Hi..I used to room with this friend of mine that had three children..she was a single mother..she had two boys and a girl..The oldest and the youngest were her two boys..and the middle child was her daughter..and she was around eight as well..my friends two boys got all of her attention..her oldest boy was always getting into some kind of trouble and he was also his grandmothers favorite..and the youngest was just turning two and was always demanding his mothers attention..Her daughter was quiet and shy..and left in the back ground..I felt sad for her..she never got any attention..always got picked on by the boys and cried all the time..I heard her late at night..so I took it upon myself to start doing things with her..like you are wanting to do with your neice..I first found out what this girls interests were..she was a girly girl..she loved to shop..and she loved to play dress up..pretend makeup..clothes..
So, as it was around Halloween time, I found this big Costume shop, called Dean Party Mania..and I took her there..we had a blast..we tried on every single hat, mask, boa..Tiara, and cape in that store..then we planned on what she wanted to be for Halloween and decided that we would make it together..not buy it..but MAKE it. This gave us a project to work on. And trust me, she was the best looking butterfly that Halloween.

I also took her to the mall and got her a makeover at one of the makeup counters..(this may be much for an eight year old) but her mother suggested it, because she was so into that stuff..and she absolutely loved it..and I fixed her hair..and I picked out one of her best outfits and we went to dinner and I took her to the circus..The tickets to the circus had been free..

We did many things like this..and to this little girl it mattered..it count..and it showed..I even believe that the mother was starting to get the hint..

Good luck!! and Have fun!