Reception bday parties, please help me shortlist a few gifts?!

[Homeiswherethedogsare]

We have recently attended our first couple of reception bday parties for the whole class and I am quite shocked that we have 8 more coming in the next 7 weeks!
I am still new to the school parties game so would appreciate your help. These are a few gifts I have shortlisted (it's a mix of boys and girls that we are buying for). Logic is that I would like to get things that don't occupy too much space, no plastic toys, no board games that will end in a charity shop, anyone can enjoy and use or regift etc. How would the options below be received:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plus-Plus-Building-Blocks-300-Piece-Multi-Colour/dp/B007SNMH62?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1 (in several colors, for boys and girls)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Floss-Rock-Rainbow-Strawberry-Activity/dp/B0BV255JND/ref=asc_df_B0BV255JND?mcid=5f8b65ab55913c2eaa828a6cfd1776ea&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697323600425&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1555463039573414056&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007156&hvtargid=pla-2295767349057&psc=1&hvocijid=1555463039573414056-B0BV255JND-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skillmatics-Magical-Scratch-Book-Kids/dp/B0BZZCGRMT/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2GVTQ9HFB0DSP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ER_U1--636KZu3Qp8RNV--EejqkKTSIn3bpoLtjt5QYrFU_L4RfCfMI881_Ri5yZX8WnhOa0g4oa5C4BgggCrjxo-bWqoFFMRzmWOTIjgpy9krkl3_ZPj_NSuVWOzl6hiLdcPod3DtutQPxRkW3M2n-LC_8dvlsoWRpgNUYWFfWgVKH4jBKnH7ZqotoraJnta2Jpjk1dWPwHOlqaqkLtaRQvA6Df3o2Wnal6ozHZV_-zJKx3PAyOSopkd4PbivMPoB6dmXevZVT1tKjro3DH6UjtoQRGb_nWsMfhJos1krg.DpfzLU1rieEY5uOGlXhbLA_cKyHjQbrgGyIrwDLq4cs&dib_tag=se&keywords=scratch+book&qid=1773402674&s=kids&sprefix=scracth%2Ctoys%2C263&sr=1-1-spons&aref=ICooVeLAtz&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Does it feel aligned with what people usually gift/receive? I honestly have no clue!

We had so many parties in reception and you don’t know the children, so I picked one gift and bought more or less the same for everyone! I think it was a flip book my son had found funny - but of your choices I would def go for the plus plus as we got given some at age 5 and it’s been used a lot, plus doesn’t matter if they already have some (in fact that’s even better!). My book gifts seemed fine until my son had his birthday at the end of the year and people bought crazy expensive gifts for him (SW London, definitely middle class!) but it was too late for me to be embarrassed by then! But don’t try and pick out individual gifts unless your DC have a particular friend - choose an idea and just buy the same for everyone! Most children don’t unwrap at the party so they’ll never know (though the French kids do, while everyone watches, but that’s another story!!)

I’m in the thick of reception parties too and have also done a whole class party myself this year. Gifts we’ve given/received:

Jigsaw puzzles
Book voucher
Sticker books
Magic painting books
Remote control cars
Craft boxes
Lego
Galt science/nature/slime kits
Craft Kits - bracelet, keyrings, moulds etc.

Get a lego set. Lots of those gifts look a bit landfilly to me. Lego gets kept, it’s versatile and kids use it for many years.
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/4740469
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7930018
Argos are doing two for £15.

I gave these sweet tins many times and they always went down well. The designs have changed, there used to be a jungle animal themed on however there are others. But they are beautifully made and decorated, sweets are usually a hit and make great little keepsakes for the child to keep things in when empty. DS still uses his 10 years on.

https://churchills-confectionery.co.uk/product/the-forest/

I also bought personalised sweet tins from Etsy, filled with the child's favourite sweets and again could be used for keeping things in afterwards. A bit like these.

