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Matilda
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| Posted: Oct 25 2008 at 11:15am | IP Logged
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...with toys that is.
My 9 year old daughter doesn't "play" much anymore with toys or dolls or little things she used to play with. I watched her the other day when she had some free time. She played the piano, read a lot, drew a picture, typed on the typewriter, but considering how much this little girl used to play dress up and dolls all day long with her sister and by herself, it looks like she has no interest in toys. So, with Christmas approaching, I am trying to figure out gift ideas for her. She has a sewing kit, but hasn't used it much. Maybe she needs some embroidery patterns or kits to get her started. She asked for a peg loom last year but she hasn't used that much either because well, I can't figure the blasted thing out! She loves to help out in the kitchen and has the prettiest apron ever that my mom gave her last year.
Any ideas? Is this normal? Is this a phase she is going through? She has been very dramatic and frustrated this year. My son went through the same thing when he was nine. We called it the "angry young man" phase and he grew out of it. Can you tell I am at my wit's end? 
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Charlotte (Matilda)
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mrsgranola
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| Posted: Oct 25 2008 at 11:32am | IP Logged
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I can feel your pain, Charlotte. My 9yo daughter is much the same, and VERY dramatic. I will be watching closely to see what others suggest. Thanks!
JoAnna
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folklaur
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| Posted: Oct 25 2008 at 11:43am | IP Logged
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Books?
Crafty books like from the Klutz & Chicken Socks series so they are still very fun-oriented?
Can you start her on a hobby - ATCs, sculpy moldng, soapmaking, scrapbooking, needlefelting, knitting, etc?
Making necklaces out of old scrabble tiles? (Not only a good creative hobby - but lucrative too!)
(if she found a hobby like these that she seemed really into before christmas, then you can get her supplies...)
My kids are loving shrinky dinks right now - and there is a set that makes all sorts of jewelry (I think it is a Klutz kit too.) The results are not "baby" looking - they are actually very, very pretty.
Would she like to learn to sew "for real" on a machine - it is so much faster - and so the results are more immediate?
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CKwasniewski
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I think this is a pretty normal "growing pain." Mostly it's a pain for you, though! It's part of the transition into adulthood. So, help her grow into adulthood by giving her skills that promote self-confidence.
If she loves to cook, you could get her a simple cookbook and put her "in charge" of dessert or whatever, once a week.
I second the crafts ideas: felting, knitting, sewing, etc. Give her a specific project idea... like a baby hat for Mrs. So and so who's expecting. A quilt you make together? or Take her to the store and see what she's interested in....
Good luck!
ck
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Bookswithtea
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Echoing Laura here. My 9 yr old loves scrapbooking, klutz kits (she just got the one on friendship bracelets for her birthday), perler beads, etc. Also, those cheap little statuettes (usually a frog, a pony, a teddy bear, etc) in stores like Michaels and Walmart are fun for 9 yr olds to paint with acrylics (can be had for .50 a bottle on sale). A beginning stamping kit with some blank notecards? Hearthsong and Magic Cabin are my favorite resources for neat kits. CK is right, a kit with specific instructions is better than supplies with no direction.
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Courtney
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The knitting gave me another idea! My dd has joined a group at our church called Baby Looms. She goes the first Tues of the month for 1 1/2 hours and knits (with a knifty knitter loom) baby hats with about 6 other women. They loved having a young person join the group. During the month, she makes more hats at home. The hats are donated to area hospitals for newborns. The ladies quickly taught her how to knit the hat (how many rows to make it and how to finish it). I think this activity has given her a sense of confidence, too, to be doing something that isn't with me or her brother  . Ds and I hang out outside reading or he plays on the equipment.
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Matilda
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Courtney,
Could you PM specific info on the Baby Looms group? Thanks!
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
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Matilda
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I think that is where we went wrong with the sewing/embroidery kit. We gave her the supplies but not any kits or projects to do. It is encouraging to know that this is a normal phase. I like the idea of the cookbook. Do you have any to recommend?
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
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lapazfarm
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How about her own baking set? Along with the cookbook give her some cookie cutters, cute oven mitts and potholders, some neat cupcake molds (flowers or hearts or something like that)plus fun ingredients such as colored sprinkles and chocolate chips. I did this for my dd one year and she loved it---plus she kept us in cookies all year!LOL!
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lapazfarm
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Oh, and my kids like the cute Usborne recipe card sets such as "30 easy things to cook and eat", or "30 Yummy things to cook and eat". They also have some great little cookbooks. We like the Children's World cookbook.
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Theresa
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CKwasniewski
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I wish I could recommend a cook book, but we are out in gluten-free land... so I'm no help.
The only thing that comes to mind is Tea and Cake with the Saints. I think that has sewing and cooking projects.
ck
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: Oct 25 2008 at 5:39pm | IP Logged
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A fun Klutz kit is the juggling one. Even a child-who-doesn't-play will get a good laugh working with this.
Jigsaw puzzles; origami; there are various page-a-day calenders that have titles like "one paper fold a day", or whatever -- all sorts of fun there.
Peace,
Nancy
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helene
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I second the baking set idea.
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JodieLyn
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My oldest was 9 when she really started to love the cooking shows.. we don't get cable but anytime we're somewhere that has food tv she tries to sneak in a bit of watching.. her favorite is Rachel Ray. And Rachel Ray has a kids cookbook.. so does Emeril.. both are good.
And I believe you can get some of the shows on dvd.
I've listened to my daughter have her own "show" in the kitchen by herself while making something.  no audience required
She's also loving scrapbooking stuff. I don't do scrapbooking myself.. so she gets to spend a bit of time with her aunt (my sister) and do the scrapbooking things.
So for christmas this year she'll get some supplies and I think some prints of pictures that she can use.
And I might just get her Rachel Ray's magazine.. I bought one special last year at Thanksgiving and it's still hanging around on my cookbook shelf.. typing about the cookbooks reminded me of it. I think she'd be THRILLED to get it. 
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: Oct 27 2008 at 8:19am | IP Logged
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Just wanted to second Tea and Cake with the Saints.
My 12 yr old dd has made lots of recipes from this book and not even one has bombed. They are fabulous and its just a good read, as well. A perfect gift. My dd received hers for St. Nicholas Day.
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Topic: Gift ideas~9yo girl who doesn't "play"
