We all want to raise powerful, self-assured girls. Luckily, role models are everywhere — from women we know to strong female characters in feature films and cartoons. Female superhero toys, building sets for girls and motivational apparel provide many gift choices for the girls on your holiday list. Here are 10 gifts to help them channel their inner shooting star.
[See: Prepare Your Finances for the Holidays.]
1. IAmElemental Lunch Box: Series 2/Wisdom Complete Set (Price: $69.99 at Shop.IamElemental.com)
The seven unique superhero figures in this set, including Creativity, Ingenuity and Logic, are based on Hypatia of Alexandria, an ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician. They come in a cool, black metal box with a drawstring pouch for each doll and are brightly colored and athletically built. They all have a shield, which the dolls can hold, or which fits on a bracelet included in the set.
2. SpacePOP Apparel (Price: $20.99 and up at Kohl’s)
These trendy clothing items for girls are inspired by the SpacePOP YouTube series, which features five teen princesses who form a band as a cover for a rebellion they are mounting against an evil empress. Some examples are the “Change the World” ruffle hem tee ($30 on sale for 20.99) and the “Rockstar Warrior Princess” drop-shoulder ruffle hoodie ($36 on sale for $24.99). Check out the line of dolls and accessories, too.
[See: 8 Big Budgeting Blunders — and How to Fix Them.]
3. Zing Toys Air Huntress Firetek Bow (Price: $29.99 on sale for $23.99 at Toys R Us)
Today, girls can look up to Katniss Everdeen from “The Hunger Games” and Merida from Disney’s “Brave.” These bows are perfect for your mini warrior’s target practice and will help awaken her own inner heroine. They light up and can shoot the three foam-tipped, light-up whistling arrows up to 145 feet. This toy is approved for kids ages 8 and up.
4. Roominate (Price: $11.95 and up at FatBrainToys.com)
Roominate offers award-winning building kits geared toward girls. The kits, some of which are motorized, help to give girls confidence that they can master science and engineering. Your budding engineer can follow the instructions or build freehand. One pick from this year’s collection: the Cotton Candy Carnival ($37.50). It includes a Ferris wheel, carousel, two motors, two dolls and more. This toy is approved for kids ages 8 and up.
5. Middle School Moguls (Price: $29.99 at Shop.MiddleSchoolMoguls.com)
The new Middle School Moguls dolls feature five friends who are entrepreneurs at “Mogul Academy,” which has a headmistress who is a female billionaire. Each stylish student has a different specialty, from graphic design to coding, and comes with a book and accessory unique to her character. This toy is approved for kids ages 6 and up.
6. Ivivva apparel (Prices vary at ivivva.com)
This apparel line strives to inspire girls to excel as leaders and athletes, and it’s designed with comfort and performance in mind. The garments have names like the “Endless Ambition” pant and the “Own the Move” sports bra. The company offers free fitness classes at their stores and a motivational blog. Sizes six through 14.
[See: 12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families.]
7. Miraculous Deluxe Feature Figure, Ladybug Light Wheel (Price: $24.97 on sale for $19.24 at Wal-Mart)
Based on the new hit Nickelodeon series “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir,” the highly articulated Ladybug doll can be played with in her light-up wheel or alone. In the series, Ladybug is the superhero alter ego of teenaged Marinette, who teams up with her friend Adrien, who becomes Cat Noir. Together, they fight crime and evildoers, inspiring girls to do the same. This toy is approved for kids ages 4 and up.
8. DC Super Hero Girls Ultimate Collection Dolls Six-pack (Price: $49.99 at Target)
Aspiring superheroes will love this six-pack of charismatic characters, including Poison Ivy, Wonder Woman and Batgirl. In this iteration of iconic DC Comics characters, the girls are in high school and get up to all sorts of high jinks as they learn to master their superpowers. This toy is approved for kids ages 6 and up.
9. K’NEX Might Makers Engineering Toys for Girls (Price: $8.99 and up at Knex.com)
The Mighty Makers building collection from K’NEX teaches STEM skills to girls and includes a range of themed sets, from an inventor’s workshop to a garage band. One pick is the Director’s Cut Building Set ($34.99, including a mini figurine doll and a dog), which includes a movie camera and a theater. An interactive story helps girls create the set while also teaching them about movie making. They can pair their smart device with the set to make their own movies online.
10. Madame Alexander Madame President — Wendy 8-inch Collectible Doll (Price: $99.95 on sale for $69.99 at MadameAlexander.com)
Regardless of how she feels about this year’s election, your budding politician will be inspired by the collectible Wendy dolls from Madame Alexander. Wendy is available in an African American version and a Caucasian version, is beautifully painted and dressed in a sophisticated suit and comes with her own podium. This toy is approved for kids ages 14 and up.
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