11/12/13 year old girls - the definitive Christmas gift thread.

[Earlybird]

I keep thinking I must get started Christmas shopping for dd - to avoid the crowds and craziness that comes with leaving it 'til December - but there is one problem: I have no clue what to get her! I am usually pretty good with ideas, but not this year. Ugh.

Anything she 'needs' (clothes, etc) mostly need to be bought with her input because she has her own style, and increasingly dislikes things I think are lovely. Also, because she has grown so much in the last year, anything she needs, she needs now, and it can't wait until Christmas. The 'want' category seems to skew toward technology (which I am not opposed to, but would like to consider other things too), or items that are £££.

I am hoping for some inspiration and brilliant ideas from others here. What are you planning to get for your girls? Big and small pressies, stocking stuffers etc - all ideas welcome!

Me to, dd1 has no ideas and its just been her birthday

Guitar, iPod, kindle, amazon/iTunes/H&M vouchers?
Stationery, underwear, books, dvds, toiletries (maybe time to introduce a skincare routine if not already)

I haven't a clue what to get dd1 (14) :( she has iTouch/kindle etc already, and she likes choosing her own clothes too. Will probably just have to get her vouchers, no fun..

I have 2 Dds in this age bracket and so far the lists include:
Hudl or other tablet (they know we can't stretch to ipads)
Foot Spa
Make-up
Smellies
CDs
Clothes (in voucher form)
Hair stuff
Surprises
I suggest you have a look on the bargain threads, I've saved a small fortune there.

Oh, my best idea so far is the Les Miserables soundtrack, she worked on the school production and has been youtubing the songs ever since.
I know she'd love a ghd, but I'm reluctant to let her fry her beautiful naturally curly hair - have been saying no way for about three years now!

If it helps I could buy dd Christmas presents 3 x over She will be getting / would like some subset of the following:

• new bike (not going to happen, but her old one is daftly too small - maybe birthday in the spring)
• phone (I think this will actually be her main present - we did think about getting her one for starting 2ndary, but she wasn't interested then)
• sewing basket (probably going to suggest this to gps, then we can do bits & pieces to go in it in stocking)
• sewing pattern + fabric & notions (this will fall down the list to birthday unless any aunties ask for hints!)
• wood carving tools + some nice bits of wood
• a larger swiss army knife (she's currently got a teeny one, would like a slightly bigger 'proper' one)
• books (already got 'I'd tell you I love you but then I'd have to kill you' and a couple of crafty books, thinking about getting the Hunger Games trilogy which is on offer at the book people at a fiver for all three, she's read them all but did like them a lot)
• This book which I think will be a joint prezzie for Dh & dd plus a silly card game ditto
• a suitably cozy hoodie or winter jumper

If anyone with a big budget was buying she (and I!) would like a lego mindstorms robot

DD will be 14 just before Xmas and I have no idea what to get her either.

For her birthday or Xmas the only things I've got for her so far are a few small bits like slipper boots, chunky knitted scarf, GBBO book, necklace etc.

Previous years she's had an ipod dock/speaker/alarm thing and a small, basic sewing machine.

Forgot about guitar + teach-yourself book, which I know she would like, would like some lessons also

She'd also like a skimboard but more a birthday thing as not great in winter!

I reckon my dd needs a job, not christmas pressies !!!

Mine wants Risk - also considering the European version of Ticket to Ride between her and her sister.

My sister bought dd1 (14 then) an Estee Lauder eyeliner last year - huge success!

Footspa is a good idea!

Watercoulour set
Note books and pens
bangles
Fluffy socks from Joules
Slanket

Dd has a birthday coming up (15th)

She has a penguin jumper and fleecy lined leggings from Primark.
Cookie Monster slippers
Taylor Swift Perfume that came with a free handbag.
Made up the rest with an ITunes voucher.

So Christmas

Main pressie probably her bedroom madeover.

Hunger Games trilogy
cath kidston make your own rag doll ( so she uses her sewing machine)
Make up set from Avon with clutch evening bag.
Nivea minis set
Watercolour paints
Post it note set in wallet ( for revising)
Penguin furry hat.
Snitch necklace with watch ( idea pinched from Xmas thread)

Looks good listed, but am most likely to add a few bits, plus selection box.

dingit - thanks for the idea about the Cath Kidston make your own rag doll book kit - I've just ordered one for DD.

I bought her the make-your-own bag kit a year or so ago and she loved it.

My dd had the make a bag one too. They are great value! I've just flicked through the book, and you can make lovely clothes for the doll! Happy days!

BTW Amazon and the Book Depository have the rag doll one for £8.41 (free p&P) if anyone is interested

dd 15 had a phone, decopatch kit and pandora bracelet charm last yr, yr before was a photoshoot experience, urban decay makeup and opi nail varnish and yr before was a camera, build a bear and clothes.

