Choosing the Best Christmas Gifts for Girls

Girls can be really hard to shop for. I know, I was a young girl once and I know that it is probably one of the "pickiest" time periods - particularly from the ages of about 10-13. So, I thought I would offer some suggestions for the best Christmas gifts to get.

What makes it so hard? Well, it's an awkward time period because on the one hand, you're still enjoying being a kid. On the other hand, you know you're growing up. I started wearing a bra at ten years old, so my struggles pretty much started then. I was still young enough to play with dolls but the presence of the bra told me that things were changing. What do you get someone who is in this kind of state?

I thought I'd offer some suggestions - based on experience of course.

Here are my best ideas. For this, I started to think about what I would have liked to receive during this time period...

• Mall gift certificate. It is around this time frame that I discovered how fun shopping could be. I would get dropped off with a friend or my best cuz and we'd walk around, talk, and try on clothes. It felt pretty grown up but I think I still used my gift certificate to buy candy at the candy shop... but hey, having this "money" still made me feel pretty grownup.

• Makeup gifts. I started wearing makeup in the 5th grade - tastefully of course. But I was able to do this because my parents never really restricted my makeup use. I think they made vague comments about making it tasteful and I just gradually learned how to put it on so I didn't look like a clown. Give a girl a makeup gift in tasteful colors and teach them how to use it - they'll feel proud of themselves that they're "growing up". If you are uncomfortable with color, give them lipgloss - I still love it and wear it. :)

• Tween movies. Okay, these movies are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me but I love to watch them - High School Musical and other Disney movies, the Mary Kate and Ashley stuff, etc. I know, I know - it's a bit geeky at my age but the movies are still a lot of fun!

• Movie Gift Card. Getting dropped off at the movies with a friend is a very grown up thing to do and is appropriate for this age group. I started doing it when I was about 12 years old, maybe a little younger. My sis got started earlier - she's younger and I was often with her. :)