Gifts for 8 Year Old Girls: What My Daughter Actually Plays With

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Eight is an in-between age. My 8-year-old daughter is too old for baby toys, but she's not ready for the stuff her 14-year-old sister wants. Some days she's deep in a make-believe game with her dolls. Other days she's curled up with a book, painting her nails, or drawing at the table.

So when I shop for her, I skip what's trending and look at what she actually does all day. Here are the gifts for 8 year old girls I'd buy again, the ones on her list this year, and the one that didn't work for us.

How I pick gifts for her

I ask one question: will she still be using it in a month? With six kids, every gift has to earn its spot in the house. It's the same rule I use for all of our Christmas shopping on a budget.

For her, that usually means something she can make, pretend with, read, or snuggle.

For the girl who's getting into drawing

She's been drawing more and more this year, so this is the first thing on her list.

A big set of washable markers. She asked for new markers by name. Hers are worn out from being shared, and a fresh pack with lots of colors feels like a real gift at this age.

A how-to-draw book for kids. Step-by-step drawing books help her feel like she's getting better, which keeps her going.

A drawing journal. My kids love having a sketchbook that's just theirs instead of loose paper that ends up everywhere.

For make-believe and pretend play

Make-believe is still a big part of her day. She and her sister can play with dolls for hours.

More doll clothes and accessories. This is on her list. We already have this set, and it gets played with constantly, so more outfits are an easy win. New clothes make old dolls feel new again, and they cost a lot less than another doll.

A bracelet and charm making kit. My girls use ours all the time. It's part craft, part dress-up, and they make bracelets for each other.

For play makeup and nails

This is new for her this year. She loves playing salon, so these are ideas I'm looking at rather than things we own yet.

A washable play makeup kit. Look for one made for kids that washes off with water, so it's playtime and not a cleanup project.

Peel-off nail polish. Water-based polish she can peel off means no remover and no smell, and she can change colors as often as she wants.

For the curious kid

Her kids' microscope is still one of her favorite things. She looks at leaves, bugs and anything else she finds in the yard.

One lesson, though: simple beats complicated. We once gave her a science kit that was too complex, with too many steps and too much waiting on me to help. It didn't get used. If a toy needs a grown-up for every step, an 8-year-old will lose interest fast.

For reading and cozy time

Books. She loves to read, and books are always on her list. A chapter book box set is a great gift because it lasts for weeks, not one afternoon.

A pillow plushie. She loves these. Part stuffed animal, part pillow, and it ends up wherever she's reading.

A soft fleece blanket. She always grabs the softest blanket in the house. One that's just hers saves a lot of arguing.

The quick list

• Washable markers, a how-to-draw book and a drawing journal

• Doll clothes and accessories

• A bracelet and charm making kit

• Washable play makeup and peel-off nail polish

• A kids' microscope

• A chapter book box set

• A pillow plushie and a soft fleece blanket

Shopping for more than one kid? Here's what all six of mine love in my Christmas gifts for kids by age post.