# Appropriate gifts for 9 and 10 year old girls **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 29, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083 "2015-10-29T14:11:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/21 "2015-10-30T05:43:33Z")
Dont all girls like new shoes? ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/22 "2015-10-30T07:15:18Z")
I have a houseful of girls, nieces, and female cousins. At those ages, maturity and interests can be so variable, so it can be really tough to buy for a child if you aren’t really close. That said, I’d recommend experience gifts when possible - tickets to the community theater performance of The Nutcracker, or ice skating, or an afternoon tea. If that’s impossible, my inclination would be a “do something” gift, like a science or craft or art kit. For books, depending upon reading levels, a nicely bound classic like Black Beauty or Anne of Green Gables or Treasure Island or a boxed set of the Narnia titles might be nice. More modern teen/tween titles that I personally like (have read and enjoyed myself and would recommend if a kid asked for suggestions) would certainly include Harry Potter or A Series of Unfortunate Events, or Diary of a Wimpy Kid. (Bonus: if the kid likes the first of a series, the next birthday gift is obvious!) Two one-off teen/tween titles I’ve read and enjoyed fairly recently: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and Popular, by Maya van Wagenin (don’t count on my spelling of that last name, but it’s close enough to get a Google hit. I’m posting from my phone, so it’s a PITA to search between windows.) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/23 "2015-10-30T10:16:38Z")
Well, as I always say, there’s no greater gift than the gift of knowledge…so, how 'bout a [Spinthariscope?](https://www.unitednuclear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2_12) One can be had for under $30…and it’s nuclear powered! (Perfectly safe, as long as you don’t eat it!) That, or the Klutz [Explorabook.](http://www.amazon.com/Explorabook-Kids-Science-Museum-Book/dp/1591747996) Which includes a big magnet and a fresnel lens. [David Macaulay’s works](http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Way-Things-Work/dp/0395938473/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=51IbI1z9haL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR121%2C160_&refRID=0D8CEN13APYB4R693VAZ) always good, too. If they’re into dolls, but you don’t want too much cutesy pink, there _are_ always…[other options.](https://www.etsy.com/shop/Frankenstuffies) ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/24 "2015-10-30T12:56:02Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > My 10 year old loves: > > A book series called “Warrior Cats” (she is a cat fanatic and loves anything relating to cats) That must be [Warrior series by Erin Hunter](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_6_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=warriors+erin+hunter&sprefix=warriors+%2Caps%2C131). Very popular with kids that age here too. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/25 "2015-11-05T02:40:53Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Dont all girls like new shoes? Even the girls I knew who became super into shoes as they got older weren’t really into them at that age. And I know several girls who had never worn heels at that age. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/26 "2015-11-05T17:28:27Z")
For birthdays for the girls I got two different crafting kits - beading and bracelets, and illustrated books of White Fang and Little Women, respectively. Now I just have to do something for Christmas. But thank you - this is a great help! I did complain at the Barnes & Noble. I went in there and went to their kids’ section. It was for ages 7-12. I complained to the cashier (nicely), saying that was a really big age range! Kids change a lot in those five years! She agreed with me but said it was corporate. Of course. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Terrific](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tom_terrific/32/342_2.png) [@Tom\_Terrific](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Terrific)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/27 "2015-11-05T21:07:38Z")
A place to look for toys for any age or gender kid is Fat Brain Toys. Their website is pretty good. They solicit feedback on the toys so they give info about if the kids play with the toys frequently or if the toy is one use and the kid loses interest. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/28 "2015-11-06T01:14:03Z")
But the B&N near me does have books divided up into beginning readers, picture books (some with lots of words), intro readers (short chapter books), and “middle grades” (say 10-12 yo.) White Fang’s a good one. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/29 "2015-11-06T14:34:30Z")
My family got lots of mileage out of the [Perplexus](http://www.amazon.com/Spin-Master-Games-6020810-Perplexus/dp/B00CNNPNQI/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1446820459&sr=1-1&keywords=perplexus) toy. I have two boys, but there’s no reason it would be gender-specific. I think this is one of the greatest toys ever. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/30 "2015-11-06T17:59:30Z")
My 10 year old loves anything My Little Pony, and any kind of science experiment type kits. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/31 "2015-11-06T18:06:51Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > My 10 year old loves anything My Little Pony, and any kind of science experiment type kits. Do they make a My Little Pony vivisection kit?😃 ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/32 "2015-11-06T19:10:43Z")
When I gift shop for children I try to find something that fills a gap in terms of possibilities with gift. If they are into dolls and they know they like dolls or into fashion and have a bunch of fashion I’d get them a model to build, a microscope, maybe a blacksmith puzzle, a gardening tool etc. The gift in that case allows them to explore different aspects and having those opportunities, imho, adds to the value of the gift. ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/33 "2015-11-06T19:21:50Z")
> [@missred](#): > > I’ll chime in with crafty stuff for the cousin with a how-to book to go along with it. Klutz makes some cool combos of book/craft. > > For your niece, an inexpensive keyboard (with headphones) and a how-to book if she isn’t already taking music lessons. You could also find a beginner’s guitar in a pawn shop that fits in the budget. They are good balances between loud and active. Sporting equipment may also be something she likes. > > My own great niece liked the Lemony Snickett series at that age (she’s 14 now) along with Harry Potter. Thirding (I think) the Klutz crafts/books, here. They’re really well done and are my go-to for when I don’t want to have to think about what to get my nieces for a present. My daughter loves them, but she’s a little young for them and can’t do the crafts herself (age 5). In terms of books, at this age I liked Diana Wynne Jones (sort of on the same level as Harry Potter), Narnia (I know people disagree on that because of the religious allegory stuff), L.M. Montgomery, and Frances Hodgson Burnett. [Here is a a gorgeous illustrated version of The Secret Garden](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0763631612?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00) . ---
**Author:** ![adamwilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@adamwilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adamwilson)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083/34 "2015-11-06T20:37:24Z")
If I would have to choose a toy, I may have selected them based on their interest like science, sports, activity etc… This type of products will work great for children’s btw 9 to 12 age. I have checked a few of them on Educationalinsights website and they have a nice arrangements grouped by age. Also about the books, I may have selected them same based on their interest like storytelling, math, imaginative etc… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appropriate-gifts-for-9-and-10-year-old-girls/736083.md?page=1)