Help with birthday gifting please?

[Bdayhelp1]

My wee boy is 3 and he's been invited to a friends birthday party (she is turning 4). We don't know the family at all so I have no idea what this little girl likes. Or what's the norm for party etiquette at this age in terms of cost?

In my circle - anywhere between £5 temu crap that parents clearly bulk buy and gift the same to every child all year - or up to about £15. My standard gift for four is a picture book that we’ve enjoyed recently + some fun stickers (pufffy ones, sparkly ones, ones with googly eyes etc) - probably £10-12

Bubble gun / book educational toy for under 5 ‘s
Ive started to put a tenner in the card for my kids parties (6-7) and a fun sweet like a marshmallow lolly and a message about the planet / clutter treating your self to something you want

i do feel it’s unusual but really appreciate when others do it and hope it catches on

when we had a whole class party 80 % of the gifts were repeats , crap or not used and were recycled or went charity

I'd say around £10.

You can get a nice book bundle or a puzzle or some craft stuff within that price bracket.

Don't buy plastic tat if you can help it.

Ask the parent of the birthday child what they'd like when you RSVP, they should be able to give you a loose idea of what to get.

I generally messaged the parents to ask what they’d like. I usually got a helpful response. The parents don’t want a house full of tat their kid doesn’t want anyway!

I used to get a book unless I knew the DC had a particular interest. The Works have a few here.

Everyone will say “oh get them a book” as if that’s some kind of magic answer in all situations. We had plenty of books and frankly I’d rather have had no gift than multiple copies of the same book, or books that just weren’t any good for her, reading age can vary greatly.

When our daughter was that age, stickers were clutch. She also loved a craft set or a science set as most of her friends did. Any sort of stationery was welcome.

A cuddly toy or a book or a t-shirt in the right size (you can make a guess based on age unless she’s unusually small or large for her age). It’s also totally fine to ask what she likes. I’d say half of parents tend to ask me when RSVPing.

Girls are usually easy - go to somewhere like B&M or home bargains and there are usually craft sets, or even just colouring books, pens, pencil cases that girls seem to love (my daughter included).

I used to buy orchard toys games to gift too at that age (often on offer in Lidl).

Also if her birthday is coming up now, then maybe a water pistol, skipping rope, bubble machine things like that?

Thanks so much for all the ideas. If the party is at their house do I need to bring food or similar?

No dont bring food.
I presume you will leave your child and pick them up later?
I would personally text and ask the mum for some ideas or gift a 'Entertainer £10' gift card

Play dough, bubbles, stickers , colouring book and washable pens. Simple jigsaw puzzle. Garden games

if you’ve got a ‘works’ near you you’ll get a lovely present for between £5-10

Don't take food, it will be provided.

The Works is also good for well priced craft stuff, books, jigsaws, games etc.

Please no craft set, DD hated them and we re-gifted, sold or donated plenty.

Jigsaws, games or a T-shirt are good. Small pack of Lego as well. Get a gift recipe if you buy in a physical store and attach it properly to the gift/card.

Child is only 3 so no I would not be leaving him at a house I don't know with people I don't know. There was food for adults mentioned so I think that means we are staying and being responsible for our own kids? I wouldn't expect to leave and collect at that age?

So because your dd doesn’t like craft sets no one else in the world should have one?

really??????

whatever you buy when you don’t know the recipient all that well there is always a chance the kid won’t like it - if so they regift it .

but because your kid doesn’t like craft gifts we better not give them to ANY kid - this site gets more crazy by the day!

Well, maybe thinking a bit different than "just get a craft kit".

Is it so difficult? I mean I didn't just buy a football for each boy who invited DD for a class party.

Luckily by Y1 DD knew the children well enough to know if they were into something.

I think this is the risk with any gift.
My son got a lot of Lego sets when he was younger, luckily none of them duplicates but probably because they are seen as a standard boy gift.

I feel that any gift should be appreciated and if you know it's not for your child I keep it back to regift or donate to the school fair as a tombola prize (I know these are nursery children right now but if it's a craft set then that can always keep).