How about things such as dress ups, kitchen and cooking playsets, a special little jewellery box and fill it with hair ties, clips, and other pretties.  I've just come across some pretty pink and purple sparkly letters and bought all the letters of DD's name to stick them on her bedroom door, along with a pink and purple sparkly butterfly and a flower.  I bought a box and put the letters, flower and butterfly in the box individually loosely wrapped.  I also put hair ties and clips in the box for her.  I also bought her a kitchen play set and another playset I knew she'd love.  I spent under $100 all up on her for her birthday and she got heaps of stuff she loves, she plays in her kitchen or with her trains nearly every day.  She's very proud of her room and keeps it looking beautiful and just the way she likes it.  Little kids at that age love unwrapping things, which is why I wrapped all her smaller things loosely and seperately.  Have fun and enjoy having a 3 year old around, they're fun lol.

If your Daughter likes dolls, i thoroughly recommend Lotta or Amelie. They are soft, washable and highly addictive. Both my girls have them and they have stuck with them. Roo got hers as a gift years ago and she is 7 and still plays with Lotta. You can bye outfits to suit as your child grows. I get family members to buy the clothes at birthdays and christmas. If you google "Lotta dolls" you can get some good deals. Just a thought.

Good Luck.Winnie.x

Ok I'm probably not much help in the girl dept, but personally I like to get things that can built upon or used with other toys, not just one specific thing.

So these are things I could think of:

• dolls house, even if you made one together and painted. you can buy kit ones.
• spotlight has some great craft kits like making thier own jewellery boxes, windchimes, screen printing kits, beading kits etc ( i just got a heap off clearance tables for xmas pressies!)
• easel that has a painting side, blackboard/whiteboard, felt play area
• ikea has some great kids stuff too

Hi,

How about books and things like that? They are always a good staple that you can fall back on, which she will love. See if you can find a character that she likes (eg Spot) and then you can get books from that series. You can also get family to buy from that series for Christmas etc.

Have a think about what she might need in the next few months, or what you might be doing as a family. Will you be going to the beach over the summer? What about bucket and spade, a new beach towel (we love those hooded costume ones), or a boogie board? Or pool toys if you have a pool or will be using one?

Any long car trips coming up at Christmas time? What about some of those stories on tape, or good sing along songs?

Do you guys go to the park in the afternoons or weekend? What about some run around toys like a little tennis set,  or balls and witch's hats? We got a lot of those types of toys quite cheaply from Kmart etc.

Is she going to kindy or something at the moment? What about a new waterbottle/ hat/ sheet set/ lunchbox? If you're getting it as a present, you might be able to get a nicer or fancier one than you would normally buy so she'll be happy.

Have a think about the normal activities you do, or what you might have coming up that you could get her something fun for. That way you might save yourself a bit of money too, because you won't have to by extra stuff later on. Good luck!