Birthday return gift - 9 year old

[mesha123]

Hi,

I am throwing a birthday party for my 9 year old DD.

As a return gift for her friends I am giving Acrylic paint set to all the girls.

I am a little confused as to what should I give to boys. There's couple of boys attending and I thought of giving lego but it's a bit expensive and if I go for the cheaper lego sets they are very basic.

Is Acrylic paint set appropriate for boys as well. Not sure of boys this age are into painting?

Any thoughts?

Yes totally fine

I'd say it would be fine. I would pick something that suits all unless I knew individual interests (ie. Not just unicorns for the girls and dinosaurs for the boys)

I've never heard it called that, only ever 'party bag' - interesting!

Do you mean party bag? Are you in a different country? Why can’t girls and boys get the same thing?

Yeah I meant party bag.

I am in London. Want to give same but thought boys won't like paint. Was confused so posted here to get opinions from other mums.

Thanks

Thanks

Boys like to paint. There are male artists too 🤷‍♀️.

Yes absolutely fine for boys!

If I thought boys wouldn't like the 'girls' gift, I'd change the girls' one too to give them all the same. They're at the same party so clearly have shared interests. I wouldn't want to pigeonhole them by gender.

I don't see any reason why they wouldn't like paint though.

Never heard anyone thinking boys wouldn't like to paint! Seems a perfectly good idea for everyone.

Definitely get the same for everyone, much more likely to cause upset going down the route of practical for the boys and pretty for the girls!

My 10 yr old son would be delighted by paints in a party bag.

A family friend would (very kindly, in restrospect) always give Christmas presents to myself and my sister, and to my male cousins, while the whole family was gathered together. Different Christmas presents by gender. I'm afraid this always gave me the RAGE. I still very clearly remember my male cousins (two of whom were younger than me) being given something that I very much wanted but was not yet allowed, as I was not yet 10. (A penknife, if you care).

Do not distinguish presents by gender, and especially do not get the boys a more expensive toy.

The presents you have in mind are way too generous for a party bag anyway, no need, but please don't ruin it by doing what you propose.

Ohh ok.

Thanks for your reply.

Will get the same for everyone i.e. paint sets.

Paints are a good neutral gift for all kids I reckon.

I would get paints for all of them.

Yes paints for all. Girls like Lego too 😀

I would say it’s fine for both boys and girls but this is the type of gift that I would give to the actual birthday child ! Party Bag ‘gifts’ should be a bit of cake and a handful of sweets 😂
It would be very embarrassing to be given a gift back that’s on the same level as what I gave as a present.

Genuinely wondering why you think boys wouldn't like paint?!

Are we talking a really tiny paint pallette here? Party bags are meant to be small things like a sticker and some cake and a lollypop and the classic baloon

I would much rather give the boys a present they didn't like, than give them something else and send the message that I think painting is for girls.

We gave everyone a “grow your own grass head kit” At our last DC birthday party instead of party bags, and all boys and girls have loved it. It’s been 6 months and I still get regular updates on how everyone’s grass heads is doing lol.
I agree. Give them all the same :)

Definitely this. Glad my kids are grown up now before all this competitive spending happened. Party bag containing few sweets, bit of cake wrapped in a serviette, job done

Don’t spend more than a couple of quid on each party bag - unless you move in a much richer friendship group than the rest of us normal types.

I completely agree!

I once went to a party (Reception age), where we gave a sticker book and a little Lego set. Party bag was sticker book, a Playmobile and a big bag of Haribo. They must have cost £12-15 each!!