Christmas gift ideas for a 9 year old girl?

[Laurelin]

Help please.

So I have been part of a program to tutor at one of the inner city schools here. It's really rewarding and also quite eye opening. I'm tutoring a 3rd grade girl who is awesome and so smart.

I'm trying to think of what to get her for our Christmas party on weds. I was supposed to see her one more time and I was going to fish for ideas but she wasn't there that day so I have no ideas at all. I know she likes:

-puppies
- Wizards of Waverly place
- reading (Diary of a wimpy Kid has been a favorite)
- has a collection of erasers shaped like different things.
- art is her favorite subject

And that's about it. I bought some Christmas candy and some bright nail polish. She's not TOO girly from what I know but not exactly a tomboy either.

There is a $25 dollar limit but most people I know have gone a little over. You just can't get something super fancy for one kid.

Anyone have kids that age? What's cool for a 3rd grader?

 

[CaliTerp07]

BOOKS.

Most of the time, these kids don't have any books, as crazy as that is. A jigsaw puzzle or some sort of mental game is good too (better if it's something they can play by themselves or with one other person, since often parents don't have time to play it).

I adopt inner city kids each year, and time after time, the parameters are to keep it small. (Not necessarily dollar value, but size wise). The kids usually live in tiny apartments with 2-3 kids per bedroom, so there isn't room for lots of extra toys.

 

[Laurelin]

It doesn't help for me knowing this might be the only Christmas stuff these kids get.

I've thought about a Wizards of Waverly place book but I know she's read a couple already from the school library. I also thought of scarves and gloves but they have a school dress code so I'm not sure how good that would be as she couldn't wear it to school...

What's a good 3rd grade level book that is fun? Are there more than one Diary of a Wimpy Kid books? I think she's only read the one.

 

[thehoundgirl]

You could get her the Wizards of Waverly Place movie if you don't think she has it. Maybe a sketch pad, too since she loves art? Or a coloring book with puppies in it with some cool crayons?

 

[CaliTerp07]

What's a good 3rd grade level book that is fun? Are there more than one Diary of a Wimpy Kid books? I think she's only read the one.

Yeah, there are a bunch, like 5. If you want to find a good book, I'd check out the Newberry winners/runners up for the past 10 years. They're almost always really good. Savvy is one of my favorites from recent years.

What about fancy gel pens or something to doodle with? Or stickers to decorate her notebooks with?

 

[CaliTerp07]

Oooh, what about those glow-in-the-dark stars for your ceiling? I remember loving mine when I was around 9.

 

[milos_mommy]

The 9 year old boy I was babysitting loved Diary of A Wimpy kid, and he also loved Double Fudge and that series, which I think are by Judy Blume?

She also might like those American Girl books about the kids who work at the vet's office? I can't remember what they're called but surely someone on here will know!

 

[Laurelin]

The 9 year old boy I was babysitting loved Diary of A Wimpy kid, and he also loved Double Fudge and that series, which I think are by Judy Blume?

I loved those books!

I was thinking about maybe getting a book (something educational), fun pens or markers, stickers or erasers, candy, nail polish.... Those stars or something else like that would be fun too.

I'm going shopping tomorrow evening and the party is the next day. I hope she likes it.

 

[milos_mommy]

If she's really into art, maybe make up a little basket with fun art supplies, like some papers, paints, markers, etc.

 

[CaliTerp07]

I hope she likes it.

She'll love it

 

[Laurelin]

For those interested I got her

- a notebook with flowers and sparkly gems on it
- set of 30 twistable (no sharpener needed) Crayola colored pencils
- a set of four neon gel pens
- a pack of 120 alphabet stickers
- a make your own snowman ornament
- a hot pink nail polish
- a book by Beverly Cleary (Ramona Quimby, Age 8- says it's a Newberry Honor book and looked her level of reading...)
- matching set of scarf and gloves
- pair of sparkly christmas socks

Then some mini candy canes. I did go a little bit over on money but not bad at all. I think it was $3 over the amount alloted.

 

[milos_mommy]

I'm sure she'll be thrilled! It sounds like you did a great job picking stuff out

 

[Laurelin]

I hope she likes it. Since I couldn't ask her I just decided to go with a bunch of little things. I'm a little nervous, I'll admit.

 

[thehoundgirl]

I am sure she will really enjoy what you got her.

 

[Whisper]

Going back to when I was 9, I would have gone bananas over that. I loved the books about Ramona Quimby. You did a great job!

You're doing a great thing. I know what it's like to be a kid without Christmas and then have someone step in and make it a really happy time. Good going, Laur. <3

 

[toxic]

That's quite sweet! No need to be nervous, from the sound of it this girl would be grateful for a lot less.