Inexpensive but BIG looking gifts for dd 11yrs

[WritingHome]

I am looking for some inspiration this year. We have one dd who is 11 and we have a very tiny family so it's mainly 'santa' presents that dd gets at christmas.

This year she has asked for only a couple of things: a minecraft gast drone; some kaiwi plushies and new jumpers for our very elderly dogs.

We have bought all that, along with some other japanese bits and bobs (she is MAD about this stuff) but it is all very tiny looking iykwim?

We will get books and a family board game but I am looking for some ideas of bulky WOW sort of things that she will not be expecting.

Please tell me what your 11 yr old girls are getting.

She is not into hair / beauty / fashion yet

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions. Loads of good things to think about now.

I did wonder about the practicalities of a choc fountain alright!

Some great cat toys in Pets at Home - I bought some catnip mice today (don't put them somewhere the cat can smell them beforehand though, otherwise they will be found, unwrapped and assaulted before the big day!).

Hula hoop.

One of those metre long (?) tubes of jaffa cakes that they have in the supermarkets every year.

A football/netball.

A globe.

A desk lamp if she has a desk.

Cushions for her bed.

A speaker pillow is cool-just plug your iPod/whatever in and you've got music in bed. Bug and bulky too!

I know its not big but what about an animal adoption ? Something a bit different she sounds lovely and thoughtful might be right up her street

She sounds like a total sweetheart asking for jumpers for the dogs.

Thanks everyone. A speaker pillow may be a winner!! It's her birthday next week & she is getting an iPod. Which she doesn't' know about at all but will be thrilled with.

Animal adoption is also something she would be v interested in

Thanks for the nice words about her wishes for dog jumpers. It is sweet but also fulfills her desires to have 'handbag' style digs in clothes. She is fully taking advantage of their age!!! But she loves them & they love her!

The speaker pillow sounds great!!
Other random ideas I had (as been thinking for step daughter who is similar age) : cushions, new bedding, lampshade, rug; a notice board for pinning stuff to; nice storage boxes; new wellies; bedside lamp; big poster or similar for bedroom

A wobble board (those indoor fitness things for balance/ ankle strength etc). Kids love them IME. Can get for about 8 quid.

Does she like studio ghibli? You can get lots of studio ghibli items on ebay, clothing, collectables, stationery.

Oooh Totoro backpack went down well with DD a few years back

I just got dd (7) one for school as she loves Totoro Cagliostro. They do great knitted Totoro hats on Etsy too.

A bean bag seat or inflatable armchair for her bedroom?

Fish tank?

New bedding set (prizes if you can get away with putting it on her bed without her noticing in the night)

If she is into drawing she would love this.
www.argos.co.uk/product/4458548

I have bought one for my daughter for Christmas

Definitely no hamster. Ours did escape and came a cropper at the hands(paws) of our cat. My daughters were traumatised !!