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Original poster

10yo DD - neither a 'girly girl' nor a tomboy...HELP!

42 replies

WyrdByrd · 28/10/2014 20:40

Haven't got a clue what to get her really. A few ideas but none of them great:

Dough Vinci - novelty will wear off after an hour and it'll be another box of crap to add to the pile

Microscope: Not sure whether I really want this for me Blush

Need gun that send secret messages - totally up her street but as she's an only child seems a bit pointless.

Basketball hoop: Perfect but DH has vetoed as we have gardens on 3 sides of ours & is worried about lost balls

She likes fantasy/sci fi/detective books and wants to be a spy when she grows up. Likes coding, basketball, loom bands, making kawaii figures with fimo & has dabbled with sewing recently.

Everything I can think of is either too expensive or will lose it's appeal quickly.

Any ideas?

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Original poster
WyrdByrd · 28/10/2014 20:41

Nerf gun - neither of us needs a gun that send secret messages Grin

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marne2 · 28/10/2014 20:55

Dd1 is 10, she's getting a hudl as her main present ( bought with club card points ), a game for her 3ds, maze runner books, tummy stuffer, 2 dinosaur plush toys ( she loves her soft toys ), lush bath bombs, minecraft plush, pokemon hoody and stationary. She's also into 'adventure time' so might get her so etching to do with that.

Dd2 is more into craft, sewing, baking and girly things, much easier to buy for.

Icedfinger · 28/10/2014 20:56

Sewing kit? Nice sewing box, bits for in it and one of those 'make a..' Kits.

Does she like stationery or art? Set of pens, pencil case, paper etc.

Has she got an iPod? You could get iTunes vouchers or new headphones/case.

Is she into any particular clothes? New satchel bag or converse maybe?

Original poster
WyrdByrd · 28/10/2014 22:43

She has an iPad indulgent ILs and my olds are suggesting a TV for her bedroom or a Chromebook Confused - I'm trying to talk them out of the latter, although tbf she would definitely make good use of it. I did wonder about suggesting we go halves but suspect DH wouldn't go for it (too expensive/OTT/unnecessary & he doesn't get on with my folks).

I will have to Google some of the things mentioned as I've not heard of them!

I'm getting her a set of 'Young Sherlock' books and some body sprays for her stocking. She does like Lush things too. Nail art pens I've just thought of as well. She could do with a new watch - she has an old time teacher and a loom band one she's not allowed to wear to school. Was also going to get her a book on how to draw manga/kawaii cartoons.

I think you've finally got my cogs turning! Still stuck for a big pressie though...

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Original poster
WyrdByrd · 28/10/2014 22:46

She has enough stationery to start a shop (she got my genes!) and had a new satchel bag for her birthday last month.

Converse are a great idea but she's a size 6 already and growing at such a rate I'd be loathe to splash out on the real thing given how quickly she'd probably grow out of them.

Will keep that in mind for next year though. If she's a 7 by then at least I can wear them when she goes up a size Grin .

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Original poster
WyrdByrd · 28/10/2014 22:48

Will have a look at Minecraft stuff - she's got a couple of books but there must be loads of merchandise.

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Original poster
WyrdByrd · 29/10/2014 07:14

Watching kids TV with DD...Heelys have been requested.

Still have the foot size issue though...

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Merrow · 29/10/2014 07:41

If she likes coding would she like a raspberry pi?

Original poster
WyrdByrd · 29/10/2014 07:50

I wondered about that, but when I looked them up online they seem really complicated - I don't think DH or I have the technical know-how to help her with it.

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Chillycamper · 29/10/2014 08:03

I know you've bought her young Sherlock but a book idea for future birthdays is Gallagher Girls. My DDs who have spy ambitions loved this series.

Roller blades?

soaccidentprone · 29/10/2014 08:07

Voucher to do something special?

Ds2 was given vouchers to do archery, which he loved.

