Tis the season to have a (nursery) party

[Hidillyho]

Why does no one warn you about parties for children at nursery? I didn’t even know this was a thing. Me and DP didn’t have parties at such a young age which included friends - just family parties.

What is the protocol for parties? We have 4 coming up, one of which is a joint party where we only know of 1 of the the children (the other one must be a family friend/friend outside of nursery). Do we buy a present for the child we don’t know? DD wouldn’t be going to this child’s party had it not been a joint party.

Also, what do people spend? I’m looking at ‘cheaper’ gifts (2 for £15 at Argos) and some of them just look really cheap. Plus I have no idea what these children are into or what toys they have already.

I suffer with social anxiety so it’s situations like this that make me really panicky about what is expected.

Help

I've no experience of a joint party but for the one DD was invited to where we barely know the child I just went with playdoh and a wee toy vehicle. That was about a tenner so I'm just keeping an eye on sales and stuff to build up a (cheaper) stock.

Orchard toy games are always a good bet and are on 3 for 2 at boots at the moment, they can easily be regifted if they already have them.

I wouldn't buy a present for a child you don't know.

We had a joint 2nd birthday for our DD with our friend's DD. No one bought for both girls, except people who were friends with both of us. So absolutely I would just buy for the one you know, no one would expect otherwise.

I usually go with books - you can get nice children's books in supermarkets for less than a fiver, and you can never have too many books! (And easy to pass on/swap if they already have them).

In joint parties, you buy for the child you know. (Unless your child tells you the other child is a girl from nursery when actually it is an unknown male cousin of the child known to me - not that I'm bitter! )

Don't stress about gifts either - for nursery acquaintances a token gift is more usual than not in my circles - art materials, a book etc around the £5 mark.

I think about £5 for nursery children is fine, the Argos 2 for £15 is more than enough. I give things like a my little pony, small play doh set, book, small Lego set etc.

Just give to the child you know.