Sons been invited to his first party! Gift etiquette?!

[cantthinkofaname2021]

Hello! My sons started nursery recently and has been invited to a party this weekend, his first ever. I've just messaged his mum to say he is attending, I've never met them before though. Should I ask her what sort of thing her son likes? Or just choose myself? If so what is a good gift for a 4 year old boy these days?!

Ask your son if he knows what the birthday boy likes, if not just pick something age appropriate, I usually go with £5-10 total spend inc wrapping paper (if I don't have any in the drawer) and a card. I try to get stuff on sale or in the Argos 2 for £15 offer.

I don't ask what people would like as a gift unless I'm spending a lot.
You don't know these people and what if (unlikely I know) she said he wanted something that was£££.
I'd spend around £10 on something that you know your own ds likes or has gone down well with him.

Agree on £5-10. I usually buy an Orchard Toys game. Maybe stickers/colouring book/crayons.

I normally get a book, doesn't have to be expensive!

We went to our first nursery party couple weeks ago, £5/10 and I bought something from orchard

I always get a book

Not a cat in hells chance am I spending a tenner on a random child who’s likes and dislikes I don’t know. I usually go with a small vehicle toy, the litttle metal ones, most kids like them, or it can be regifted. £3 from B&M.

I don't ask what people would like as a gift unless I'm spending a lot.

I agree with this!

I have t done any nursery parties yet but generally think a book is a good gift

Sticker books are my standby!

Thanks all, great advice I was thinking around £10 mark! Well my son likes paw patrol I was thinking something like Orchard toys! Might take a look in tk maxx too thanks again

I always go to the works for party presents

@MonkeyPuddle

Not a cat in hells chance am I spending a tenner on a random child who’s likes and dislikes I don’t know. I usually go with a small vehicle toy, the litttle metal ones, most kids like them, or it can be regifted. £3 from B&M.

Don't take this advice. My kids are 11 and 9, they attend a very mixed state primary school and previously went to the attached nursery.

Many of the families are on low incomes and often we haven't known the birthday child very well.

However, in all those years, no one has ever given a gift this rubbish!

@OnlyAFleshWound sorry you think the gift that my family finances can stretch to is rubbish.

I hope you teach your children better manners than you have yourself.

I used to gift a DK sticker book and a Lego keychain, used to buy when on offer and keep in a party drawer!

You could get him a walkie talkie or a radio controlled car for around a tenner. Don’t get the kid a book, imagine his disappointment if everyone got him one.

However, in all those years, no one has ever given a gift this rubbish!

In fairy, there is nothing my DS would have liked better at 4 than a couple of Hotwheels cars.

@PinkSyCo

You could get him a walkie talkie or a radio controlled car for around a tenner. Don’t get the kid a book, imagine his disappointment if everyone got him one.

Wow… Fwiw my child would be delighted if everyone got him a book. He loves books. Some totally bizarre attitudes on this thread.

Fwiw my child would be delighted if everyone got him a book. He loves books. Some totally bizarre attitudes on this thread.

My DCs loved books too, which is why we joined the library and I bought them lots of books.

OnlyAFleshWound that's a bit rude. Have you met 4 year olds? They love Hot Wheels type cars. Infact even beyond age 4. I will never forget the riot over who won the Hot Wheel car for pin the tale on the donkey at my daughters birthday aged about 6 or 7. And yes that was a bunch of girls fighting over it

Infact my daughter is now 13 and still gets a Hot Wheel in her Xmas stocking and just last week bought a Hello Kitty one from The Entertainer.

The last presents I bought for 4 year olds were a box of frozen books from Aldi for £5 and a Gruffalo dobble game for £6.

£3 hotwheels car sounds fantastic. Too big to be a choking hazard and hours of fun driving it down the stairs and back up again.

@PinkSyCo

Fwiw my child would be delighted if everyone got him a book. He loves books. Some totally bizarre attitudes on this thread.

My DCs loved books too, which is why we joined the library and I bought them lots of books.

This makes no sense whatsoever but it’s kind of irrelevant to the thread anyway!

[quote MonkeyPuddle]@OnlyAFleshWound sorry you think the gift that my family finances can stretch to is rubbish.

I hope you teach your children better manners than you have yourself.[/quote]
You didn't say you couldn't afford it. You said you didn't want to spend £10 on a child you don't know.

Not a cat in hells chance am I spending a tenner on a random child who’s likes and dislikes I don’t know.

If their parents are hosting a party for the whole class, food, party bags, etc, your attitude is really rude. You can get stuff in charity shops for much less than £5 which is a decent gift. Most charity shops do 3 children's books for £1.

@cantthinkofaname2021 I buy the same thing for the boys at my DD nursery. A £5 dinosaur egg that hatches once it's submerged in water. They love it. Bit different and they can watch it hatch over a week.