cathkidston.com/en-gb/kids-and-baby/kids-3-12-years/kids-backpacks/[/quote]
@emmathedilemma I've never labelled it her main present, as theres no actual price tag attached to it. It's just the present she wants most if that makes sense. Some years it's been a £5 doll from b+m other years it's be a £40+ sylvanian families house.

Money goes in her savings account anyway, I have a fairly generous family who expect me to save half of what they give her.

I'll see whats on at the local theatres if she'd enjoy any of them,

She struggles to carry bags due to the HM and DCD, so ExH and I usually put stuff for her in our bags.

DD also wanted the lockable journal for Christmas aged 9, although I couldn't get hold of it.

Do you have a garden? What about a pop up tent? If she’s at all outdoorsy?

@Magicmagician

Do you have a garden? What about a pop up tent? If she’s at all outdoorsy?

@Magicmagician We have a very small shared garden, shared with 5 other flats and DD very often won't play out there as there's other children from our block there.

Why does there always have to be a main present? I asked myself this last month when my son turned 9. There was literally no big item he wanted or needed. Instead I got many small items which he enjoyed just as much, no he enjoyed them more actually. Children never really understand how the main present is much more expensive than others and they often prefer one of the cheaper presents. It's only the adults who feel there needs to be one big present. I got my son lots of things like books, toys, clothes (cool clothes he approved of), a set of fossils, a couple of dvds etc. He loved the fact he had so many things to open.

@SallyWD

Why does there always have to be a main present? I asked myself this last month when my son turned 9. There was literally no big item he wanted or needed. Instead I got many small items which he enjoyed just as much, no he enjoyed them more actually. Children never really understand how the main present is much more expensive than others and they often prefer one of the cheaper presents. It's only the adults who feel there needs to be one big present. I got my son lots of things like books, toys, clothes (cool clothes he approved of), a set of fossils, a couple of dvds etc. He loved the fact he had so many things to open.

@SallyWD Thats why in my house the "main" present is the thing she wants the most or the item I think she'll love the most. There's literally nothing she's asked for though, so its all that much harder. I feel like I've not really got her any presents as it's all clothes and a few books, which she might not be bothered by due to dyslexia