Please help with ‘wow’ present ideas for my hard to buy for 9 year old girl - specific details in the comment

[SpinningTops]

We’re really struggling for ideas for my 9 year old girl. We have a 7 year old bit who we have some great wow gift ideas for because he loves STEM toys and there’s lots of options.

My daughter is much more difficult but I want her to be as thrilled with her gifts on Christmas morning. I’m looking for a ‘wow’ gift.

About her - she loves to play imaginatively (but with no physical props!). She doesn’t really play with toys, she thinks she wants things like dolls etc but they are completely unloved. She likes crafts but I don’t feel this is a wow gift and she has lots of paints and colouring things.
She is quite quick to abandon any toy which requires a lot of effort eg bracelet braiding sets.

We prefer long lasting gifts rather than plastic ‘tat’. And we’re trying to keep her like a 9 year old so no make up / skin care recommendations please.

Well you probably won't like my suggestion but we got my daughter a Nintendo switch at about that age and it got played with loads by the whole family. They do have lots of family friendly social games for all types of kids.
Otherwise how about a ticket to a musical.or something. Though that's not very fun on the day itself

Thanks - we got a family switch in the summer for a birthday gift - definitely a wow present!
They have a few games but only play a bit at weekends and just play animal crossing! I could get some animal crossing themed gifts.

3d pen?

Bike or roller skates?

Does she have a bike?

One of my dd’s favourite presents at that age was a gift box absolutely filled with lovely stationery- I went to a big Paperchase and bought half the store- lovely sets of notelets, pencils, trinkety things, rubbers etc etc. Think I must have spent about £150. So no one “wow” item but the collective effect was wow due to the abundance.

Could you get her something like this if she likes crafts? Or make your own for her with pippets, bowls, etc. It looks really exciting to open but can be used and refilled etc?

https://www.youthandwild.co.uk/collections/premium-potion-kits/products/premium-rainbow-fizz-potion-kit

Dd1 was similar at that age,
We got her a schelich horse set one of the bigger ones, unfortunately it is plastic but its still going strong 4 years later she's almost 12 and still plays with them daily

A stunt scooter

One of those cameras that print out the photos as well

Have you actually asked her?
She might not want a "wow" present and will be perfectly happy with something small.

A camera that prints out the images instantly? Photo Creator do one (& also a tablet version of it!). There’s also lots of other brands on Amazon.

Barbie light up unicorn?

Big aqua beads set?

Does she have roller skates/ scooter/ bike?

Does she like to read? A massive book set of books you either know she likes or thinksshe would could be quite a ‘wow’ gift.

Bow and arrow?

I hate to say it but the ultimate ‘wow’ present might be a pet, but only if you want one too because it doesn’t sound as if she will really engage with it so it will be your pet very quickly.

A large book token? If she has an imagination but not with physical th in ds she sounds like a reader or potential reader.

I think she sounds like a potential writer. So I would second the stationery idea, journals to fill in, anything that leads her into writing stories - perhaps a typewriter/laptop/some form of age appropriate writing tools?

My 9 year old is also in this stage. I considered a beginner’s sewing machine but now going to save that for her 10th birthday as it’ll be after she does a sewing machine course, but that might be an idea.

Some great ideas - thanks. we have lots of these already which is why I’m struggling a bit.

So she has bike, scooter, roller blades, print out camera (which was a huge hit!!).
She would love a huge thing of stationary.

She has an old fashioned type writer in her room. She’d love a laptop but we’re not going for that.

She has dyslexia but likes drawing - that’s made me think perhaps one of those tracking light boards!

She likes comics books though so will get her one of those.

A subscription to the Phoenix comics ? You can get a binder on their website to unwrap, perhaps arrange subscription so you can put the first one in. Add a sticky note saying ‘a new one every week for 6 months/ 1 years’. I think that would be quite exciting?

At 9 i would look at things like a chemistry set, telescope or similar, my DD’s loved them as did I.

Karaoke machine
spiragrapgh not sure how you spell it!
easel and nice paint set / canvas

We are getting our hard to buy 9 year old an Apple Pencil. Another present that has went down well before is a magazine subscription. She loves getting something in the post every week!

Sewing machine
crochet kit
light box
kids 3D printer
hover board
pottery wheel

Does she have a desk/drawing table or an art cady? Ikea have a fab one on wheels with a wood lid I'm a variety of colours. Our dgd (9) has one filled with supplies from poscas, card making supplies, wooden things to decorate, glue gun etc. This christmas her main gift is a Kindle and she her wishlist is jellycats and anything Harry Potter. From her grandad and I we've bought her a Jellycat popcorn bag and gift cards for the cinema, experience gifts are always well received.

A 3d printer? We've gone for the Bambu lab mini which apparently is super user friendly

Is there any Lego she might like? Both my girls (now 18 and 13!) have loved that since tiny...

A badge making machine? Not one of the toy ones that last 5 minutes, something like this

www.vevor.co.uk/button-maker-c_11159/vevor-button-maker-1-1-25-2-28-inch-25-32-58mm-3-in-1-pin-maker-300pcs-button-parts-button-maker-machine-with-panda-magic-book-ergonomic-arc-handle-punch-press-kit-for-children-diy-gifts-pink-p_010801403153?

Led note board

https://ebay.us/m/J8J9Xf

The top thing on my 8.5 year olds list was the deluxe Sticki roll kit, about £35. Crafty, trendy and not wasteful ☺️