Shopping & birthday

[dancemom]

Dd has decided she wants to go shopping and for lunch with a few friends to celebrate her birthday.

However I can't work out the best way to do this as a birthday celebration? I could pay for lunch for them but what about the shopping part?

Is it okay to say they should bring some money? Should I provide a gift token??

[NapQueen]

How old?

If old enough to go round the shops themselves I'd say "I'm taking the girls for lunch for dd's birthday at X, my treat of course, then dd fancies a bit of shopping afterwards if any of your girls wanted to go too I was just going to let them go off and do their own thing" - no way would I be funding the shopping!

[dancemom]

11 & 12

That sounds perfect, I just couldn't get my head round it! Most of them have shopped together before so putting it that way gives the other parents an opt out so thanks!