Books/toys for 11 yr old girl in the hospital

[Dizisfun]

Duct tape My dd 11 goes on line and makes all sorts of things with the stuff!!!
they have all colors and patterns she has decorated pens and made wallets and so much more!!!

^ This is an awesome idea. We bought my granddaughters a few rolls of the different colors of duct tape and they made roses on the end of pencils/pens and sold them for a few dollars each. Also made other things, can't remember exactly what tho. But you can go online and find things

 

[poohfriend77]

Duct tape My dd 11 goes on line and makes all sorts of things with the stuff!!!
they have all colors and patterns she has decorated pens and made wallets and so much more!!!

That's what I was going to say! DD10 spends hours crafting all sorts of things out of duct tape. She also loves making friendship bracelets with embroidery floss (Michaels sells a contraption that holds the string and keeps it from getting tangled). Or get a kit for making beaded bracelets, along with a tray to keep the beads corralled.

I agree with the suggestion for the "Kingdom Keepers" books. DD is into the "Warriors" series right now (by Erin Hunter). There are tons of them, so you could definitely keep her busy for a week with those.

What about introducing her to some older movies, like Gremlins, Goonies, Ghostbusters, ET, Indiana Jones, Princess Bride, etc.?

Best of luck on all the tests!

 

[lady9]

I agree with the duct tape, so many possibilities. My DD likes to decorate her notebooks with it.

I have not let my DD 11 read Hunger Games yet. You may want to read it yourself first and decide if she's mature enough, my DD is not. I did read all 3 and enjoyed them. (well, not Mockingjay as much)

My DD also likes paint by numbers. They have some nice tween pictures, horse, dolphins, and the paints are small and manageable. She also likes to make friendship bracelets. You can buy a kit or just some cross stitch thread and look online for different designs. Another good book is Wreck This Journal. Many of the activities can be done in the hospital, some she will have to save for home, but really fun to read and plan.

I hope all goes well. Good Luck!

 

[McKelly]

Thinkfun has lots of solo player games that are small enough to take to the hospital. My kids always enjoyed those...

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

My kids at school (4th -6th graders) are loving "The Unwanteds" and "A Wrinkle in time". Both are available as audible books. We like "A Wrinkle in Time" that is narrated by the author better than the one by someone else.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

My Granddaughter turned 12 in January and suggested the following: Hunger Games Series and the Airhead series by Meg Cabot. Best of Luck to your daughter.

 

[holden]

My DD10 just finished The Wednesday Wars and loved it so much she gave it to me for Mother's Day

 

[anelson81993]

I was born with two congenital heart defects, and was diagnosed with a third at the age of 11 (unknown congenital or developed), so I pretty much grew up in hospitals, and I feel for you guys. It's hard to be a kid and spend that kind of time in the hospital.
I would recommend any (all) of the Margaret Petersen Haddix books, including the Shadow Children series, but also including the rest of her books. I loved American Girl books at that age (during my post-op recovery during my surgery shortly before my 11th birthday I was reading the Kirsten books). Little Women was the book I brought originally to the hospital with me, and I read all the companions following surgery. I would also suggest the Alchymest books, if she likes Harry Potter/Rick Riordan (the series starts with The Alchymest). Eragon and the books in that series are great. The Kingdom Keepers series is a fun read, too. I wouldn't suggest the Hunger Games books at this age, particularly with what you've already mentioned about your daughter. I know a lot of parents are fine with their kids reading it at that age, and that's great: only you know if your kids are ready for that series. I just think it's a little too much for many 11-year-olds.
I also would second the idea a previous poster mentioned about getting a fun board or card game to play with her. I would lean more towards card games (board games can be hard depending on the kind of space you have). I learned to play Phase 10 around that age, and still love it; it would be fun to play together and it can kill hours. Scrabble Slam is a card-game version of Scrabble, and it's really fun. Pretty much any board or card game will work, though, as long as it's easy to move if necessary and doesn't take up too much table space. Sudoku puzzles and word searches/crosswords can also be fun hospital entertainment.
As for movies, I watch Disney animated movies when I'm sick or hospitalized; the last time I was hospitalized, I watched Sleeping Beauty. I personally like watching these movies when I'm hospitalized; they cheer me up and make me feel better. If your daughter wants something besides Disney, try: The Princess Bride, the Chronicles of Narnia movies, the Shrek movies (or at least the first two).
The PP who suggested including a few things for pampering was right on, in my opinion. A good pair of pajamas can make a hospital visit so much better. So can a pretty color of nail polish, or a favorite body wash or lotion. Anything to make the hospital pretty, smell nice, and feel a little more less hospital-ish.
Hope everything goes well!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

My DD10 just finished The Wednesday Wars and loved it so much she gave it to me for Mother's Day

If you like it, you'll like the follow up (it's not a sequel at all) Okay for Now. Both are EXCELLENT.

I just finished When You Reach Me; anyone from about 10 to 90 will enjoy it.

Cyntha Voight's books are great for that age (try Homecoming first), as are Katherine Patterson's (Jacob Have I Loved is probably her best). Marilyn Sachs is an oldie, but still read, I think, and deservedly so. Rita Williams-Garcia's book One Crazy Summer is really good.

Okay, that's enough realism.

Princess Academy and its follow up were both great, if she's into fantasy. I don't think anyone mentioned The Golden Compass series, which are really wonderful.