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4312383099/personalised-sweet-treat-gift-tin-gift?ls=s&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=sweet+tins&ref=sr_gallery-1-11&frs=1&sca=1&local_signal_search=1&content_source=024c5457-6213-4628-bb36-9b6db0ec0083%253ALT3259784b72be3fab0989b3ffcc83dfd3ef938d8d&organic_search_click=1&logging_key=024c5457-6213-4628-bb36-9b6db0ec0083%3ALT3259784b72be3fab0989b3ffcc83dfd3ef938d8d

Unless you know the child well give £10 in a card and a bag of sweets - haribo, squashies, etc.

So many presents we were given in reception, y1 ended up being regifted. Unless you know the child well you don't know what they've already got, what they like, what they're allowed, etc.

When we've been given money we've put it together and bought something and put a message in the class WhatsApp to say what we've bought. Most others do the same.

My children are older now so know exactly what their friends like, but at that age, no matter how much thought you put into the present, you're taking a gamble!

All the people saying crafts, lego etc as a can't go wrong gift. I have two children who hate lego, one who hates crafts, even at a young age. There's no universal 'good' gift for kids.

Box of maltesers, and a fiver (or tenner, or say Amazon voucher/local toyshop voucher) in a card. Or a cheap book from the works plus cash/voucher as above. When you know the child better it is easier to buy a present to match their interests, but while in reception/Y1 whole class party season sweets and cash/voucher is easy and generally well received.

Suggest a ‘class’ birthday present. We all buy another child a gift on their birthday for £30 now after it became like this in Y1. Great for me as it’s only a pain once a year instead of 30!

Lego is good because it can either be regifted or go int the big lego pot once it’s been built, so it’s not another box to find space for.

T-shirts or pjs are good too, if you can find one they’d like.

It can work to group together with a few other parents if you know them and get a bigger thing, but that’s harder for reception if you don’t know them as well.

We also used to give a lot of those little hot wheel cars. They are also good at going into the box of other hotwheel cars! Basically, things that don’t take up a ton of storage space.

Plus plus is a massive hit in my eldest and most of the kids school but more years 2-4 so I agree but would hold off for a future year. My reception age child likes building fidget spinners with it but his older sibling showed him how first.
The other gifts are fine and I’d
/they would appreciate them but no more than anything else they would normally get. To be honest the gifts I would or do choose aren’t necessarily the ones my kids liked best. but we both agree on a pack of hot wheels cars

I used to buy a stack of these in Tesco when they are on offer. I figure felt pens will get used eventually.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CRAYOLA-Washable-Leisure-Assorted-Colours/dp/B008CPJNNU/ref=sr_1_1?crid=342IRTRQ3ZOU5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cPTaY_M0R-JT4EdMJLsmY1Ke6DORoshnUI2ZnJRJ8ofzuO43-VUhgjRBhmc54WK0wOX748yu82VHoS_qoUhvSgVQoRgYTRGAg53cttr3hdhD9CMsM_kZJzUUMGkTOMzNmgFSCHViiCBD9VA3uvx1eAeVSGHa5Bt9d3reiMgpocV0KkebpVj--d-THGt0NmKhIP1dpvgyJuEup5U4OUSazi7VHslzKxBpD9_cxPpxThMzYDOiH-EV4qkR19m4RmKwmYZVElt6xzYyiO9PhYbzjoicwHMDn7MX5G0BYGzyhbE.jHhnsqPqT5owFV_AJMn0v0GrlX6zzd2qdFQurJYez6Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=crayola%2Bwashable%2Bfelt%2Btip%2Bpens&qid=1773449014&sprefix=Crayola%2Bwashable%2Bfelt%2B%2Caps%2C244&sr=8-1&th=1

I think you’re worrying too much about what the parent will be annoyed about or what they might send to the charity shop. The main thing for a kids present is what the child will be excited to open.

There’s nothing wrong with regifting or sending to a charity shop or even selling on eBay later down the line. The whole class parties phase out eventually so it’s a fairly short term concern.

