Moving from the toddler years, your little miss will be finding her independence and holding firm opinions on what she likes and doesn’t like. So when her birthday comes around, rather than letting the house fill up with plastic, loud screeching toys that last a week before they are broken or forgotten about, let friends chip in for one great gift she’ll love. We’ve done our research and have our top picks that will be sure to please from Princess to Tom Boy.

We’re all about buying the gift that lasts, so some are on the $$$ side – that’s why it’s best to GroupTogether for them. If 20 kids chip in $15 each, OMG! one AMAZING gift. If you’re nervous about the awkwardness of setting up a group gift for your own child – don’t be, group gifts are the new black. GroupTogether takes the awks away with stylish invitations and examples of polite ways to phrase the invitation. We also send reminders, collect contributions, track responses and transfer the gift funds as well as create the perfect card with everyone’s messages and photos.

If you’re still not sure, you can always ask a friend to set one up for you. Or better yet, use GroupTogether’s free concierge service to do it for you. But first, check out our best gift guide.

For the Princess:

What better place to start for a Princess than in her own castle. From Barbie Dream Houses to Handmade Doll Houses, they’re the gift that never goes out of style. Available online or, if your lucky, hand crafted by a local artisan this gift will provide years of solo and group playtime.

For the Tom Boy

The great outdoors beckons and what better way to explore it than on a scooter or bicycle. The scooter is great for both indoor and outdoor play while learning to ride a bicycle (love those training wheels) is a rite of passage for all kids. Add in a safety helmet and she’s ready to go.

For the Budding Sports Player

Let her find her inner Lauren Jackson with a freestanding, adjustable basketball hoop or her Mia Hamm with soccer goals that can be easily assembled in the garden or taken to the park. Don’t forget to include a few balls as they have a habit of going walkabout.

For the Gamer

Not just for boys anymore. The entry level games are educational, fun and increasingly targeted at girls. GroupTogether for gaming Consoles, think X-Box, PlayStation and now the next-gen, highly covetable Nintendo Switch. Then splurge on a few games for the perfect gift.

For the New Reader:

A tablet or e-book reader is a fantastic way to introduce reading to kids and make it really fun. Children can follow along to audio books, interact with characters in stories and help colour in pictures and illustrations.

For the Gymnast:

A mini-trampoline to let her safely jump and tumble by herself or with friends. It’s also a wonderful way to get your kids exercising without them realising it (shhhhh…don’t tell them that though). Available with just side nets or completely covered, it’s the perfect group gift.

For the Builder:

The wonderful world of building block sets nurtures creativity, patience and manual dexterity. She can choose from pre-made sets or create her own world. Companies have come a long way and have introduced sets for girls featuring female super heroes, Disney characters, and a Friends series.

For the Thrill Seeker:

Sign her up for any number of courses or experiences to get the adrenaline flowing: from zip-line treks, flying fox & climb challenges, to indoor trapeze and trampoline classes. There are a wide variety of experiences that are sure to thrill, so check your local listing for availability.

How to collect for the group gift without the awkwardness

Ever collected from friends before? Inviting kids to a party and asking them to chip in for the gift your child would really like, can seem awkward. However, we believe that group gifts are the “new black”. Why? Well,  from the perspective of the parents of the kids you are inviting, chipping in together is a god send. They don’t have to: figure out what gift your child would love, calculate if they can afford it, make a trip to the shops to buy it + wrapping paper + card or remember to bring it. It removes all of the uncertainty and anxiety of buying the right gift.

Also, from the perspective of the parents whose daughter is having the party, the idea of gift she truly loves is amazing. The awkwardness is in the etiquette of inviting and asking for a gift at the same time. Some parents are completely au fait with this and GroupTogether alleviates the awkwardness by providing examples of polite ways to phrase your invitation. Other parents would rather ask a friend or family member to set it up for them. Both ways are polite and you should choose what suits your personality best.

Either way, GroupTogether.com makes it easy. It’s free and fast to set up. Then we do the rest: invite, collect, remind, create a group card and transfer the money or an e-gift voucher to you.