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.

Some more great ideas. Thanks. She’s had a phoenix magazine subscription for a couple of years but that is just the kind of thing she loves.

I think a sewing machine is a good idea. She’d love to make clothes for her teddies. Does anyone have a recommendation - are kids ones any good or am I better getting the basic brother one.

Not into Lego sadly - my son is obsessed so she dabbles but never really gets into the sets we buy her.

She’d love a 3D pen / printer but she’s a bit forgetful and I’ve heard about fire risk / fume worries.

Definitely the basic 'real' sewing machine.
(a) It says grown up to a 9 year old, and
(b) It will be so much better - she'll be able to use it into adulthood.

The only thing I'd say about sewing machines is she will need support to use it at the start. If you're not a confident user, I'd give it a miss

I’m not remotely confident but my mum lives nearby and she could help.

If she likes to draw or paint maybe an easel?

My similar sounding DD loves those 3 in 1 creator Lego sets, and we got her a large bean bag last year that was a big hit.

• a camera (not a phone)
• Smiggle have lots of back packs, pencil cases, pens and stationary things my cousins girls used to love at that age https://www.smiggle.co.uk/shop/en/smiggleuk/all-offers
• They used to love a bath bomb or lip gloss making kit, but your DD might not be into those, and not really a 'wow' gift

hhi

My DD (late teens) acquired a free sewing machine from Facebook Marketplace (after a few months we did pay £90 for a full refurbishment). It has led to a complete change of direction in her life (from Maths to Fashion), and she loves it. I can barely use a machine if someone else sets it up (the reason I said you need to be a confident user) but my mum taught her. I recommend a sewing machine very strongly!

There was a thread recently about sewing machines and the consensus was definitely don’t buy a child’s/junior one. Maybe do a search, it was a good thread.

If she likes an art project, last year we got my 9 year old this to decorate and use as a bedside table https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/perjohan-stool-with-storage-pine-80485338/

The John Lewis sewing machine is a really good starter machine - comes in lots of colours but is very much a proper machine. I’ve had mine for over 10 years and for a basic hobbyist sewer it does everything you’d need!

Ours is getting a Kindle and a White Fox hoodie. She would also love the easel and proper paints suggestion above!

Buy her one of those robot puppies. The puppies that move around like a real puppy. That would be a wow gift for her. Its an interactive puppy.

My 9 year old sounds similar she’s getting a badge maker!

If she is dyslexic a kindle might be an option you can change the text to a dyslexia friendly font.

Love the idea of a sewing machine, I would also get a pattern and some materials so she can start right away without waiting.

Dd(10) has a Brother sewing machine but finds it a bit complicated and prefers to use a very simple one I found in Aldi special buys. The Brother will probably get more use in a couple of years.

THIS!!!! My sister got something similar for my then 8 year old and she absolutely loved it, played for hours and hours!!!

I’ve got dd an instax Polaroid camera, maybe something like that? They come in different colours.
Or a sewing machine if she likes crafts she might be interested.

Sorry just saw updates. I got the John Lewis sewing machine for older dd and it’s great.

What about something like this OP? Too late for Christmas for us but am thinking of it for a birthday gift early next year: https://sculpd.co.uk/products/sculpd-kids-home-pottery-craft-kit

DD is similar (9, dyslexic, arty, but doesn't play with toys so much) she also has a bike, a scooter, skates, a Switch...she also has a sewing machine and makes lots of tiny outfits.

This year we're getting her an Instax camera (I know your DD already has one), some pale purple Nike AF1s, a pile of books (though dyslexic she loves to read), and a birdcage umbrella with a French bulldog on it.

Were limiting the number of presents (but let me tell you, her Christmas stocking is a thing of glory and has lots of little lovely things!!)

If she’s into science this is a great magazine, my 9yr old loves it, these are her latest issues

My dd is getting loads of pottery stuff. Including biscuit molds, paints, glaze. Also a cheap imitation lego set of Japanese street scene.

VR headset is another hit here

That’s so funny, I picked up 20 brand new copies for £6 this week from a charity shop which I’m drip feeding month by month (they don’t this December issue happens to be from 2022!)

When I was about nine I received a full-sized flip-chart whiteboard with those big paper pads you get in meeting rooms.

I’ve no idea where my parents got the idea, but they absolutely nailed it that year.

they got me whiteboard pens and hundreds of ordinary felt tips. Honestly, it was heaven!