Holiday gifts for 11 year old girl

[Anonymous]

I will just note for the moms of sixth graders that these lists are very stereotypical “new to middle school” lists. Nothing wrong with that; current seventh graders wanted these items last year, and current eighth graders the year before. Just know that in one year, these items will all seem young, so don’t blow your budget on things that are (for the most part, and with few exceptions) going to be set aside in a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will just note for the moms of sixth graders that these lists are very stereotypical “new to middle school” lists. Nothing wrong with that; current seventh graders wanted these items last year, and current eighth graders the year before. Just know that in one year, these items will all seem young, so don’t blow your budget on things that are (for the most part, and with few exceptions) going to be set aside in a year.

Thank you for this note of realism and common sense for true middle class families. Most of us cannot afford to buy all of these things for our 11 year olds. My 11 year old's big ticket item this year costs $50. That's just my family. I don't love all these moms making me feel bad here for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will just note for the moms of sixth graders that these lists are very stereotypical “new to middle school” lists. Nothing wrong with that; current seventh graders wanted these items last year, and current eighth graders the year before. Just know that in one year, these items will all seem young, so don’t blow your budget on things that are (for the most part, and with few exceptions) going to be set aside in a year.

Thank you for this note of realism and common sense for true middle class families. Most of us cannot afford to buy all of these things for our 11 year olds. My 11 year old's big ticket item this year costs $50. That's just my family. I don't love all these moms making me feel bad here for that.

We don't have a sky high Christmas budget either, but is anyone actually intending to make you (me) feel bad? Or are you just feeling self-conscious?

Most posters went of their way to say their kid wouldn't be getting every high ticket Sephora item + Kendra Scott jewelry + an iPhone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was my 11 yr old DD's list

-iphone and personalized case
-Bubble skincare
-Swiftly tech shirt from Lululemon
-Jellycats
-Owala water bottle in rose quartz
-Kendra Scott hot pink heart necklace and matching heart earrings
-Neon name sign for bedroom
-wide leg sweatpants (brand not noted on this one)
-Lego botanical set
-New ice skating bag and other figure skating items (she figure skates)
-fancy acrylic markers
-tickets to broadway shows

Dream big, kiddo

Wow out of all of this my 11 year old has asked for the phone and Owala. She already has an Owala because I really like mine and knew she would do and there is no phone in her immediate future. I’m grateful that she is not brand obsessed (yet).

This is my 11 yr old you seems to have all figured out. She's a great kid -- she is kind and easy-going and loves/does well in school (including making it into the selective advanced math track that started this year in our district). She loves figure skating, performing in her youth theater company, and writing/illustrating stories (as you can maybe glean from the list). Those things, along with school, occupy easily 90% of her time and mental energy. She doesn't sit around thinking about her appearance all day. But she is starting to think about it a bit more (which I think is normal) ... and yeah, she included trendy items b/c that is really all she knows in the skincare/fashion arena. If it wasn't clear, it's a wish list, and she's only getting fraction of the requests. Sometimes I think these people who are all like, "my kids don't really ask for much, blah, blah, blah..." have kids who generally get most of what they want whenever throughout the year, and that's why they don't "want" anything come the holidays. We really don't buy our kids "stuff" except on their birthdays and winter holidays.

My point was that my 11 year old has a long wish list, but there are very few "name brands" on there. She wouldn't ask for $100 sweatshirt, $50 stuffed animal, or a $50 initial necklace. But then again, I'm sure my budget is very different than yours, and I do talk to her about what we can and cannot realistically afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White Fox hoodie, Lululemon shorts, Sol de Janeiro, electric skateboard, Apple watch, Bluetooth lighted vanity mirror, Sabrina Carpenter t-shirt or posters for her room, belt bag, bathrobe, Uggs, bubble name necklace, heated blanket (or any blanket), oversized Nike hoodie, Nike socks, Nike pro shorts, Kendra Scott necklace.

You're doing something wrong, PP. No kid should be this brand obsessed.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White Fox hoodie, Lululemon shorts, Sol de Janeiro, electric skateboard, Apple watch, Bluetooth lighted vanity mirror, Sabrina Carpenter t-shirt or posters for her room, belt bag, bathrobe, Uggs, bubble name necklace, heated blanket (or any blanket), oversized Nike hoodie, Nike socks, Nike pro shorts, Kendra Scott necklace.

You're doing something wrong, PP. No kid should be this brand obsessed.

+1

Do we have to have this conversation on every single thread about what tween girls want or wear? Do you all not remember the IT brands of the '80s or '90s or whenever you were a teen? Maybe you weren't obsessed, but surely you knew someone who couldn't live without (take your pick of) Guess or Calvin Klein jeans/Benneton rugby shirt or sweater/Ralph Lauren polo/Timex or Casio watches/whatever.

Tweens and teens have been brand name obsessed for decades, at a minimum. Even in the '40s the students at Seven Sisters colleges were shopping obsessively at Peck and Peck.