Gifts for Girls
No matter the occasion -- birthday, holiday or just for fun -- little girls love receiving gifts. However, part of the trouble with girls is finding something that fits their interests, especially since they usually like a lot of different things. Plus, little girls are never the same. One year she'll be a tomboy and the next she'll be a fashionista. Who knows? Maybe this year she'll have an affection for saving the planet. Either way, with a little bit of time and thought you should be able to find the perfect gift for that special girl. That said, here are some ideas to get you started on the right path to buying a gift that will make her smile. Note that the sections have been divided into three age groups: preschoolers, 6-9 year-olds, and "tweens" (those who fall in between "little girl" and teenager).
Preschoolers
The first thing to think about when buying a gift for a preschool-aged girl is what things she likes to play with on a daily basis. If you aren't a close family member, ask the parents for some clues and advice; they will certainly be willing to give suggestions. Otherwise, there are a few basics that this age group tends to like. When in doubt, simply remember that girls this age are all about fun and smiles. Keep that in mind when shopping: the things that make you feel cheery will probably do the same for her. If you can't find something here that you like, be sure to see the toys and games directory, where you'll find suggestions for popular toys, Toys for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners and more.
Types of Gifts
- Favorite Characters
- Items including clothes, jewelry and accessories are best when they sport popular television or story characters on them. Think pajamas,
clothes and accessories, jewelry boxes, purses, backpacks and even pillows or room décor.
- You can choose a classic character from Sesame Street, the Care Bears, Barbie, Disney Princesses or My Little Pony. Or you might try a very trendy new character that kids can't get enough of, such as Dora the Explorer, Sponge Bob, Hello Kitty, or Trisket and Bisket.
- Toys and Games
- Outdoor Fun
- Children love being outside, and what better way to motivate them to spend some time in the fresh air than with a fun toy for outside?
- Balls, tricycles, wagons and motorized ride-on toy cars are all fun options.
- Learning and Creativity
- Anything that stresses education, learning or creativity are good bets. You can try rub a dub tub paints, crayons and coloring books, any Leap Frog product (they make electronic learning toys),and CDs, DVDs, or CD-ROMs that act as a learning tool.
- Check out the educational toys guide for more ideas that help kids learn while they play.
Gift Ideas
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Rainbow Ribbon Wands
For the little girl who can't stop dancing around the house, give her these beautiful rhythmic gymnastics-inspired ribbons to swirl and toss. |
Walkie Talkies
With a pair of walkie talkies, she and her playmates can spend hours making up imaginative scenarios. |
Leap Pad Learning System
These award-winning products help teach kids to read, write and do basic math. Through add-on books purchased separately, they can grow with children. |
Portable Sing Along Player
We all know how much fun karaoke is. Girls will love singing along and dancing to their favorite tunes. See musical toys for similar ideas. |
Learning Littles Dolls
For girls being raised bilingual these dual-language dolls are a great alternative to Barbie, and are soft and cuddly enough for youngsters. |
Ages 6-9
Since girls at this age are starting to develop their own self-identity, it can be difficult to buy gifts for them. School makes them more socially-conscious, more curious and more interested in particular areas, such as different school subjects and sports. This is also a time when girls might start to become more into extra-curricular activities, which makes a big difference when buying gifts. Like always, knowing her interests will help you figure out what to buy. Below you will see some general gift suggestions based on favorite interests as well as some "girly girl" and "tomboy" type gifts. You should also check out the toys and games directory for more ideas, from toys for grade schoolers to popular toys, and more.
Favorite Characters from Pop Culture
For kids who are into movies and books, there are a few faces that have a fond place in a girl's heart. There is the infamous Harry Potter and pals who seem to be on everything from backpacks to bed sheets. The books themselves or one of the movies are good gifts for the Potter fan. Toys and games from epic fantasy sagas such as those from Star Wars and Lord of the Rings are numerous, including board games, action figures, and accessories. For girls who have an interest in Disney, there are several characters that are popular, including Nemo, and Cinderella (and the other princesses ). Don't forget about dolls (Barbie, Flavas, Hello Kitty, Bratz and American Girl Dolls ) or gender-neutral cartoon characters like Shrek, The Incredibles, Sponge Bob and Scooby Doo.
