Christmas present help

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
An ant farm.

She'd find it interesting for a while but its not what we're looking for. If she wants to study ants we have lots of fireants (and other varieties) in the garden.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Theben
Get her a baby poo-poo doll.

Was that something you missed having when you were 13?

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by Main_Brain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_Builder

Thanks

An interesting idea that I'll show her but she doesnt really play video games.

[MikeH]

A poly+ subscription.

[Q Classic]

I would recommend against getting her this.

But what about Civ 4?

[UnOrthOdOx]

Originally posted by SpencerH


Since this my youngest daughter, not my only daughter, I have a bit of experience too (as does my wife). If it was a question of buying sweatshirts etc I wouldnt have bothered asking here.

1. She's an athletic girl not a "girlie" girl so she's not interested in clothes and accessories to any great extent yet. Her sister was the same until she decided to stop playing volleyball in her junior year in order to focus on academics (which was a crushing blow to me since I think she was on the brink of showing how good she was gonna be). This is a girl who caught a scorpion in her room. She studied it for a couple of weeks before releasing it outside. Right now she has a hermit crab.

Pet Taurantula.

Seriously. She's obviously showing an interest in Biology. Taurantula's are extremely simple to take care of (buy crickets once a month or so, and clean the cage), fun to watch, quiet, and live a good long time with proper care (mine's over 30).

Along the same lines, but less 'odd' would be an aquarium. Provided you can afford the fish and monthly care. And, I'll tell you straight up, the larger the aquarium, the simpler the maintanence. I sure hated that present when I got it at 8 years old, but looking back, it was the best I ever received. One of the 2 I actually remember from childhood.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Q Classic
I would recommend against getting her this.

But what about Civ 4?

Spencer said she does not play video games.

[snoopy369]

Consider an engineering video game then Like "World of Goo" or something similar... a puzzle-style game that requires thinking like an engineer, and also is rather cute

Otherwise, maybe Lightroom? It's Adobe's photo manipulation program aimed for actual photographers and not as bogged down as photoshop (also, cheaper). (If she doesn't have a camera, you'd need one of those too I imagine...) Photography can be a good hobby for kids her age, and software to play with said photographs can be good for teaching skills later used in more advanced programs (like 3DS Max or CAD).

[Q Classic]

Originally posted by MrFun


Spencer said she does not play video games.

Civ 4 is an educational simulation that is used on a computer.

[MrFun]

Educational?

[Nanimo]

Hmmm... if your daughter is into making websites for her friends and making little animations and stuff... depending on your budget, why not get her a copy of flash?

Being a web designer who fully supports the idea of fully accessible and standards compliant XHTML/CSS, I shudder at the thought of flash websites... But this way, she can make fancier websites *and* make little animations *and* make games (if she teaches herself actionscript).

You might also need to get a guide book, preferably one that may have fun examples/projects. I haven't read any of them myself, but these look promising:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Cheat-Adobe-Flash-CS3/dp/0240520580/ref=sr_1_2/277-4133348-6005505?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229530371&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Animators-Survival-Kit-Principles-Stop-motion/dp/0571202284/ref=sr_1_42/277-4133348-6005505?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229530571&sr=1-42

Also, when I was a teenager, I used to like this piece of software called "painter" because it let me create pieces that looked like it was created using natural medium like watercolour, oil paints, pastels, etc. At the time, it was Painter 6 and I was using Photoshop4 or 7 (I forget which) but Painter's brush set were better than those in Photoshop. Of course, it couldn't do many of the fancy stuff that Photoshop did. Nowadays, in CS3 the brushes and effects in Photoshop are pretty convincing, so I'd recommend Photoshop. This way if she does end up pursuing art or graphic design, she's already fluent in one of the industry-standard pieces of software.

Of course, to use either of these pieces of software to their full potential, you will also need a pressure-sensitive graphics tablet... only a small one will do, the Wacom Bamboo seems ok.

... Sounds like a lot, eh?... but this could set you up for the next few Christmases and birthdays :P

[Supr49er]

Has she ever built models?
This can be a lot of fun, and there are all kinds: ships; cars; planes etc.

[Cartimandua]

Didn't mean to offend, I just have met way too many oblivious, insensitive fathers in my day.

If you go with an animation program, I have heard wonderful things about Toon Boom's Flip Boom. It's geared towards kids and beginners and even though it's lacking some of the more sophisticated tools, it's a great way to break into the field. My friend's sons love it and they are 10 and 12.

Also, in terms of biology, I love the idea of the Undersea Encounter Aquarium with under water viewing scope. If I didn't already have a fish tank, I would totally be asking for this now. With the "viewing scope" you can see everything really close up and feel like you are actually in the tank yourself. I just think it's fascinating.

Also, I remember when I was 13 or 14 asking for a telescope for my birthday. Absolute best present ever! I could look at everything! Mine was great for looking at the moon and the mountains (especially when there was a forest fire on the mountain near my home).

Hmm...my Christmas list just got longer..

[Q Classic]

Originally posted by MrFun
Educational?

Just because you already knew that Gandhi was a *****, the Zulus deserve nothing better than extermination, and the Cossacks are quite userful doesn't mean everyone else has learned that.

[b etor]

Originally posted by Cartimandua
Age appropriate gifts include:
- A sweatshirt with the right brand name
- Jewelry, especially from Claire's or Icing
- Cute accessories (ie. scarf, mittens, hat, purse)
- A new pair of shoes (that are not ugly)
- Sudoku (you say she likes math)
- And maybe some craft kits that let her get out the creative, building side (and perhaps will sway her towards engineering without looking like you are pushing her into it)

hoodies > sweatshirts
claire's/icing
meh.
don't get her shoes! you'll likely get her ones she won't like or that are the wrong size.
there is no math in sudoku but sudoku is still awesome . kakuro has a little math
craft kits