Need gift ideas for 5 year old girl

My niece is very easy going and happy most of the time. I know some kids are always talking about what they want, but she's not the kind of person to have a list of things that she's got to have...she's pretty much happy with what she's got. She has tons of toys already between ones given to her and hand-me-downs from her older sister.

They live far away from me so I only get to see them a few times a year so I'd like to find a unique gift. Anyone have ideas of things that their 5 year olds really love? She's very into animals, fairies, and pretend play, and she loves to read. We all go camping together every summer at the beach so something beachy is a possibility, but they already have the basic pails and shovels...I don't just want to give a toy for the sake of it being a toy, KWIM? It would have to be really cool. Any thoughts? What do your 5 year olds love (if you have them)? If I can order it online to send straight to her, that would be great, too, since I won't see her in person until after her birthday. Thanks so much for your help!!

 

Ally has loved jewelry for a couple years now, so what about her first piece of real jewelry? You could do a bracelet with a fairy charm, or an id bracelet with her name on it. A pretty necklace with her initial on it would be nice too.

If she likes dolls, what about a matching dress for her and her doll? A 5yr old would get a kick out of that.

 

If she loves doing art, how about a really nice set of colored markers, water-color pencils, or regular colored pencils?

Also, have you seen this book: The Girls Doodle Book? So fun!!

 

Paint your own tea set. THey have them at craft stores.

 

My DDs aren't quite 5 yet, but pretty close. They love playing dress-up and starting to play with barbies. Audrey loves ponies, so she has a lot of the My Little Ponies and just horses. Abby is more into art, so she colors all the time. They also enjoy carrying their own tote bags or purses. I have gotten them some tote bags with their name on them that they really like. If she likes music, you could get her one of those that uses the child's name in the songs. My DS had one of those when he was little and he thought that war pretty cool. HTH.

 

Since she likes reading, what about a personalized book? You can order those on line that use the person you are buying it for as a character in the book. I think you can even customize them to be stories about the beach, or camping, or something you do together.

 

At christmas time I got a book that has nature insipired crafts for preschooler and kindergateners. The book is written for teachers, not the kids themselves. But has instructions for making butterfly mobiles, and fairy crowns and all sorts of other things. We've only done a few projects so far, but my girls sound kind of like your niece have really loved the projects we've done.

ETA: Since the book I have is a teacher's mannual, I'd recommend almost anything that came up on This List instead, to give directly to a little girl.

 

My kids love anything from the craft store. Their latest craze is the beads that you put on boards and then iron. They also love paint, sidewalk chalk, etc. Even just constructions paper and the scissors that make cool borders are fun around here.

I try to give gifts to my niece and nephews that they'll use up, like craft stuff. Then the parents aren't left with toy overload.

Marissa

 

What is your price range - is she ready for a new bike or scooter?

I like useful things not just a toy.

 

Along the craft line, I know I cannot keep construction paper/ coloring materials in the house. My thought is putting together an "art tote", and even better if you contain it in a rubbermaid bin, and you can use paint pens to personalize it.

 

My 5-year-old is really into Polly Pockets, My Little Pony, Littlest Pet Shop, and everything in that category of toys. She also loves her dollhouse....along with Mario Kart for the Wii....the Magic Treehouse and A-to-Z Mysteries books...

Trying to think of what else...

 

Thanks so much for all of the great ideas! You've actually hit most of the gifts I've given her over the past year or so of holidays!! I love giving crafty gifts for them to use up, and between my mom and I, they have complete art sets! I've given a lot of polly pockets and littlest pet shop type things, too - what a hit! I think I may go for a couple of the pet fairy books and some other craft to go with it. The books may be a little advanced, but my sister reads with her so I think she'll love them. Plus the first one is Katie the Kitten Fairie and my niece's name is Katie - can you get any better than that? Thanks for the link, meximeli!!