Gift Ideas for a 5 Year Old Girl

Looks like you've received some great suggestions. I just wanted to welcome you to Minnesota!!! I moved here from the south when I was 20 & I love it up here.

Personally, as a mother of a 6-year-old, I love it when she gets presents that don't have too many pieces. They tend to get everywhere and she is such a clutter bug already. I'd ask the parents about her likes, and theirs too because I get kind of like "here we go again" when she gets presents that cause problems or are too old for her - my daughter got a video game that she wants to play with but frustrates her to no end. Each child is so individual. And if you have no opportunity to talk with them or they give the whatever response I would feel free to get the child a gift card to a local store or a gift certificate to the local movie theater - there are loads of kids movies out this summer. One of my daughter's friends just had her 8th birthday last month and we gave her a gift certificate to see Wall-e and buy a kids pack, she just loved it. Good Luck, and don't worry most people wont judge you on what you give a kid - and if they do do you really want to know them?...

I suggest you ask the girl's mother for suggestions. It is hard for you to know what the girl likes, dislikes and what she already has.

I know when my cousins daughter was 5 she really liked arts and craft things. There are a lot of different ideas at target even like by the card and party section. they have different coloring and painting things and sets to make candles or decorate jewlery boxes or picture frames. There is a wide variety if you think the little girl is into that kind of stuff. Have fun!

summer pool toys like slip and slide, chalk, beach towel, gift cards to McDonalds, DQ, etc...pajamas, hair stuff (my daughter loves that hairspray that has sparkles in it), jewlry box, earring, kids music cds, sparkly glue sticks and gel pens, learning books with wipe off markers, outdoor paint...

I would ask the parents what their daughter's interests are. She could be a tomboy, she could like to dress up like a princess, who knows??

When in doubt, a gift certificate to a movie rental place, or a gift certificate to a book store, are always nice.

I have two boys...but we were invited to a 6 yo. birthday party this last spring.

After talking to sisters and friends, we bought her the soundtrack to "Enchanted". The songs are fun and I know that the mom will like listening to is too. We through in some cheap princess accesories to make the gift more fun to open.

Tip: If you buy a crown from the dress-up section in could be $5+, or you can buy them in the party section for $1. The impact opening the present is the same and what little girl ever had too many crowns, tiara's, or wands?

I know that Hannah Montana is popular too.

My five and her friends are simple. They like Barbie, Littlest Pet Shop, Polly Pocket, Hannah Montana, and High School Musical. They also like to grow plants. She attended a party where she planted a few seeds in a baby food jar and we watched them grow into flowers :) Anything crafty! Most girls like to dress up.... Think about what you liked when you were younger and you will probably have a hit :) My daughter has inherited my My Little Ponies and LOVES them. She combs their hair and dresses them up. You are a female, so you'll find something :)

i babysit for a 5 year old girl who loves girly things. or she likes to make her own bead jewelry. and she loves to color!!!! another idea for you to give is a gift card to build a bear-make sure you find out if there is one in your area!!!

Hi S.!
The BIG hit in our family this summer is the Splash Rocket from Discovery Toys. It's a perfect yard toy that you hook up to a garden hose--everyone I know who has them LOVES them!! You can get them at www.discoverytoyslink.com/JenEsnough They are on sale right now for $15.99.

There are some cute You Tube videos where you can see it in action, if you just go to You Tube, and enter "Splash Rocket" as the search item.

Good Luck!

It doesn't really matter what you get. You could get some nice markers and other art supplies, and that would be fine.

NO ONE IS GOING TO JUDGE YOU OR DISLIKE YOU ON THE BASIS OF YOUR GIFT.

It sounds like you are really excited and nervous about this party, which is understandable, but putting too much hope and nervousness into a little kid's birthday party is asking for disappointment.

Relax, take a deep breath, go to the party and enjoy meeting some new neighbors, be yourself, have fun.

When I need to brainstorm gift ideas I like to check Amazon.com and Target.com and ToysRUs.com for ideas. The more positive ratings the better chances the toy will be a hit. Often times they'll group the toys by age, gender, etc. When short for time, I just look on Target's website at the items that are available in store. Good luck!

Hi S.. I am a 32 year old mother of three with my newest addition just 2 1/2 weeks old! My oldest child is a five year old daughter and I can tell you after seeing her along with all of her friends that you can't go wrong with purchasing anything Disney princess. I know Target (and am sure Walmart) have really cute Disney princess-like barbie dolls. They even have a glitter line. I think they are around $10 a piece but perhaps a bit more. I know a few came with a horse which was really neat, because my daughter has a Belle with matching horse. So, I would suggest you purchase anything Disney princess and you can't go wrong. Just include a gift receipt and you don't have to worry about her having the item already. Also, I know around here (and I live in Des Moines, IA) the gifts appeared to be between $15 and $20. I hope it helps! Have fun at the party.

