Birthday Gift for 9 Year Old Daughter

My nine year old son (and my 12 year old son) like gift cards so they can shop for themselves. They also like getting gift cards for things they can do as opposed to things. Think movie theatre passes, concert tickets, tickets to sporting events, zoo or museum passes, summer camp registration, amusement park wrist bands, water park admission, go-carting, paint ball, laser tag, mini-golf, bowling etc. Maybe she would like a spa day with a mani/pedi?

Suz... You in a bad mood? You are usually so chipper! Even I, who makes a ton of suggestions (it is part of my Company services, can be befuddled by what to give a loved one.. It is nice to have some fresh ideas..

I was just remembering, one of the local theaters offers comedy camp/classes during the summer. Really cute. Maybe some sort of music lessons.

I LOVE the Kindle suggestion! Our daughter would have been all over that, if it had existed back then. Instead we now have 30 + boxes stored containing most of her favorite childhood books.

How about art lessons this summer? Check the YMCA..
Our daughter was also a huge reader, she loved going to the book store and purchasing books with her own gift cards.
Ears pierced? If she has ever asked to have them pierced..

A new board game.

at the risk of sounding snarky, i just don't get asking strangers for suggestions for one's own child. the range of possibilities is simply vast, from skydiving lessons to new socks. surely you know her best?
:/ khairete
S.

I agree with Laurie's idea of giving her an art camp registration--or some other activity, rather than just stuff. By age nine kids can defer their pleasure for a while instead of needing to rip open a package exactly on their birth date.

I would consult with her, even though she wants to be surprised. She should have some choice in whatever activity you give her. The cost may or may not be your idea of "reasonable" though.....

Summer art "camp"--lots of half-day camps around us, probably around you too; all the "make your own pottery places" do them, local parks and recreation departments have them, arts centers, etc.My friend's kid does a mosaic camp half-days one week in summer and loves it. Another goes to a beading camp at a jewelry and bead shop. You'd need to do some looking online to find these -- check with businesses and you might find these kinds of things if your local arts and recreation departments don't have them.

American Girl also used to sponsor some events (craft events, "meet the author" events etc.) -- look on their web site and see if you can register her for some special event there. Check the age range so it's not too young for her, but nine is pretty much a target age for all things AG. How close are you to an actual AG store with activities etc.? Boston? New York?

At nine, I liked clothes.. would she go for that and or accessories?
Summer is coming up, does she like to swim, a new suit and or flip flops might be fun.. they have ones you can paint and decorate yourself..

a kindle for reading and with it, maybe a giftcard to amazon..
a piece of jewerly , maybe a charm bracelet and you add the first charm to mark thid bday.. get one with a silver bday cake... then for each event in her life, she can add.. graduation, bdays... and other milestones..
lessons? horseback, dancing, sports, swimming, theater group...

How about a Kindle Paperwhite, or a Nook? Jewelry making kits and/or jewelry box?

I'd do a shopping girls day out with lunch and give her a MasterCard gift card so she can spend it anywhere.

She gave you 3 great starts, go with that.

You can find plenty of things in Justice at a reasonable price. It may not be the stuff at the front door, but she won't know that unless you walk in with her.