Kids party present etiquette

[Hotdayinjuly]

DD party invites have started now a she’s at school. What is the norm regarding presents, is it good to ask what they would like or awkward for the parent?

Personally I'd much prefer open discussions or be able to say, dd party she's into x and z but we've always usually been given lovely gifts.

The Works is your friend here

2 for a fiver gifts
3 for a tenner
Colouring books and pencils
Reading Books
Craft Supplies
(Basically anything the child can do or make)

Failing that, the craze at DD's school is funky keyrings for their bags. The wackier the better!

I usually ask with the rsvp text so say something like 'thanks for the invitation, x would love to come. Is there anything y would especially like or would they prefer money to out towards something bigger'

Now dd is in Year 2 it tends to be friends more than whole class parties, so ask what her friends like

It's fine to ask.

Otherwise we found at this age a gift bag with colouring books, pens maybe some finger paints etc was always well received.

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I'm a huge fan of the works for this stuff too!

Just buy something generic...books, craft stuff, Lego etc

I always ask. 2 of my kids hate craft stuff and books and always got the ones mentioned above. Total waste.

I just bought books if I didn't know the child

Totally agree with the Works. I'm organising a party for DD2's 5th birthday right now. A couple of parents have asked if there's anything she might like. I've been very careful to only suggest cheap items like books or colouring items as I know the party gift costs ad up!

T shirt or pj's from somewhere like asda were always well received. Are used to put a gift receipt in the card so that they could be exchanged if not suitable

The problem with asking is it makes thinking of gifts I to an extra task for the parent (generally the mum).

Either ask your dc what they are into or get something generic. There's no need to spend loads 2 for £10 gifts are good. It is helpful to have a stash of stuff for parties in the first couple if years of school.

I don't ask the mum, but I talk to my child. What does your friend like? Kids often get each other cool presents, usually stuff their parents wouldn't ordinarily like. Plus I've always loved my children receiving things that I wouldn't have ever picked up for them.

Apart from the guns.

It’s fine too ask, most people will give you some sort of idea... and

Take your DC into B&M toy aisle and get them to choose something.

@Stompythedinosaur I tend to ask what they like so for dd2 recently I replied 'please don't feel that you have to bring a gift but if you did want to buy her a little something, she likes diggers, books and dogs'. No real effort to list what dd likes, I'm not naming specific presents as personally I think that would be cheeky, and I take care not to just name a brand (eg barbie) because then there aren't always so many options for cheaper/bulk buy things.

Yes ask what sort of things they like or what sort of things to avoid. I'd appreciate being asked (purely to say no Lego as we have millions for example)

Anything is reasonable. You can ask or not. I always said whatever when asked as my DDs were usually happy with anything. I’m a regifter so if there was anything they wouldn’t use I’d regift anyway. £5 in a card is perfectly acceptable too. I know a couple of parents who always do this.

Fidget toys are what they all seem to want in DD's year at the moment (Y5).

I always used to put money in a card and a packet of sweets.

There's no problem asking & no problem choosing/letting your child choose or putting money in a card.

One year a mum started the 'piggy bank' & the little Porker was so popular he went around all the parties! Birthday child loved having some money to choose their own gift, the other kids loved putting the notes or coins in Porker, party parents loved Not having tons of little presents to find a home for & the parents of the guests loved not having to think about it!!!! The kids nearly all made a card for the Birthday child. It was a fab few years and I really missed those 'school families' working together like that when we moved away.

I agree ask parent for a steer or go for something generic.
If asked I used to say 'she likes animals; if buying craft please go low on age as otherwise it's too fiddly'.