Princess party favours for boys as an alternative to wands

[Colourfulchameleons]

DD(3) party is next weekend. The venue let you choose a theme and despite her brother putting some not so subtle pressure on her, she’s gone with princesses. There are a lot of boys attending and the venue are happy to do more neutral themes with the party bags but I was going to give little wands out.

I am perfectly happy for all the boys to have wands but I just don’t think they’ll be interested (and I do know the boys well; one is my own son.) Can anyone think of a small gift that’s a sort of equivalent?

We had three options at our DDs party and let the children choose what they wanted for their party bags. One was a gender neutral creative option. It worked well and they loved choosing something. There were a couple of spares left over.

I think there are many fun options for party options

• varied coloured wands, swords, plastic miniature horse/unicorn, crowns; make your own crown, make your own bracelet set (easy DIY); adapt something 8 year olds like to the theme (what might you find in a princess story); chocolate coins, frog 🐸 inspired item; castle/witch/prince…

Wands are fun for role play. I think the bubbles are messy and wasteful (plastic), I prefer things that won’t end up in the bin.

Love cool bits for their stationery case at the older age too.

This exactly. OP, if you really can't stop yourself from trying to please your son and his friends at your daughter's party, then at least don't announce the wands are for girls and the frogs are for boys.

Honestly can't believe what I'm reading.

Don't have any wands so its not complicating it for you. Technically princesses don't have wands anyway.

Why can't boys have wands? If they don't like them, it's none of your business really. Everyone gets the same party bag, make it nice and easy. Wands for all.

Well traditionally it's knights and princesses so if go with swords.

It's her birthday, her party, if she wants princesses then I think that's exactly what she should have so I'm pleased it is. They go so few magic years!

Hope you all have a wonderful party.

If the wand is in addition to the party bag but you really want to give them out, lay the wands out on a table at the exit and say that they can take a wand if they’d like one.

Sorry why would a 3 year old boy not love a wand? My DS was dressing as Elsa at that age. Weird gendered ideas.

Wizards have wands and can be male or female. Both girls and boys have light sabres. Witches can be both male and female.

Give them the same things and let them work their magic.

Honestly, you’re massively overthinking this @Colourfulchameleons for a bunch of 3 year olds.

Having read the rest of your posts OP you really have some issues. Why are you referring to a 5 year old as ‘insatiable’ - you’ve put creepy gendered expectations on your kids and then are surprised they act like this. It is your daughter’s birthday, she chooses. If the boys aren’t interested in princesses then they don’t turn up or they accept it. Plenty of parties my kids have attended haven’t been aligned to their interests. It would be odd behaviour and bad parenting if they made a scene about someone else’s choice for their birthday, especially at 5. My kids don’t like pirates or trains or tractors or skateboarding but went along with those parties and said nothing. Maybe make it about your daughter and don’t worry about anything else? Teach your boys respect don’t cater to their disrespect.

My daughter's (male) friend left our house with a pink balloon after a party and his dad popped it outside. It was really unsettling.

Offer wands, swords and bubble wands and let the children choose for themselves

Horrible, absolutely horrible

I think the frogs are a good idea. As are wands. Absolutely no to the swords even the foam ones, they only cause trouble in a large group.

I would simply have 1 thing and ask children going home if they would like one. If they don't like wands they say no thank you and that's it. Same as if they don't like pizza or juice or anything else at the party. They need to learn it's ok to not like a toy that someone else likes but that doesn't mean you always get an alternative. You might end up with a few extra wands or frogs at home but what harm, your kids can play with them. Different gifts for girls and boys will only lead to difficulties, some will want what the other sex got and I can guarantee you it will annoy parents too.

So long as you aren't letting your daughter's party get hijacked by your older son and his older friends!

Absolutely not. You’re suggesting socializing boys that they should have weapons.

I don’t understand AT ALL why the boys need different gifts. It’s not the 1960s.

Offer ALL the kids a wand IF they want one. If not, they still get a party bag.
You might be surprised that some girls don't want a wand and some boys do.

But wands are magic! Wizards have them. Swords aren't magic. Poor boys, man. Give them all wands and stop this limiting gender based nonsense. Recommended looking at Let Toys be Toys campaign, too.

Toy car or (an obviously ungirly) Harry Potter wand?

A little shield? to protect them from the scary wands Seriously, just give them all wands, or don't bother because wands are for fairies, not princesses, anyway!

Why go to so much angst over a kid that isn't even yours, who's parent probably bought them a wand or something else after that party and that kid had probably forgotten all about it anyway? 🙄

My sons would both love wands. But even if those specific boys wouldn’t, don’t differentiate favours based on their gender. You’ll just be reinforcing stereotypes.

What’s especially interesting about this sort of situation is that there is more often an assumption that boys won’t like “girl” things but rarely an assumption that girls wouldn’t be happy with more “boyish” things.

Also, it’s also plastic tat and will be in the bin within a week anyway.

Water squirter