N.

Hi S.,

there are some wonderful suggestions here! I like the idea of giving a blank book and stickers. then she can make her own book with various symbols and letters. Keep in mind she may be too busy at the party to even focus on any one gift.

You could sign the inside of the book with date and names and even Your new neighbors.

Have a good time and relax. This isn't your one chance to make an impression since you are now part of the neighborhood! Oh - if you bring something you enjoy, like a certain beverage or fruit - it may make it easier to blend in and then people will know that you like lemonade or strawberries, etc.

enjoy the party and your new home.

K.

I had the same problem as I have 3 sons. My husband cousin got married last year and now has a 5 year old step daughter that we adore. For her 5th birthday we went to Wal-Mart and got 2 craft sets for younger kids. She loved them. If you get the Crayon ones they are color safe. We also got her one that cme with paints and little ceramic figures. It was somethig fun she could do with mommy or friends. I hope you have a great time. We just moved so I know how hard it can be to make new friends. Good luck.

Most kids that age love bubbles! You can get a giant bottle for about $2.00 at Walmart and there are so many cool bubble makers there also. They are not expensive so you could get a few different ones. They just might be the hit of the party!

Books, crayons and color books, construction paper and safety scissors, finger paints, stickers, hair ribbons, large beads for stringing - think "Kindergarten". I suggest avoiding anything in the "big girl" category - - excessive fashion stuff, play makeup, nail poish, etc. Check out the Target dollar spot, or the local dollar store. Throw in a cute package of fruit snacks (they come in all character shapes) or a box of animal crackers. Simple, fun and to the point is always a hit. I keep gifts for my children's friends to $5 and go for small, novelty stuff. Kids get plenty of toys and big ticket items from family. It's gumballs and sidewalk chalk that they enjoy.

SAHM of seven

SAHM of seven

A little jewelry box with a trinket or two inside...(One of my oldest daughter's fave gifts at that age!) A bedtime-story book with a little stuffed animal, hair goodies or bracelets, art supplie--i.e. a beading kit where she can make her own jewelry (My youngest daughter's fave gift at that age!) Hope that helps! Good luck!

Moving is stressful, isn't it? As is picking just the right birthday gift! :)
I like the idea of a community birthday party for her child! What fun! I personally prefer that to being invited to a "sales party" where the pressure is on to buy something and...
Anyways, I would just talk to the girl's mom and say that you would like to get something that her daughter would really like for her special day, but you are fresh out of ideas. Then ask what her daughter is interested in, and use that as the basis for the gift you purchase for her.
As far as meeting all the neighbors, the best way to make a good impression is to not worry about making a good impression. Find someone at the party that looks approachable (remember, nobody is going to bite) and say,
"We just moved here. Will you please give me some advice about good places to (pick whatever you want)...eat? ...take my kid for fun?...Shop for ? (whatever it is you need or want to shop for) ?...Good pediatricians? (just don't ask about babysitters *yet* or people will be worried that you'll try to "steal" a good one from them :) )
Ask people how long they have lived in the area. Ask them what are fun or interesting things to do in their community. Be interested in others and you will find that the pressure is off of you to be interesting.
I hope that you have a great time at the party this weekend! Best of luck to you! Let me know how it goes!
K.

This is not a specific toy or gift, but I know that children that age usually prefer quantity over quality, why not go to Toys R Us or any store really and get a gift bag with a lot of different neat $1-$3 things. She will be excited to have "many" different toys, and you can put a nice one together for around $20. At Toys R Us the last time I did this, I bought their "green bag" instead of a gift bag, and it was $1.99 instead of the $5-$7 that you normally spend on a gift bag, and became part of the gift.

Have fun with it and just relax, no matter what you get her, she won't remember next year anyway :)

I think kids tend to get overwhelmed by a lot of toys at their birthday parties. My boys loved games at that age, but it might be hard to choose one if you don't know what she has. What about a gift certificate to a book store so she can pick out some books that she likes? Have fun. I needed to add something to my response--someone else suggested a Cranium game--we love the Cranium games. My son got Balloon Lagoon at age 5 and we loved it. He also received Scrabble Jr. when he turned 5 and we loved that game too.

Barbies are always great. Outside toys since they have a yard. Art supplies, dress up clothes, games, etc.

