Gifts for Girls

No matter the occasion -- birthday,  holiday or just for fun -- little girls love receiving gifts.  However, part of the trouble with girls is finding something that fits their interests, especially since they usually like a lot of different things. Plus, little girls are still experimenting with their personalities, so one year she may be a tomboy and the next she'll be a fashionista. Who knows? Maybe this year she'll have an affection for saving the planet. Either way, with a little bit of time and thought you should be able to find the perfect gift. Here are some ideas to get you started on the right path to buying a gift that will make her smile.

Preschoolers

The first thing to think about when buying a gift for a preschool-aged girl is what things she likes to play with on a daily basis. If you aren't a close family member, ask the parents for some clues and advice; they will certainly be willing to give suggestions. Otherwise, there are a few basics that this age group tends to like. When in doubt, simply remember that girls this age are all about fun and smiles.

Types of Gifts

• Favorite Characters
• Items including clothes, jewelry, accessories and even party supplies  are best when they sport popular television  or story characters on them. Think pajamas,  jewelry boxes,  purses,  backpacks  and even pillows or room décor. 
• You can choose a classic character from Sesame Street,  Care Bears,  Barbie,  Disney Princesses  or My Little Pony.  Or you might try a very trendy new character that kids can't get enough of, such as Dora the Explorer,  Sponge Bob,  Hello Kitty,  or Trisket and Bisket.
• Toys and Games
• Certain types of games and toys are good for this age group, such as dolls and dollhouses,  dress up costumes,  rocking horses,  plush toys,  play kitchens  and play sets. 
• Be careful when buying large items. Not all kids have room for a big dollhouse or play kitchen. When in doubt, ask the parents.
• Outdoor Fun
• Children love being outside, and what better way to motivate them to spend some time in the fresh air than with a fun toy for outside?
• Balls,  tricycles,  pogo sticks,  wagons  and motorized ride-on toy cars  are all fun options.
• Learning and Creativity
• Anything that stresses education, learning or creativity are good bets. You can try rub a dub tub paints,  crayons  and coloring books,  any Leap Frog  product (they make electronic learning toys),and CDs, DVDs, or CD-ROMs that act as a learning tool.

Gift Ideas

Rainbow Ribbon Wands  For the little girl who can't stop dancing around the house, give her these beautiful rhythmic gymnastics-inspired ribbons to swirl and toss.	Walkie Talkies  With a pair of walkie talkies, she and her playmates can spend hours making up imaginative scenarios.	Leap Pad Learning System  These award-winning products help teach kids to read, write and do basic math. Through add-on books purchased separately, they can grow with children.	Portable Sing Along Player  We all know how much fun karaoke is. Girls will love singing along and dancing to their favorite tunes.	Learning Littles Dolls  For girls being raised bilingual these dual-language dolls are a great alternative to Barbie, and are soft and cuddly enough for youngsters.

Ages 6-9

Since girls at this age are starting to develop their own self-identity, it can be difficult to buy gifts for them.  School makes them more socially-conscious, more curious and more interested in particular areas, such as different school subjects and sports.  This is also a time when girls might start to become more into extra-curricular activities, which makes a big difference when buying gifts.  Below you will see some general gift suggestions based on favorite interests.

Favorite Characters from Pop Culture

For kids who are into movies and books, there are a few faces that have a fond place in a girl's heart. There is the infamous Harry Potter  and pals who seem to be on everything from backpacks to bed sheets. The books  themselves or one of the movies  are good gifts for the Potter fan. Toys and games from epic fantasy sagas such as those from Star Wars  and Lord of the Rings  are numerous, including board games,  action figures,  and accessories. For girls who have an interest in Disney, there are several characters that are popular, including Nemo,  and Cinderella  (and the other princesses). Don't forget about dolls (Barbie, Flavas,  Hello Kitty,  Bratz,  iCarly,  and American Girl Dolls ) or gender-neutral cartoon characters like Shrek,  The Incredibles,  Mario  and Scooby Doo. 

Shrek  DVDs are a great choice when you are stuck for what to get a girl this age. Just make sure to choose "age appropriately".	Chronicles of Narnia Books  Books are always a good gift for a young girl looking to learn and read about fantastical worlds.	Bratz Dolls  Popular dolls and stuffed animals are good for girls this age as long as they like playing with dolls -- not all do.	Nickelodeon Magazine  Magazine subscriptions for kids are good because they are a fun and easy way to get them into reading.	Sponge Bob Slippers  Fun characters can always be found on sleeping bags, jewelry boxes, bedroom décor and clothing articles.

