Presents for joint children's party

Spendless

Thinking about it. The last time my son got invited to a triple birthday party. My friend took the view that only 1 of them had invited her child - the child that had given the actual invitation- and bought for that child only. It was the childrens 11th birthday so the days of getting away with a colouring book and some pencils were long gone. DS had 3 classes for his year at school, so it might have also fell that only 1 was in his class.

Becles

It's one of the boys Mam's who organised it all. She handed the invites out and it's her who everyone has to contact to say if they are going or not.

They're only 5 so I'd rather stick with presents than gift cards as I don't think they really understand money/giftcards at that age. My own daughter would rather have a gift than money!

I'll have a look around when I'm out and about for work and see what bargains I can find

keriku

When my sons were young I used to buy sets of books eg 10 for £10 from bargain book shops or online. They looked dearer than they were and we're always a great standby especially when youdon't know the kids personally.

Janepig

We seem to have lots of joint parties in DS's class as parents have cottoned on to it being alot cheaper, and also other parents prefer it as instead of having to go to three separate parties, there's only one! Win win! Normally I would buy three identical (or near enough if they're boy/girl split parties) presents, but for DS's bestest buddies I have given more to one than that other. When they're wrapped up, who's to know? And DS's bestest buddies gave him a little more on his birthday (he had a joint party).

Jx

actually_2006

People who are saying they buy presents for each person at a joint party, can I ask if you know them all?

My daughter went to a joint party last weekend. I bought something for the boy she knew (half price from ELC so only spent a fiver and it was something pretty nice!). It genuinely never occurred to me to get something for the girl he had the party with as we didn't know her. I didn't even get her a card. Was that a bit mean? !

If we had a joint party I would be really surprised if someone we didn't know gave my daughter a present and I think I'd be a bit embarrassed that they felt obliged to.

So in response to the opening post I would get something for all 3 as she knows them all well but probably something nicer for the best friend.

Spendless

actually_2006 wrote: »

People who are saying they buy presents for each person at a joint party, can I ask if you know them all?

The joint parties my eldest went to for unrelated children, tended to be at the higher end of the Primary years, so yes he would 'know' who they were, but they wouldn't be kids he'd knock around with and I wouldn't ness know them at all. I certainly understand why parents do it especially if it's an expensive venue. I was once told that one parent did the following for a joint birthday bash for 3 kids. 1/3 invites said Alice invites xxxxx to her joint party with Ben and Charlie, 1/3 says Ben invites xxxxx to his joint party with Alice and Charlie and 1/3 said Charlie invites......... That way the children more or less invited their friends and the parents were just paying 1 present for 1 party.

Becles just found this on grabbit. Any use?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3865043

pinkclouds

actually_2006 wrote: »

People who are saying they buy presents for each person at a joint party, can I ask if you know them all?

Yes, we "know" them all. The joint parties my daughter has attended have been for classmates. The kids are all reasonably friendly - more than half came up from nursery together so they've known each other for quite a while.

My son is still at nursery - joint parties are really more of an older child thing. I confess, I don't see much point to parties for under 3s in the first place...

I don't know if things will change when they get older. Both of my kids are under 5 years old.

Berryl

All you need to do is double the food,gifts and most important get two special guests to double the fun.
Thanks..!

Janepig

actually_2006 wrote: »

People who are saying they buy presents for each person at a joint party, can I ask if you know them all?

All the joint parties we have been to have been for classmates so we know them all. The two forms per year in DD/DS's school are split by age so the birthdays tend to be September to March for the older class and March to August for the younger class, so you don't get children from the two classes sharing parties with each other.

One exception to this was one of DS's friends had a joint 3rd birthday party with his little brother who was 1 - I didn't know the baby, but I got him something small anyway.

Jx

clairec79

scholastica have their £1 sale on at the moment, so you could get a few books there which wouldn't cost much but by RRP are a LOT more, I've got a stash of them for kids parties etc

Once I didn't buy presents for all the kids at a joint birthday - because the invitations were sent off of the child my child knew with no mention of the other child (who I think was the cousin) - the children who knew both had joint invitations I believe, if you just friends with one that was all on the invitations