Any advice on a birthday gift for a 5 year old girl?

[skygazer]

My granddaughter's birthday is coming up, her mother hasn't answered my email asking what she'd like, they live far away so I don't see the kid regularly and it's been a loooooonnnnng time since I had a 5 year old.

Help a fellow Lounge lizard out, hmmm?

[hippywife]

1. When my neice was about that age

I sent her a whole box of art supplies of all kinds. She loved it!

[skygazer]

5. Oh, that's a great idea!

There's tons of fun stuff of that sort and good for the imagination. Thanks!

[rug]

2. Webkinz

[Nicole]

3. Leapfrog learning toys

Especially since she will be starting school before long.

I bought those for a friend's daughters who are 6 & 3. They both loved them. They were having fun & learning at the same time.

Edit to add the url:

http://www.leapfrog.com/LeapFrog/index.jsp

The site is broken down by age group & interest. It made shopping easy.

[Scarlett17]

7. That's what I was going to recommend.

Leapfrog makes the best educational toys. My kids had the Leappad and there was a page on the Human Skeleton. One day, I came home from the orthopedist and told my family that I had a bi-partheid patella. My then four-year-old daughter said, "That's your kneecap, Mom." Flabbergasted, I asked her how in the world she knew that and she brought out her Leappad. They are definitely the best educational toys out there. They do the job.

[Nicole]

8. Wow

That's amazing for a four year old! I don't think I learned that until junior high biology.

Good for your daughter. :)

[Scarlett17]

12. It was pretty funny.

That Leappad was the coolest. It is my standard gift now for all little kids. And Leapfrog has so many more products now than they did then (1998). My mom had bought it on QVC, I think. My other favorite thing about the Leappad is the US geography game. The schools don't teach the states anymore like when I was in school. It's a shame, but my kids learned them on their Leappad.

[skygazer]

10. Wow, that's cool

I bookmarked the site - I love fun educational things and her mom did as well.

[LeftyMom]

4. Stuff kids that age like:

bike, scooter, etc
toy kitchen
books
dress-up things for imaginary play
lego sets for younger kids (but not the ones with really huge bricks)
basic art supplies
learning toys (leap pad, etc) and games
indoor play tents
swingsets

Is she a girly girl, really athletic, obsessed with ponies, etc? That'd help some in picking a present.

[skygazer]

6. I wish I knew

:( Her mom blows hot and cold with me so I don't know the kids at all which breaks my heart. My daughter married a Kansas Republican and now blames me for everything that's ever gone wrong in her life. I don't mean to whine - but that's why I really don't know.

Those are some good ideas, though. Thanks. :hi:

[riderinthestorm]

25. Lots of good ideas there but pretty much every 5 yr old likes to dress up

Try Claire's - it's a national retail chain that has very cheap tiaras, fairy wands, fake boas, angel and butterfly wings, cheap glitzy high heels, fabulous "princess-type" fake jewelry and more. In my experience little girls love to dress up in that kind of stuff but if for some reason she hates it, Claire's is everywhere and her mom can return it (but she'd have to be a pretty grumpy mom to do that....)

Art supplies are always good but what I've found is that so many of them don't get used cause the stuff doesn't "look" user friendly for a 5 year old. Make sure any art stuff you get includes a LOT of big paper, glitter items (markers, paints, glue), stamps, mini-hole punches that punch out interesting stuff like butterflies, flowers etc., stickers are an absolute requirement for 5 year olds!

[Haole Girl]

9. I gave my niece a little science kit when she was young...

...she seemed to like it.

You really can't go wrong with art supplies, too, though! :hi:

[lukasahero]

30. Bless you

Science "kits" that make science fun. Legos that make "engineering" fun.

That's what I would have wanted and that's what I bought my nephews. Would have bought the same thing for my neices but I don't have any.

I just bought my 15 year old nephew a bracelet making kit for Christmas. It was the only present he used on Christmas day (oh and he's on the football team before anyone reaches for their "gay" snark).

[LaraMN]

11. Default gift: Art supplies.

Fun ones that her mom wouldn't likely buy, normally; glitter glue, giant paper, metallic markers, etc. I've never met a kid that couldn't put art supplies to good use! Mine like play-doh alot, too.

[NNadir]

13. I think this set is a very nice present for a child of that age.

http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471936235.html

[XemaSab]

15. ROFL!

I was going to suggest this one:

http://www.vogeltrekstation.nl/pyle_1997.htm

What 5-year-old doen't want to lick the head of a prothonatory? :D

[pscot]

14. Get her a hop ball

Big ball with handle. Kid sits on it,goes bouncy, bouncy. Lot of fun. Not too expenive. Guaranteed to get used.

[Scarlett17]

19. I think that was called a Hippety Hop when I was a kid

I haven't seen one in years. That thing was a blast. Mine was Mickey Mouse. :P

[JackBeck]

16. A pony.

Isn't that what the kids dig nowadays?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. Would you be my dad?

:rofl:

[TroubleMan]

17. I hate to generalize....but

I don't know many 5 year old girls who don't like Disney movies or Dirty Dancing (the movie). Find out what movies she doesn't have. My son and all of his friends (boys and girls) seem to love this movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475293/

[BikeWriter]

18. Ask them if she has a karaoke player...

I recently bought a cool one for a child for 50 bucks. The video camera in it puts you on TV too.

[driver8]

21. My soon-to-be-five year old daughter got a karaoke machine for Christmas

and absolutely loves it.

Of course, she is a HUGE ham and loves to be the center of attention.

[Midlodemocrat]

26. I second this.

My 10yo got one for Christmas this year, but prior to that she had been using her sister's. She's forever giving concerts.

[Ghost in the Machine]

22. Do *NOT* get her one of these.....

This is just wrong... on soooo many levels


Ghost

[Scarlett17]

35. Hilarious!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Heidi]

23. Almost any book illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger.

Kids tend to grow into these books. The illustrations are delicious. I just ordered this for my friend's seven-year-old daughter.



More of Lisbeth Zwerger's work: http://www.childscapes.com/bookpages/zwerger.html

[Left Is Write]

24. Chicken Socks craft kits, bead kits, My Little Pony, Polly Pocket

[sarge43]

27. Well, I gave my five year old (at the time) goddaughter

one of those picture dictionaries designed for the youngin's. She loved it and had it memorized by her sixth birthday.

[Sequoia]

28. Polly Pockets are the rage.

Keeps 'em occupied for hours on end.

[skygazer]

29. These are all great ideas

I'm braving the mall today with this, my list. Thanks! :hi:

[LibertyLover]

31. Another vote for Leapfrog

My four year old daughter loves her My First Leap Pad and often plays with it. For her 5th birthday in a few months we are going to upgrade to a regular Leap Pad.

[reyd reid reed]

32. Leapfrog stuff is good

so is anything Barbie at that age. Play-doh is ALWAYS a winner, although I recently discovered that moon sand stuff (and it doesn't squish into the carpet and vaccuums right up).

[Phillycat]

33. I think that Dora the Explorer is really popular.

:shrug:

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

34. Anything except

Bratz® crap (aka Slutz®)

[Wcross]

36. A pony of course. n/t