If She Is High Tech

It's not just boys who like "techie" toys. The revolution has taken a commonplace role for kids these days and it goes without saying that there are hundreds of great gifts that are electronic.

• From the audio department, there are karaoke machines,  CD players,  MP3 players  and fun portable speakers.
• As far as computers go, one of the coolest things for kids these days are the mini laptops for learning (one is shown below). There are also LeapFrog Learning Pads for 2nd and 3rd graders, which are very helpful for learning.
• If you're considering giving a video game, check with mom or dad--not all families like their children playing video games  at such an early age, but if it's ok, you want to make sure she doesn't already own the game!

Firefly Phone  Cool to keep track of kids, but beware of the potential health risks related to this product.	Nintendo DS Lite  Video games are a must have for girls and boys. Buying bundles is a great way to keep costs down.	Fly Pentop Computer  The toy of the year has truly earned its title. This is a must-see product!	Luscious Lil' Laptop  Learn school skills with the Bratz on a colorful, easy to use kid's laptop.

Girly Girls

These gifts can work for either the very girly, but remember, a big factor in whether or not a girl will like the gift or not is the color. Pinks are great for some, but others -- well, you can imagine.

Inline Skates	Girl's Jewelry Box	Name Jewelry	Cute Clothes and Accessories	Pixel Chix

Creative Kid

Art and music are universal. All kids should have a good creative influence in their life, especially if they show any interest in it. They might be into dance, music, theater arts, or visual arts. Here are some toys, games, kits, and art supplies that can help engage a girl's creative side.

Tricky Pix	Art Supply Kit	Beading Kit	Sticker Book	Pictionary Junior

Tween Girl

Ahh... being a tween. It's never easy. You are too "grown-up" for the girls' section, but not quite ready for juniors'. It is that lovely period for girls aged 10 to 12 where a personal identity really starts to take form. It's so complicated one wonders how it is humanly possible to choose a gift for a girl this age. Of course, if you know that a girl is a budding artist, a glam girl, a movie buff, a bookworm, a sports fan, an animal lover or any other type, honing in on those interests makes gift giving a breeze; otherwise, it's best to steer clear of such things, lest you get the wrong gift that will be forever banished to the closet. Here are some very basic, very trendy and utterly no-fail gifts to pick for a discriminating tween.

Basic Gifts

Slumber Party Movie Basket	Purse	Cranium Cadoo	Digital Camera	MP3 Players

The Diva

Think pink, pretty, glamorous, and glitzy. You know this girl will enjoy shopping and fashion as she grows up, so foster her fashionista attitude. If she likes wearing makeup  and the parents do not object, there are plenty of makeup kits available for little girls. Clothes, accessories and jewelry are all good gifts, but check with the parents for sizes.

Fancy Barbie	Body Spray	Funky Shades	Pretty Jean Jacket	Electronic Diary

The Nerd

There's nothing wrong with being good at academics and being interested in school. In fact, it's great, especially when it comes to gift giving. Girls who like learning and going to school will enjoy a variety of intellectually-stimulating gifts.

Language Laptop	Interactive Talking Globe	Harry Potter Boxed Set	20 Questions Game	Microscope

The Rocker Grrl

Whether she's into goth, punk, emo, or rockabilly, there are certain staples that always help complete the look.  If you know her favorite band, don't forget about the all-important merchandising (however, always be sure to check and make sure the band is parentally-approved)!

Manic Panic Temporary Hair Dye	Doc Martens	Diary	Black Nail Polish	Hoodies

The Triple Threat

If she's a born entertainer, nurture her love of music, dance, or acting.  Even shyer girls will get a kick out of singing and dancing around the house, especially if she's imagining herself on tour with Hannah Montana! 

Monologues for Teens	Karaoke Machine	Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus	Ballet Slippers	High School Musical

The Artiste

You can never have too many art projects, musical instruments, or balls of yarn lying around the house.  Gifts like these will let her creative nature shine.

Knitting Kit	Pottery Wheel	Lomography Cameras	Guitar	Paint Set

Related Guides

• Classic Kids Toys
• Educational Toys
• Kids Electronic Toys
• Musical Toys
• Science Toys
• Toys and Games
• Toys for Grade Schoolers
• Toys for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners