Christmas Shopping Guide for 2012: Creative Gifts for 8 Year Old Girls

When you're shopping for eight and nine year old girls, there are few things about child develop to keep in mind. Eight year olds are starting to enjoy working on tasks independently. They can now read more fluently and with purpose, which means they can follow directions more independently. They also have a much longer attention span and greater fine motor skills compared to just two years ago. Given opportunities, eight year olds can create more detailed, organized and realistic artwork. Putting all of these common characteristics of eight year olds together and you can see how a creative gift like an art project can be the perfect gift for girls and for Christmas 2012, there are some great options.

The U.S.A. Color Chart is creative and educational too.

Since kids will be mastering the states and capitals beginning in the third grade and continuing through the fifth grade, this 40 inch x 28 inch fold out map with activity book and markers is an extra smart gift for third graders and up. Girls can get creative coloring in the map while learning geography. At around $10.00 at Amazon.com this U.S.A. Color Chart is a big bargain gift for girls eight or nine years old.

Make Mosaic Masterpieces is the perfect mosaic kit for eight year-olds.

Mosaics are a fun process with an awesome product. Mosaics really require using those spatial relationship skills that are needed progressively in reading in math. Think of mosaics as the ultimate puzzle. There are a lot of mosaic kits that use geometrics shapes and magnets that are great for younger kids but no sophisticated enough for this creative age group who looks forward to finishing and showing off their creations. With 13 fun posters and over 7,000 mosaic tiles this gift for eight and nine year old girls is picture perfect for Christmas 2012 and priced right at around $12.00 at Amazon.com.

Illustory makes an young writer and illustrators year.

Illustory is a kit with paper and markers that allows young kids to write a story and illustrate it on special paper. That sounds nice but what's really cool is that then kids can mail in the pages in a prepaid envelope for their book to be published and returned to them. This gift is perfect for eight year old girls who'd love to see their name in print but aren't old enough or savvy enough for internet publishing. This unique gift gets 4 and one-half stars from shoppers on Amazon.com. The few who rated it low basically said you can find this service online. I agree but maybe not everybody wants their eight year olds using online services and at just under $20.00 at Amazon.com it's a great gift for creative kids.

The Orb Factory Sticky Mosaics Charming Chandelier is the bomb gift for girls for 2012!

This chandelier that girls will make and decorate is right out of a fairy tale but right on target skill wise for eight and nine year old girls. I can attest that even girls up to 12 years old enjoy making and displaying this Charming Chandelier. This is my hands down favorite creative gift for girls for Christmas 2012. This unique gift is going to light up the life of many young girls at only $17.00 at Amazon.com for 1200 plus crafty pieces.