What's a reasonable amount to spend on presents for children you don't know?

[mummyluvsyoo]

My DS aged 3.5 is being invited to lots of 4th birthday parties, both boys and girls, from his nursery.

None of these children are home playmates of DS, they are his nursery friends and I have never met their mothers! I am happy to go to the parties to meet other mums and for DS and I to make friends.

I never know how much to spend/what to buy for the children and I am worried about spending too little and looking really tight or too much and embarassing the parent. The last present I bought was a big art set from Tesco for a little girl which came to £7.00 - it had lots of stickers, foam, crayons, etc etc and I thought this was reasonable considering I didn't even know the child.

Also if these children have invited DS to their parties should I reciprocate the invites even though they never become home playmates in the future and they will have left nursery to go to school by the time of
my DS party in October?

What do you guys think?

It's not that big really - it's because of the circulation space lounge is knocked through to dining room, which leads to conservatory. So it's long and open. I use the Book People a lot and will keep my eye out for bargains.

Sure, I didn't mean to make you feel self-conscious, but a house big enough to comfortable fit 35 people in it, is quite unusual, yes

Oh yes Woolies are good - but our Woolworths is soooo manic - I'm a quivering wreck by the time I leave. But they sometimes have good offers on stuff. Isn't that ironic - I can have 25 people in my house, but I'm too scared to go to Woolies. Hmmm - I'll have to think about that one....

we did home parties for 1-4 then off to the hall for us! the kids get more manic as they reach five and you may get in to inviting whole class thing

i go for a fiver too - can get a book or t-shirt for that

Yes I guess when they get to about 5yo they do change - plus they're bigger so can't fit as many in at home as when they're teeny!