DD 11 likes craft and books while some friends are into fashion, pretty dress, make up and hair styling etc. An amazon or target gift would be much easier.

Another mom of an 11 year old:

No to the slime or anything unicorn or rainbows or princesses or lol's.

What my kid liked the most from the gifts she got:
Roblox gift card
Five Below gift card
A fancy looking journal
Squishmallow
Gel pens

What she did not like:
Craft stuff (knitting, crochet) (because she is not into that)
Puzzles and collages
Legos

What is in her wanted list:
Stanley cup
3d printed dragon with egg (that kids play with on the bus)
Fancy necklaces and earrings

What her friends like:
Anything Taylor Swift.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you should reach out to the parent. Hello, I'm Debra, Ryan's mom. He is looking forward to Emmaleigh's birthday party. Would you please give us some guidance on what Emma is into these days? Thanks, Deb.

Please do this.
Or get a Michaels gift card, or even Target.

She probably doesnt need another throw pillow, fuzzy blanket or unicorn themed junk.

I mean, my now 12 year old would have taken another throw pillow or fuzzy blanket in a heartbeat. She can never get enough.

Gift card to Target or Starbucks

It think some cute clothes, a water bottle and some jewelry for all the girly girls!!

A book, like Calvin and Hobbes or a graphic novel
Fancy slime (they sell for ridiculous prices and are sparkly, etc)
Baking stuff
Candy from a fancy candy store like the one in the mall
An aerobe frisbee

Agree with asking for general ideas or with a gift card to a place like Target or Amazon. My adult friends who wanted to get 11 yr old DD Christmas / bday presents this year asked for ideas from me. I sent one the name of a nursery near us because my DD had been asking to pick out plants. She was thrilled! The other got her a bathrobe she’d wanted. I wouldn’t typically recommend getting a bathrobe for an 11 yr old but, again, she was thrilled!

She just picked out presents for her best friends bday. We have a mother daughter outing planned (both moms and girls) to visit a farm (they love animals). We also got her a “best friends” mug and a book of Greek mythology because that’s what the friend is into. This is a very eclectic age!

Gift card to Target, Amazon or five below. If you do five below you can get the funky different candy they sell to go with a gift card.
I would ask the parent personally. There should have been a way to do that when you rsvped

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you should reach out to the parent. Hello, I'm Debra, Ryan's mom. He is looking forward to Emmaleigh's birthday party. Would you please give us some guidance on what Emma is into these days? Thanks, Deb.

Please, whatever you do, not this.

Why? I think this fine.

Face masks, lip balm, nail polish

Great ideas above. We gave Squishmallows we bought on sale at Target or at Five Below and a gift card to get ice cream or Target, possibly eos natural lip balm. Got us through 5 girl birthday parties in 2 months without fail. Animal-themed/kawaii-like squish balls were also a hit. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:OP you should reach out to the parent. Hello, I'm Debra, Ryan's mom. He is looking forward to Emmaleigh's birthday party. Would you please give us some guidance on what Emma is into these days? Thanks, Deb.

Great advice!

Anonymous wrote:Mom of an almost 11 year old.

Beach towel and water bottle
Earrings if you know she has pierced ears
Gift card to Target or Starbucks
Slime making materials
Gym bag
Nail polish stuff (base coat, clippers, file, buffer, remover)

Everything else I can think of would require you knowing the girl.

Most of what you mentioned would require knowing the girl. My 12 yo would hate half of that list.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make it easy on yourself and get a gift card

To where?

Amazon

Anonymous wrote:Fun throw pillow for her bed
Cute beach towel & sunglasses

If you don’t know the kid, please don’t.