Gifts for a 5 year old girl

[kris32]

Well for starters,sorry if i sound picky but i refuse to get any of the really electronic thingys for my child, they are already using ipads in kindergarden + computers (and one in the classroom) which is annoying me enough and i guess i am just a little old fashioned and against it. Technology is taking over the world!! So please don't start with the ipads and leappads bla bla. I know i am one to talk cuz i use everything from a digital camera,t.v.,computer etc. but i think the longer she doesn't have to be exposed to that junk the better. Yes i will let her watch tv/movies now and then when i am exhausted and stuff but if i could avoid it all togethor i totally would.

Her birthday is December 1st so kinda have to do christmas and birthday shopping at the same time.

It just seems like all the toys are for ages 2-4. I don't really want to get something that she will outgrow in a year! But i'd still like to get her toys at the same time,lol. Can anyone tell me when exactly kids should be outgrown most of the toys phase begins?

All the things i can come up with are art supplies/projects (and she kinda already has lots),books,movies,clothes...i kinda wanted to get her the princess table going on sale at wal mart but figure she will outgrow it quickly to,lol. Seems like a tough age to buy for.

[beckyrobinson1]

Great thread question, I have to buy a birthday gift for a 5yr old girl this week for a party on saturday and I could use some help too!

[thriftygranny]

I would strongly suggest Playmobile. Maybe start with the fold and go Doll House. Yes it is expensive but the toys stand the test of time, my son played with his until he was 12. I have raised four children and they all played with it and now my granddaughter is using it. It also has amazing resale value as a second hand toy. Just sold the pirate ship and the knights castle must have had 20 replies from Kijiji in a day or two. I think Costco is now selling some sets and for a great price compared to the specialty stores as well as Toys R Us sells some sets.I have ordered from Grand and Toy as well. Good Luck

[frugler]

how about little pet shop stuff.
My grand daughter is 7 and she still plays with all the little animals and their different shops.

[sweetmomma]

For my niece who turned 6 in the summer I bought one of those bead making jewellery kits to make necklaces etc. I notice they also have headband kits and make your own soaps etc. Lots of fun stuff!

[Minou]

Craft Kits with lots of sparkles. Jewellery-making kits. Various stamps and stamp pads. Model Magic. A kaleidoscope. A microscope kit. Books. A really out-of-this world Barbie doll, if she's into dolls. Some kind of cool, sparkly clothing that she's been wanting you to buy her but that you just couldn't justify buying as it seemed more like a novelty item than a piece of regular clothing. A rhinestone tiara. A "real" purse she can carry when she goes shopping. A sled for winter. A silver charm bracelet or necklace.

[sarah_cio]

My daughters and I were at the toy store today (to get ideas for Christmas). They loved the playmobil, lego friends, calico critters, littlest pet shop, my little pony and barbie and disney princess of course.

[madilu]

i bought my daughter a Globe( along with a few more gifts ) for her 5th birthday. she started to show interest in continents/countries etc a few weeks before her bday. so i felt a globe will be a nice gift. she loved it.

[safielstar]

My DD's too young, but my friend has a daughter that age, and we recently went shopping together and I saw what she was picking up for her DD:

- Lalaloopsy dolls (apparently all little girls are crazy about these dolls), they are usually around $30-35, but you can get them on sale in the $25 range
- Disney Princess/Disney Fairies, some girls are still really into it at age 5
- Playmobil, I bought the take along dollhouse when it went on sale to put away for my DD since I know Playmobil is amazing quality and will hold up. They sell smaller sets if you want to see if your DD will like them before shelling out big $ on larger sets (lots of typical girly themes like mermaids, princesses, fairies, plus pirates, city sets, tons of variety).
- Play food and play kitchen appliances, my friend bought tons of these sets for her DD on a B1G1 at ToysRUs a couple weeks back
-Puzzles and board games, kids at around age 5-6 really start being able to play these, plus you can usually find a lot of little-kid appropriate games like Candyland, etc for $10-15, card games are also good and nice and cheap.

[Ciel]

I would suggest a set from Playmobile or Lego (dollhouse is pricey isn't it?)-there are City themes, nature themes, hobby themes. I kind of want to discourage the doll stuff because by age 7 or 8 that is pretty much what her female peers play with. And a great picture book-Richard Scarry's books still are full of fun to look at!

With building blocks, imagination leads the play and maybe the girl will find it fun to want to learn to make things with other materials! For Christmas, the Advent calendars from either brand would be a nice surprise.

How about a child-sized blanket with a motif (not licensed characters but fun colour or pattern)? It would make a good tent for play too!

[nightlite]

My daughter is 5. Here is what I can tell you are/were some of her favourite gifts:

- any art supply/craft project (just note if there are younger siblings in the house or if anything requires sticky little beads try to avoid that b.c they get everywhere). Pencil Crayons, papers, paint, markers. We go through that like water in our house.

- Lallaloopsy dolls are very popular (Costco currently has the big ones on sale for $19 Reg $35 + in Toys R Us, Walmart etc.)

- Any necklaces, hair clips, jewelry, hair accessories - these always fun and more importantly used daily for hair for school

- Against my preference, Bratz dolls including the Bratzilla dolls are HUGE right now. It's one of the items on her wish list for Christmas.

- She got a hair painting kit for pretend play for her birthday and asks to use it every single day.

- any item that is a treat that a parent wouldn't buy in day to day. This is the moment where you can get the $20 pair of shoes when the average mom will bargain hunt for the plain black Mary Janes to match everything.

- Books are always appreciated (by me!) but from every kid whose birthday party I have ever gone to, I have never seen mind blowing excitement from opening up a present containing books. Except possibly me as a child in Grade 4 with The Baby Sitters Club series. Unfortunately I don't see a lot of that these days.

I'm going against the grain and actually advise against Disney Princess stuff (toys, not the DVD's - DVD's are always great! Cinderella is out right now in a limited edition) if only b/c from what I've noticed from her and her peers, that love affair seems to be ending and it's more Barbie, Bratz and "bigger" girl stuff. I know we like to think of kids as being kids and what we remember we were like at age 5. It's a lot different now. Some good, some not so good.

And don't over think it. Have you ever seen a kid at a toy store? If you offer to buy it, they'll take it.

[momgoneawol]

Playmobil for sure. It may cost a bit more but is very well made, you can add to it, and the best part if you lose and piece you can buy replacements (just keep all the papers that come with the sets as they show the product number for replacement.) My kids are 11 and 16 and the toys stand up to constant play. Playmobil is still on my daughters christmas wishlist this year.