Present ideas for 5 year olds

Userrrr346 · 2023-01-09T16:41:54+00:00

I need to think of a general present that I can get for birthdays for my child’s school friends. Would you as a parent prefer presents or a voucher for the toy shop or money? What’s a reasonable amount to give as a voucher or money? £10/£20 or maybe £15? Only thing with the toy shop is a lot of stuff is more expensive and I wonder if that’ll cause parents more issues.

Ginsloth · 09/01/2023 16:44

Craft supplies. You can buy in bulk and then divide them up into little craft making gift bags.

NoKnit · 09/01/2023 17:00

As a parent I'd prefer either money so they can get something they want or even more ideal is ask the child what he/she wants. I can't stand extra unwanted stuff, toys, craft bits. Don't want to sound ungrateful but I'd rather no present that something a bit generic.

SpamIAm · 09/01/2023 17:01

I'd go cash rather than a voucher if you're going to go down that route - my 5 yo liked getting money so she could go and buy one of the magazines I always say no to 😂 parents would likely have to top up a gift voucher for the kid to be able to get something.

Gift wise, I mostly did sticker books and poppits last year when they were all turning 5. This year I've been doing little Lego sets for the boys, the girls are a bit easier because my daughter actually knows what they like.

I expect there's regional variation, but £5 is fine. Certainly wouldn't go over £10.

Seasider2017 · 09/01/2023 17:03

When my child was at school I used to put £5 so they could put it to something they wanted

obviously it’s probably more, but I’d still not pay more than £10

PinkSyCo · 09/01/2023 17:09

If you don’t know the parent well enough to ask what the birthday boy/girl would like then a tenner in a card would probably be the best bet. Then again 5 year olds like something to unwrap so it’s be a shame if everybody just gave cash.

Outandover · 09/01/2023 17:14

Spend no more than £5-10, maybe more for DS’ good friends. I’ve never given cash and DS has never received any either (friends both inside and outside of school).

You can get small Lego sets, books (try The Works), craft supplies, etc. Look out for toys/books on sale and perhaps buy one or two to stock up a ‘present box.’

Original poster

Userrrr346 · 09/01/2023 17:17

This is the thing, maybe I will scrap the voucher idea and do £10 in a card. Just know for kids they love unwrapping but I’m the same @NoKnit i would prefer not to have loads of toys if it was my child. I think clothes are always nice to receive but then it’s sizing and tastes can vary

OP posts:

Original poster

Userrrr346 · 09/01/2023 17:20

Or maybe a game?

OP posts:

SBAM · 09/01/2023 17:25

For my daughters 5th birthday in the summer I’d say the gifts she got were mostly around the £10 mark (😬 as I’d been spending £5-7 on party gifts before that).

She got craft kits, a few books, a few cards with cash in, some clothes, a Lego set, a play dough set.

The play dough set was a great gift, she’s really loved playing with it and i think play dough is quite universally liked.
The craft kits are a nice idea but some (like the plaster make and paint type) require a lot of parental supervision and time that isn’t always plentiful. She loved a smyths voucher - she really enjoyed going to the shop and choosing something for herself. She chose something for more than the voucher cost but luckily some other friends had given cash so it wasn’t an issue.

WingingItEveryDay7 · 09/01/2023 17:35

All our NCT group are turning 5 this year and have a joint party for 2 of them this weekend. I've got them (boy and girl) a 'scratch art set'. It's basically a notebook with stencils and a scratcher pen, which they can then use to their hearts content, scratching off the black top coat revealing rainbow colour underneath. They cost under a tenner each 😊

Topbird29 · 09/01/2023 17:44

Cash in a card (usually £5 or a class party if not a closer friend), them maybe £10 when older and only meet up with close friends. And if want to give something to unwrap, then the big bags of haribo usually go down well. Otherwise, I used to get books on offer - sometimes you can get a box set of Roald Dahl for under £20, and split them- so give one or two books as a gift. Or 1 book, and a box of maltesers. Or books when on offer - 2 for £7 on amazon. Orkids fo love the eggs that hatch a dinosaur (around £5). Bit boring, but we used to get so much random stuff for class parties. Think we received a lush bath bomb once - that was enjoye by DS. Maybe one of the space ones- but might have to be careful of skin conditions etc.

