It feels like she was a toddler just yesterday, but today the little girl is already 9 years old. But what do you actually give her for her birthday? Of course, you’ve been thinking about this question a bit earlier than the birthday itself. That’s why you’ve ended up at a blog with the best gifts. Moreover, this is not just any blog with gifts; it’s enriched with information about the girl’s developmental phase. Based on this information, you can choose the most suitable gift. Nice, right?
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Developmental Phase of a 9-Year-Old Girl
With ideas flying around and a lot of enthusiasm, your 9-year-old girl wakes up with a smile every day. She is curious, learns more and more, makes jokes that even adults can laugh at, and does many other fun things. On the other hand, her ability to concentrate is strengthening, although sometimes it may seem like she is more absent than ever. Fits of laughter alternate with moments when you don’t want to break her focus.
Perhaps the girl is sweating for the first time with a slightly unpleasant odor, or she may even be having her first period (although that is quite early). Keep in mind the upcoming changes in her physical appearance, both in height and weight, and changes in interests and skills. At school, a large part of the day will be divided between boys and girls. They can’t imagine ever having played together and are simultaneously discovering the first signs of conscious crushes. In any case, the life of a 9-year-old girl is very eventful, with all the consequences that entails.
There is a lot to say about the social life of a 9-year-old. She starts to understand social norms and rules better and adapts to group dynamics. At home, there are regular quarrels with her brothers and sisters, but when it comes down to it, they always stand up for each other. Her emotional awareness plays a major role in this. Physically, as mentioned, she is on the brink of many changes. Maybe she looks up to the girls in higher classes, or she is ahead of the curve herself. Cognitively, she develops more interest in various subjects, but especially in the world around her. Something like the children’s news is followed with great concentration. The world is much bigger than she thought in her younger years.
Don’ts (Types of Gifts Not to Buy for a 9-Year-Old Girl)
She may act like she is very grown-up, but don’t forget that 9 years old is absolutely not old. In fact, she isn’t even a teenager yet. Gifts with an age label of 12+ should be kept for later. So, focus on her own interests, buy something that only she really likes (and maybe her friends don’t), and get her excited. She may be fascinated by what her older sister is doing, but that doesn’t mean she’s ready for it yet. Make-up is often still used for dress-up parties, not as a daily part of her look, for example.
What Is a Suitable Budget for This Age?
Life is expensive. If you don’t say it, someone else will mention it on a weekly basis. Therefore, it’s handy to set budgets, including a budget for a gift for
- Parents/ caregivers: £50.00 to …
As parents/caregivers, you naturally fulfill her biggest wish. This has been known to you for months, and her birthday is the day she finally receives that wish. - Immediate family members (uncles, aunts, grandparents): £10.00 to £25.00
Average amounts for a girl of average age. - Neighbors/ acquaintances: £10.00
Not too much, not too little, more as a gesture and nice as a contribution to something she is saving for. A nice, cute, beautiful, cheerful gift will also be appreciated. - Friends: £5.00
Receiving a lot of small trinkets at a birthday party? Your 9-year-old daughter is all for it. The gifts often range from small trends to school supplies.
Further Tips
A few more final tips for that 9-year-old sweetheart who wakes up happier every day than the day before. First and foremost, be very aware of what she is actually thinking. Is she constantly busy with that one YouTuber (buy merchandise), does she want nothing more than to dance on TikTok (buy a lamp), or is she striving to reach a higher level in hockey (maybe a new sports outfit)? A 9-year-old is still quite easy to ‘read’ as they are often open books and tell you all about what they are doing. We would say, enjoy it while you can, because before you know it, you’ll be talking to a closed bedroom door.
1. Kids Makeup
As if it’s not noticeable, your daughter suddenly comes downstairs with mascara on her eyelashes. When you ask her whose she used, you hear a soft, shy ‘mom’s’ from her mouth. Well, just this once, it’s okay that she used it, but maybe it’s wise to get her some kids’ makeup. Just a rainbow-colored eyeshadow palette or a bright lip gloss with a flavor. Something she can practice with and it doesn’t matter if it’s applied 50 times until it’s finally ‘right’.
2. Roller Skates
Left, right, left, right. The first meters on the new roller skates you gave the 9-year-old girl as a gift will probably be a bit shaky. But, with the right surface and enough protection, it should work out. Roller skating is a fun way to play outside when you’re nine years old. You can use them to get to school, maybe even wander around during breaks, and it gives you a sense of freedom. A helmet, wrist guards, and knee pads are something we would almost mandate. Especially on public roads, she wouldn’t be the first to have an unfortunate accident where the damage could have been partially prevented with protection. Perhaps not the ‘coolest’, but safety first, right? And if she doesn’t believe you, consider showing her news reports of such accidents (there are unfortunately plenty of them).
