Present or no present at this party?

[hidinginthenightgarden]

DD is attending a party this weekend. First since xmas and it is a joint party for 2/3 kids. There is a note saying no present necessary but if you want to gift, please make it unisex so they can share between the kids.
All sounds great. Thing is, I can't decide whether to take one!
As a parent I would hate for my kids to be receiving another pile of presents just after xmas and I am struggling for unisex ideas other than books which won't excite the children all that much. (Bit beyond colouring books and playdough).
Going with no present seems very unbritish!
What would you do?

I would get a present. How old are they?

Can you get a board game? Unisex and chances are one of them wont already have it.

Small Lego set? Jigsaw? Box of Maltesers and a fiver? Voucher for local cinema/soft play?

They are 7.
I don't think they will open them and then decide who gets what. They will just split them and take them home so its pot luck.

I would get a present. Board games is a good idea or something for the garden maybe like swing ball depending on your budget and ages of the kids

I agree with previous suggestions of either a board game (all play together as a family) or a cinema voucher - good fun while it lasts and no more clutter in the house after Christmas

I would get a yoyo. Or one of those games like a memory game where you have to press the lights in correct order. Bop it. That kind of thing.

3 cards each with £5 note in them.

Budget is about £8 so not sure about board games but I think sainsburys have a sale on leftover xmas stock so could look there.

£8-£10 that should say.

if you have a wilko near you they will have board games

Id have to go into town for wilko and as I am on my own with 2 kids. I cannot be arsed! Argos/sainsburys and B&M are my options but B&M games are made with the cheapest plastci going and are crap so I won't get board games from there.

ah ok, argos have a bumper set of board games here for £8?

As a parent I would hate for my kids to be receiving another pile of presents just after xmas
But if the kids'birthdays fall just after Christmas that is when they will receive birthday gifts?

Up to you if you buy, but that is a shit reason not to.

Gerti it says on the invite that they don't really want presents but if your child insists please only bring one between them not one each. This suggests to me that they don't want piles of presents right after xmas too!
Its one thing them having the presents from family but another 20 from the kids at school is alot of extra presents!

Maybe get a voucher. (Smyths) or something. X

I don't think you can rock up without anything you to be honest.

£10 cinema voucher.

Crazy I agree it feels odd. If they hadn't put the note on I wouldn't even question it. I'd have just taken one!

Uno! ?

I know that the invitation was discouraging presents, but then giving directions for what to buy if you do .... All I was saying was, to treat that instruction just as you would any other time of the year. Proximity to Christmas shouldn't be a factor in your decision.

Fwiw, I think the parents have been unreasonable in not being definite in their instruction. If they want a no present party, they should say so clearly.

It is awkward for invitees to have to second guess ...

What about a Lego set or a small playmobil set? My DD loves both.

Do you know all 3 kids? Or is it just one of them that your DC is friends with?
I'd definitely just stick £5 in a card for the kids you know. And not worry about a present this soon after xmas.

Holly40 yes all 3 kids are in his class.
Money is too much of a pain. Id have to give them £5 each and as the cash machine doesn't give £5 notes round here its a faff.
I'm going to see what sainsburys have in. Should have thought about when I was there earlier!

Isn't this a more polite 'no boxed gifts'? 💷💰