Calling all mums of five year old girls.....

[Mimi1977]

Wasn't sure where was the best place to post this but I need to buy a birthday present for my niece who will be five soon and was wondering if any of you could suggest something your five year old daughters love to play with or any of their favourite books. My daughter is 19 months so I'm not really up on the crazes of a five year old yet!! She loves make believe and art/craft things.

Thanks.

DD loves disney fairies
Polly pocket
and pens/paper/ craft make and do stuff

Books - She loves fiction stories, and loves chapter books, we can read together at night. I have just bought The Faraway Tree, and The Wishing Chair

I bought my dd2 this for her 5th birthday next week

she has coveted her big sisters password journal for months and months

5 years old is a good time for necklace/bracelet making kits, ime.

Hi, my 5 year old daughter is loving Barbie at the moment. Also anything fairy or unicorn related!
Bee

Sylvanians are popular in our house, as are zhu zhu pets, craft stuff and notebooks and pens.

these books are brilliant but the ones that have 2 themes ie dolls + ballerina are a bit too big. Its better to have 2 single ones. They can manage the easier craft activities.

Great ideas already - thanks all!

Littlest Pet Shop, Puppy in my Pocket, Keytweens and Zhu Zhu Pets are popular with my 5yo DD! As is anything remotely arty and crafty.

Oh heavens, not a complicated crafts kit like needlework or threading or beads on a string not unless she's an only child, anyway. Poor parents will have to spend ages threading it for her trying to show her what to do.

Hama beads would be good, pretty easy, even for a 5yo.

Oh forgot to say earlier DD also loves these
Pack away to size of a book and entertains her for hours

Yes, definitley Hama beads. Also, those ShakerMaker things (can't remember exact name but DD had a Snow White set - make a plaster of Paris figurine, then paint it). Party, Party, Party game by Orchard Toys. DD loves her Lego too, and K'nex sets.

definitely

If she likes make believe, what about dressing up accessories?

5 is an in-between age between baby and 'big girl'. DD is 5 and the toys she plays with most when playing alone are soft toys and baby dolls. She's not really interested in Barbie, making jewellery yet although she will join in Hama beads when older brother gets them out.

Hama beads are great. dd adores Sylvanian families.

Sylvanians, playmobil (as a parent I prefer playmobil please, the syvanian stuff breaks underfoot far too easily.), any craft stuff particularly paint-your-own mugs, boxes, door hangers; picture frames/album, alarm clock. But one of my 5 yr old daughter's favourites was a disney princess hardback notebook and some nice pens in a pencil case. She felt frightfully grown up and would spend hours 'writing' in it. And now she knows how, she spends hours actually writing in it.

I have no investment in M&S but the big ones have a lovely range of books and games etc,. for DC"S of all ages especially "girly" stuff and clothes if you don't want to go along the games route.

princess dress?
arts and crafts kits?
polly pocket
accessories for baby doll?