The era of childish stuff is long gone, a personal phone is high on the wish list, and she is starting to outgrow elementary school. We’re talking about the characteristics and desires of a 10-year-old girl. Speaking of those desires, what is actually a suitable gift for this age? And not just based on her wishes, but also what would suit her developmental stage. Find all the answers to this question in this blog.
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Developmental Stage of a 10-Year-Old Girl
Emotions are regulated, she understands well what others expect from her and how others feel. And yet, it doesn’t always go smoothly. It’s still crucial to provide support in expressing and understanding feelings. Gradually, hormones also start to play a role, significantly influencing everything that happens in a ten-year-old girl.
But honestly, emotions aren’t everything. Cognitive skills will also increase. More complex concepts are understood, and critical thinking skills are developed over time. This development is precious, so provide her with challenging learning experiences and stimulate her curiosity. During this time, the girl will also develop her own values and ethical insights. All by herself? Not quite. Help her develop an understanding of right and wrong and encourage her to make responsible choices. This can be challenging, as friendships become increasingly important. Everything others think of her suddenly becomes incredibly important. On the other hand, these friendships lead to skills in cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution.
So, the little girl is now ten years old. Although she might see this as a very independent age, she still secretly needs the help of adults. Think of parents/caregivers, but also the coach of the sports club or the teacher in class. It is up to them to gradually offer more responsibility, fitting her abilities. This helps her develop independence and organizational skills. An example of this is an increase in pocket money. Does she want something? Fine, but she’ll have to save for it herself. Does she want to organize a training session with friends? Fine, but she’ll have to ask for help if it doesn’t go smoothly.
Don’ts (Types of Gifts You Don’t Want to Buy for a 10-Year-Old Girl)
Okay, okay. Maybe you have an idea of what to buy, but have you ever considered what might be less suitable for a 10-year-old girl? No? No problem, we’ll give you a quick overview. For example, avoid gifts that focus too much on (perfect) appearance. This can make her insecure, and since emotions about such topics are not always well regulated, you’ll need to pay close attention. Furthermore, it’s not always wise to follow trends. There’s a good chance the gift will be discarded after a few weeks. Something more durable might be more suitable.
What Is a Suitable Budget for This Age?
First, discuss that the size of a gift or the amount spent is not always the most important thing. It’s not a competition and often not very relevant. Take the following budget as advice.
- Parents/Caregivers: £50.00 to …
Consider fifty pounds as a benchmark. So, you might see it as an average, a maximum, a minimum, or too little. Remember: the cost of the gift does not reflect how much you value your child. - Immediate Family (uncles, aunts, grandparents): £20.00 to £50.00
Having guests on your birthday is always fun. The fact that there are also gifts makes it even better for a ten-year-old girl. - Neighbors/Acquaintances: £10.00
A common and average amount, which can still buy a lot of nice gifts. Think: magazines to a new pen set. - Friends: £5.00
With five pounds, you can add to your friend’s savings or buy something like a cute nail polish.
Additional Tips
Last but certainly not least, some additional tips for buying a nice gift for a ten-year-old girl. If you read this, we’re sure you’ll make the right choice from our highly relevant gifts.
The first tip: don’t be too selective. You can spend hours thinking about the right gift, but it’s always a bit of a gamble. Keep a receipt and say honestly, ‘I’m not sure if you’ll like it, but I was really excited about it myself.’ This gives you some safety. On the other hand: asking about wishes is always an option, but don’t guarantee that she will actually receive it. Trust us: it prevents a lot of disappointment.
1. Crafting
Parents who dislike mess, well, maybe they should have thought more about parenthood before starting a family. It’s an undeniable fact that kids make messes, and secretly we think that’s a good thing. Children need to express themselves freely and enjoy all the playful things they have inside them. Whether you teach your child to clean up their mess is another story. But anyway, a bit of mess is part of the adventure of growing up and discovering the world around them. What actually causes most of the mess are crafting supplies. Especially items that can stain, like paint and glue. But then again, glue doesn’t last forever, and paint isn’t always good. Therefore, it might be fun to give the girl some new craft supplies for her birthday.
2. Kids’ Cameras
For a 10-year-old girl, a kids’ camera can be a fantastic gift. It allows her to express her creativity and capture the world around her from her own perspective. With a kids’ camera, she can take photos of friends, family, pets, and nature, and even start her own photo projects. It stimulates her interest in photography and helps her develop new skills while having fun. Note that kids’ cameras come in different calibers. Some are suitable for toddlers, while others are for ten-year-olds with more advanced options. In any case, the camera should work properly. This way, you give her the chance to capture beautiful memories that she can cherish for the rest of her life.
