ideas for tricky to buy for young girls

loulou123

Have no idea what to buy for my nieces aged 4 and 6 and was looking for some ideas...

They are both very privileged kids - go to a private school, parents both professionals etc. Apparently the younger of the 2 is very advanced for her age too, I only see them once or twice a year at most, so do not really "know" them.

Another problem is the parents only believe in "educational" toys, and do not believe in giving them (im their words not mine) "plastic rubbish or fad toys."

I know the elder one really wants one of those battery hamster things, as she told me a while ago, but I'm not sure if that'd be classed as a "bad" gift by their parents.

Any ideas as I'm stuck! Looking to spend around £10-15 each.

tanith

I don't think you can go far wrong with books in the circumstances .

MrsTinks

Surely the point of being the auntie is to be able to buy all the crap and junk the kids want that their parents won't?
The point is that even junk and fad toys serve a purpose... they will learn that sometimes the things that look SO cool and everyone wants are actually dreadfully dull to play with I remember wanting a Shellby (furby in a shell) - that fascination lasted at most a day or two... and I did eventually work out that it was better to ask for cash and then wait and see what toys everyone was still playing with in Jan and buy them half price in the sale... Although I was gutted the year I got nothing but clothes and a bed and my much younger brother for the Nintendo system I'd asked for (The one before the SNES - yeah I'm old...) and I wasn't allowed to play on it...

Irony... that blasted thing is STILL going! My parents have it at their house plugged in to an old TV in the office and every christmas we've been back we end up playing on it at least one night into the early hours... you just can't be shooting those dumb ducks!

kitschkitty

Books are a great idea or how about some sort of kit for them to cook, cakes or cookies, with the ingredients and moulds/cutters, bowl, & spoon etc - then they get to eat some nice home cooked treats.

scaredy_cat

get them a hamster toy each!!!

bizzybee

I had to buy for a friend's "privileged" daughter and decided on cookie cutters of her initials, a little apron and a child's cookbook. Apparently she and the nanny spend a lot of time baking now!

vikki_louise

Studio have personalised aprons for under £3 if you go with bizzybee's idea. I would go with the hamster and tell the parents she had mentioned she would like it. If not what about a charity gift they can feel good about?

savingmonkey

The cook book and apron idea is nice. My 4 year old loves the games by orchard toys, they are fun (but also have an educational element!). My favourite is Tummy Ache (had this game when I was young!).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_0_8?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=orchard+toys&sprefix=orachard%2Caps%2C150

loulou123

Thanks everyone

I do like idea of books as I'm a book lover myself, has anyone got ideas of good books for these age groups (considering they are fairly advanced for their age.)

Easiest thing would be to ask the parents, but they have no concept of money and would properly say something way over our budget which id then feel bad not being able to buy.

Gina_of_course!

I think the main thing to remember is that the present/s are for the children and not the parents... if the eldest would like a hamster thing.. get her that.. and maybe the same for the younger one too as she would probably want one, once she sees her sisters...

Indulge the little ones

lilmiss1982

loulou123 wrote: »

Thanks everyone

I do like idea of books as I'm a book lover myself, has anyone got ideas of good books for these age groups (considering they are fairly advanced for their age.)

Easiest thing would be to ask the parents, but they have no concept of money and would properly say something way over our budget which id then feel bad not being able to buy.

The pencil is a delightful childrens book which I think is suitable for either of the them. My kids aged 3 and 6 adore it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Pencil-Allan-Ahlberg/dp/1406319554/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352637203&sr=8-1