Present for DD who likes sorting things.

[TickledOnion]

This is a weird one. Dd2 is 9. She mentioned that she liked a toy that her very young cousin had. It was a little case with a dog and lots of accessories. When you open the case each accessory can be put in it’s own place on a little hook or a shelf. She doesn’t want the toy but she likes the idea of organising and sorting things. (She once sorted out all the Hama beads into colours in a sectioned box).
Any ideas of something I could get for her that might be similar?

@TickledOnion I would find a peg board very exciting

That sounds amazing Shortcold! I like to play a toy sorting game on my phone. Big pile of rubbish and you need to pair everything in a time limit. I'm amazing at it!

@Knittedfairies

She needs a button tin; my mum's had all sorts in it - bits of suspenders, nappy pins, cap badges, hooks and eyes, teddy bear eyes amongst all the buttons.

This was what I was going to suggest too!

My Mum had a button box when we were little (one of the metal quality street tins filled with so many random and colourful buttons!) Hours of enjoyment from that tin! 😆)

I really enjoy sorting lego pieces into very regimented piles before building. Drives my family crazy.

Is it just the sorting or did she like the role play and then sorting element of it, i.e. having a 'small world' play-type thing but where everything goes back in the right place afterwards in a case or other container?

The Animal Hospital rescue plane is a bit like this but I've only seen them second-hand.

If it's just the sorting, what about a Lego suitcase? www.lego.com/en-gb/product/creative-suitcase-10713

Or one of these with lots of accessories? www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk/category/elfa-craft-storage-solutions/product/elfa-wall-mounts/ean/ean-7315494787867

Lego or jigsaws are the obvious toys with a strong sorting element and a place for everything to go.

Also look at Waldorf and Montessori toys for older kids, things like the Grimm's puzzles are too hard for younger children and mostly bought by adults. I once worked in a children's centre that has a Grimm's butterfly puzzle and it always took a couple of adults or a very patient older child who liked sorting to complete it to put it way. They are beautiful and ornamental but very expensive. The counting with colour frame is brilliant. Kapla might be enjoyed too.

Wow, I love that middle jigsaw!!!

How about diamond painting? It’s not painting but sticking in wee gemstone make a picture.

Just came on to suggest diamond painting.

She sounds like she has quite a logical mind. I'm the same and adore jigsaw puzzles, painting by numbers and cross stitch. I'm also quite messy

Ohh yes I used to love painting by numbers- that's very organised

@DockOTheBay

www.babipur.co.uk/grapat-toys/grapat-entire-range/grapat-mandala-pieces.html

Grapat mandala - small little wooden pieces in various colours and shapes. They could be sorted by colour and shape but are also used to make designs and artwork

I’ve never seen these before but I want them ALL

I was coming to recommend Grapat loose pieces but see someone’s beaten me to it. I’m sure cheaper versions are available. I bought a few bits for my preschooler but it’s my 9 year old who enjoys them the most. He also loves some of the other suggestions too, we have a lot of Grimms and some Kapla and he plays with it every day. It’s nice to see actually as most of his friends are very screen oriented already, ds still likes to play.

A colourful jigsaw puzzle and a set of sorting trays for the pieces.

Oh, Diamond painting. That is a brilliant idea.

I recommend restaurant portion cups for holding the pieces. The bags are just fiddly.

Yes, a button tin!

Or a coin collection, stamp collection etc. You can probably buy them cheap on eBay?

Or a cabinet of curiosities - with lots of tiny drawers you can fill with shells, fossils, ornaments etc

I bought a kilo of foreign coins which my kids loved! They sorted by size, shape, country, features such as animals/flowers/holes etc

What about drawer tidies and desk tidies and pencil cases with lots of sections?

As pp have said, if she’s interested in making jewellery etc a few mixed beads/crafts sets with multi sectioned craft boxes would keep her —me— fascinated for hours...

Also maybe intricate colouring books and a large set of colouring pencils/fine nibbed felt tips? It sounds weird, but works for me!

Totally off topic OP but be prepared for puberty and extreme sorting.

As an adult, with PMT I used to get a sorting/cleaning obsession.

Wen I shared a flat with 2 boys they found it hilarious that I would be frantically cleaning the kitchen (we had a cleaner) and I once spent a good hour sorting coloured paper clips into little piles of each colour.

My friends DD is of a similar age and loves sorting things. Last year she bought her lots of draw dividers and make up/stationary organises - the sort that go on top of draws/desks. She is forever re-arranging things in her room and loves it! Also, the make up organisers don't have to be used for make up, they can be used for all sorts of bits and bobs