<p>Help! I’m at a loss with gifts for my 9 & 11 year old nieces. Their dad has a long-term illness and is somewhat disabled. Their mom has gotten them a bunch of craft kits and puzzle books. I’m trying to think of something besides those two items that they would like, but would also keep them busy without requiring much adult time.</p>
<p>I only know “boy stuff”, but what is the girl-equivalent of k’nex or those magnet sets? I realize you could buy these gifts for girls, but I don’t know if they would enjoy them (though I personally LOVE the magnets :-). </p>
<p>Any other ideas would be appreciated. They have Kindles, but I think their mom has them fully stocked with books. They play various sports, but don’t really have a “main sport”.</p>
<p>Girls are hard! I would happily spend $40-50 for each or possibly one pricier gift to share.</p>
<p>My mother use to take each grandchild shopping by themselves and to lunch when they were that age. My daughters loved the individual attention and picking out stuff they thought I wouldn’t get them. If you can take each one alone, that will give the other one some time to herself at home with her parents. One grandchild was happy to just go to Target with her, pick out a gift and eat pizza there! If you want to wait to after Christmas, you could give them a coupon for shopping with your aunt.</p>
<p>My D liked this a lot at about age 10 (still plays with it sometimes at 17)! And I caught my 20 year old nephew playing with it the other day, too.</p>
<p>They sell them other places, too, this is just where I found the link.</p>
<p>My D is kind of sciency, and enjoyed this at that age. I helped her put it together, but then she took it outside and played with it quite a bit.</p>
<p>I think my D also got a pogo stick from my parents at about that age. She had fun with it and got some exercise. Not so the unicycle my dad gave another year (she never did learn to ride it, it is in the basement with a flat tire).</p>
<p>They really might like a gift card to Target. I know that is not very personal but it does give them power. I might put it in a small bag with chocolates and some hair ribbons. If you live nearby it could be a date for lunch and a stop at Target.</p>
<p>I bought craft kits at Tory’s r us, things like making bracelets. At the local Japanese gardens, they sell 3d puzzles that are prettiest I’ve ever seen, like a swan, flowers. I’ll be there today and will note the manufacturers, so you can order online.</p>
<p>Some girls like gift certificates for manicures. You could find out their favorite clothing store and get them gift certificates.</p>
<p>Obviously, it would be great to go shopping with them.</p>
<p>I have 2 girls. If mom has bought a lot of sensible gifts, why not get them some fashionable clothes and jewelry. Kids that age want to be older than their age. Some clothes from their favorite brands maybe appreciated.</p>
<p>I generally find it much easier to shop for girls than for boys.</p>
<p>I agree with Oldfort. If you are local, you could actually take the girls with you. You would probably enjoy it – I had boys first, shopping with girls can be fun. </p>
<p>My daughter loves clothes and accessories. She is really into boots right now.</p>
<p>How about some books, either the old fashioned kind or for their kindle/nook? of a couple of dvd’s? you could take them shopping for it and then it also is something that will take them time to read/watch so it gives them something to do that does not require a lot of supervision. Or a magazine subscription so a few hours every month will be used reading it.</p>
<p>I have 2 girls- and i struggle with my nephews!</p>
<p>Here goes:
Anything Vera Bradley
charm bracelet … think Clares
lip gloss/ nail polish…manicure kits
bed, bath and beyond stuff
My girls loved Polly Pockets ( still have them in the basement)
American Girl magazine subscription- or anything from the store
They might like the beads that you could melt [url=<a href=“http://www.eksuccessbrands.com/perlerbeads/]Perler®[/url”>http://www.eksuccessbrands.com/perlerbeads/]Perler®[/url</a>] though mom would need to help with the iron
scrapbooking kit
At that age my kids liked karoke, if they have a wii or similar the girls like dance revolution type games</p>
<p>I also echo the Target card and taking them shopping. My 15 year old loves to receive Target gift cards and has for years!</p>
<p>My D loved Polly Pocket, but I think these were at a younger age than your D’s. Crafts of all types were something that she liked, and there are so many of these available in stores and on line. There are jewelry crafts, stained “glass” (it’s plastic), clay, plaster, paint, knit, crochet, sewing, leather craft etc. I was in a nice toy store a few weeks ago (buying for boys) and they had a whole section of these type of toys for girls. I am out of the toy market in general, but was shopping for step D’s kids.</p>
<p>D2 also loved Polly Pockets. We still have most of them. Agreed with anothermom, D2 played with them when she was much younger. They kept D2 very busy on many of plane trips.</p>
<p>I think some of these suggestions, like Polly Pockets, may not apply to 9 and 11 year old girls. I would vote for crafts (friendship bracelet kits for instance), books (depending on the maturity level), hair accessories (barrettes, ribbons), or clothes (cool colorful socks for instance, hats and scarves if they are in a cold climate)</p>
<p>I keep the polly pockets in my basement for my good friends 9 1/2 year old daughter that visits. She disappears to the basement as soon as she arrives. Boxed them up to donate until I saw her little face when she realized what i was planning, so they are still in the basement : )</p>
<p>Polly Pockets ! That hands down was my daughter’s favorite toy from age 3-9. We used to buy them on ebay in addition to the current ones from regular toy stores.</p>
<p>How about starting a nice silver charm bracelet (not Claire’s ). I’m thinking James Avery or something like that. You can add on charms through the years.</p>
<p>If you enter the words Lego and girl you get a bunch of girl-oriented sets. Playmobile makes figurine sets that are fun. There are science kits that any kid would like. K’nex makes amusement park ride sets for anyone.</p>
<p>I am going to be one to veto the charm bracelet. My mom has been doing that for my D’s, and they just aren’t interested. They are polite, of course (so unfortunately she keeps doing it). But at least in our family it wasn’t something they wanted.</p>
<p>I was also going to suggest Perler beads. My D2 especially LOVED these for many years, including the years you are talking about. They need some of the plastic forms to put them on, too. Must admit as a parent they get everywhere. But beading in general was a big hit with my daughters over the years. They used to have their birthday parties at the local bead store…</p>
<p>Is there are “paint your own ceramics” place in your area? We had one called “Paint Your Plate” where you go in and pick an unglazed ceramic item (plate, cup, we also have unicorns and frogs!), then you sit down and paint them with glaze. The shop fires them, and a few days later you pick up the finished item. You could take them there and for lunch or something. My kids thought that was the greatest outing EVER at that age.</p>
<p>If you are nearby, I love the idea of taking each of them out separately (any meal would be fine, but I bet a fancy tea would be a lot of fun) and letting them pick something out. If the parents are busy, it would be nice for them to get some focus from another adult and have a strong connection with you.</p>
<p>Do you know if they like to read? At that age, I would have strongly preferred a book to clothes, makeup or jewelry. I also think Polly Pockets are young for that age. I love the idea of things that inspire creativity like crafts and I think cold weather accessories and fun socks could work. It depends a lot on the interests of the kids.</p>
<p>It sounds like the parents are providing some of the same sort of thing, but I’ve recently discovered wedgits, and I think that they are the perfect toy for kids really up to 12. Read the amazon reviews! They are on the upper end of the listed age range but I’ve seen these absorb older children and parents for hours.</p>