BusyMum47 · 09/01/2023 17:45

Argh!! Remember those years well - the never ending weekend birthday parties for small children I didn't particularly know!

I'd say £5-10 MAX.

My 'go to' gifts were usually an
age appropriate book or an art/craft set - usually accompanied by a bag of Haribo!

Sometimes bought a character T.Shirt if I knew the child well enough - from Matalan etc. I also went through a phase of buying a cheap, white, Supermarket T.Shirt & a pack of fabric pens so they could 'design' their own - bit of fun - always went down well.

londonrach · 09/01/2023 17:53

£5 in a card is common here or ask mum.. craft bits always go down well

Moxysright · 09/01/2023 18:06

The last few parties my dc have attended I’ve just put £10 in the child’s card. Can put it towards something they really want then!

Johnnypiratesfriend · 09/01/2023 18:11

Lol doll or mini brands for girls.
Treasure x for boys
£10 each. You can buy in bulk in the sales or buy one get one free. Kids like them for ages. My 9 year old still likes them. I doesn't matter if they have it already. My kids get loads of craft stuff and our bookcase is overflowing.

FairyBatman · 09/01/2023 18:42

I always get a large pack of Crayola twisty crayons or felt pens. I figure they will always get used eventually I buy a few whenever they are on offer in Tesco.

Figmentofimagination · 09/01/2023 20:45

Lego sets, craft sets, painting, colours and pencils, cars (hot wheels, Teamsterz), books.

My DS is nearly 6 and for his friends I tend to look down the toy aisles at B&M and Home Bargains or buy a few from amazon which are on sale/ on their buy 4 save 5% offer. I never spend more than £10. Sometimes I will see something that I think looks good a buy a few. Atm I've got a Jurassic park Lego set, a 3 in 1 Lego set, a few books and a Teamsterz set in a drawer for any birthday parties coming up.

1 tip. Don't buy slime or putty sets. You never know a parents feelings about them. As a PP said those types of activities need to be supervised.

Figmentofimagination · 09/01/2023 20:45

Lego sets, craft sets, painting, colours and pencils, cars (hot wheels, Teamsterz), books.

My DS is nearly 6 and for his friends I tend to look down the toy aisles at B&M and Home Bargains or buy a few from amazon which are on sale/ on their buy 4 save 5% offer. I never spend more than £10. Sometimes I will see something that I think looks good a buy a few. Atm I've got a Jurassic park Lego set, a 3 in 1 Lego set, a few books and a Teamsterz set in a drawer for any birthday parties coming up.

1 tip. Don't buy slime or putty sets. You never know a parents feelings about them. As a PP said those types of activities need to be supervised.

Figmentofimagination · 09/01/2023 20:46

Lego sets, craft sets, painting, colours and pencils, cars (hot wheels, Teamsterz), books.

My DS is nearly 6 and for his friends I tend to look down the toy aisles at B&M and Home Bargains or buy a few from amazon which are on sale/ on their buy 4 save 5% offer. I never spend more than £10. Sometimes I will see something that I think looks good a buy a few. Atm I've got a Jurassic park Lego set, a 3 in 1 Lego set, a few books and a Teamsterz set in a drawer for any birthday parties coming up.

1 tip. Don't buy slime or putty sets. You never know a parents feelings about them. As a PP said those types of activities need to be supervised.

Figmentofimagination · 09/01/2023 20:50

Lego sets, craft sets, painting, colours and pencils, cars (hot wheels, Teamsterz), books.

My DS is nearly 6 and for his friends I tend to look down the toy aisles at B&M and Home Bargains or buy a few from amazon which are on sale/ on their buy 4 save 5% offer. I never spend more than £10. Sometimes I will see something that I think looks good a buy a few. Atm I've got a Jurassic park Lego set, a 3 in 1 Lego set, a few books and a Teamsterz set in a drawer for any birthday parties coming up.

1 tip. Don't buy slime or putty sets. You never know a parents feelings about them. As a PP said those types of activities need to be supervised.