This year she has asked for 3 dvd boxsets, some framed film cells, a bag to carry her dogs deposits(dicky bag), clothes (hollister and american apparel), and a new pandora charm :)

what about some drawing anime and manga books? china glaze or nails inc christmas sets, a magazine subscription? top of the pops? a dog sponsorship?, driving experience etc

beauty box subscriptions are good and glossybox do a teen one

Dd aged 11 has got

iPhone
Hifi with docking station for phone
Dr martens in bright pink
Jack wills hoody
Biker style leather jacket
Jack wills ear muffs
Perfume set
Ted baker smelleys
Ted baker make up set
Necklace with her initial on
Lava lamp
Owl handbag

Stocking has
Jack wills socks
Chocolates
Umbrella
Body spray
Coca cola lip balms
Water bottle
Small cupcake cook book

Dd is 11 3/4 come christmas

My dd is 14 just after Xmas and between birthday and Xmas she's getting

Money (boring but must be done, for her to get new clothes in the sales)

An electric guitar, and all the bits and bobs she needs for it
Original Nintendo Gameboy and the full set of Pokemon games for it (got them all for £80 from eBay)
Pokemon trainer kit and several Pokemon teddies
Poizen industries hoodie
A few band t shirts - unfortunately she likes obscure bands which means American import t shirts at silly prices
A couple of steampunk blouses and a skirt
Several DVD box sets
A big pile of books - she loves reading
iTunes card
New bedding
Bliss skincare products
Bath sets and makeup kits
I need to get new converse or vans for her and a new pair of docs for school, plain black, the docs might wait til after Xmas as they are school shoes.
Tickets to go see one of her favourite obscure bands.

Lots of other little bits and bob I have picked up as we went along. I like shopping for her.

Dsd keeps on about a satchel bag (a brightly coloured one), there seems to be quite a few in the shops, she also pointed out some Dr Martin type boots when we went shopping last weekend.

Ooh brilliant, a 'prezzies for teenage and tween girls' thread is just what I need for DD1 15 and DD2 11.

DD1 main: either Kindle or iPod (her old iPod is now 6 years old, which must be a record for a Nano)

DD2 main: phone (reasonably good smartphone but from a lesser known firm, so it only costs 100 euros.)

Extra for both of them (and for me too because they're too young to go unaccompanied): tickets to see One Republic in Feb.

Stocking fillers (almost all of these things were from a Euro Shop and hence cost, unsurprisingly, a euro):
Wooden photo frame in a colour to match their room - I'll insert a family photo from this year's holiday.
Nail stickers
Assorted hair bobbles and clips
Berry scented nail polish remover pads
Soft curlers (the ones made of foam)
Gold and silver pens
Multicoloured paper clips
Pins for sticking on a notice board in the shape of bees/ducks (v. cute)
Transparent min stapler and staples
Glittery patterned stickers for laptops/phones
A bag of three mini star-shaped bath bombs
A 'multifunctional tube shawl' (works as a bandana or a headscarf or neckscarf or hair bobble)
A v. cheap iPod USB cable
Pack of 4 mini highlighter pens
Leg warmers (currently seem to be having a resurgence of coolness among DD2's friends)

In previous years I've gone for nail varnish in wild colours, but they've honestly both got ridiculous amounts of the stuff now. I'll probably add a few more smellies closer to the time. There are always gold coins and an orange and some nuts. On another thread someone mentioned various hot chocolate sachets, which will go down well chez Aphra. And that's it.

Hi Takver, re what you wrote here - a larger swiss army knife (she's currently got a teeny one, would like a slightly bigger 'proper' one) Please be careful if you get a 'real' SAN from a company like Victorinox - they're effing sharp. When I was on holiday this summer I was cutting an apple with the blade, hand slipped and blade sliced into little finger really deeply. I was immensely lucky there was no nerve damage, that my daughter is first-aid trained and we had a first-aid kit with us, and that we were able to get to a doctor relatively quickly to get it stitched. Even so, three months later I can't bend it without pain. The doctor amused me greatly (not) by telling me the story of a guy in Vienna who somehow managed to fatally stab himself with a tiny SAN .

A good small present for this age - dd was recently given a ball of this wool + matching kneedles. One ball of wool knits up into the most amazing scarf very, very quickly, its remarkable stuff.

Aphra - dd does have a 'proper' knife - she does a lot of whittling and carving, wood carving tools are also very sharp - but I'm definitely of the 'best to have a sharp knife and use it properly' school, so many injuries are also caused by blunt knives that slip . . .

Yikes Aphra
Sounds like something I'd do.

And yes to oranges etc to pad out stockings.. Mine always get about a kilo of mandarins between them (cue lots of "ANOTHER mandarin!") and a few of those little lunchbox packets of Oreos and some 100% fruit bars from health food shop. Will also get some Bombay mix for dd1 this year, she loves the stuff.

I love the sewing box/sewing kits ideas; must get one for dd2, she's only 8 but goes to a sewing after school class that she loves so they'd be a sure hit. Has anyone seen any nice, reasonable ones?

I got dd1 a lovely backgammon set from Hamleys when she was 11 or 12, then had great fun teaching her and whooping her ass, then getting mine whooped to play over christmas :)
Will be getting a chess set for dd2 this year, but she'll have to teach me to play..

I got dds from next, but they haven't got it this year. John Lewis have some nice bits.

Takver, I appreciate that, I agree with you that it's a good idea to get kids used to danger gradually rather than leaving them wide open to it all at once. But DD2 also has a child's carving knife, complete with its own whetstone, which is excellent for carving wood, yet is way less sharp than my Victorinox. More importantly, the wood carving knife fits neatly into a child's hand with a well-formed handle and has that cross bar (what's the technical term?) to stop the hand slipping down the blade. The Victorinox is certainly small and compact (I bought it for hiking trips), but it's extremely uncomfortable to use and, as I've found out, the consequences are pretty bad if it goes wrong. It's certainly a shit knife for carving wood, as we discovered this summer when making walking sticks. But hey, we all have different levels of acceptable risk. And I'll stop derailing a Christmas present thread now!

Takver....wool looks lovely...what size needles do you need? Tia