Birthday present for 9yr niece

[MovingIn07]

Having just wandered around the shops of ages, and pondered this - I am struggling for ideas. My niece (and godchild) is 9yrs old in a few weeks; lives in the UK; parents are broke.

What can I get her?

Ideally, something useful/educational without being boring/fuddy-duddy; and not too expensive to post!

Happy to spend up to around HKD500.

Any ideas?

[Claire ex-ax]

Where do they live? I'm thinking about a treat day, e.g. Alton Towers, Eden Projects, local theatre, cinema, but close so no expensive travel costs.

[imparanoic]

if you can strech to around HK$ 900 to HK$1000 , a nintendo ds can be educational - educational games such as brain age which all kids love

Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[MovingIn07]

Where do they live? I'm thinking about a treat day, e.g. Alton Towers, Eden Projects, local theatre, cinema, but close so no expensive travel costs.

Now that's an idea ... cinema tickets should be good. Travel is indeed an issue as they live in a small town in Devon so anywhere is a drive for her broke parents!

[MovingIn07]

if you can strech to around HK$ 900 to HK$1000 , a nintendo ds can be educational - educational games such as brain age which all kids love

Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

hmm - I think her Dad might hijack this before she ever gets to look at it! (or she might have one, i'm really not too sure). But thanks for the idea.

[Claire ex-ax]

Don't some places have petrol gift cards to include? (Just a thought.)

How about a subscription to a magazine? Girlie or a topic she loves. That way she'll get a gift every month for a year.

[Swell]

Have you tried Hamleys, ToysRUs or Argos online? Or maybe a gift coupon from a local department store?

Try not to send any electronic gadgets or educational CDs by post from overseas into the UK, they will be heavily taxed and thus create an extra financial burden on the parents.

[MovingIn07]

Don't some places have petrol gift cards to include? (Just a thought.)

How about a subscription to a magazine? Girlie or a topic she loves. That way she'll get a gift every month for a year.

I ordered some gift vouchers for Odeon, but was looking for something else little extra, this is a nice idea, I might think about that! She hates reading - which is of course abit of a problem - but a comic might help get her into it!

[jimbo]

How about

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