Birthday parties for 3 year olds - how much to spend on presents

[PetitFilou1]

We've started getting a rash of invitations to birthday parties for my ds's friends at nursery. I'm not sure how much to spend on presents given that there are probably quite a few coming up. Any views? And what would you appreciate your children getting? Not very good on ideas for girls as our dd is only 14 months - help please!

I usually spend between £5-£10 depending on how close my dd1 is to them. Most people around here tend to give stuff like books, puzzles or arts and crafts type gifts. TBH my dd1 always prefers the brand name stuff (ie. barbie, disney princess etc) to the educational stuff, but i guess each child is different. Dressing up stuff always seems to go down well with all of the girls. With all the 3 for 2 offers at boots, m&s and woolies, now is a good time to get alot of invites :-)

DD (3) has just started getting nursery class birthday invites too and I am determined to keep presents to a fiver unless it's a particular friend; I would normally spend £10 for DS2's friends (8). Last week I got some glow in the dark dinosours for a little boy which apparantly went down really well, art and craft stuff is usually good too. My boys loved matchbox cars at that age. 3 year old girls seem to like really girlie stuff - pretty hair accessory stuff, purses etc. are cheap and popular. If you can bear the horror that is Claire's Accessories [shudder emotion] it's a great source of girlie presents and stocking fillers.

no more than £5

I agree that a fiver is about right. ELC sells some pretty good games that are only £6 but look more expensive than that, there's a martian bashing one and a honey bee tree (bit like kerplunk from my youth) amongst others.

Also for little girls places like ToysRUs do a great line in horrid sparkly play shoes which my DD (and any visitors, male or female!) just love. They are only £2.99 or something and she has had hours of fun from them.

a packet of stickers goes a long way

for little girls My Little Pony is only £4.99 and both my dds love htis

Snap nailpolish - I bought one for the last 3yo girl party my DD went to. I think £5 is a good benchmark unless a close friend.

£5- £10 max.

I like usable things like craft stuff, sticker books, felt tips and crayons, colouring books. Nothing that takes up too much room. DD would like anything to do with Polly Pocket or Disney Princess but then she is 5. Actually a Barbie colouring book and set of nice Crayola colours would skillfully combine the two. Or a ?work? book (for practising letters or at a simpler level matching colours etc) always goes down well.

£5, bit more if best friends

You can normally find something decent for a fiver.

books best appreciated in our house

Agree actually Spykid that getting books is great, as you can never have too many (which isn't true about other stuff)