Gift ideas for an 8YO girl?

[DianaPrinceRocks]

Help please .

I hope this doesn't come across as stealth-boasty but we are doing a charity present buying thing at work and I've got an 8YO girl. I don't have any DC and the oldest I've had to buy for so far is a 5YO.

I don't know anything about her or her family except that they're struggling financially .

Can anyone help with some ideas please - I am clueless . We are told a budget of £25 plus and can buy something big or lots of small things. I just have no idea what would be special to an 8YO girl - I think I was into Sindy all those decades ago .

My 8yo has asked for Harry potter stuff, books, a beanie boo and craft stuff.

Tom Gates is popular with her friends
www.theworks.co.uk/p/children-s-fiction/tom-gates---3-kids-fiction-books-bundle/kit24751

I'd stay clear of characters as you never know which they're into but would go for anything from smiggle. DD is 7 and particularly loves the scented marker pens & scratch art books... they have 20% off at the minute so you could get quite a few smaller bits & make a bundle.

My 8 year old loves to draw and would be happy with a drawing pad, pencils, notepad and stationery. The top model books are good too!
Maybe a cosy throw / mermaid blanket would be nice, my daughter loves hers and cosy socks!

Another vote for stationery type presents. Top of my 8 year olds list are notebooks, gel pens, a ring binder and some paper clips!

LOL dolls, bits from smiggle, art stuff, lip balms

That's a lovely idea! Top presents for my 8yo were ANYTHING cute and cuddly, soft cuddly blankets she's also a sucker for nice stationary like fluffy notepads, lockable diaries and nice fine nib pens. Books are trickier as you don't know what they already have and I agree characters can be very specific. Make your own perfume/slime/lip balm are also good, as are fairy lights and all bath bombs (and just about anything from lush!

I have an 8yo and she doesn't like Harry Potter or LOL etc. Definitely avoid character type things as they are all so different at this age!

I'd go for lots of smaller things, eg:

A watch
Smiggle pencil case (with the built in calculator and drawers)
Lockable diary
Funky hat & scarf set

My eight year old girls are into lol dolls massively, Barbies, craft, make your own jewellery headbands etc, the works have some lovely sets 2 for £10. I have made little baskets with mermaid face masks, face wipes, hair brush, bath bombs, body mists. All from the £1 shop or home bargains.

Another vote for stationary/ smuggle. They all seem to love lip balms too - jolly rancher flavours/ fanta/ cherry coke flavour etc

nice letter writing set and pencil.

a hamper full of sweets and biscuits and colouring books.socks,scarf.lip balm.bobble.hair brush.body spray

at that age an struggling a nice cuddly toy or two.a big one to really snuggle.
to me at that age when i was having a tough time my best toy was someone gave me a snuggly elphant to hold onto.similar to this.
www.amazon.co.uk/Jellycat-Fuddlewuddle-Elephant-23cm-Cuddly/dp/B01N7KTDLF?ref_=ast_bbp_dp&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Oh wow thank you all so much these are gorgeous ideas . I have a Smiggle near me so that is fantastic. I love stationery so it will be fun for me too .

And I'd never have dreamt of lip balms at that age . I also like the idea of something cuddly, just to give her a bit of comfort and for you kateandme.

Thank you all I have a big list now for my upcoming mega shopping weekend

crayola light box my 8 year old isn’t bothered about smuggle, but uses this all the time. It’s not a trend and im sure she’ll use it for a few years.
A lovely book would also be something to keep. Maybe a Christmas-y one like ‘Christmasaurus’.
Bath stuff is also well liked. All kids love snuggles.

Of you want something practical to add to the fun a warm hat,gloves and scarf. ,

I think stationary/craft things are good, Smiggle is generally popular, but you'd get a lot more elsewhere. Of course, if they like Smiggle it might be perfect as it would probably be an unjustifiable cost to a struggling family.

I like the idea of some sweets as well. Hatchimals are very popular in our house too. Cheap in the entertainer. A beanie boo would go down well too.

Books 2 for £7 from tesco
Craft sets from the works 2 for £10
B & M or home bargains for fluffy glittery bits or lip balms/nail varnishes with the remainder

Our generation doll? My dd and all of her friends love them. Lots of different characters and they're pretty robust ( unlike the smuggle pencil case which didn't even survive the first week of school)

Pikmi Pops, Hatchimals, Lol dolls. Smiggle - you can usually get good deals by signing up for emails.

Sylvanian Families Cottage and something from Smiggle, or other crafty/stationery stuff.I

A similar scheme where I am specifically asks for no nail polish, perfume/spray, make up, lip gloss etc. Good reasons to avoid that sort of stuff, I think.

Dd would love

Stationery as others have said
Squishies
Slime
Twisty petz (little characters that turn into bracelets)
A kit to make friendship bracelets (home bargains have packs for 99p)
Soft toys - all the soft toys
Barbies

If I were you I'd buy something like a smiggle backpack and fill it with bits and pieces.