HELP! Anyone with experience of fossil-mad kids?

[CampfireZen]

7 yr old.

I buy Xmas/January birthday combined gift.

£25 max.

Her Mum tells me she's suddenly obsessed with them.
Other family/friends getting her fossil-themed kits, book etc.

She's quite a quirky character!
Which I fully intend to encourage.

Does play with dolls, but not into princess-type.
Star Wars/ Dr Who figures (last Xmas, anyway) but has plenty, older siblings share theirs and house inundated.

Do you think she'd enjoy and get use out of this:

'Fossil Hunter' Lottie Doll

or

There's a cheaper 'Paleontologist Barbie'
I could add £10 of (non-Barbie) fossil extras.

Thoughts welcome.

My daughter likes fossils, she also loves gemstones, I got her a gemstone book from amazon last year and a piece of rose quartz.

Loads of stuff on Amazon. You could just even buy her a fossil. Or even fossil necklace/ bracelet etc?

My eldest Grandson was fascinated with fossils from an early age we used to take him to the slate mines in North Wales (please don't ask me to spell the name) but it began with F there was a shop there and you could buy any size you wanted with the history of the fossil I am sure if you search on line you will come across it.

Thanks, all. Appreciate your input.

Yes, buying her actual fossils would've been my first choice, too.

But her immediate family have got those (and a couple of kits, plus fossil ID book) covered already.

My initial idea of a 'Break Your Own Geodes' pack is one that her Granny's ordered, too. Drat!

That's why I thought maybe the fossil-theme doll could kind of interact with all or any other of those she'll be getting?

Hmm.
Will do some more research.

My dd loves her palaeontologist Barbie! Wish I’d had one as a kid. I’d go for that if she still likes dolls.

Does she know much about Mary Anning? I love the Mary Anning Rocks T-shirts... www.maryanningrocks.co.uk/t-shirts. I'm sure Rebel Girls will have a mention in her in one of their books, so maybe that to go with it?

More (inc more child sizes) here: maryanningrocks.teemill.com

I do like the lottie doll too though, esp if she's getting lots of other actual fossils.

Lots of Mary Anning books (I am slightly obsessed with her: an amazing story of genius and determination!) www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=nb_sb_noss_2&i=amazon-devices&k=mary+anning&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

My son is fossil mad. He would much prefer proper fossils to the kits you can buy to 'unearth' fossil shapes. Just make sure they are proper fossils and not replicas, you can get them from about £5 up to £0000's. It wonder matter if she gets more than one as each fossil is unique.

A rock/crystal advent calendar went down a real treat last year.
fossilandcrystalshop.com/?s=advent&post_type=product

Agreed that fossils are unique so no harm in her getting a few! You could also consider something like a magnifying glass, a watch with dinosaurs on, a book about dinosaurs/paleontology (as opposed to fossils necessarily) or an amber bracelet with ancient insects visible in it. It depends where she lives but if there is a local science museum/festival or university then you may be able to get her tickets to an event about fossils or dinosaurs.

https://www.mrwoodsfossils.co.uk This is the best fossil shop. My two always got something from here.

I expected to not like your links but actually my fossil mad DD would love those dolls, I think I'll order myself!

I used to love this book.

Some pretty cheap fossil stuff in tiger right now x

Depending on where you live there might be some caves you can visit - so tickets to that attraction would be nice. We've been to Clearwell Caves in Gloucestershire which has lots of info about life underground, mining, fossils and gemstones. Also these places have gift shops where you could buy something if you weren't going to buy tickets.

You have to buy a fossil! Something like this maybe:
www.amazon.co.uk/Fossil-Box-Study-Fossils-Booklet/dp/B00MFLGBPU/ref=asc_df_B00MFLGBPU/?hvlocphy=9045997&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=311040915014&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos=1o8&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-422089482700&hvrand=8030084621467804694

Or www.amazon.co.uk/Genuine-Madagascan-Polished-Ammonite-Gift/dp/B07L4SCDTP/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=real+fossil&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1574016580&sr=8-4

I had a fossil for years that I found when I was a kid. Someone (mum) thew it out when I moved out. It wasn’t a manky stone - it has wormy the fossilised worm in it 😭

You're all amazing.

As a fossil-novice, thanks so much for the tip-offs and interesting ideas!

I'm working my way through your links, and will forward to 7 yr old's Mum for her opinions as well.
Will update you re what I go for in the end.

BTW, to return the favour, I spotted these delights earlier,
which would no doubt prove popular as a stocking filler for someone's young dino-fanatic!

Fossilised real dinosaur poo

&

Display-boxed version

Etsy listing made me laugh as states "vintage: from before 2000"...
(well...yes...just the 68 million years or so!)

Tbh, depending on where you live you could take her fossil hunting. On the off chance you live near Lyme Regis or Whitby, you can pay to have someone take you for a couple of hours. If you’re near limestone then just find a stream or an old quarry. I have found fossils in the Cotswolds (loads to be found in old quarries on the escarpment), Peak District, Yorkshire dales. Good spots all over the country if you know where to look. We used to find ammonites and belamites in local streams as kids!

@LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD

Oh no, poor Wormy