Need Budget Christmas Gift Ideas for DH's Tween Niece.

[SnowWtch]

I haven't bought for a tween before but one of DH's nieces has hit that stage. Anyone have any ideas on something nice but not too expensive to get? She says she doesn't want toys or dolls but she does have a DS.

We're going to see about Toy Story Mania for the Wii as a joint gift for both nieces since it's on sale tomorrow at Best Buy for $19.99. They're doing a 2-day sale on several Disney Wii games like Guilty Party and some of the Disney sing a long ones.

 

[RooRach0906]

Games are great. Movies can be great too (like The Last Song). Also maybe a gift card for a small amount with a small gift with it.
Hope this helps.

 

[robinb]

I don't see where you can get a whole lot cheaper than $19 for a joint gift for 2 kids . I was going to suggest a $10-$25 iTunes card.

BTW, thanks for the head's up on the Wii games . I know where I'm going tomorrow!

 

[Cindy B]

just FYI, the Toy Story Mania game may be a bit young for a tween and may get bored of it easily. Are we talking 9 (tween) or 11-12 tween?

If you are looking at 11-12 I would go with Itunes cards, gift cards to more teenagery shops-- not Toy Story Mania. If it is 9, you can still do Toy Story Mania.. it is a very "young" game for the 5-8 year old set. We rented the game and it was proclaimed to be very boring. It was cute for about a 1/2 horus then it got boring.

11-12 year old girls like jewelry, music, fashion, sports, technology, and certainly not dolls (at least the ones I know). I would probably do an inexpensive digital camera or an inexpensive flip video camera. My daughter (12 at the time) loved her FLIP. You can also get a very inexpensive Ipod as well. I think the shuffles are like $39 now.

Really anything from Claire's, Justice (only if it is a young tween- no 12 yr old would be shopping there), Five Below, would be great.

 

[robinb]

Bummer on the TSM game. I was going to buy it for my 11-year old. I would suggest against a Justice gift card for ANY tween. Mine won't wear Justice at all. I swear we went right from Gymbo to Aero overnight ...

FWIW, mine still plays with dolls, Littlest Pet Shops & Zoobles. I'm going to the Madison Children's Museum's American Girl sale today to shop for her. My DD also likes Uggs and I bought her a pair of Fake Uggs at Marshalls/TJ Maxx for $40. But ... the iTunes or Claire's card is a LOT cheaper .

 

[Marionnette]

I haven't bought for a tween before but one of DH's nieces has hit that stage. Anyone have any ideas on something nice but not too expensive to get? She says she doesn't want toys or dolls but she does have a DS.

We're going to see about Toy Story Mania for the Wii as a joint gift for both nieces since it's on sale tomorrow at Best Buy for $19.99. They're doing a 2-day sale on several Disney Wii games like Guilty Party and some of the Disney sing a long ones.

I agree with the others that toy story mania may be too young for a tween. Maybe night at the museum or prince of persia would be a better choice for that age. Other ideas would be any beauty or grooming products. They love bath and body works stuff at that age. Hair stuff from claires. A subscription to a teen magazine like seventeen. And music is a big part of there lives. So an inexpensive mp3 player if they dont have one would be cool. Or itunes gift cards and a nice skin or case for there ipod.

 

[SnowWtch]

She's 10, I think. Her mom says they both LOVED the Toy Story ride at Disney and they're big Disney buffs so I figured that would be a good game for them. She doesn't have an iPod so a iTunes card wouldn't work. I may see about Bath and Body Works stuff though. That's a good idea. Thanks for all the ideas. It gives me something to think about.

 

[bjscheel]

All of this is so dependent on the child. I have a 9 and a 12. They are not so "grown-up/teenagery" as others. The 12 would shop at Justice (for some things, she is not into bling), is into American Girl, Build A Bear, Goofy, some Barbies (collects and still plays with sister), and history, wouldn't know what to do with an iTunes card, hates make-up, and fragrant bath stuff would probably make her itch. The 9 is still very into Barbies, Build A Bear, and would love smelly bath stuff or make-up.

If she is 10 and into Disney, TSM for Wii should be good. We all enjoy it. Or a Disney DS game since you know she has one. My girls want the Beauty and the Beast DVD, new Taylor Swift CD, bathrobes, Build a Bear stuff, Disney stuff, DS games, all of the Toy Story DVDs, Just Dance Wii.

