big gift for 7-8 year old girl?

[paysensmom]

My daughter has no big item on her Christmas list this year. Her brother wants a dsi, itouch and several other big things. He will get one of them. She has a dsi and barely touches the thing. I don't want to get her a lot of toys because she has WAY to many. I need some ideas for a big thing to get her. She told me she was going to ask Santa for a smelly bendy pencil! (They don't make them, it is either smelly OR bendy) So she thinks Santa can get one, UH OH!!

Please tell me your "big" ideas!!!

 

[aladams2]

Give her an "experience." Take her to a traveling broadway show or concert. She'll have the memories w/o things laying around to trip over.

 

[jcemom]

LoL. My DD9 wants American Girl Kanani's shave ice stand, which sold out several weeks ago. She thinks Santa can get it because last year he got the LaLaLoopsy doll she wanted that we couldn't find in any of the stores. Ugh.

DD and most of her friends seem to be into, that might be considered "big" gifts (at least price-wise lol): American Girl dolls, Ipods, televisions for their bedrooms, Xbox Kinect, Wii, bicycles, and Karaoke.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Big as in money or big as in something that will wow the child?

My ideas:
Bike
Large play structure for LPS
Townhome for Barbie
barbie camper or jet
American Girl doll

(Those were things for my 7-9 year old over the past few years..except we
don't have the jet. It is combines what we have also
done for her birthdays.)

The age is tough. My child is into art and jewelry, but the things that would be a "big"'gift were just too old for her.

You could also try an experience gift. Day at the zoo, museum, spa (with kid services) or other ideas.

If she is into science, you might consider a telescope or age appropriate (but good quality) microscope.

 

[mom2maggie]

My daughter is getting a small point & shoot camera of her own.

 

[Gnomegirl]

What about a small video camera? We bought my daughter a Flip video camera for her 8th birthday this spring. She also got the Klutz music video book to shoot her own music videos. She has so much fun with her sister and just fooling around with her friends on sleepovers. My sister got her the tripod. All together you can get those things for around $100.

Aside from that my girls love American Girl dolls.

 

[richmond282]

My DD7 is getting a "cat" blanket she saw at Sam's Wholesale and a blue fijit (Boy, did Santa have a difficult time finding THAT one) from Santa. They aren't "big" items but it's what she asked for. From us, she is getting a "grown up" jewelry box with some jewelry in it.

P.S. My niece (age 8) is getting a point and shoot camera. It MUST be blue she says.

 

[marlynnp]

pony

 

[Gnomegirl]

pony

My oldest asked for one. We live next to a horse farm so they can walk literally 50 feet from the house to one side and touch them. I said that was good enough. My mother on the other hand prods them on because we actually have 2 stalls and a tack room in the back of the garage as well as a fenced pasture.

 

[Jey12]

My oldest asked for one. We live next to a horse farm so they can walk literally 50 feet from the house to one side and touch them. I said that was good enough. My mother on the other hand prods them on because we actually have 2 stalls and a tack room in the back of the garage as well as a fenced pasture.

An idea that seems to be less popular in the last few years is the Fur Real Butterscotch or S'mores pony. Toysrus had Butterscotch for $99 last night, and some stores still had them this afternoon at that price. I bought S'more for DD two years ago when she was 3, almost 4. She loved it then, and she loves it now. It can hold up to an 80lb child easily. It doesn't move, but it is interactive, turns it's head and makes noise when you talk to him (or in the middle of the night just to creep you out) comes with a carrot and brush. When you put the carrot in the pony's mouth it makes a chewing sound and moves it's lips up and down and it makes happy noises when you brush it. We bought DD a homemade saddle and stirrups off of etsy that year and they have held up. They were made from real horse tack and only cost $30 for the whole set. Not sure if this would work for the OP, but I do expect this toy to be played with until DD is 8 or 9 and maybe older since she's on the small side. For anyone with younger kids I suggest one if you have a kid that's into horses. I can't explain how much DD plays with hers and treasures it. It is big, but not too wide and can be put behind a chair in the corner or up against the wall when it's not in play. Which is rarely.

For the OP my suggestions would be.....

A concert or day for just her. In our area a few of the local ballets put on productions of the Nutcracker this time of year and offer a tea party with the characters before the show.

A kindle fire. She can download apps, games (educational and fun), movies, books and other things. At her age if she's responsible this might be a gift that last a long time. Of course it has the benefit of being able to be "shared" by you when she's not using it.

Sign her up for classes for an activity. Karate, dance, gymnastics, painting, theater, etc... Last year my DD's godmother paid for 6 weeks of swim lessons for her bday. She loved it.

 

[paysensmom]

Sign her up for classes for an activity. Karate, dance, gymnastics, painting, theater, etc... Last year my DD's godmother paid for 6 weeks of swim lessons for her bday. She loved it.