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DVDs are a great choice when you are stuck for what to get a girl this age. Just make sure to choose "age appropriately". |
Books are always a good gift. She might like pop culture, but that doesn't mean she can't learn while she's at it. |
Popular dolls and stuffed animals are good for girls this age as long as they like playing with dolls -- not all do. |
Magazine subscriptions for kids are good because they are a fun and easy way to get them into reading. |
Fun characters can always be found on sleeping bags, jewelry boxes, bedroom décor and clothing articles. |
If She Is High Tech
It's not just boys who like "techie" toys. The revolution has taken a commonplace role for kids these days and it goes without saying that there are hundreds of great gifts that are electronic. Check out both the video game guide and the kid's electronic toys page for more information.
- From the audio department, there are karaoke machines, CD players, MP3 players and fun portable speakers.
- As far as computers go, one of the coolest things for kids these days are the mini laptops for learning (one is shown below). There are also LeapFrog Learning Pads for 2nd and 3rd graders, which are very helpful for learning.
- If you're considering giving a video game, check with Mom or Dad - not all families like their children playing video games at such an early age, but if it's ok, you want to make sure she doesn't already own the game!
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Cool to keep track of kids, but beware of the potential health risks related to this product. |
Video games are a must have for girls and boys. While pricey, they provide hours of entertainment. |
The Toy of the Year has truly earned its title. This is a must-see product! |
Learn school skills with the Bratz on a colorful, easy to use kid's laptop. |
This is just one of the zany-looking speakers to hook up to kids' iPods. |
Girly Girls vs. Tomboys
These gifts can work for either the very girly, or the very un-girly. However, a big factor in whether or not a girl will like the gift or not is the color. Pinks are great for some, but others -- well, you can imagine. Outdoor toys are good for both types and science tends to be a topic that is particularly interesting for children of this age.
Don't forget pretty hair accessories for the typical girl and sports accessories for the tomboy.
Creative Kid
Art and music are universal. All kids should have a good creative influence in their life, especially if they show any interest in it. They might be into dance, music, theater arts, or visual arts. Here are some toys, games, kits, and art supplies that can help engage a girl's creative side. You may also want to check out arts and crafts toys and musical toys for more ideas.
Tween Girl
Ahh... being a tween. It's never easy. You are too "grown-up" for the girls' section, but not quite ready for juniors'. It is that lovely period for girls aged 10 to 12 where a personal identity really starts to take form. They love this, they hate that, they think Jenny is stupid and Johnny is cute -- the list goes on. It's so complicated one wonders how it is humanly possible to choose a gift for a girl this age. Of course, if you know that a girl is a budding artist, a glam girl, a movie buff, a bookworm, a sports fan, an animal lover or any other type, honing in on those interests makes gift giving a breeze; otherwise, it's best to steer clear of such things, lest you get the wrong gift that will be froever banished to the closet. Here are some very basic, very trendy and utterly no-fail gifts to pick for a discriminating tween. If you think you can target what it is exactly she is, read on for other gift ideas. You might also want to check out the toys and games directory and the toys for middle schoolers guide.
Basic Gifts
The Diva
Think pink, pretty, glamorous, and glitzy. You know this girl will enjoy shopping and fashion as she grows up so foster her fashionista attitude. If she likes wearing makeup and the parents do not object, there are plenty of makeup kits available for little girls. Clothes, accessories and jewelry are all good gifts, but check with the parents for sizes.
The Nerd
There's nothing wrong with being good at academics and being interested in school. In fact, it's great, especially when it comes to gift giving. Girls who like learning and going to school will enjoy a variety of intellectually-stimulating gifts, from books to high-tech electronics, to science and discovery toys and more.
The Rocker Grrl
Whether she's into goth, punk, emo, or rockabilly, there are certain staples that always help complete the look. If you know her favorite band, don't forget about the all-important merchandising (however, always be sure to check and make sure the band is parentally-approved)!
The Triple Threat
If she's a born entertainer, nurture her love of music, dance, or acting. Even shyer girls will get a kick out of singing and dancing around the house, especially if she's imagining herself on tour with Hannah Montana!
The Artiste
You can never have too many art projects, musical instruments, or balls of yarn lying around the house. Gifts like these will let her creative nature shine.
