Suggestions please for a girl who has everything

[Paulines7]

I just don't know what to buy my 3 year old granddaughter for Christmas and would like your help please.

I asked her parents and they have said they didn't know what she wanted.  She has so many toys and I am at a loss as to what to buy her and I am not up to date on what the latest toys are. 

She is a very bright and clever girl and interested in learning.  Does anyone know of any hand held toys that would give her puzzles to do and are they very expensive?  She can already count up to 100, knows the days of the week and can play games on a computer.  I am thinking of spending about £25 but I could double this as she has her 4th birthday in January so I could buyer just a token present then and spend more on her Christmas present. 

Your suggestions would be much appreciated.

[Paulines7]

[ACE]

If she is good on a computor, what about one of those educational games. There are loads like fun with maths etc.

[Lauren S]

How about a voucher/tickets for...

1...Pony riding lesson(s)

2...Trip to the local zoo

3...Pantomime

4...Christmas Ice Show

Lauren  :)

[Paulines7]

If she is good on a computor, what about one of those educational games. There are loads like fun with maths etc.

That's what I was thinking of ACE but don't know what they are called or what they cost so if you have any further information on them it would be much appreciated.

Lauren, I wouldn't be able to pay for all her riding lessons and that might put a strain on her parents.  She goes to nursery five days a week and does ballet on a Saturday so leads quite a hectic life already.  We are taking her and our grandson to Monkey World next week, weather permitting but that will be a treat in addition to Christmas.  They go to Panto's every year with their parents.  It's the educational games that I am interested in buying but know absolutely nothing about them so any help there would be much appreciated please.

[newbies]

You can buy membership of a zoo for a year, which gives you free entry.  
Maybe something unusual, rather than something put in a cupboard for a year.  Name a star, that kind of thing?
Membership for Monkeyworld?

[Doris_Pinks]

Have just done this as an extra for my Great Nephew for his first Christmas, thought it was sweet and for a good cause!


http://www.nspccwishes.org.uk/letterfromsanta/

Mine always liked these type of things.............though times have changed  ;D

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Focus-Multimedia-Ltd-Jump-Ahead/dp/B000GUGIGY/ref=pd_bxgy_sw_h__text_b

They also loved listening to music at bedtime, and loved their music DVD's, and I could give you a few books that were favorites and had to be read over and over at bedtime!

DP

[thifasmom]

leapfrog has good educational games

[Tulipa]

Picking up on DP's reply, I would go for books.  They bring about a special time between your grandaughter and whoever reads them to her and can start a lifetime of reading.  You can either choose from the new ones available or go for a set over time say of all the Winnie the Pooh books or similar, my Mum did that and my children have treasured their sets.  (Sorry but I am a librarian and the gift of reading is a wonderful present for any child in this high pressured and hi-tec world).

Or another set my Mum bought for my daughter was a set of china plates and cups and saucers, Brambley Hedge, but there are others, they are much too nice to use but one day she might treasure a collection of something and it gives you ideas for a few years.  There are lots of collections out there.  I just had a look at the Swarovski crystal as that is something always available but there are not many things around the £25 mark  :(

Hopefully someone has given you  a suggestion that helps.

Good luck, I know it is hard.

T.

[manicscousers]

don't know if you have a lidl near or if it's too advanced for her but it's worth a look,

29.35
http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20081201.p.Learn_and_Play_Laptop.ar7

[Heldi]

Leapfrog Leappad.  My daughter had "My first leap pad" when she was three. Fully portable. Still uses it sometimes. I've heard parents absolutely rave about Leappad and how it helps with learning to read. They are on Amazon if you want to have a looky.

My daughter also has a Vtech Vsmile. You buy the console,£35 on Amazon, then buy the games.  Easy for little hand to use and the games have lots of puzzles. It plugs into the tv.

My son used to love Reader Rabbit for the pc.  You'd have to know  the spec of the pc your granddaughter uses is before you buy,we have a copy of a Reader Rabbit that has never been used as it won't perform on our pc or laptops because it's too old. 

BBC cd -roms are good. Loads of favourite charactors to choose from.

No I don't work for Amazon lol   :)

[Hyacinth]

Books!....or even just ONE book of bedtime stories? ::) :D Yes, it won't cost masses but I'm sure she'll love the stories and accompanying pictures and soon learn which are her most faves. And stories win over puter stuff every time when a child is poorly in bed?

So, again..a well-chosen book 8)

[manicscousers]

just bought a book of nursery rhymes with accompanying cd for the baby on the way, loads of places do them, even saw them in morrison's today  :)

[littlebabybird]

this is another vote for books, you could get her a few for the amount you want to spend
books are great.

[mrf94]

http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00179

I got this for my grandaughter for a  boxing day visit present

mrf94

[anemone]

This is the vtech laptop - http://www.vtechuk.com/products-and-accessories/my-laptop-2005/

I think it also comes in different colours and characters - i'm sure I've seen a Dora one somewhere.

Books are great too of course but my 3 year old loves the interaction of pushing buttons as well :)  He doesn't have one of these yet but I'm considering it for his next birthday.

There's also this one that looks similar http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180306800400&cguid=0106351311d0a0aad34093c0ff4258d3

These George Luck puzzles are lovely if she likes puzzles - http://www.georgeluckpuzzles.com/catalogue/catalogue.htm and they go up in ages so you could start a collection over the years :)

[nilly71]

How about adopting an animal/mammal, she would probably love something like a Dolphin.

Neil

[Paulines7]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions which have been very helpful.  I now know what I am going to buy her for Christmas.   

Doris Pinks kindly suggested the Jump Ahead CD's and I have decided on two  - "Learning to Read" and "Starting School".  We will also buying her the "Out of control" Girls Aloud CD which is something that she has now said she wants and some more art materials as she is getting low on them. 

I think books are a very good idea for presents and last year that is what I bought her in addition to her dressing up outfit.  I found a very good nursery rhyme book beautifully illustrated plus a similarly well illustrated book of fairy tales.  She really loves them and I have since bought a number of books just to keep here for when the grandchildren stay.

Some of the other presents suggested look very good too and I will speak with her parents about them to see if any will be suitable for her birthday.  I have found out that she already has some kind of child laptop but am not sure of the exact one and what it does.

Problem sorted so all I have to do now is put in the order from Amazon before they run out. 

Thanks again everyone.   Pauline

[lillian]

How about a savings account, never to young to start :)

[Hyacinth]

 and little girls are still little, and if she's a girly girl, some sparkly jewellery and a musical jewellery box to keep it in 8)

[kt.]

How about this Gourd.  It grows into shapes of Swans,  Russian Dolls,  and Snakes.  Buy the paint for when they are grown.  Once grown she can paint them.  I have just ordered the snakes for my son and dolls version for my daughter.

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds1/product/8965/1.html

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds1/product/4231/1.html

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds1/product/7436/1.html