Bday Gift Giving to School Chums

Hi A.,
Don't over think this situation, keep it simple is my philosophy for buying gifts for kids that I know and don't know. My daughter happens to love paper dolls, so every girl's birthday party she attends gets my daughter's favorite book of paper dolls. I have a $20 limit, but you can find a wealth of things in $5 or $10 range, like coloring books, the crayola art packs or a book. My daughter is always very appreciative of the gifts she receives from friends, because they are usually things that I would not ordinarily buy her.

I had a limit of 10-15 dollars also, and I would contact the parents for suggestions, or at one point at that age,
I looked at the child to see how she wore her hair, and
picked out some cute things that I found at target.
My niece always loved them as well. It sort of depends on whether she is a girly girl, or a tomboy.
W.

If you can talk to the mom then go for it... I would limit it to between $10-$15 for the gift. They go through them so fast.

Even when my girls get invited to B-day parties of children their own age - I ask the parent what the child "is into" when I RSVP. That way you get the child something they really want. Or, at that young age, something the Mom thinks he/she really needs!

My daughter is now 16 but we have always had the rule that the birthday present to outside people was alway no more than $15 which includes the card and any special wrapping. We started this when she was young and invited to her first friend birthday party. The exception to this was this last year where everyone was turning 16 and it is considered to be a big deal but then the cost was still less than $25. At the toddler age we usually did games, or arts and craft item or clay. As I was out and about and found good deals I would buy things that were pretty gender neteral and store them as we routinely would be invited to a party for the time of the month when I had no money left. But because the rules were established early about cost we have not had too much trouble with keeping to it.

Happy celebrating!
T.

I always call and ask what the child would like,even if we know the kid.That way i get a read on the mom as well.P.

First...what is a sahd?????

Books are a great gift to give. Just get a couple of classics at Barnes & Noble and put the receipt with the card. If they have them, they can return and get different ones. Personally, I don't think you can ever go wrong with this idea. I know when I invited children that I didn't know personally from my sons classes to attend the parties, I was really appreciative of those that gave books, and several did.

I try to stay around $10 for kids I don't really know. I usually go to Target or Walmart and just get an age apporiate toy. They can always take it back if they don't like it. It seems most kids are appriciatative and are just happy to have a new toy.

Just ask the Mom what the child likes. This isn't brain surgery. Or buy some clothes and add a small "goody", a toy or candy. Spend what you are comfortable with.
Hope this helps,
Patti B

Hi A.,
I ran into a similar situation recently. I gave a gift from Target. You can include a gift receipt if you like. Odds are, if they are parents, they are too busy to bother returning/exchanging a gift. I'm a little funky about including gift receipts b/c I don't want people to know what I paid for something - don't want the recipient's parents to think I spent too much or I'm a cheap-o!
Target lets you return items w/o a receipt up to something like $25 per year. They give you a gift card back. Babies R Us lets you return just about everything w/o a receipt. You just show your id and they will give you a gift card. This child is probably too old for something from Babies R Us and Toys R Us is not so loosey goosey on receipts. Good luck!

How about a book with a gift receipt in case they have it already?

I would make it simple and get a gift card.

Art supplies (crayons, washable markers, coloring books, etc.) are a pretty safe bet for preschoolers. the "twistable" crayons (which work like mechanical pencils) are great b/c they don't break easily and you don't need to peel the paper off the sides when you need more crayon.

I tend to give books or art/craft things when my girls are invited to b-day parties b/c I like gifts that help kids develop their creative/imaginative side.

There is a great deal of very creative and fun gifts out there for $15. Most girls at that age usually love anything "princess"...crowns, wands, fancy shoes, etc. If you don't get good ideas from the mom and really can't find anything, just get a Borders gift card.

Happy shopping!

Call the parents of the bday child, and ask what would be appropriate. I have been lucky to be part of a parent community where that is a custom, and it's great.
Besides saving the embarassment of showing up with something the child is not allowed to have, or already has, the bday parents can set the tone and level of gifts.
If they say "whatever" you may suggest a few things. My daughter received a junior size basketball when she was four, and loved it! Especially loved the part that her brother had to ask before using it, for many years afterwards...
Small purses are always a hit with little girls, of course.