Specific Questions About Christmas Ideas for 9 and 3 Year Old Girls

Just my two cents - before you put your $ down on a "talking kitchen", think about whether *you* could stand hearing the toy talking in the background all*day*long! Also, personally I like the smaller play kitchen sets because I'd rather not have a big chunk of the room taken up by a play kitchen (kids can play with the "big" play kitchens at preschool and church nursery LOL) and my kids are good at improvising with the small toy kitchen and cardboard boxes and the like to make the 'kitchen' work for their play time. We got a secondhand Hello Kitty one at a consignment store and it was about the size of a toaster oven but worked great for my girls and we could just put it in the closet when they weren't using it (come to think of it, it's *still* in their closet, they're almost 9YO!)

an example of a small toy kitchen that another family we know enjoyed is this one for about $25 at amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Wooden-Cook-Top-Playstove/dp/B...

I think the princess kitchen would be cool especially if you know that she'll enjoy it. Another great gift idea for a three year old are costumes like the princess ones. When the Halloween costumes go on clearance for like 75% off, buy a few and than she can do dress up too. Girls just love to get dolled up:)

M.

I know for the three yr old that Pillow Pets are going to be very popular. I teach young children and 2 or 3 of our little girls have them for nap time and the rest of the kids, even boys are all wanting one. THey are very cute , pillow sized stuffed animals that open up to be a pillow. I have seen them around in a few stores and they are very cute. I would start looking early this year in whatever you decide, I think the hot items will go fast. Good luck

Bethany,
I too have a 9 & 3 year old. I can understand where you are coming from. I wouldn't spend too much money on a mp3 radio.
For the 9 year old, I would go to Walmart in the toy section and you can find those MP3 players for under $30. If she will use that one and be responsible, then I would later on get the dock radio. That is what we did. She only uses it when we go on trips. She is way too busy doing other things.
For the 3 year old, I would just wait until I could get her the big kitchen. I got the kidkraft one at Walmart and had it shipped to the store for free. I put it together and my kids love it. In fact all the neighborhood girls love to come to our house to play with the kitchen, food and accessories. They play daycare, restaurant, house, and tons of other things using that kitchen. It was the best investment we made..

Good luck

I would skip both of those items. If she likes tea parties then get that kind of stuff but get a basic kitchen set. Not a talking one. If it does all the talking it will drive you crazy and kids need to use their own imagination. if she is doing the talking she will create all kinds of scenarios not just whatever the thing says. as for the i/pod, mp3 thing. I would not introduce anything like that to a kid who is younger than a teenager. you need to be able to hear what they are listening too and also to the volume level. just my take but I think its nuts when people say they bought ipods and phones etc for kids younger than teenagers.