£20 gift for 11 year old girl I don’t know?

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An 11 year old girl has been incredibly kind to my DC and really helped them settle in at school. I’d like to buy them a Christmas present to say thank you, but no idea what as my DCs are young. I don’t want to ask the parents as I don’t know them, nor do I want them to feel they have to reciprocate. We live quite rurally so a voucher is tricky. Any ideas please?

Stationery - perhaps a nice notebook and some pens

Stationery these are popular with 11 year olds
www.penny-black.co.uk/products/erasable-gel-pen?srsltid=AfmBOoptSSlGWvIm7PLjfzSVfDvyza-Q5EOkwCvq4zCKvUkRzwi5_mum&variant=37959725023419

Stationery and some sweets or chocolate. Sweets are generally safer than chocolate for dietary requirements. My friends kids love those big tubes of things like smarties and fruit pastilles which take me back to my childhood!

I did this the year DD started reception, they all got a partner from the year 6 children and DD's was just so lovely to her.

I got her a set of little So sprays, bag of sweets and a pack of scented pens or something in a gift bag.

Stationery is a great idea - thank you. Would £20 get something which appeals to a child of that age?

I wouldn’t buy edible items, the parents might not like it. Stationery sounds lovely. You can definitely pick up some lovely things like cute rubbers, pencils etc for £20.

A Thank You Joma bracelet would be lovely, it shows it's specifically for being kind and helpful and would be well removed by most 11 year old girls.

Amazon vouchers can be used on line.

Another vote for the Joma bracelet. My niece has one similar to this one and loves it

Joma Jewellery A Little Thank You Bracelet amzn.eu/d/9pl42Lh

Book - Lottie Brooks books are popular here in Aus for age group. A Christmas one out too.

I wouldn't necessarily buy "little girl" appropriate stationary.
Little girls tend to think they are all grown up.
I remember when I was of a similar age, yearning for pens that write with a a silver ink and a gold ink, with some black notepaper on which to show it up.
With it being so close to Xmas the two pens should be easy to find... not sure about black note paper sources.

It's lovely that you want to show your appreciation to this little person.

Stationery sounds about right, you can get her a nice notebook and a set of cute pens (glittery ones?). Or you can get her a personalized desk calendar with the characters she likes. Ask your DD if there are any favorite movies of hers or maybe she likes some singers, and make a calendar with their photos.

I remember receiving a bottle of black ink and a fountain pen before I started senior school. I still have the pen.

Loved stationery at that age, but tbh it was pre computers!

@HelloYouGuys what a great idea, there are loads online. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Paper-Grid-Notebook-Pens/dp/B084QJY5X6?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

I want one now.

I think I would buy her a thank you present rather than a Christmas present which makes it really clear to her parents there is no need for reciprocation.

obviously all 11 year olds are different! Mine loves anything Nike so have a look at what she wears, if she has her ears pierced etc. I find some are starting to grow out of stationary as an exciting gift at that age.

Bath bombs or a hot chocolate making kit ?

I don't think I'd spend as much as £20, especially if you don't want them to feel they need to reciprocate.

Stationery is a good idea, or flowers/chocs as more of a "token"?

I agree with pp - no sweets/chocolates. Kids love sweet things but there could be dietary considerations/allergies/parents not approving.

I also agree that you should make it a specific thank you gift, not for Christmas.

The Joma bracelet is a really nice idea. I'd never heard of them, but this one is 'a heart of gold' and stretchy bracelet bit so might be ideal. Nice thought OP!

Unless you know she is into jewelry don't get a bracelet. My DD12 would loathe a bracelet.

Stationary (and not pink with unicorns) is much safer for a child you don't know.

Do you have a Flying Tiger nearby? My kids loved the notebooks, novelty pens, craft kits, games, etc. from there at that age.

An Amazon voucher would go down well with any of my children.

What about a pencil case with some pens, pencils, maths set? Things that are useful for when she goes to high school but she can use now.

www.theworks.co.uk/p/stationery-sets/aligned-stationery-set/5052089354289.html

This! My DD still loves these bracelets at 17, so easy to wear and have a lovely message.
I found at that age they had so much stationery, whilst appreciated, it will probably just get put in a drawer. The bracelet specifically says thank you which is lovely and in budget.

I’d say a water bottle, my eldest is that age and has loads and wants more! Or something ‘stitch’ related again it’s huge with that age group.

I would see if your DC have some idea of her interests. Is she into scented gel pens or football, jewellery or skateboards? They might know if she likes a particular sweet or chocolate. I know a lot of people have said to avoid foodstuffs.