Ideas for 8 year old girl who doesn't play with toys anymore

[Piplette]

Sadly my soon to turn 8 year old has very little interest in toys anymore - and hasn't for a while.

She loves Roblox, cycling, skating, scooting, reading and occasional crafts but just generally prefers either partaking in sporty activities, playing Roblox or hanging out with her friends - they seem to prefer make believe role play games rather than playing with toys.

Her birthday is shortly before Christmas so it's a double whammy and I have zero clue what to get her and she also has zero suggestions.

I'm thinking a new scooter will definitely go down well so that will be main birthday present but other than that I'm at a loss.

Any suggestions welcome!

What kind of role play games do they play? Get something they can use in the role play

Vouchers (or an IOU incase the place goes under) for places like mini golf / foot golf /
rock climbing / ice skating / swimming etc

Or meals out with you to her favourite places, basically you could make vouchers for days out together?

A basketball hoop and ball? I was desperate for one when I was young. A voucher for Go Ape, a trampoline park or ice skating? A course of acting classes?

How about board games? Possibly co operative ones rather than competitive. We are just starting this with dd as she loves to play games, we've got her the dungeons & dragons starter kit.
A compendium of classic games went down well last year and she's getting pretty good at chess now. Plus card games, and the big potato games are great for playing with friends.

She also enjoyed her dolls head but a proper Hairdressing one so she can practise different hair styles.

Does she like displaying things in her room? Mine love posters, funko pop figures from their favourite tv/games. Dd2 (10) has a lava lamp on her list and dd1 (14) would like a plasma lamp. They love their oodie type hoodies (primark and dunhelm). Fleece blankets, fun slippers. Nail varnishes, beauty face sheet masks (especially animal or character ones), body glitter, and those body art pens to draw on tattoos.

DD2 collects crystals and has a book that explains all their properties. You can buy mystery boxes off etsy very reasonably (starryoakcrystals is who I use). Alot of her friends are into them too at the moment. If you wanted just one, a necklace/ bracelet or somewhere to start, Rose Quartz and Amethyst are both very good for girls. And they are pretty too!

And harumika sets are good, I bought some really cheap from bargain max. I bought one last year as a cheap filler but dd loves making new outfits, and as it's no sew she can keep remaking them. We have cut up some scrap fabric to add to it too!

Arts and crafts, days out/experiences, jewellery making, tie dye kits, kids cookbook and apron, baking set, bath bombs

Magazine subscription- my dd likes the Jaqueline Wilson mag and Nat Geo kids.
Roller blades
Popcorn machine
T shirt from Illuminated Apparel
Watch
Lava lamp or LED strip lights
Giant beanbag
Telescope
Instax camera

You are describing my daughter 😂 so tricky isn't it. My go to gifts are usually activity vouchers, clothes, roblox gift card, art sets like Bath bomb or science or slime or scented bracelet making set.

My similar daughter REALLY loved the year she got a new calendar with a voucher stuck in for each month. This way it was a decent sized present (£200 ish worth as most were £10-20 value) but it spread out over the year and was an “exciting” thing

some ideas (roblox can be repeated quartly if it’s her fav!)

roblox gift card
cinema tickets
clothes shopping or sports shop voucher
costa type thing if she likes a hot chocolate etc or ice cream parlour
amazon voucher
book voucher

Robux gift card, sporty clothes for scooter/bike (or fancy helmet), books and book vouchers, games she can play with her friends, badminton/basketball/etc for garden, jewellery making kits etc.

Days out: Go Ape, skiing, paddle boarding.
Ticket for a musical, cinema voucher.
Archery set for the garden (Aldi have them reduced to £19.99)

Electric scooter
fitbit
bluetooth headphones

My 8yo dd's favourite gift this year was a pink light box from Amazon (Bonnyco, £21.99 on amazon)

Sounds just like my 8yo. I’ve got her a new branded winter coat, can’t remember what brand as a bought it ages ago and packed it away. She’s started to take an interest in brands due to her friends.

I’m getting her some Harry Potter painting canvases which is what she’s asked for but other than that I’m stuck. Possibly a 3d pen. I bought some Roblox black felt pictures recently from a car boot sale which she loved so I may get some more of those. She found herself a Lankybox hoodie in a charity shop she loves so I was thinking of getting her some “merch” for Roblox and the YouTube channels she likes watching.

Re pp who suggested co-op board games - we’re massive strategy board gamers geeks here. Forbidden Island is a great game for this age, and everyone, basically treasure hunting on a sinking island 🏝

By that age, we resorted to "experiences".

Her grandparents often bought her a riding lesson, we also did nights away to visit iFly or a skidome etc.

How about a trip to see a musical?

It's DDs birthday this week (turning 8) & we got her archery lessons & a new bike.
Christmas she's getting a new Kids Kindle Fire, & thinking about a Zoo Keeper Experience at a local zoo or Falconry experience.

We never ever let them spend money on apps so when my DD got a Roblox gift card it was the best gift she’d ever had!

My DD turns 9 in a week: she's Harry Potter mad and loves to read so we get her lots of books and some HP themed stuff.

She loves days out like trampolining and anything animal related. Also art experiences or art supplies.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Lots of helpful ideas 😁

This is the age where it gets hard, mine discovered minecraft and roblox around this age too and everything else went out the window.

They dont even want 'toys' of minecraft/roblox often although my 8 year old did like his minecraft 'torch' like this one

www.amazon.co.uk/Paladone-Minecraft-Torch-Battery-Operated/dp/B096WLBGWB/ref=asc_df_B096WLBGWB/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=534821473413&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13700622399729763683&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006688&hvtargid=pla-1535748968828&psc=1

Its not exciting but Roblox money is something kids go crazy over for physical gifts its the point where switching to gadgets might be appreciated, does she have things like a fitbit/smartwatch, tablet (to play games when not home), phone etc...

I struggle with my Dd for the same reasons.

She is 10 shortly. Doesnt play toys, isnt into beauty or clothes and I wont let her play Roblox, just Minecraft. She isnt sporty or athletic in any way and the idea of actually leaving the house horrifies her at the best of times.

She likes to play on her phone, play minecraft, occasionally will paint/draw.

She doesnt really read or anything like that. Honestly, she is impossible!!

Dressing up clothes for some of her favourite role play games?
Does she have a skipping rope, yoyo etc?
Possibly a magazine subscription?

@SNWannabe

That's an Amazon idea!

I don't know if my dd would go for it as she's not great with delayed gratification but it's amazing!.
How did you create it? Where was the calendar from?

Re Roblox, it can be incredibly creative, and acutually my second dd get far more from Roblox than older did buying crappy magazines.

My DD is coming up to 9 and similar: hasn't properly played with toys for some time, but she also can't bear to get rid of the last few bits she has! She has a lot of Schleich horse stuff and we got her a couple of (second hand) bundles of Our Generation doll bits a couple of years ago that occasionally come out, but almost only if she has a friend over.

DD is into/has liked in the past:
Rocks (don't even need to be crystals, just plain rocks )
Magazine subscription (Nat Geo Kids currently)
History box subscription
Arts and Crafts
Sewing Machine
Lava Lamp
Mini Fridge

For her birthday and Christmas this year we've decided on an Instax camera and an iPad as her homework is increasingly online but not accessible on her Kindle Fire.