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.

Not necessarily a big present you buy but for my daughters birthday I made her a craft trolley, bought the trolley from Ikea and filled it with all her craft stuff along with lots of new stuff, all organised. Big new pen set, glitter pens, glitter glue, tape, smelly pens, new colouring books, card, crepe paper, basically lots of little crafty things but presented as a big girl. She absolutely loves it.

There’s a cardboard cutter thing that keeps popping up on my feed that looks pretty cool for crafting.

A t-shirt printer so she can print her own tshirts?
3d printer?
Sewing machine? (I think I saw a mini one in Aldi or Lidl)
A annual pass to a local attraction/zoo?
Cinema pass?

I loved my Plasticraft at that age. You can get them on EBay, might be unwise these days, Elf ‘n’ Safety?

I also have a dysexic 9 year old girl who loves arts & crafts. This year her main present are tickets for her and & I to go to the theatre to see Matilda. Her Dad and brother not keen so it will be a day out and lunch for us. She has a Beano subscription which she loves (comic style good for dyselxic readers), she listens to her yoto player daily. For christmas I have lots of wee things, hammer beads, biscoff sundae set, jumper and trainers (little bird bright ones!), tamogotchi, some art things, a new swimming bag. She has also asked if we can paint her room in the new year. Hits over the last year - changing lights for her bottom bunk, her teepee was a few years ago but she loves, a great big bean bag, squishmallow everything, a warm up beany dog. It's a tricky age where they still want playful things but have grown out a lot and I don't want anything too grown up. A book token or voucher for an arty/crafty kids sewing class would probably be a hit too.

My DD just turned 9 and we got her lots of Maileg mice with furniture to add to her collection and she loves them alll. They are not cheap but made with high qaulity and super cute, even for adults. They are highly collectable too and some do go up in vaule too.

My 9 year old has a 3D pen from Smyth's, and definitely doesn't smell, produce fumes or known as a fire risk - obviously you don't leave it plugged in non stop.
But genuinely enjoys it even 2 years after purchase.
Does she like to read? Someone recommended a Book Subscription on one of the Christmas threads which might be an option if she likes the comic subscriptions? I can't remember what it was called though.

If you do get her into sewing, I absolutely loved Cross Stitch at that age. Had a proper fancy sewing case with all my bits in it for a few years. Or you could subscribe to a croquet/knitting/sewing magazine?

Simple sewing machine?

Have you thought about a journal? I find at that age journaling can be a really useful way to start better understanding themselves and can be a nice activity for you both to do together to start to build a sense of identity and understanding.
We have used this one in the past and it was really great - a year of daily prompts that get progressively more introspective.

Hope you find some nice pressies for her! :)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DBRKDYMK?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_073CV9HK19S1B18273PX&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_073CV9HK19S1B18273PX&social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_073CV9HK19S1B18273PX&skipTwisterOG=1

journal link

I agree with a sewing machine, I'd get her a proper one the kids ones are terrible. It can be an ongoing theme if she enjoys it, patterns/fabric/threads/accessories etc are all great presents for future birthdays and Christmas.

I got one at a similar age and think it's a really good skill to have. Well apart from everyone I know asking me to mend/alter clothes, curtains etc!

Does she have a Yoto player? If not I'd buy her a Yoto mini and Yoto club membership. My 8yo listens to his Yoto all the time and we borrow audiobooks from the library (via BorrowBox). There is loads of great content on the Yoto app if you want to check it out before deciding whether to buy.

I think Yotos are great for all children and especially for children with dyslexia, with audiobooks they can still enjoy reading via listening.