need a bday gift suggestion for a 3 yr old girl

hi,
i don't post on parenting forum too much, but i do read it a lot. i'm saving up all this great info for one day soon when i'll need it.
a friend of mine from work invited me over for a lil get together for her daughter's 3rd birthday. "don't bring a gift or anything, just stop by". well, of course, being me, i have to bring her something. she's a great little girl.
can you mamas give me some suggestions? i'm not very close with these people, so i'd like to spend about $10-20.
i'm thinking a book, but i have no idea what she has (i usually buy kids "the giving tree", but if i ask friend if kid has it, she'll tell me "i said no gift!")
thanks in advance. btw, the bday is this sun, so i'll prob be getting it sat eve or sun am.
peace.
LP

 

what about stuff for her hair? Those little flowers are cute and not very expensive, or some cute sparkly barrettes. Hair accessories can be fun, so long as her mom won't be upset that she'll be putting them in, rather than her daughter doing her own hair

 

board books. those picture books with the name of the pictures under them.. i think they're done by DK publishing. my kids had a few. great for tossing in a bag when going out to keep a busy mind busy.

i bought a few of them 6 years ago for my friends baby shower, only thing her son still has from the shower.

 

yeah, books are kool. When I go to my best friends son's brithday, or for christmas he usually gets a book or a baby puzzle, something to keep the lil brain busy. (He will be 3 in October, He's a Heloween kid, btw)

 

Board books are nice, but they are really for babies. A three year old can handle a paper book, but you are right, DK makes WONDERFUL books for babies, toddlers, childre and adults. We have more than a dozen of them. They are so informative and the pictures are wonderful. Sage had them, as board books as a baby, and I think it helped her vocab. She also read them as a toddler, with thousands of words. My older kids like the more advanced books. There is one about the Middle Ages, that my middle two (ages 14 and 16) are fighting over to read.

Here's DK's website: http://us.dk.com/

 

If you have enough time, both Hearthsong and Rosie Hippo have great NON-TV and Movie related toys. I always get Hearthsong and Rosie Hippo gifts for children.
for Hearthsong http://www.hearthsong.com/hearthsong/welcome.asp?sc=1005&body_sc=1005&occ=1005&firstEntry=Y


For Rosie Hippo http://www.rosiehippo.com/ They have mostly wooden toys

 

My children have really enjoyed books from the Barefoot book company. They do have a website...I am a computer klutz but I hope this is the link:www.barefoot-books.com

 

I just bought my kids (3 1/2 and almost 2) a couple of those plastic clip-boards (they have them at wal-mart for about $7) with room inside for storing paper and stuff. You can get a pad of drawing paper, and some colored pencils (crayons melt) to put in there, and the whole thing will run you less than $10. We keep these in the van, and they're awesome for road trips, or long lines at the bank, hehe And you can justify it by saying "well, it's something she needs anyway" or "it's an educational tool" hehe.

 

a rubber bone to chew on???

 

My three year old girl seems to love anything pink, hideous and usually revolving around Barbie but I live in hope that she will grow out of it.

 

P.S please don`t do Barnie. It is some kind of sick conspiracy.

 

thanks for all your suggestions....
i ended up walking around toys r us and getting her this doll that goes in the water and spins around (the kid recently got a decent sized kiddie pool) the doll was $12.99 and looks pretty cool....my backup plan was gonna be what ryvre willow said--a clipboard, and some colored pencils, coloring books, etc. i usually try to steer away from pointless doll-type things, but she is a girly girl, and i'm glad i got her something to play with cuz a she got a lot of clothes today. plus, my friend got her a really cool batt-op keyboard, so i couldn't get her a musical gift, which i often do.
so, thanks again, mommies!
peace.
LP

 

My little girl is 3, and she loves books, anything Dora the Explorer, and puzzles.


We went to Kmart and they have this section of toys that range from $5.00-$25.00, and we bought her a chalk board with those little magnetic numbers and letters, and it was a BIG hit with her. Plus it only cost $5.00. I know most stores have these sections of inexpensive toys.

Good Luck!

 

For a three year old? Dress up clothing! They're just developing their sense of imagination...

Maybe stuff for an instant fort?

Things that they have to build or make, dress up...