Whether you’re a mother or a father, you probably have a special bond with your daughter. Sometimes, though, it can be hard to express how much you love her. Maybe she’s a teen, and you don’t want to be cheesy. Maybe she’s ten, enjoying her independence, and you don’t want to keep her anchored to you–you want her to experience the joy of living life her own way. (Within reason.) When she was two, it was pretty easy to show your love with cuddles and kisses. Now that she’s growing up, however, it can be hard to find the perfect balance between giving her space and making sure she knows you adore her.
A time when saying, “I love you,” is a little easier is her birthday. If you can find something special to do for her as she changes ages, it can be a great, lifelong reminder that you’ve got her back. Without further ado, here’s a list of gift ideas (by age) that you can give your daughter.
8 to 12
Not a teenager yet, your daughter is primarily interested in adventure. While she’ll probably start oohing over romance in a few years, for now–she wants to have fun. She probably has a good circle of friends, and their fun is mostly dorky and lively. She’s not too old to have an extravagant party, so you could plan a birthday bash and invite all her friends, maybe even trying something like these bounce house rentals in New York. There are plenty of ways to get creative and make your daughter’s party something she’ll remember for the rest of her life.
13 to 15
We all remember this age. It was characterized mainly by awkwardness. While your daughter might breeze through her ugly duckling phase, more likely than not, she won’t. She’ll probably be a lot more self-conscious about herself in these years, so stay away from gifts of clothes or makeup unless she specifically asks for them. So insecure she might read too much into everything, a cute top could say, “You don’t dress right,” or even, “You don’t get to express yourself; I call the shots.” While both these inferences are laughably far from your intentions, keep in mind that–right now–she needs a little space. Try to find out what she’s “into” at the moment, and get her something that celebrates the person she’s becoming: a Sherlock messenger bag, a grumpy cat stuffed animal, or a set of her favorite books.
16 to 18
Getting older now, you daughter is almost independent. Two-to-zero years, and she’ll be on her way to college and living life on her own. At this point, the gifts you give her will be more of stuff she needs, less of toys or games she wants. You might dare guessing her fashion sense and buy her jewelry, shoes, or clothes. If she’s into makeup, you could order products made by brands like Cailyn Cosmetics from Sweet Sparkle. Little ways to say, “Hey, I see you,” and “Hey, I still get you,” are the perfect gift for your older teen.
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