If you're on the edge with Hunger Games, you might try the Uglies series by Scott Westerfield. It's not quite as dark a dystopian world, maybe a half-step down, but very popular with the same crowd. (And the romance isn't as bad as it is in some of the current crop of dystopian teen novels that are swirling about ever since the Hunger Games.) Following in the Dystopian vein, there's the Maze Runner trilogy. (Not my cuppa, but well-regarded and a LOT of kids love them. They're filming the first book about 15 miles north of where I sit typing this, as a matter of fact!) Oh! And no one has mentioned Ender's Game, which isn't quite dystopian, but is science fiction, great for her age, and is being made into a huge movie (in Baton Rouge, which is south of me, LOL).

Luckily for me, all my younger dear relations have been readers at the age of 11 or so books are all we've ever had to buy them for forced periods of inactivity!

 

[MineMail]

The Artemis Fowl series is excellent, but challenging if she's not a strong reader. Very well-written. The Charlie Bone series is an easier read and a little more preposterous and funny.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

I second the Warrior series, my DD (12) adores them, also, the Black Stallion series if she's into horses (who am I kidding, right?). Duct tape is great, as is friendship bracelet supplies if she's crafty. For movies, How to Train Your Dragon is one of my DD's favorites, along with The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Wreck-It Ralph, The Princess Diaries (1 and 2).

I would say that the Pretty Woman recommended by a PP is probably not apprpriate for an 11 year old. Prostitution, drugs and abuse, not so good...

 

[v.t.]

When DS was in the hospital, we made paper chains (from wrapping paper) and decorated his room with it. His friends would help him make loops and his room was very festive.
His enjoyed watching October Sky, Sandlot and a lot of older musicals. If the hospital has wifi, you could sign up for netflix and watch all kind of stuff. I borrowed my uncles ipad and watched movies and shows from 2 to 6 am.

 

[MineMail]

I second the Warrior series, my DD (12) adores them, also, the Black Stallion series if she's into horses (who am I kidding, right?). Duct tape is great, as is friendship bracelet supplies if she's crafty. For movies, How to Train Your Dragon is one of my DD's favorites, along with The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Wreck-It Ralph, The Princess Diaries (1 and 2).

I would say that the Pretty Woman recommended by a PP is probably not apprpriate for an 11 year old. Prostitution, drugs and abuse, not so good...

Have you read the Princess Diaries books? They are much more risqué than the movies, lots of comments about French kissing and petting. I returned the copy I had bought for my then-11 year old. The movies are much more appropriate.

It's about Pretty Woman being too racy for a kid. The Tenth Kingdom is an excellent miniseries if you can rent it - several episodes, fun story and characters.

 

[tianna26]

3ds

 

[disfan07]

I intern in a child life department and some of the favorites of the girls here are:

Beading kits
Puzzles
Sudoku
Logic puzzles
Board games (clue, yahtzee, life)

Will she have an iPad or laptop? I know we have iPads, iPods and gaming systems we can supply to kids to use but if she has her own iPad or laptop that would help keep her entertained. We also have DVDs we loan out to kids while in the hospital. They can watch them on the PS3 or on the DVD player.

I'm older (23) but I've been in and out of the hospital since I was 14. My most recent stay in march was about 3 weeks long. A lot of what I did to pass the time would be things good for most ages.

Board games (we brought yahtzee, monopoly and sorry from home)
Movies (our hospital has free movie stations.....watched Disney movies, the lorax, the muppets, etc)
Sudoku

Honestly, I usually spend the majority of my time doing homework (I'm in college), sleeping and watching TV...so I don't have too many ideas!

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

Have you read the Princess Diaries books? They are much more risqué than the movies, lots of comments about French kissing and petting. I returned the copy I had bought for my then-11 year old. The movies are much more appropriate.

It's about Pretty Woman being too racy for a kid. The Tenth Kingdom is an excellent miniseries if you can rent it - several episodes, fun story and characters.

I haven't read the books, but that's really good to know, my DD loves reading, we just haven't run across these yet. So far, so good on the boy front, she's not much into it.

She just finished Jurassic Park, and started The Lost World. I'm amazed that she's doing good, I had creepy nightmares about T-Rex tongues coming at me for a week or so after finished that book!

 

[shell8558]

A few movies my 11 has watched are - princess diaries , parent trap , Ramona and beezus, night at museum , another Cinderella story , sorcerers apprentice . Has she watched the high school musical series , camp rock , or lemonade mouth ? They are all disney channel movies .

 

[Anjiebaby]

We have frequent family movie nights. My kids are 4 years apart oldest is 13 and these have kept them interested but not been inappropriate.
Nanny McPhee
Nanny McPhee Returns
Nim's Island
Ella Enchanted
Ever After
Hook
Princess Bride
Iron Giant
Zathura
Journey to the Centre of the Earth 1 and 2
Polyanna
Angels in the Outfield
ET
Hugo
Batteries not Included
Dolphin Tale
Never Ending Story
The Last Starfighter
Lemony Snickets and a series of unfortunate events
Eight Below
Back to the Future series
John Candy movies especially:
Cool Runnings
Great Outdoors
Summer Rental
I have to pull a few of these out to watch again
Good luck in the hospital, Lots of these would probably be on Netflix

 

[rebeccalb10]

Peter & The Star Catchers is also a good series. It is a Peter Pan prequel series by Dave Barry & Ridley Scott.

I also forgot to mention- my 10 (almost 11) yr old daughter likes to use Netflix to catch up on old TV series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Trek (mostly Voyager) and other shows like that.

 

[laughinplace199]

Has she read the Flavia de Luce books? How about The Mysterious Benedict Society series? My DD loved those books!

For movies, DD13 & DS11 love the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Night at the Museum, Aliens in the Attic, Despicable Me, and all of the Disney and Pixar movies, of course!

Good luck to your DD. I hope everything goes well!