OT: Gift ideas PLEASE!! I'm Stuck!!

[Lucy]

My niece (out of state) is in 2nd grade. I don't get to see her nearly as often as I'd like, so I don't really know her that well. It's been easier up to now because I could get her almost any old toy that looked like fun, and she was happy with it. But as she gets older, I'm sure she'd like to have the neatest, latest "thing" out there, and I don't know what that would be for her age!! I have my DC kids, but I don't really see what they're "into" in their home life, because they play with what I have here!

So anyone with a 2nd grade girl - age 7 to 8 - what kind of stuff are they into??? And keep in mind, I normally spend about $40 on her.

Thank you!! This was a stumper this year!

[melilley]

I have a niece who just turned 8. She and her friends are really into those Monster High dolls. I'm not sure what the lure is (they look weird to me), but when she had her party every time she opened a gift and it was one of those dolls, all the little girls screamed and were so excited. But you have to be into them to like them!

She also likes jewelry.

Anything that you can make, whether it be food or jewelry, etc..they have these different fun kits you can buy.

It gets soooo hard as they get older!

[Lucy]

I have a niece who just turned 8. She and her friends are really into those Monster High dolls. I'm not sure what the lure is (they look weird to me), but when she had her party every time she opened a gift and it was one of those dolls, all the little girls screamed and were so excited. But you have to be into them to like them!

She also likes jewelry.

Anything that you can make, whether it be food or jewelry, etc..they have these different fun kits you can buy.

It gets soooo hard as they get older!

Yes, it does!! A craft kit does sound fun. I loved those when I was a kid! Never heard of the Monster High dolls. I'll have to look that up!!

ETA: Ok, they are sort of in the realm of Bratz dolls it looks like. Oh boy... the 2-headed one!! LOL They're kinda sorta cute, in a weird way!

[melilley]

I've found that gift cards are a good choice when they're older.
I know they aren't personal, but a lot of times the kids love to shop and buy what they want.
I have a 15 yo. nephew...try buying for him!

[slorey]

I was going to say Monster High as well. My own daughter, who is 7 and in 2nd grade never really got into it, but most of the girls in her class love them. My dd loves anything for arts and crafts, jewelry, and is a big fan of the band 1 direction. She does still play with Barbies sometimes as well, but is growing out of that. She told me she wants mostly books for Christmas but is getting a keyboard (her newfound passion is music). Hope that helps a little.

[momofsix]

My dd's loved anything crafty at that age.
GC's to a local movie theater or other local activity would be fun too.

[melilley]

I was going to say Monster High as well. My own daughter, who is 7 and in 2nd grade never really got into it, but most of the girls in her class love them. My dd loves anything for arts and crafts, jewelry, and is a big fan of the band 1 direction. She does still play with Barbies sometimes as well, but is growing out of that. She told me she wants mostly books for Christmas but is getting a keyboard (her newfound passion is music). Hope that helps a little.

Yes, 1D too!

[Lucy]

I've found that gift cards are a good choice when they're older.
I know they aren't personal, but a lot of times the kids love to shop and buy what they want.
I have a 15 yo. nephew...try buying for him!

No kidding! When my nephews got to about 10 or 12, it was cash for them!!! And I stop when they turn 18. They're 20 and 22 now.

I was going to say Monster High as well. My own daughter, who is 7 and in 2nd grade never really got into it, but most of the girls in her class love them. My dd loves anything for arts and crafts, jewelry, and is a big fan of the band 1 direction. She does still play with Barbies sometimes as well, but is growing out of that. She told me she wants mostly books for Christmas but is getting a keyboard (her newfound passion is music). Hope that helps a little.

I'm liking the arts & crafts / jewelry idea. Maybe jewelry making. Hey, they have those loom type things that make the bracelets out of the little rubber band thingies. Awesome that yours wants books! That's rare!!

My dd's loved anything crafty at that age.
GC's to a local movie theater or other local activity would be fun too.

I'm seeing a theme here with the crafty! Thanks, gals!!!!

[NeedaVaca]

Crazy loom is all the rage for that age group! Something from the store Justice

[Lucy]

Crazy loom is all the rage for that age group!

The only thing is that it's so popular, that she might have one. I'll shoot a text to my brother and ask. If not, I'm getting one! I'm sure they're cheap, so I'll find another craft kit type thing.

Awesome! Forum to the rescue yet again!!! happyface

[melilley]

Crazy loom is all the rage for that age group! Something from the store Justice

That's what those bracelets are! I had to look up Crazy Loom. My dd has a bracelet and I keep telling her she should make them, it looks easy. She keeps telling me she can't, she doesn't know how. I thought you somehow just hooked them together and wah lah, bracelet!
SO that's how they're made!

[Laurel]

Just a thought for next year... My granddaughter is in the second grade and when I get catalogs in the mail I give them to her and tell her to put her initial on anything she would like to get as a gift. This year it was the MindWare catalog but I didn't buy the things there. I did get an idea what she likes though.

She picked some craft kits, some science ones like a kit you could grow root veggies in and view them through the glass, a pogo stick, a button maker, a kit you can make your own jigsaw puzzles, Pop-Arty beads (available at Target)... So all this to say basically craft type kits.

Laurel

[Lucy]

Just a thought for next year... My granddaughter is in the second grade and when I get catalogs in the mail I give them to her and tell her to put her initial on anything she would like to get as a gift. This year it was the MindWare catalog but I didn't buy the things there. I did get an idea what she likes though.

She picked some craft kits, some science ones like a kit you could grow root veggies in and view them through the glass, a pogo stick, a button maker, a kit you can make your own jigsaw puzzles, Pop-Arty beads (available at Target)... So all this to say basically craft type kits.

Laurel

Great idea on the catalog!

And I hadn't thought about checking at Target. That might be easier than Toys R Us. I hate that place this time of year!

[Sunchimes]

If you get the Crazy Loom, add in lots of packs of extra bands in different colors. If they really like it, they will go through a LOT of bands.

[Laurel]

Great idea on the catalog!

And I hadn't thought about checking at Target. That might be easier than Toys R Us. I hate that place this time of year!

I hate Toys R Us all the time but I did order something there online this year as I couldn't find it anywhere else.

The catalog also works for adults. When my mom was alive and lived out of town she would just tell me something that she liked from a catalog and then I would order it and have it sent to her. No extra wrapping, shipping costs that way and she didn't care.

Laurel