Please help me find a B-day present for 10 YO girl

[kelpie]

Hi, I'm hoping some of your who have kids or know them well can help me out. There is a sweet little girl who is turning 10 and I'm working with her dad to make it a special day since it is her first without her mom around. I have not known her that long but I do know she likes the following things: swimming, safaris, reading books like Harry Potter and all things Hanna Montana. I'm trying to find her a birthday gift with a $50 budget that can be mail ordered off a site like Amazon since we're in a remote place. I would love your suggestions and ideas. I'm also planning her surprise party which will be at a gymnasium/chuck-e-cheese-ish type place so any suggestions for activities are welcome as well. So far I am thinking I need to order a pinata and party favors...perhaps with a Hanna Montana theme. Thanks all!

 

[LAJennifer]

I don't have kids, but I think it is wonderful what you are doing for this little girl.

I always enjoyed arts and crafts type gifts when I was that age. Jewelry making kits, pottery wheels, fashion plates, etc. Here are a few that may be of interest:

http://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Ki...toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1300764537&sr=1-34

http://www.amazon.com/Photo-Pearls®...toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1300764761&sr=1-33

http://www.amazon.com/Breyer-Model-...=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1300764839&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Toys-Fri...=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1300764887&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Crayola-Hanna...=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1300764938&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Fashion-Angel...toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1300764981&sr=1-24

http://www.amazon.com/Harrisville-Designs-F450-AZ-Laploom-Fiesta/dp/B0011YN9HA/ref=pd_sim_t_2

 

[kelpie]

Thank you so much, Jennifer! Crafts are a great idea!

 

[Trekkie]

This sounds awesome!

No other ideas, the ones you already have are great. Just a question. If I recall correctly, you live up the road from me, in Tanzania? Does Amazon deliver to Tanzania? They refuse to deliver to South Africa.

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

My daughter is 10 turning 11 this year and for her 9th birthday we got a subscription to a girls magazine and she loves it. This year she has 2 different subscriptions and she has the date that they both arrive marked on her calendar. In the few days leading up to it no one is allowed to check the mail box and once it arrives we get a run down of each edition. It's like the gift that keeps on giving
Perhaps you have a tween magazine (targeted at the 9 to 10 age bracket) that you can buy a 12 month subscription for?

 

[Circe]

I think what you're doing is lovely. I don't know too many children that age, but I do know books, so ....

If she likes Harry Potter, she might also like;

Philip Pullman's Northern Lights trilogy.

Jonathon Stroud's Bartimaeus trilogy

Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books

Both Francesca Lia Block and Alice Hoffman have great mermaid books which might go well for a girl who likes swimming and fantasy.

Will add more as they come to me!

 

[kelpie]

Trekkie- Yes, I'm up the road from you. I can get mail from the US it just takes about 3 weeks, I can only get it because I have a forwarding address in the states.

HawaiianOrangeTree- Great idea but the child doesn't have access to mail like I do. I have done that for my cousins and they did love it.

Circe- Thank you for the book suggestions, I'm sure that's what my husband would prefer to get her since he loves to encourage kids to read.

I think I'll maybe get some combination of the following: the friendship bracelet kit, some Hannah Montana bedding, and let my husband pick her books from Circe's list.