3. Lego
No, Lego is not just for boys. Yes, there is Lego that is more aimed at ‘girly’ things (if we may say so), which is Lego Friends. But if the 9-year-old girl wants the Lego City fire station set, who are you to stop her? Lego is fun because you can play well with it. Just the building part will probably keep her busy for hours, so she won’t be focusing on learning and filming a TikTok dance for a while. Not that that’s wrong, but with Lego, you create a way for her to get through her ‘no screen time’. All that ‘hanging around’ all day, as a parent, you eventually get tired of it (we get you).
4. Craft Sets
Crafting isn’t just good when you’re a toddler practicing your fine motor skills. No, crafting is also beneficial as you get older. It inspires, enhances your imagination, and shows you can create things yourself. Because we understand that it’s not easy for everyone to make something from random loose items and materials, it’s more fun to start with a craft set. Here you can just follow instructions and probably add some personal touches in a few places. Look for a set where the girl can make her own bag or create a keychain. Of course, you can also be inspired by our own gift ideas.
5. Books
Don’t read this book! Yes, that’s seriously a title of a book you can give to your 9-year-old niece. Because the title says not to read it, it becomes more attractive to sneakily do so. Moreover, it’s a richly illustrated book, not just pages full of text. In other words, if we recommend getting a book, it doesn’t necessarily mean a thick volume of 400 pages. In fact, if the girl isn’t much of a reader, it’s actually good to let her read books like this. It motivates, inspires, and brings a smile to her face. Better to read a little than not a single word at all, we’d say. So, think about the topics the girl is interested in and choose a book based on that.
6. Kids Camera
Nowadays, many 9-year-olds already have their own phones. They can (possibly) take all the photos and videos they want with them. However, the 9-year-old girl might be passionate about ‘professional’ photography of people, objects, and her surroundings. Since she is still a bit too young to use her parents’ digital camera, it might be an idea to buy her a kids’ camera. Not one that can also be used by toddlers, but something in between. She can prove with this that it’s a hobby she wants to continue. For a following birthday, it might then be time to buy a more professional camera for her. After all, she wouldn’t be the first to quickly get bored with something, so see if she really likes it first.
7. Outdoor Toys
Off you go with those legs! It’s worrying enough that children nowadays are so glued to their screens, so it’s wise to buy something that causes the opposite. Think jump ropes, balls, penny boards, and other outdoor toys. Sometimes you need to help children make the right choice more attractive. Because, let’s be honest, if it’s snowing outside, wouldn’t you rather sit on the couch than go outside? It’s not surprising that a child follows your ‘example’ in such a situation. Well, you’ll undoubtedly benefit from our gift ideas, right?
8. Jewelry Set
If you give a 9-year-old girl something like a real silver necklace, there’s a good chance she will still be wearing it years later. At some point, the habit of wearing it will turn into the fact that the necklace has sentimental value. Combine this, for example, with a ring, and she will be attached to her new jewelry set for a long time. A cheaper version of a jewelry set, which consists of lots of different items, will also be just as well received. There is something for everyone with every budget. Look closely at what and which jewelry she already wears so that you can match your gift to that.
9. Trampoline
Boink, boink, boink. Too much energy? No problem, a quarter of an hour on the trampoline will cause enough fatigue. Jumping on the trampoline is beneficial for the 9-year-old’s stamina and will give a positive boost to her flexibility. Because as daring as this girl still is, she will undoubtedly try to make somersaults and other (dangerous) jumps. It’s helpful if she doesn’t take too much and unnecessary risk, but yeah, if you don’t try, you don’t know what it brings, right? And oh yes, will you also keep an eye out if there are brothers or sisters involved? A trampoline for the 9-year-old girl will also cause jealousy among the other children. Do you think they’ll be allowed to jump on it by this girl, or is it better to give it as a ‘general’ gift another time (at Christmas or something similar)?
10. Kids Scooter
Vroom! There she goes, on her scooter, heading for the horizon and beyond. Well, not yet, but after you’ve given her a scooter for her birthday. A scooter is the ultimate mode of transport of the present time. It’s fun to use a few times to go to school (instead of by bike) and can provide extra exercise at other times. Because when you want to go for a walk, you can get your 9-year-old to join you by suggesting she takes her scooter. Believe us when we say that sounds more attractive than boring ‘walking’. Anyway, you can make it even more luxurious by making it an electric scooter. Then her bike will start to gather dust because an electric scooter is, of course, super ‘cool’ to get from A to B. (Will you watch out for safety?)