3. Makeup Sets
Makeup for a ten-year-old girl is a topic that should be approached carefully. At this age, it’s important to emphasize self-acceptance and natural beauty. If parents choose to let their daughter use makeup, it’s advisable to start with subtle products like lip gloss or light shades of eyeshadow. It’s also important to accompany makeup use with conversations about self-image and self-confidence, emphasizing that true beauty comes from within. However, that doesn’t mean you should avoid it altogether. It’s something ingrained in our society. A bit of makeup, as we’ve listed below, can do no harm!
4. Amazon Gift Card
Do you know that ten-year-old girl who already has everything? Yes? Oh, how hard it is to pick a gift then, isn’t it? Perhaps it’s an idea to give her a gift card. We’re not talking about just any card, specifically one from Amazon. The assortment of this store is so extensive that she will undoubtedly find something she wants. Think of various beauty accessories, games, electronic devices, toys, cosmetic products, and much more. Moreover, a gift card allows the giver to stick to the budget they had in mind. So, a gift originally worth £25.00 doesn’t suddenly become £37.89 because that Lego set is so expensive. It might not be the most personal gift, but it shows you’ve thought about it.
5. Lego
Lego not fun for girls? No way, Lego is absolutely not just for boys. The popular construction toy is suitable for everyone, regardless of gender and even age (as long as it’s not too young). Girls can enjoy building and creating with Lego just as much as boys. It stimulates their spatial awareness, problem-solving skills, and creativity. Moreover, with Lego, they can bring their own fantasy worlds to life, making the possibilities endless. Do you choose a set with just loose bricks or one that guides you through a booklet to a masterpiece? You decide, we’ve just provided some inspiration in the overview below.
6. Books
We would say, try putting a book from the ‘Harry Potter’ series in front of this girl. She might already know these books, but there’s also a chance she doesn’t. It’s a book that’s very accessible for children her age. Why do we want her to read so much? Well, reading is essential for development. It expands vocabulary, improves comprehension, and stimulates imagination. It helps develop analytical thinking and critical reasoning. Additionally, reading promotes empathy and emotional intelligence by exploring different perspectives and experiences. And if your ten-year-old isn’t much of a reader, it’s still more important that she reads something rather than nothing at all.
7. Bicycle
Girls often have growth spurts between the ages of 10 and 14, the period when they enter puberty. It’s likely also a time when they outgrow many things. That’s okay, as long as you take it into account. One of the things that might need changing is a bicycle. It’s wise to buy the bike with a view to high school. If she needs to cycle further, consider a bike with many gears. If she wants her bag in front, a bike with a rack is handy. The new bike might be a bit too big at first and stay in the garage, but eventually, the old one will need to be replaced. If you don’t think she’ll grow much based on predictions, you might want to wait until next year (and focus on another gift this year).
8. Mannequin Head
A ten-year-old girl might enjoy putting on makeup and perhaps doing so with friends. However, it’s another thing to go outside with a made-up face. There won’t always be time to practice on her own face. In such a case, a mannequin head offers a perfect solution. She can practice having a steady hand and imagine if certain colors actually look good together. A mannequin head also often has long hair. She can practice braiding or using a curling iron, and then try it on herself when she’s ‘trained.’ It’s much harder to do something like that on yourself, as you work in a mirror image or simply have no view of it. All in all, a fun gift for a girl who likes to experiment with different looks.
9. Games
For a 10-year-old girl, there are countless fun games to keep her busy and entertained. Think of a (board) game like Monopoly which can stimulate her strategic thinking and social skills. Creative games like making jewelry, decorating photo albums, or designing fashion dolls can also capture her interest. Outdoor games like dodgeball, hide and seek, or soccer are always popular for active play. But, although you don’t need anything for hide and seek, you do need the essentials for many other games. It might be handy to collect these for her and give them as a birthday present.
10. Smartwatch
Probably this young lady goes to a school where mobile phones are not allowed during the day. It might also not be allowed to respond to messages and do other things on your smartwatch. However, a smartwatch is still handy for keeping track of time. Moreover, it’s a nice extra to monitor how much you move during gym class or use it in math class to count her heart rate. To check how accurate it is compared to when you feel it with your fingers, we mean. But what we’re trying to say is that we see no reason why it wouldn’t be possible to wear such a smartwatch at school. The girl will be very happy with it, especially when she wears a skirt on a free day and doesn’t have her phone at hand. Well, you get the point, right?
