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I think 8 is old enough to let them roll out and bake the cookies, if you don't mind the mess!

I think I'd do it this way:  Start with rolled cookies and let them cut their shapes and put them in to bake.   Then get them busy making a different kind of cookie that maybe doesn't have to be cut out.

Cookie presses are fun, but only one person at a time can use them, so that may not be the best idea for a group... you could maybe make different kinds of candy...

Have you ever made graham cracker houses?  It's really cute- you get a milk carton... wait, do they have milk cartons anymore?  I haven't seen any in a while... anyway, maybe you could find chocolate milk in the little half pint cartons and let the girls drink it.  Rinse them really well and tape them shut.  Then use icing to "glue" the graham cracker sides onto the "house" and break one cracker and use the two halves for the roof.  Give them about 10-15 minutes to set, then decorate them just like any gingerbread house.  So cute!   You probably want to make little cardboard bases for them to sit on and wrap with tin foil... or just put them on foam plates if that is too much work.

Have fun!  Post pictures so we can see how it went!