13 year old and pandora bracelets

[mumofloads]

I'm hoping someone on here will be able to give me some inspiration.

I am a foster carer. On Friday I took in a 13 year old girl. She came with nothing but the school uniform she was wearing. She will have no contact with family and doesn't appear to have any friends.
So there is no one I can ask and no possessions to give me a clue of her likes or dislikes. She is extremely withdrawn so isn't going to tell me herself. She has been absolutely mortified that I am buying her clothes and will pick the cheapest of everything.

So what can I get her for christmas. I want her to have a lovely time and not feel second best (there are 5 other LOs in the house who are getting everything they want).

I will spend about £150 on her main present plus the same again on other bits and pieces.

Does anyone with DDs this age have any ideas. I have heard a lot about Pandora bracelets is this a currant craze for her age group?. Also what sort of books would she like, she has said she likes reading.

She is a very young 13. Sorry I feel I should know but she is a completely differant age group to the children I normally look after.

Sorry to hijack your post.
Just wanted to say I think you're utterly amazing and wish her and your other Los all the very best!
Have 12 and 10 yo nieces will ask them for ideas.

You are fabulous. I am so going to foster once my LOs are a bit bigger (Dh's condition).

My friend's 12 yo loves her (Ebay knock-off) Pandora Bracelet. She is also into Me to You bears, make-up and nail stuff, JLS, Cheryl Cole, fashion (think New Look & Claires) and Twilight.

I just thought, how about an ipod and some vouchers for tunes. x

A momiji doll with a lovely message in the bottom.

Make-up.

Posters for her room.

DVDs

There are lots of versions of Doodle books for girls

Theatre/concert tickets

P.S Mumofloads - second what louby said - how wonderful she has got you to give her a lovely Christmas.

Ipod is a good idea. I have always liked listening to music it helps you relax and express yourself. Maybe she would find it theraptic for how she is feeling now. Then they can get itunes vouch to download songs to it.

I am not sure about pandora bracelets think she might be too young for this style. I like thomas sabo best for teenagers but then not sure the bracelet would benefit her like say an ipod etc
For smaller presents you could get her some makeup to try and perfume etc so she feels girly.
Books wise I would get her latest girls ones that in charts. Also some nice choccy would go down a treat :).
AwW you sound like your doing a brilliant job so caring.

Ipod is a good idea. I have always liked listening to music it helps you relax and express yourself. Maybe she would find it theraptic for how she is feeling now. Then they can get itunes vouch to download songs to it.

I am not sure about pandora bracelets think she might be too young for this style. I like thomas sabo best for teenagers but then not sure the bracelet would benefit her like say an ipod etc
For smaller presents you could get her some makeup to try and perfume etc so she feels girly.
Books wise I would get her latest girls ones that in charts. Also some nice choccy would go down a treat :).
AwW you sound like your doing a brilliant job so caring.

There are lots of lovely Klutz books, like this (although having a troubled past, perhaps it's not appropriate).

tess you mentioned Doodle books - do you mean things like this? i was thinking about one or two of these for the (delightfully) precocious 10yo dd of a friend of mine.

Assuming you have one nearby, I don't think you can go wrong with an H&M voucher in her stocking. Along with pens and such, and tat a few bits and bobs from Claires or H&M.

Whilst a Pandora bracelet is a lovely idea I would see that more as a luxury gift for a girl who has everything - I think for a girl who has nothing there are other things she might appreciate more.

I like the iPod + itunes vouchers idea, and H&M voucher - she's obviously sensitive about you spending money on her but once she has the money in voucher form, maybe she will feel more free to have fun with it.

ahh - my neice loves: Ipod, I touch, Mobile phone (Bberry), high school musical - oh 1 thing good for winter is ugg boots - though we bought teh just sheepskin ones - excellent quality and fraction of teh price - can get on their website - wil keep her warm and be trendy........nail varnish is a nice one...how about a snood as a smaller gift too.......

£150 is a lot of money IMO - if this girl is feeling sensitive about money being spent on her, might this not also make her feel awkward? There is a also quite a high risk of her getting it nicked. I got my DD a perfectly good MP3 player called a Sansa clip for about 15 quid plus a little set of speakers for her room, she loves it. If she loses it, not a big deal. If this girl has no possessions at all she might appreciate pyjamas, hats, gloves, nice dressing gown, (fake) uggs, slippers, maybe some books, I also agree with some stationery/pens etc, basically lots of little bits and bobs. My DD has a fleecy throw on her bed which she also loves, so maybe some stuff for her to personalise her room with? I also agree you sound lovely to take such care with her.

Yeh alarkaspree that's one of things I was trying to say too but you put it well. I think something practical that she would get a lot of use out of like ipod than a pandora bracelet which will set you back. Few hundred and that's just a basic. She probably doesn't even know what a pandora is. I think lots of smaller diff gifts after getting say an ipod as a main like others suggested. One thing all teenagers love at that age is their music.x

Thank you everyone some great ideas there. I didn't realise Pandora bracelets were that much . Think we will go for the Ipod idea. We will be getting her a dressing gown, slippers, hairdryer and practical stuff as well.

Also thank you for your kind words about fostering although I think I am lucky and have the best job in the world.

Hi mumofloads,

Good choice:) She will love all her gifts I am sure. I wish we had more people like you in this world.

Xx

Sorry yes I forgot to say yeah pandoras are so expensive. Thomas sabo are £55 - that's with pearl or silver bracelet and 2 charms. I got my 16 year old sister one for her prom in june, they have loads of choices of charms. So maybe for her birthday hey ? Xx

Bless you. You sound lovely. Poor girl

I think pandora bracelets, whoslt a lovely idea, are rather extravagant. I think they are very expensive for what they are, i think somewhere like H Samuel does pandora type bracelets which you may consider.

Ipod would be a lovely idea - especially Ipid touch (I can't remember how much they are) which you can use for MSN and facebook and all that stuff. DD is glued to hers.

My dd's fave presents at Chrostimas are the new pyjamas and slippers i always buy her, plus nice smellies and body spray, and daft gloittery make up.

knows where you can get pandoras for £9 each for children, better than the ones in samuals

They sell the beads to go on the pandoras in Dorothy Perkins quite cheaply 3 for £5/£10.

My dd is 12.6 and heavily into Superdry. Maybe a hoodie from there? Extra small usually fits.

Also hair straighteners, make-up, perfume. Dd and her friends also love Body Shop products.