AIBU to ask you to put on your thinking caps

[WeirdCatLady]

Dd will be 13 this year. She doesn't want a fuss, no party, no special cake etc. This very much goes against the grain for me but it is what she wants, and it's her day.

I'd very much like to pull a few fabulous presents out but am drawing a blank. So, your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to give amazing gift ideas!

Dd has some health issues so can't do much physically (so skydiving vouchers are out), she isn't interested in clothes or make up (so no pampering sessions). She has every gadget imaginable, isn't fussed about music or apps, there are no toys that she likes. She reads a lot but has just bought the A Song of Ice and Fire series so is well stocked. We can't fit any more pets in the house.

I am completely out of ideas and am hoping you fab MumsNetters can help.

As a teen and even now I prefer a few small quirky presents to a big wow one. Maybe your dd is like this?

You could create a treasure hunt around the local area orienteering style to find vouchers for her presents. Clues could be GofT related?

Would she like meal out somewhere posh?
Tickets for a sporting event?

Hmmmm - I don't know if she could manage this physically, but what about a day out somewhere for her and a friend - maybe a zoo if she likes animals? Complete with lunch in the cafe with loads of ice cream?

If she likes game of thrones, swords, sci fi etc, I'd suggest board games (proper gamers games, not monopoly and the like) have a look on board game geek.

boardgamegeek.com/

A fantastic game she might like is Tales of the Arabian Nights, it's a dungeons and dragons type story telling game based on the 1001 nights stories but much much better. There's a guy that does reviews on you tube (I will ask DP what his name is, I can't get on to you tube at work) who will tell you why this is such an excellent game. It comes with player pieces but is you want to make it extra special you can buy little models of the pieces that she can paint herself.

Arabian nights is quite expensive (I got it for 45 but was very lucky) so if you're looking for something cheaper then other really good games include;

skull and roses (a variation of a gambling game played by biker gangs with beer mats, the artwork is beautiful)

Dixit (again, fantastic artwork)

Gloom (the anti happy familiies, you get a family then play cards to make them as miserable as possible before you kill them whilst other players try to play cards to make them cheer up, another one with great artwork).

There is also a fantastic game of thrones game but I would suggest that to get the most out of it you would need to be playing it with a bunch of people who like game of thrones. The ones I've suggested above are games that your whole family would enjoy (keep gloom away from grandma if she's particulaly Hyacinth Bucket though).

How about going to a medieval banquet? Not exactly GoT but the entertainment/ costumes may appeal. There is a venue in London that does family tickets/ slightly earlier sittings on a Sunday - I would guess that otherwise they may be full of rowdy adults.

If she's a Game of Thrones fan, this is awesome: m.waterstones.com/BookDetails.aspx?bookId=10052240 I've read the books and watched the TV show and while it is inspired by the TV show (the buildings etc look the same and it's clearly based on the opening credits) it definitely still a good companion to the books - the actors/characters aren't really depicted in it - so it's not too TV-centric if you see what I mean.

We do go to reenactment things (I'm in the middle of making her a new gown). She couldn't cope with anything too physical like horse riding or orienteering though.

Zoo keeper for a day or meet an unusual animal experience?

YABU.

You bought her two t shirts LAST WEEK.

You are compensating for her health problems by giving her what she wants when she wants it.

I sympathise a lot, but you have taken the impact of birthday presents away by giving her stuff all the time.

I would get her a couple of small things.

Falconry day.

Junior zookeeper for a day if she likes animals

Hot air balloon ride.

I should have saved them for her bday, but she has so much crap to deal with cos of her health that I like to treat her as much as possible. Hence the problem with finding things for her birthday.

I missed this earlier.

Baaaaad idea. You're not helping her cope.

buy her dungeons and dragons, the board game

Sounds like she might like Warhammer stuff? Have a look in Games Workshop. It's model making and strategy games in one!

How is my giving her little gifts "not helping her cope"????

You know what, forget it, I don't need parenting advice thanks, just gift ideas

Some great book/GoT ideas, thanks guys x

If she likes reading and has a kindle what about amazon vouchers? I'm a bookworm and get very excited about amazon vouchers....£50 gets you a long way and it's lovely to know you've got all that credit to just buy whatever books you fancy.

Warwick castle is fab isn't it. If you like immersion in history, I'd also recommend looking at Kentwell Hall (they do full tudor days)

I could wrap up a load of £1 coins I suppose hehe

Game of Thrones Converse

thinking about her request for a dragon...
How about
Check out this item I found on eBay: pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=251543725281&alt=web

would look fab on bedroom wall!

There's a GoT exhibition in Belfast but I'm not sure if it's held in different locations. I went last year and got to sit on the Iron Throne

GOT exhibition in Belfast ?