Birthday presents for other kids

[cheminotte]

Ds2 is five and has 4 parties to go to in the next 2 months. All school friends who I don't know. For large / whole class parties I would spend Max 5-10 pounds per head. Was looking around The Works yesterday for sticker books / craft sets or similar and its all so gendered. This isn't a surprise of course but am really struggling that I find it difficult to buy the little boys a 'Make your own Mr. Bump' or to get the girls some Lego. Intellectually I know Lego is fine for girls but wonder what the parents will think? At ds's own birthday he got loads of Lego and some outdoor toys but no books which I found a bit sad.

[BarbarianMum]

Board games, kites and jigsaws are all good. Every single girl I've ever given a kite to has been really excited because they've never flown one before, which seems like some sort of crime against childhood to me.

[greenhill]

You could always buy washable felt tip pens such as Crayola and a doodle book where they have to make up the stories. Otherwise pavement chalks, a drawing pad and watercolour pencils or natural world/ animal jigsaws are available from The Works.

Also WH Smiths sells a white clay horse that can be decorated with paints. We were given it for DD's birthday and it was such a success I gave them to boys and girls at the next few parties she went to.

I like most of the ideas others have listed too