Bike?

fieldfare · 29/10/2014 08:07

How about a Nerf crossbow? That's on Dd's list and she's just about to turn 12.
I've also managed to get some horse riding lessons on groupon too.

jamtoast12 · 29/10/2014 08:16

Were getting dd this

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-mini-sewing-machine/p367714

Also a gymnastic mat (she doesn't go to gymnastic but loves doing all the stuff, dancing and handstands etc)

Lego friends always a hit here.

Original poster
WyrdByrd · 29/10/2014 08:23

Looking at Nerf options.

There are quite a lot of spy gadgets at Argos, but I quite fancy this video pen Grin

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athomewithcats · 29/10/2014 08:24

Jamtoast12 where are you getting your gym mat from. My dd is the same doesn't do gymnastics but likes to use may

jamtoast12 · 29/10/2014 08:35

There are a few on amazon and eBay. IKEA do a smaller fold up version for £25 but probably suitable for younger kids (as it's thinner) or as an extra present as I think as a bit smaller. I'm looking at an 8ft one which is in 3 parts. It's £80 delivered on eBay. It'll be her main present so I'm ok with that and I need it to look substantial. There are good 6ft ones on eBay for £50 delivered but they don't fold so that'll be difficult! I'm going to ikea tonight to see there's (may get 2 of them if thick enough) so I'll let you know what they're like.

YouAreMyRain · 29/10/2014 08:38

A magic set? A box of tricks? Metal detector?

Original poster
WyrdByrd · 29/10/2014 08:51

Will make a note of the Gallagher Girls books.

She's not the most physical child tbh so I don't think roller blades would get much use, especially as I'm too porky to go with her and DH can't blade anymore after an ankle injury several years ago.

Vouchers or tickets to do something would be a great idea, but the difficulty is what? There doesn't seem to be anything much on locally (Brighton area) after Christmas. Need to do more research.

Half the problem is DH who is a bit old-fashioned about presents - if he had his way it would be 1 gift and a tangerine in a stocking Hmm which is sooo not my MO!

On the other hand, I have my parents, who are a bit too keen to indulge their only grandchild. They are well in their 70's so I don't like to put my foot down too hard, but it can be a bit trying.

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slug · 29/10/2014 10:08

I've just bought add, about to turn 13 some of these

Original poster
WyrdByrd · 29/10/2014 10:24

That site looks awesome - she was eyeing up an electronics kit on TV this morning...

...I have no idea where she gets this techie/engineering/science thing from, although I think it's something my mum might had pursued had those options been available to her.

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HolgerDanske · 29/10/2014 10:30

A raspberry pi would be a great gift for a technically minded child. I don't suppose it'd matter much that you can't help her with it. Does she maybe know someone who is tech savvy who she could go to for help and instruction? Or maybe there is a teens site on BBC or similar that has pointers? Books from the library would do for instruction, too.

Engineering is such an important sector and having more girls interested would be great, so I always think it's well worth nurturing those who have a natural bent.

Allshallbewell · 29/10/2014 10:34

How about a decent pair of wallow talkies? My daughters love using theirs.

Allshallbewell · 29/10/2014 10:34

Sorry, should say walkie talkies, obv!

Original poster
WyrdByrd · 29/10/2014 10:49

I know Holger...I'm massively proud of the fact she has such a wide range of interests and couldn't care less about whether or not they are girly. She's the only girl in the school basketball club with 2 boy-friends from her year and 12 Yr 6 lads. She's been going for 6 months and it didn't even occur to her to mention it until I asked how many other girls went!

She really is fab Grin .

I like the DIY games console from tech will save us. I think my mum has a soldering kit we could use or Hobbycraft do one for £11.

Will also look into raspberry pi, as I've remembered that one of DH's friends who is an IT pro had got one for his DS who is the same age so might be able to get them together on it.

I'm not un-techie myself but having done anything hardware wise before, and the last time I did any coding it was on my friend's brother's Spectrum back in the late 80's!

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Original poster
WyrdByrd · 29/10/2014 10:51

She had walkie talkies last year.

They are great when she has a friend round but obviously only get limited use as the rest of the time it's just her.

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