Hi S.,
What about a pinata filled with little trinkets/candy? And a stick to hit it with.... I think that you can get them at Walmart these days or at a party store.

Hi! I have a 6 yr old daughter and she loved ( still loves) to play with her Littlest Pet Shop toys. They are these little animals that kids collect and play with and every little animal is different. I also like to give craft items for birthday presents, since most people tend to go the toy route. If you have a Michaels craft store nearby, they have a section of great Crayola craft stuff. Both my kids (10 and 6) enjoy the new Color Surge markers and paper. They look like bright neon colors on this special paper.

Best wishes in your new state. I relocated from GA to IA about 18 months ago. Although I was originally from the mid west, the new location took some getting used to. Hopefully you can find your place in your new home!

Books are always a great choice. If you have access to a Kohl's Dept. Store, they have a series right now for $5 where you can choose a book, then for $5 more, choose a stuffed animal that goes along with the book. The elephant is adorable!

5 year old girls can like a variety of things: dress-up clothes, small easels with paper and markers, books, color books (crayons are better for them to use then markers because it allows for more varying results and is good for future skills in handwriting), maybe find out if she collects any type of doll or media characters, Easy Bake ovens are fun-depending on your budget, there are a lot of craft things that young children can have success with, hula hoops and other things they can play outside with. Some girls even like to play with blocks and other manioulatives! Have fun at the party.

How nice of the Mom to invite you.
I worked in the childrens department of a major departmenat store. You don't say how much you want to spend but I would say something with a character on it, Hanna Montana, Disney Princesses, something like that. You can get whole outfits or just a tee shirt or games, books, backpacks or purses. Give the receit to the Mom incase it is the wrong size or color or character. If you use a gift receit and the child doesn't exchange the item all they get back is in store credit. If you give them the receit and pay in cash they should get cash back. And then the child can spend it on whatever she wants and at any store. Since you are new to the area you probably don't know their taste and this gives you a gift you can give and child can open but also if is not her taste the Mom can return it and get cash back to get something that is their taste.

My daughter likes crafts, Barbie, Polly Pocket, Littlest Petshop, Disney princesses (so a Barbie Disney Princess is a huge hit!). Dress up things are also a great hit. Sometimes you can find lip gloss in things that look like a "big girl" -- like a "tray" of lip glosses. That was spectacular.

Books are also great ideas. Most importantly, have fun!

What is the little girl "in to"? From experience with my daughter (4 years old) and her 2 cousins who are now 6 and 8, My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, Polly Pockets, Hello Kitty are all usually a big hit, and you can usually find something in the $5-10 range. If you are not inclined to go with "characters," the "classic" kids games (Memory, HiHo Cherry-O, etc) or 50-100 piece jigsaw puzzles, books, coloring book related things or crafts have always been big hits. If there's a way to find out what she's into, that would help. Have fun!

I have a 4 and a half year old granddaughter. She is the joy of my life! Some of the fun games she has are a Princess game, Hullabaloo, and Balloon Lagoon. I even like to play these with her. Plus she loves to make necklaces and bracelets. We make them to match her outfits! I have found kits at a Michael's store. She loves to wear rings too, but don't spend more than $10 because they will lose them easily. Hope that helps with some ideas. R. H.

Princess dress up outfits.

Any princess items.

My daughter just turned 5 and got some of the things people have already mentioned at her party -- she loves them all! She also got a kid-sized gardening kit and her very own umbrella, which were big hits. As her mom, I really like it when people get her gift certificates for "experiences" like a trip to the Children's Museum or Science Museum or zoo or something. It's a special treat to go and it doesn't lead to more clutter!

Kids LOVE Webkinz - you can get them at Gordmon's for like 11.99 or something like that. It's a stuffed animal that comes with an i.d. type of thing and they go online and can play games to earn "money" to buy things for their Webkinz. Honest to goodness, I know a TON of kids at this age that LOVE them! And kids have more than just one Webkinz...they "care" for multiple ones. It's the big "thing" right now.

Other suggestions that my 5 year old neice loves is Polly Pockets. And even a $10-15 gift card to Build-A-Bear is a great idea.

My 5 year old loves books and her favorite to give to her friends is Pinkalicious. Every little girl loves this book. Or, Ella the Elephant books, Countdown to Kindergarten (if she's going this year), Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots or anything from Doreen Cronin (we love Diary of a Worm... great humor).

Have fun at the party!
C.

I have a 5 year old daughter so maybe I can help.