Yes they’re actually nearly exactly what I buy op! That or joke book, jigsaw puzzle, colouring book and colours. I always do gift’s because I’ve been to a few parties where the kids just got handed all envelopes and I thought it was sad they didn’t get to open presents and think things like this are things most kids will at least try

I’d give money or a voucher, when my daughter was little she had 3 party’s where we invited 35 kids, she ended up with so many crap craft sets from the works, majority went to the charity shop, only 2 mums asked me what she actually wanted (which I usually did if we was attending)
we also ended up with a collection of around 50 squishmallows which ended up being rehomed a few years later with great difficulty so I’d avoid those too.

You really are over thinking this, either just ask the parent what they are actually into (what we usually do) or just pick something up in b&m or the supermarket within your budget. I don't understand this "everyone can use" or "no plastic" they are 5 and will like different things and yes plastic. I don't "regift" (unless it's a duplicate present, I've only done this once and the thing was brand new), I usually donate to the charity shop when they are outgrown. I have 3 children one is currently in reception, they are very individual and liked very different things at this age and beyond. For example my child who is currently 5 loves jigsaws and can't get enough of them, he will do one most days (he has many) my other 2 children they never left the box, 0 interest. I'd always ask the parent personally.

I do argos 2 for 15 and bulk buy (we have party 12 or something today!) .

My child was the first to have a birthday party in his first year of school and I sent everyone a message that if they felt inclined to get a present, he would be grateful for 5 euros in a card. It meant he came away with 60 euros to choose a nice big lego set with and not loads of stuff (which we dont have space for... still falling over xmas stuff).

Some other parents have followed suit and I think its great but they are a year older starting school here, so turning 6 not 5. Maybe its a bit mercenary for 5!

I remember the Reception Year Parties ! (Mine are 26 and 23 now so it was a long while back )

Money in a card would be my DS choice .
When DD went to parties , the number of Bratz Dolls that arrived , you could tell by the shape of the box even wrapped .

For reception gifts i have also done one of the following

• sticker book - more for girls, usually the usbourne dolly dress up range
• usbourne magic painting book (theyve recently brought out a comic book style one which looks good and something different)
• character pottery painting kit
• jigsaw puzzle

Then usually a bag of slightly more unusual sweets

I used to give supermarket character pyjamas as at least they were useful and the kids generally liked them if they had right character (lots of power rangers when mine were small )

Your ideas are all in line with the types of gifts DS received at that age, albeit he’s never been a child who plays with toys really, prefers to be outside digging or kicking a ball around. So rather than guess, I always tend to ask the party parent what the child would like, or failing that buy a £15 Smyths gift card and a bag of sweets.

Absolutely this. Orchard games are the best!!

Projector torch (dinosaur/fairy/vehicles as appropriate). Mine have loved these at that age, they're not expensive and they're mess free.

Crayola Washimals are not mess free, but it's only water, and also popular. Maybe a bit girly but my boys have liked them too.

Also agree with lego, Galt kits, and books (maybe book + little packet of sweets to make it a bit less worthy, but know your audience).

Depends how well you know the kids yourself. It's often pointless to ask your own kid for suggestions for the birthday kid, as they don't really talk to each other as much as run around and play together.
Lego and puzzles are great, but we now have multiples of some of the cheaper sets! A lot of the presents my kid got in Reception and Y1 made me go "eh?", because while well-intentioned, my kid had zero interest in them. Book gift cards and money were the much better presents.
We also stick with £10 in a card, so the parents can combine it and buy a bigger nicer present for the kid

I know you said no plastic but a small Lego set always goes down well I find!

Crayola super tip felt pens and nice drawing paper pad, galt craft sets, a big but lightweight ball, a bouncy "moonball", jigsaw puzzle, those big foam airplanes, simple science kit, baking set, gardening kit for kids, etc.

At that age it was Lego as a present. I bought a load of sets and it’s easy as they are liked by boys and girls. As we have DT’s, we went to a seriously large number of parties