Birthday gift ideas for an 11 year old ?! Help!

Troutwrestler

I'm hoping someone can help me! As title , it's my eldests 11th birthday in a few weeks and I am truly stumped what to get her.

My own fault really as she has everything already, she's asking for an iPhone on contract but seeing as its only me or her nan she calls it seems a bit pointless?! (Also she got a blackberry at Xmas so it's seems daft)

I took her for a weekend at alton towers as part of her birthday but apparently it doesn't count if its more than a week before the actual date!

Anyone suggest something ?
Thanks

fluffnutter

What does she like doing?

Troutwrestler

fluffnutter wrote: »

What does she like doing?

Horse riding, Facebook and complaining

My mum has bought her some vouchers to go towards horse trekking and she already goes horse riding every week so that kind of covered ...

fluffnutter

Buy her a horse. If you can't afford a real one, just get a pretend one.

I'm not helping much am I? I shall contact my niece who's just turned 11 and ask her what her favourite presents were (or what she'd have preferred ).

suejb2

My d.d. is having a driving lesson for her 11th birthday, I don't do links but "google" young driver for locations.

Troutwrestler

fluffnutter wrote: »

Buy her a horse. If you can't afford a real one, just get a pretend one.

I'm not helping much am I? I shall contact my niece who's just turned 11 and ask her what her favourite presents were (or what she'd have preferred ).

:rotfl:

Her idea was a horse too.. But short of a lottery win....:(

Plus she has a cat that muggins here takes care of for her, so perhaps not...

The driving thing looks good....I will run it past her..thanks

stir_crazy

My auntie "adopted" a horse for my birthday for a few years by donating to redwings horse sanctuary. I got updates and pictures of the horse (Lucy!) from the sanctuary quite often. I don't think it costs much but it was something special to have.

**Lucy died but I just had a look on the redwings website and Lucy's pal, Muffin the Mule, is still there and up for "adoption". Makes me all nostalgic...**

Amanda65

Troutwrestler wrote: »

I took her for a weekend at alton towers as part of her birthday but apparently it doesn't count if its more than a week before the actual date!
Thanks

Says who ?? That sounds a little ungrateful tbh.

Troutwrestler wrote: »

My own fault really as she has everything already, she's asking for an iPhone on contract but seeing as its only me or her nan she calls it seems a bit pointless?! (Also she got a blackberry at Xmas so it's seems daft)
Thanks

Definitely wouldn't get an Iphone for an 11 yo, especially as she only got a Blackberry at Xmas :eek:

If she loves horseriding and goes regularly what about some good boots, new hat, johdpurs? My horse mad daughter always loved riding bits.

And as for running the driving experience by her, would you not rather surprise her with something than checking if it's OK? I wouldn't have dreamed of doing this when mine were younger - but then I love surprises

maman

Don't take this as criticism but it sounds as if (by your own admission) you've spent rather a lot of money on her already!

I'd suggest you buy her something you might buy anyway in the coming weeks as I'm guessing she's soon going to secondary school. If you think she'll nag on for a smartphone then go for that. She will find a laptop and memory sticks useful for her secondary homework. You'll have to spend out on uniform so why not some grown up 'out of school' clothes like Hollister, Jack Wills or Converse. Does she have pierced ears? that seems an 11 year old milestone round here.Failing that buy her a voucher for some sort of treat (Trip to Thorpe Park? London for the Day?) that you might do anyway in the coming school holidays.

balletshoes

If she has a fairly new Blackberry I definitely wouldn't buy her an iphone - she may well find that at secondary school everyone uses blackberrys anyway. Thats the deal at my DD's secondary school - kids from year 7 right up to year 11 have blackberrys and use them all the time.

Troutwrestler

I agree I have spoilt her rotten (I have my reasons..she was very ill as a baby and I have just got used to spoiling her )

Thanks for all your suggestions....horse riding stuff was all bought a few weeks back for start of new riding school....but I could ask her if there anything else she wants. She has her ears pierced...she has converse..we are going to chessington in the holidays...I have booked a trip to a hotel and a meal out but according to my lovely child..that's not a present cos you can't unwrap it.....she already has an iPad/laptop/iPod...
Maybe I should bite the bullet and buy an iPhone.


Great idea about adopting a horse!
As for surprises...it's always best to let her know what your getting her..she doesn't take disappointment well