Can you run some ideas by the parents? We always pass around some idea lists by email so we at least get an idea what types of things the kids (and adults) want or like.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

What's your budget? When my DD turned 12 I got her a cute wallet
(Happy Bunny her fav!) at walmart and filled it with giftcards for the places she liked to go (ie: Mc Donalds, Subway, Yogurtland, Tropical Smoothie cafe, Movie Theater). They were all for around $6 (to cover tax). DB got her a $50 AMX gift card and for the rest of the year she loved to go into places and be able to pay for her own stuff. Even when I offered to pay she wanted to use her gift card.

If she is a fan of the Disney channel she would probably love a subscription to M magazine.

We have the Toy Story game and DD never plays it although she is almost 14.

She is asking for the Just Dance wii game, so that maybe a good choice for you.

I always like to give books as gifts. DD loved The Tail of Emily Windsnap series at that age.

Hope it helps!

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

Very dependant on the child, I agree. You can't just lump them all together. My 11 yr old LOVES justice-would love the tsm game-Actually is asking for the plug and play version since we don't have a wii. Not so crazy about bath and body works yet. Likes aero and hollister just fine, but could take it or leave it. She does not want a IPOD, or even a cheap MP3- never has been into music. SO VERY dependant on the child. I cam here looking for ideas for her-she is difficult for me this year.

 

[RooRach0906]

She's 10, I think. Her mom says they both LOVED the Toy Story ride at Disney and they're big Disney buffs so I figured that would be a good game for them. She doesn't have an iPod so a iTunes card wouldn't work. I may see about Bath and Body Works stuff though. That's a good idea. Thanks for all the ideas. It gives me something to think about.

Just to let you know Bath and Body Work has a sale on there shower gels right now buy 3 get 3 free plus if you have the spend $20 get $10 off coupon and it makes them a awesome deal!!! like $4 a piece.
Also I have a DNiece 10 and she also Loves Toy Story and the game at HS and DMom (mine) is getting her TSM for Wii for Christmas because she asked for it.

 

[DVCBELLE]

My DD is 9 and LOVES Disney and the TSM ride. We have the game and she likes to play it but it gets old pretty quickly and they moved onto new games.

I would look into a game for her DS. My DD likes the Jewelry designer game. Any of the make believe games are good - I think they are the Imagine and Dreamer series.

She also loves gift cards to Justice and book stores. This is the age where they want to pick their own stuff out and having gift cards really makes them feel grown up!!

 

[stsomewhere]

My daughter will be 10 in January.

She would like American girl doll stuff
makeup
nail polish
lotions
gift cet. to Claire's
Aeropostal clothing
shoes
cute socks
gift card to book store
i tunes cards
cd's
hair stuff
money

 

[Earstou]

My dd and her cousins loved craft kits at that age. Jewelry kits, bath gel kits, oragami kits or just the supplies separately with a container to hold them.

 

[luvmy3]

I would get her a few small denomination GC's for places like Target, Claires, BBW McDonals, or even a GC to the movies for whatever your budget is. I would find a cute/funky way to wrap them up.

What about another Disney Wii game, like Sing it?

 

[kayrosek]

Again agree it depends on the child. My 11 year old still likes dolls but loves electronics and music. My oldest DD13 loves Build a Bear and mp3's but hates her DS. Both love Justice and are getting gift cards from thier grandparents. My girls loved getting wallets last year with Visa gift cards. They also love gift cards to places like MCD's and Subway.

 

[elcodfish]

Craft stuff would be good. AC Moore usually has 50% coupons so you could buy her a jewelry kit or something like that for a very good price. Also, most craft stores take the coupons of other craft stores.

 

[hambirg]

I think if you want to be the coolest relatives on the planet, you get her an I-pod shuffle for $40 since she doesn't have one.

 

[EmpressBubbles]

I just wanted to say thanks for the TSM Wii idea that I got from this thread. My niece's bday is today and she is 11. I bought this for her and she will love it. She is not yet into the Justin Bieber stuff and makeup, but is still a Disney fan. TSM is her favorite ride (and mine!)

This is just one of the many great things I've learned from lurking the DIS boards!