We live in a teeny area. There is a dance studio in the next town over. Thanks for the reminder, she would actually LOVE to do the dance thing. Just not sure if I will love driving her back and forth

She is not responsible enough with her dsi to get a kindle or itouch or anything. She has a Sansa MP3 and loses it all the time. She broke her DS last year and her Gma bought her the dsi for Christmas last year. My mother in law is looking for ideas for her too. She will spend $250 per child this year. So, the more ideas you all have the better!

She has a zebra themed room so if you have any great ideas for her room, that would be good too. I got her a hopscotch rug from Kohls for her room online last night for $15!!

 

[cjdj4]

pony

Ok, that is funny. I told my DH when we found out we were having a girl (she is 8 now) that he would have to buy her a pony and save $ for a wedding. Not to mention play with Barbies

My DD is 8 and she asked for clothes for her American Girl Doll, a bulldog for her American Girl Doll, a chair for her American Girl Doll, a Paper Jamz guitar and mic, and a pottery wheel. She also asked for a chair for her that hangs from the ceiling, but DH said heck no.

She loves crafts. I found a pottery wheel for kids on Amazon along with a Paper Jamz guitar and a fashion designer mini-designer set. She will get matching PJs and Christmas Dresses for her and Molly (her American Girl Doll). No Bulldog, no chair. I think she'll live. I also bought the family the new Legend of Zelda and Disney Universe for Wii.

No big thing, but not little things either. A few mid-sized things that she will really like. At the end of the day, she wants to do crafts with me. So we'll be using the pottery wheel and the fashion designing together. As we lead up to Christmas we'll do a few crafts. This weekend we are making an advent calendar.

Anyway - you cannot go wrong with an American Girl Doll. Plus, the extras for the AG Doll can easily add up to $250. I also like the idea of the dance lessons. I read somewhere that people remember and enjoy experiences over things. I believe that is true. Just the fact you want your DD to be happy means that she will be happy

 

[iheartdisney]

1. Legos aren't just for boys! My DD wants at least three big Lego sets. I told her she needs to let me know which one she wants the most!

2. New bedroom furniture? 7-8 is when my DD started to shift from toys to books. She doesn't need as much playroom, and wants a "big girl" room.

3. Remember: a big present does not need to be "big" in price, just in in what she wants.

 

[kjpotter]

I just bought my DD7 a Karaoke Machine for Christmas. She loves to sing so I hope she likes it. It will also double as a CD player since the one in her room is about to die.

You can find them in the $50-100 range.

 

[robinb]

I would recommend an American Girl doll. I think that I gave my DD a set of Bitty Baby "twins" when she was 8. She already had a full size AG doll and a Bitty Baby at the time. We were just at the AG Store today and the new doll Celine is beautiful (psst, I already bought her for my DD who has (mostly) moved from playing with the dolls to collecting). I'm OK with her not being *too* grown up yet .

 

[LisaNJ25]

I got my 7yo an American Girl bitty baby. I was pushing for Kanani but she wanted the baby .. I also got her the graco room room of furniture to go with it.

I was afraid she was to "old" for it.. but its the one thing she keeps asking for.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

She has a zebra themed room so if you have any great ideas for her room, that would be good too. I got her a hopscotch rug from Kohls for her room online last night for $15!!

Check out PB Teen for room ideas (even though she is not a teen yet). My DD12 has a bean bag from PB Teen - it was expensive, but it is so much nicer than the ones from Target or Walmart. She curls up in it to read every day. They have a zebra one:

http://www.pbteen.com/products/zebra-beanbag/?pkey=cbeanbags

My DD8 wants an iPod Touch, a new bike, and a Fijit friend. She does still play with her American Girl dolls, but she didn't ask for one for Christmas. Her birthday is in January, so I might get her the new doll of the year for 2012 if she likes her.

 

[Plantlady]

The Crayola store sells pencils that smell. They are not bendy, but they come in a TON of scents.

Just throwing it out there.

 

[2mickeys1minnie]

My 7yr old DD loves Barbie. She asked for the new Barbie Dreamhouse Townhouse from Santa. I don't mind getting it because I know she will play with it. She has the American Girl doll and bitty baby twins and still plays with them all the time. You can't go wrong. I also bought her the armoire from Target to hold all of her AG clothes. Best thing I ever bought! Holds a ton of stuff...even the shoes! She enjoys putting everything in its place when she is done playing with it.

 

[Andrea from PA]

I have 2 boys & a girl who is 10. I gave up on the "big" $ gift years ago. Now she simply gets more stuff. I try to box a number of things in one package so the tree doesn't look lopsided. My boys simply always wanted a big $ item (video game, etc). She just wants everything, most under $25.

I do an "experience" for her each year -- Nutcracker Ballet.

I did get my 5 yr old nephew a 4ft Sock Monkey that my 10 year old REALLY REALLY wants now too. The was $20 at Hot Topic on-line. It is LARGE.