WTF do you get for a 9 y/o girl?

Headless Chicken · #1 10-13-2007, 11:05 PM

My cousin's birthday is coming up in a little over a month and shes been pushing for a bunny which she is not getting, shes already sharing the house with a fish tank, a bird, and a weird cat that looks like Sylvester. This girl is a total princess, after having a few talks to her to get her to change her mind about wanting a bunny, she cries, and cries, then cried some more...she really has her heart set on 1 but we all know she won't take care of it and with so many animals in the house already, who needs to bring in another one in?

I was looking up some Dell laptops, they're the only ones I know who will change up the colour of the casing (I was thinking Pink for her with pink accessories) and with reasonable costs though I wouldn't use one personally. Problem there is that nobody else in the family is gonna pitch in and minimum $550(CAN) before taxes and shipping is quite steep for someone who only makes $11/hour. Plus theres already 2 computers in the house, 1 is the family computer and the other is her 12 y/o bro's that we all got for him last Christmas (yeah go figure they'll help pitch in for him but not for a laptop for her).

I'm basically trying to figure something that'll make her forget the bunny. Nothing that'll lose her interest after a couple days but nothing that'll force me to max out my credit card as well. Kinda stuck here!

Botanique · #2 10-13-2007, 11:19 PM

Buy her fish food, birdseed, and catnip. A nine year old doesn't need a laptop. Bunnies are a pain in the patooty.

Pink is a great color -- how about a pair of pink Converse shoes?

Cheers! S

BombayBen · #3 10-13-2007, 11:32 PM

Are the animals hers? if so, she seems to be into animals, and judging by the sort of money you are willing to spend - how about a few riding lessons? Girls here are crazy about Horse riding (I think most girls are)

shroomgirl · #4 10-14-2007, 08:22 AM

books....
cooking shtuff.....
fingernail polish
pinata

cooking lessons with buddies.....offer to teach her and her 3 bestest friends how to make fun shtuff.....pizza is always a good one.....
Include recipe binders

Now that is a gift that is personalized, will keep giving through the years and is fun for the birthday girl to invite buddies to participate.
For your sanity, make the class short and sweet. 1.5-2 hours max.
See if they can have disposable cameras or cameras to take photos during the class, put copies in the recipe binders.

Wow, good idea.....now to remember it for my niece.

kuan · #5 10-14-2007, 10:23 AM

Don't spend that kind of money holy cow!

deltadoc · #6 10-14-2007, 12:02 PM

Get her a hampster. They a furry and fun and only live about 1000 days. A Habitrail cage with a wheel in it is a must. Easy to feed, water and clean the cage.
And they won't chew your phone line, electrical cords, and eat the linoleum right off your floor like rabbits do!

doc

shel · #7 10-14-2007, 12:05 PM

My niece loves her iPod ... and that lends itself to more inexpensive gifts down the line: gift cards for music downloads. They start at about $15.00 or so last time I looked, and are good for about downloads.

Shel

Headless Chicken · #8 10-14-2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltadoc

Get her a hampster. They a furry and fun and only live about 1000 days. A Habitrail cage with a wheel in it is a must. Easy to feed, water and clean the cage.
And they won't chew your phone line, electrical cords, and eat the linoleum right off your floor like rabbits do!

doc

She had 2 hampsters when she was younger and they were breeding like crazy. Finally died off after who knows how long. And yes she didn't take good care of them either. All the animals are basically family pets and she likes them because they're "soooooo cute" but when it comes to feeding them all, cleaning up after them, or any other basic responsibilities, she turns away from it all which is why a rabbit is definatly off the gift list.

I gave her an MP3 player last Christmas, she also has a Nintendo DS and some games were considered. Shes not into shopping, just people giving her stuff...like I said, a total princess. The laptop idea may wait until her next birthday, by then she'll probably need it more with projects and stuff and it'll be good for her to have her own computer. I mean ****, even when I was at her age, I had to submit everything typed when computers where $2k starting without a printer.

I had considered another pet for her though, a cockatiel. We had a family cockatiel before she was born and he was a lot of fun and not too much maintenance, may run this idea by everyone else first though. Some great ideas on here though, my ears are still open to more Please and Thank you.

Mezzaluna · #9 10-14-2007, 07:57 PM

She is a very privileged girl to have so many pets and a relative who wants to buy her more stuff!

I agree with Shroom: time with you and her friends, doing something fun, would be vastly more appropriate.

I used to make "quesadillas" with my sixth and seventh grade students in my classroom. I used flour tortillas and shredded cheese to make a "sandwich", then nuked it all for a minute or so. We cut it in wedges and they loved it. They even came up with ideas for add-ins: crumbled bacon, taco sauce, onions and jalapenos. They could make it for themselves for an after school snack, and many told me they did. It's not very authentic, but it was fun.

I love the idea of making a bunch of pizza dough! They can go savory or sweet with it, too. Take some photos and frame them for her- it'll be a great memory!

KCZ · #10 10-14-2007, 08:26 PM

One "No" vote on the cockatiel here. The bird, cage, supplies, toys, and initial vet check are much more expensive than you'd think. And a bird is a lot of work...ever spend your Sunday morning cleaning a bird cage???

MuskyHopeful · #11 10-14-2007, 09:40 PM

Is she a reader? My 10 year old daughter loves to go to the bookstore. We hit one at least once a week. We like the local Harry W. Schwartz which is a five store chain in the Milwaukee area. If she likes books, a gift certificate from a bookstore could go over very well. I like the national chains less than the local chain which has very knowledgeable employees and wonderful children's sections.

She could get a number of books about animals, my daughter loves books about dogs, and maybe learn something about caring for them, etc. Books could possibly take her beyond the "they're soooo cute stage," and give her a greater understanding of animals. Try a locally owned bookstore, where the help could get to know her. They can always use the business due to online and national competition. Sort of like a locally owned restaurant.

This might not be the most glamorous idea posted so far, but what can I say, I'm bookish.

Kevin

I shot 80 yesterday. First time on a golf course in two years. I still have some skills.

rat · #12 10-14-2007, 09:48 PM

I can't believe I am ever reading this, 9 YEARS OLD! for petes sake what are you going to do when she is the big 1-0?

As far as the rabbit goes I suggest hassenpfeffer....

cookie jim · #13 10-14-2007, 09:59 PM

I had the same thought as Bombay Ben.
When I was young I was thrilled to go on trail rides.
After I got a little older I was allowed to go on the all night ride and it is a memory that has me smiling now.
I also agree she is to young for a personal computer,great for learning but for a birthday present,I think I'd rather have the rabbit.........Cookie

canadiangirl · #14 10-14-2007, 10:37 PM

"cooking lessons with buddies.....offer to teach her and her 3 bestest friends how to make fun shtuff.....pizza is always a good one.....
Include recipe binders

Now that is a gift that is personalized, will keep giving through the years and is fun for the birthday girl to invite buddies to participate. " shroomgirl

This is a really great idea! Even as an adult, I would love this!!! Do w/ food she really likes and she'll have a blast making it.

I understand the issue though. My babys 2nd birthday is coming and in-laws are talking about buying him his own MP3. (he loves his older brothers...)

Man, we were lucky to get anything besides clothes!!

canadiangirl

Free Rider · #15 10-14-2007, 11:26 PM

When I was ten, I was given one of the best gifts of my life... a little instamatic camera. The current day equivalent would be a small digital. When I look back at the photos I took, I see life from the perspective of a ten-year old. It's even more of a gift to me today than it was when it was given to me.

PS I was a ten-year old girl. Now I'm a middle-aged woman.