Reception class parties. What presents should I get?

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Posting here as well as figured it might get the right traffic.
Still new to the whole class parties game and could do with some ideas and tips. How much do people typically spend on a whole class party at reception?
I live in a nice London suburb area, if that’s a useful info?
Have recently purchased some small notebooks with stickers and some packs of scented gel pens on the sale, does it make a very sad gift? Conscious not all parents will be happy with plastic tat or more soft toys etc.

If someone was giving that to mine yes it’ll be sad and chucked away.
I think the budget is £10-15 generally. I have always given in the range of £15-20. And there are some good deals available for a nice age appropriate board game etc for that price.

For girls, anything by the brand Legami is a hit. They make eraseable pens with animal faces and all sort of small gifts like squishies, pencil cases, stationery etc. Not super expensive either. The pens have collectible value (often selling for more second hand) and they have replaceable inks so they will never get binned as "tat".

For boys, a smallish Lego set is usually good. Virtually everyone loves those and Lego is also something that will never get binned.

In Ireland for school parties, we do a 'Carta Cuig' which means a fiver in a card. We tend to do all class parties ( 22 children in my daughters class) Its brilliant,, everyone is on the same page. I like your ideas of your presents too.

I think that is the perfect gift for this age whole class parties. The birthday child gets overwhelmed with 30+ presents. Something small which takes up very little space or can be used up (bubble bath etc) is the perfect gift in this house (similar London suburb, I wonder if we’re going to the same parties…?)!!

The notebooks are very cute unicorn themed and have some stickers inside to play with, they are not just sad plain notebooks btw!

If I know the kids well I try to get something particular to their interests
if I don’t know them I often get a voucher - either a book token/waterstones (they have books/ toys/games) or maybe somewhere like Amazon

one mum put a note in an invite saying ”if you’d like to give a gift, xxxx would really appreciate some pennies towards some garden toys” and I was fine with that as he put the money together and got a swing and some other bits and his mum posted on the party wattsapp whay he got.

piles of tat can be a pain to deal with!

We’re in an affluent south east area. Presents tend to be £10-£20. The type of thing you’ve said is what usually gets given in party bags.

I usually spend £10.00 (central Scotland though, maybe London spend more?). I hate plastic tat that will end up in landfill in a few days time so I would usually buy a small LEGO set, board game, books, a t-shirt/top and a packet of sweets/chocolate, a gift card for £10.00 if I know a child likes a particular shop.

I refuse to buy the cheap tat from The Works but DN said that at her DD’s party that was what she was mostly gifted - the items were put away to re-gifted as DN doesn’t do crafting due to the mess!

Try not to overthink it OP. If any of my kids got scented pens, notepads and stickers in Reception they would have been really happy. £10 is plenty. Nice London suburb or not.

Well the notebook + scented pens pack is actually worth around £12 so I think in terms of budget is not far off

Hate to stereotype but I think on the whole girls tend to enjoy pads & pens, boys arent so much into stationary stuff.
My girls always love it though 😁
Boys yes lego sets go down best.

We spend around £10 but with class parties often I grab bits when I see them on offer. Last weeks party was a remote control car (2 for £15 at Smyths) for next week's I have got a pack of hot wheels cars, a hot wheels colouring book and a pack of felt tips. Craft sets from the works work well for reception age DC I think.

Little Lego sets are perfect for reception in my experience. There’s one school mum who always buys lovely pyjamas which I’m always grateful for and adds variety to the 20+ toys.

I come from a quite impoverished area and for the first few class parties I gifted things like- a set of pens or a small book

Well, then DS had his party and I was gobsmacked. Everything in the 10-20£ range.

I had to up my game after that!

Sometimes he gets something he already has (like a Lego) and I'll use it as a re gift.

£5-10 in a card is always a winner

I hate picking the gift for the child, no idea what they like or what they have. Also money is tight and its hard not to come across as tight. Its a stress. I aim for a spend of £10 and usually get something crafty / drawing/ colouring and sweets

I tried the no gift request and all the kids turned up with one, even just a card and bag of sweeties. Seems no can wants to turn up empty handed.

we gift craft/ smiggle stuff. I like to drop the host a text to see if there is anything the birthday kid wants

I’d tend to spend between £15-£20. I’d ask my child what the kid was into and try to get something on that theme. Otherwise I’d get something pretty generic like remote control car, walkie talkies, nerf gun, nice pyjamas

No I completely understand what you are saying and i also feel the same when i look at those huge piles of gifts on tables at bday parties. I also think of kids that might be there and see that and cannot afford a party themselves.
That said, I sadly play the game so if they invite me I will of course bring a gift and when it’s my DC’s turn, I don’t think I will find the courage to ask for no prsents as I would feel bad for not letting her experience that after we will have been to so many parties.
I think from next year parties will be smaller though.

Affluent market town, SE. Most of the stuff seems to be £5-10 here. Stuff from The Works (they do 2 for £12/3 for £15 offers), Smiggle (they have great sales), Squishmallows, slime, fossil/gem hunting kits, books, Lego or Amazon bargains. Phlat balls went down well with both sexes.unicorns a good default for girls. DD loves crafts so we got a lot of craft stuff. Thankfully things slow down in y1!

I edited my post when I saw everybody had really good suggestions and i didnt want to start a MN debate but I get where you are coming from. I dont know if I would have the balls to do it either, but I would like to! I do of course buy for the birthday child too.

My daughter has a lot of allergies so can’t use anything scented etc so we’ve had to regift loads. So personally I never get that sort of thing.

I did around £15 and it was mostly Lego unless I knew the child quite well. Most kids like Lego (I love the 3 in 1 sets) and if not it’s an easy thing to regift.

Ok I am thinking aquabeads in the future, found some good deals and maybe I should stock up! Most parties we have are girls

I stock up on 3 for £20 or 2 for £15 gifts from Argos - usually either Lego or something crafty.

https://www.argos.co.uk/browse/toys/3-for-20-pounds-on-toys/

My daughter would be very happy with notebooks and gel pens though 🙂

We're in London.