what to get for a 4/5 year old girl?

cobbingstones

Hi all

My dd is 41/2 and she is a total nightmare when trying to buy for She loves barbie but doesn't really play with the dolls, loves art, reading, making things. I always seem to buy her things that I would really expect her to love, then a week later its passed its sell by date!

What have you bought your dd?


MM

CandyB101_2

Hi madsmum,
I'm sure that is my DD that you are writing about!!!

Is she into 'role playing' ?

From Home bargins the other week, I bought her the nurses outfit £3.99, which she adores, so today as a present from Santa (at pre-school) she has a doctors bag too, from Wilkinsons £4.00. She loves it. Has been really busy all day looking after all her dolls, making them better. Has even called it her 'vets bag'.

A couple of xmas's ago, I also bought her a McDonalds till from Argos, came complete with all food and acessories. This always comes out to play, she loves taking our orders and making me/dolls dinner, whilst cooking it on her kitchen.
I don't think it's in the Argos catalogue this year, but have noticed that they are selling them in Toys r us.

beccam

I really struggled with ideas this year (DD has just turned 3) she loves Peppa Pig but has nearly all the toys from things during the year, last years Christmas and it was her birthday in Nov so there was only a couple of small bits she had left to get.
I resorted in showing her Argos and ELC catalogue and seeing if there was anything she really liked!!!
She's getting alot of small presents this year rather than one big thing, has no real 'big' present at all. Couple of Peppa bits, Ponyville thing, books and a 'buttons and bows boutique' from ELC (part of Rosies world). I went to Woolies and got some new playdoh, felt tips etc that were all reduced and they'll be stocking fillers.
DD loves her shopping trolley from last year, think it was about £20 in Smyths and she's always getting me to play 'Mrs Lady' and she comes to my shop to buy things.

mummysaver

When my three girls were younger I did them assorted boxes, I got a plastic toy box with lid from B&Q and filled it with dressing up bits, not all from the shops and brand new, some were charity shop finds, and many were accessories from poundland like shoes/glasses/wigs/feather boas. I've also done arty ones, filled with paper, paint, pencils, playdough, crayons, brushes, pots, apron and plastic cloth. The cooking one I did was popular too, a till from a boot sale and assorted food and tea sets again from boot sales, and some money (think it was ELC). I've done a dolls one as well, that contained some nappies, a changing bag (free with babyclub from boots), feeding set, some clothes (newborn ones bought in sales, far cheaper than real babyborn or baby annabel stuff), and a baby blanket (an old one from when dds were tiny!) - this box went with the main pressie of whichever doll was filling the dreams of my daughters at the time.

The bonus of putting it all in a box means it is easy to tidy away as it comes with it's own home! And all the bits mean that the toys get played with a lot, role play stuff always seems to have a much longer life than the latest must have toy.

rainmac

How about beads? Ikea sell a huge tub of beads, perfect for necklaces and bracelets etc.

Tesco have reduced lots of their kiddie Xmas craft kits, some lovely bits there.

A baking kit? You could include a plastic mixing bowl, an apron, wooden spoon, ready made icing, cupckae recipe, cupcake cases, various cake decorations... I've done one of these for my son who's 4.

Ikea sell make your own gingerbread houses for less than £2.

i_wanna_save_money!

Why not buy some moon sand if she likes making things. They had this:
http://www.elc.co.uk/toy/moonsand-adventure-island/
in home bargains yeaterday for £9.99. I didn't buy some as we have still got a set from last christmas that is still in great condition despite being played with on a weekly basis.

cobbingstones

Thank you all for taking the time to reply x

sweetnskint

how about a book set from the book people- lots of great sets cheap.

trixietoes

Or make up a 'baking' hamper/bucket, so you can make cakes or biscuits together, some brightly coloured utensils and mixing bowl. My neice used to love that when she was about your DD's age... most of it was eaten before it was cooked but she had fun.