what do 8 yo girls like nowadays?

[emma'smom]

My dd is 8 and right now she and her friends are into silly bands, sports equipment that is girl-oriented (like pink soccer balls/water bottles, etc), DS and Wii games, anything American Girl, seasonal outdoor toys (like cool sleds for winter, etc). She's also really into Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the Fairy Book series.....


For birthday parties, I would go with art projects/kits (art supplies aren't a bad choice--but they kind of get lost in the shuffle). Lately they spend a lot of time pretending they are in rock bands playing karaoke instruments and working on dance routines (ala High School Musical).

 

[ThreeKMom]

My DD wil be 8 in November, she still likes LPS but was never into Barbies. She LOVES crafts, scrapbook kits are a great gift for girls this age. They can do the book with their friends or family and it can be about the party they just had or just about their group of friends. You're never too young to start scrapbooking!

She is also very into Webkinz, Club Penguin and Sillybandz.
You can always get a gift card to the craft store or Toys R Us!

If you are really stressing about what to get just remember to enclose the gift receipt and that way if you totally miss the mark she can return it and get something she likes!

 

[El&Asmom]

Dd is 7, but is young for her grade as many of her friends are turning 8.
She still loves LPS, barbies and Polly Pockets. She and her sister are also very into their American Girl dolls, but that stuff is pricey.

I agree with the hatred of Justice. We went there this weekend for the second or third time as dd had a gift card and we had a coupon. They are overpriced and the quality isn't any different from Old Navy. Plus I hate the inevitable pleads from my girls to buy stuff from their make up/junk section.

Dd loves stuff from Clare's and earrings since she got her ears pierced last spring.
She's not into lotions. They have some Clare's make up that they only use for dress up at home once in a blue moon, but I wouldn't buy lotions or make up for a child that age not knowing the parents values.

I think the best, no stress gifts are crafts, journals or gift cards. Great for most any girl that age.

 

[Leajess99]

Thank you so much for all your ideas.

I can not believe how dated some of my ideas were. I mean, I played with barbies up until 6th grade, but that was some years ago....

Neither of my daughters ever really got into Barbies. My older one played with them for about a year or so at 4 but she gave them up. I probably still have a container of them in her closet.

 

[luvmy3]

My dd is 12 and still plays with her LPS (she makes movies with them for Youtube) and she wants Squinkies Of course there is a time when that stuff is babyish and then becomes "cute" which is what stage her friends are in. Anyway OP, if you really don't know her interests I would get her a cute fuzzy blanket, a journal and cool pens/pencils.

A pillow pet

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

My 8yr old girl would rather have gift cards than anything else! She loves Justice, Claires, book stores, target, walmart, and even like McDonalds. She loves to read. And of course, I second the suggestions for lip gloss, fingernail polish, smencils. Oh and journals, notebooks, markers, pens pencils and pocketbooks!

This is pretty much my daughter (7 1/2) - not so much in wanting gift cards, but in being interested in the same things. She has never been into LPS, is over princesses , but she likes the fairies (especially Silvermist and Vidia). She is not much into Barbies. She likes to read, play fairies, play outside, and do art projects. She's not so much into nail polish and lip gloss, but she likes sparkly headbands, cool things for her room, and fun accessories (scarves, necklaces, etc.) She doesn't get excited about clothes that much, but she can have fun in Justice and Claires picking out headbands and accessories!

She does want Squinkies for Christmas, but she is over Silly Bandz and hasn't mentioned any other toys yet.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I find Justice to be an awful store - way too grown up, horribly overpriced, subpar quality clothes, and much too grown up outfits. Went in for the 1st time last week, while on vacation in U.S., and we prompty walked right out! So, for us, if you got us these kinds of gift cards, we wouldn't use them, but we would use a mall gift card, in which we could pick out any store to shop at. I never buy clothing gift cards, as you don't know what types of styles are allowed in their household.

I can't stand Justice either, although I will buy DD7 some of their graphic tees when they are 40% off (they're not worth much more than the $8 I pay for them). DD7 loves to go in there, but I always have to tell her to put things back that I won't let her wear. They do have cute journals (tie dye or light up, some with their initials on them) and some cute accessories both for DD and her room. Their toys are so overpriced that a 40% off sale brings the prices back in line with Target and Walmart. But we do avoid the clothes for the most part.

 

[marcemc]

I ended up going to Michael's and bought her some crafts from American Girl.They are very girly girl and cute. I wanted some for myself

She absolutely loved them and the other girls were saying how nice they look and how much they wanted to make the crafts with her.

It was a great idea, thank you for suggesting crafts!