Groovy Girls are cute, chic, but not sexy dolls for which you can buy outfits, a sleeping bag, a tent, a car, pets, etc... I've found them at Target and Creative Kidstuff

Some kind of artsy-craftsy thing like a simple scrapbook kit or beading kit

Fancy Nancy book with a "fancy" purse or sunglasses or something

Game for kids 5 and up. My daughter loves the card game Wig Out (which the package says is for kids 6 and up but I have no idea why because there's no reading involved.)

100 piece puzzle - challenging but do-able for a 5 year old. My daughter really likes her Fancy Nancy puzzle

a compact disc for kids

markers and cute notebook or coloring book

it's hard to know but lots of little girls like anything pink and sparkly - an umbrella, a hat, a purse, backpack, etc...

Consider asking the mom for suggestions. I would LOVE it if people would ask me what to get for my kids but I don't feel like I can make suggestions unless they ask.

P.S. Personally, I'd prefer people not give my kids Disney Princesses, Barbie Dolls, nor Bratz Dolls.

Enjoy your new neighbors!

J.

What about an art kit? Buy a medium sized plastic storage bin and fill it with crayons, paint, scissors, glue, etc. My 4 and 5 year olds love to do "crafts."

Hi S.,
I am a mom of 5 kids. I have 2 daughters and one is a girly girl while the other is more of a tomboy. I read the other ideas that people have given you and they are all good. I do that it is a good idea to ask the parents what kind of things their daughter is interested in then that will help you narrow down your ideas. Should you be too shy to ask them here are some of my ideas...both of my girls like to dress up whether it is princess clothing or other type of dress up-doctor clothes, animal clothes etc. but the advice I have to give about that is make sure that they are big enough. Sometimes the dress up clothes are small and only fit a 3 year old so make sure it has elastic bands to stretch and are a little bigger. Having dress up shoes to go with them are usually big hit as well.You can sometimes get a whole bunch of them really cheap(I think Wal-mart has a pack where you can get like 5 or so cheap.)The one thing that no one seemed to put down was play make-up. Even my oldest daughter who is a tomboy couldn't resist putting on play make-up to make their dress-up experience complete. Some of the make-up sets come with nail polish and as we all know girls LOVE to have their nails painted. Mine will sometimes do it for each other not waiting for me to do it-LOL. They really like having a wide variety of colors to chose from because then they can paint each nail a different color-think rainbow looking and the nice thing about nail polish is that they can be cheap if you look at jewerly places like Claires and they are clearancing out certain colors. I found a really nice play make-up that had lip gloss that was in the shape of ballerina shoes or a dress and they both loved it! As always you can never go wrong with arts and craft. My girls love playing with beads to make bracelets.(which of course completes their dress-up accessory!) You can find really cheap crowns,wands, and dress up gloves at Target sometimes I found a bunch once for a dollar each, I also found a thin netted skirt that you can tie or with elastic waistbands,most people use them for people who dance or do gymnastics so I found those in the dance section. As for more arts and craft ideas, anything with painting figurines or pain your own piggy bank or jewelry box is fun to do. Sand, art,shrinky dinks-where you color them and put them in the oven to shrink and melt, painted glass art,modeling clay where when they are done it hardens,glitter art etc..I could go on and on, I am sure you get the idea. Someone else had mentioned a Michael's store, that is a great place to find a lot of arts and crafts stuff for a pretty decent price. My girls love Littlest Pet Shop, and my youngest really loves horses-both My Little Pony and regular horses. I found the best horse gift because she already has so many horse figurines it's pathetic it was a horse in a purse(found at Wal-mart) and it came with a magenetic carrot and apple to feed the horse and on the plus side they could take the horse around with them wherever they go in the purse and put other things there as well. One thing that no one has mentioned was this magnetic tin case(real thin) that came in a variety of different things for dress up princesses(think of those dress up paper dolls we had only this is magnetic), games, animals etc. It is great for keeping them occupied at home and wonderful for car rides as well(also at Wal-mart)and they are realitively cheap and my kids love them so much. As for them judging you don't worry, just have fun, it is hard to disappoint a little girl because they are easier to buy for then boys because there are so many things out there for them-I used to always say that this world was made for little girls because even when it comes to clothes and stuff there are always ten million things for girls but only a few things for boys to choose from-LOL. Sorry this got to be so long, I just had a bunch of ideas since I have two girls who are different. I hope this helps. Good Luck and have fun!
J.

My Daughter turns five in September. We have a nice collection of musical instraments and lately she really likes the bug catcher. You can get a wooden ukelele at Groth music for @$24 or a bug catcher for @$10 at Wonderment.

If you stay away from things that make loud noises or require batteries, you are bound to make a good impression on the parents.