What do girls aged nearly 10 and 12 want for xmas?

[TiffanyAteMyBreakfast]

I have boys under six, so I'm clueless.

Any suggestions for prezzies (on a budget) for girls aged nearly 10 and just turned 12? They are dh's nieces and live in a different town from us, so I'm not tuned in to what they'd want.

They're both quite young for their age. Both used to be into arty crafty stuff, but I think they've had all those 'kit' presents when they were younger.

What sort of toys/objects might girls of this age like? Or do I go for clothes or jewellery? Or is that too easy to get wrong?

Thanks.

I have 2 dds - 13 and 11.

Tbh I'd avoid clothes or jewellery - far too easy to get wrong. Safe bets would be packets of decent quality gel pens, notebooks, fluffy biros, Berol felt tips, watercolour pencils etc. All useful for school as well as for being "arty crafty" at home.

Otherwise how about bath bombs, fluffy sponges, soft flannels, bubble bath etc and one of those "turban towel" things for their hair?

My dds a re this age.

Lava lamp - tenner from argos
mamma mia dvd
now that's what I call... cd
agree with nice notebooks and fancy pens
hot water bottles are very in just now - just over a tenner (next have nice ones)
funky scarves and gloves
12 yr old might be into a handbag - some groovy little ones in top shop
purses with a little charm attached

Hot water bottle = v good idea!

Lush stuff - they'll love it.

Thanks gals! Loads of great suggestions here. Am looking forward to shopping now...

Merry Xmas

I got my 12 year oldsome cheapo Boots make-up, three for two.

boots also do some lovely toiletry sets wrapped up to look like ice cream sundaes which made my dds go wow.

I've returned to this thread as I've just got back from town without anything at all for dd2. I want to get something that looks as "wowish" and big as possible but don't want to spend more than £15. Any ideas? She is rather old fashioned and lovely and says she doesn't actually want anything. Today she offered to give me all of her money (she has £50 saved) to buy daddy some Laurel And Hardy dvds when I said they were a rip-off. So she deserves something nice, even if she doesn't know she wants it!

asda own selection of shower gels - in large body shop shaped bottles - they are lovely and have gone down in price this year to £1.96, they come in flavours of rasberry, vanilla and a bottle will last a long time and smell lovely when you use it to wash.

This teamed with some chocolate tubes or sweety tubes for £1 from asda would make a lovely present. Or some hair bobbles

Will not break the bank at £3 and should be a nice pressy

Did you look in next, janeite? I've been quite impressed this year with their range for girls/teens. Lots of cup cake things, like a money box, fancy cups with hot chocolate, hand mirrors.

They have some lovely cosy bed socks and some nice normal socks in pretty patterns. Pretty slippers too.

sOFt hot water bottles with cute motifs, good selection of watches.

tesco are selling that Beadle the Bard book for £3 something. You could make up a nice 'bedtime' present.

poinsettydog - thats a great idea, like bed socks, hot chocolate, hot water bottle and a book... hmm thank you I shall nick that with bubble bath aswell.

Thanks Pointy. She's not really into Next; in fact she's a bit of a tomboy if anything. She's not girly, wouldn't appreciate clothes or anything like that. The other problem is that she doesn't actually need anything. I've bought her a nightie and some fluffy socks and some books already and love the idea of wrapping them all up together. She's already got two hot water bottles as she's a bit of a bed-bunny; also already got a watch (last year's pressie) slippers etc! We've got "Beadle The Bard" already too - we're saving it for Christmas Eve to be savoured with hot choc and marshmallows!

I've got my 11-year-old gd some hair straighteners.

What did you buy Tiffany?

And shameless bump re: my dd!

Please help - there is only a week to go and all she has got is half a sewing machine and some clay!

What about cooking stuff? I have got my eight year old a silicon cupcake mould that makes flower shaped cakes, some cookie cutters and an apron for instance. You could combine it with something like one of Sam Stern's cookbooks for teens.

For my 11 year old I have got chalk pastels and proper pastel paper, fineliner pens, a lockable diary, books, Body Shop perfume and a handbag. It doesn't sound flashy but it is stuff she wants and will use.

She's got the Sam Stern books and loads of lovely art things already but cooking stuff is a good idea. Thanks. Any more please?

Janeite my DD sounds a bit like yours, (except she wouldn't generously offer her own money!!) we have got her an incubater and some rocket/lettuce seeds as she loves growing things. Also a paper FX thing, a knitting kit and some new roller blades.

Knitting kit is a great idea too. Thank you!