Finding the perfect present for a little girl can be overwhelming. The toy aisle is like a vortex of color and light that can hypnotize you into a state of indecision faster than you know what’s happening.
With so many options out there, Shopafor polled a sampling of parents and parenting experts to decode the little girl gift game and came up with the 20 Best Toy and Gift Ideas for Young Girls This Holiday Season. A bonus: all of these ideas can be purchased online, so you never have to step foot into that dreaded toy section at the store!
THE GIFT OF ARTISTIC SELF-EXPRESSION
According to Scholastic, “research shows that children who sing/dance/act/play their little hearts out are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement compared with their non-performing friends — and they tend to have enhanced cognitive, motor, and social development to boot.” Gifts that encourage artistic expression have benefits that pay dividends in other areas of her life too!
Does the little girl on your list have star power and love to perform? If so, the VTech Kidi Super Star Karaoke System with Mic Stand is a fantastic way to make her become a reality! She’ll love putting on concerts in the living room. Or if she likes to bust a move, consider Petite Feet Dance. These educational DVDs offer dancing lessons to girls in the comfort of their living room!
Has your girl been bitten by the photography bug? Scratch her itch by gifting her an OMWay Camera for Kids (ages 3+) that captures both photos and videos. The VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch (ages 4+) also takes pictures, and features games and activities all small enough to fit on her little wrist.
If you’re looking to spark a bit of creativity, this LCD writing tablet and doodle board is a handy way to let her flex her artistic muscles or work on her handwriting skills with no mess and no fuss. It’s an especially excellent accessory for car rides and travel, able to keep your little girl engaged while keeping boredom at bay.
THE GIFT OF LITERACY
What little girl doesn’t love getting lost in the imaginary worlds inside her books? One of the best gifts that you can give is the opportunity to dive into alternate worlds, times, even universes through the magic of reading.
Books can help build self-confidence in young girls. How Much is a Little Girl Worth (Hardcover) teaches them the importance of their self-worth. The Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls series contains 200 inspiring one-page tales of extraordinary real women in history. Dear Girl is a love letter written for the special girl in your life; a gentle reminder that she’s powerful, strong, and holds a valuable place in the world.
Find me a young girl not obsessed with Disney’s Frozen movies, and I’ll give you a dollar. Instead of buying the standard Anna or Elsa doll, treat your little girl to the Disney Frozen Me Electronic Reader and 8 Book Library, which comes stocked with eight illustrated tales and an electronic reader. Your young lady can listen along as she gains confidence in her reading skills, eventually reading them on her own!
A magazine subscription is a great way to keep the spirit of gift-giving going all year long, plus what kid doesn’t love the excitement of receiving their own mail? Highlights Magazine is a high-quality classic and is available in different variations based on your girl’s age or reading level. National Geographic Little Kids is another great subscription option for little girls who love animals and nature.
Speaking of NatGeo, satisfy your little lady’s curiosity about the world with the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why, which covers a multitude of topics from why skin wrinkles in the tub to how planes are able to fly.
THE GIFT OF EXPERIENCE
While toys and books are always a big hit, they are temporary things. Making memories through experience, however, is a gift that lasts a lifetime. Experiences can be fun, enriching, exciting, and an excellent opportunity for socio-emotional growth.
If she’s an animal lover, treat her to a yearly membership to the local zoo or aquarium. Annual memberships can be quite affordable, and some even come with special perks, like early access and special events. Is she a science junkie or dinosaur obsessed? Gift her a museum membership instead.
A trip to American Girl Place would make any little girl squeal with delight! There, she can shop for a doll, or bring her favorite one along to get a new hairstyle or outfit. With reservations at their café, you can make a whole day of the event.
For a more affordable option, plan a fun girls’ night in or a slumber party with your little one! Purchase some ice cream, some new nail polish or sheet masks, and rent her favorite movie. Cuddle up by the fireplace and watch her smile light up the room! Or take her out to the movies for the full theatre experience with popcorn and candy!
For the little chef in your life, consider gifting some kid-friendly cooking supplies and cookbooks or a membership to a cooking-themed subscription box, like Kidstir.
Little Passports is a monthly subscription box that introduces your little girl to activities and global experiences. They offer packages with one month, six months, or a year duration with different options for every age.
THE GIFT OF ELECTRONIC EDUCATION
There’s no avoiding the draw of tech for children, so why not get the most out of it by focusing on its ability to enhance education?
Encourage STEM learning with Snap Circuits, which allows kids to try engineering on for size, and snap together modular pieces to create over 20 types of working switches and circuits.
The Shifu Plugo Count is an AR-powered STEM gaming kit, perfect for little girls who love (or need some help with) numbers. It triggers auditory, visual, and tactile senses in kids and spurs their comprehension abilities, critical thinking, logical reasoning, and mathematical intelligence.
No matter what the little girl in your life is interested in, there’s sure to be something on this list to make her little eyes light up this holiday season. Hopefully, these ideas have simplified the process for you, so you can focus less on the pressures of what to get, and more on the joy of giving! Happy shopping!
