Presents for joint children's party

cottonhead

Would buy a present for each of them as it is each of their birthdays- espacially if they have each been mentioned on the invitation. I usually stick to £5 each for joint parties.

castleton

You can never have too many books. The bookpeople do packs of 10 for £9.99. Poundland sometimes have appropriate books. Look in waterstones, smiths etc as they sometimes have offers that are really cheap.

Lunar_Eclipse

In this case (all children named on invite and your daughter is friends with them all), I would buy them all presents. I do think that's the general etiquette where effectively all 3 of them have invited your daughter.

It is entirely up to you what you spend though. You could pick up a lovely Easter egg for £1 from a supermarket and team it with something else if you wish that needn't be expensive (bubble bath, silly putty, joke book)

You could also consider making something. I have personalised t-shirts, made pictures and put them in a £1 frame, as well as printing photobooks for my children's friends. I would feel very uncomfortable not giving all three children a present. I generally like making people feel special on their birthday. Ultimately it's the thought that counts. Homemade Easter biscuits for them all would be incredibly cheap, usually much appreciated and significantly better than taking nothing, in my opinion. Come to think of it, I really think it would be rude not to take them all something, in the same way that I would never turn up at a dinner party empty handed.

My youngest was given a jar of homemade star and flower biscuits for her 5th birthday, many years ago. We still use the jar and love looking at their birthday message/scribbles adorning the label that's glued to the top of the jar. It was a unique gift and had a profound effect on how I viewed gift giving. The gift givers were entertained for an afternoon making the biscuits, which they lovingly sprinkled with all sorts of toppings that they thought the birthday girl would like. Very sweet!

Lunar_Eclipse

castleton wrote: »

You can never have too many books.

True. I'm a big fan of books and reading, especially by and to children, but I have to say that unless you know a child well, books as gifts are very difficult to get right and thus can be the worst gift. (Yes I am aware I mentioned joke books in my reply above; some boys love all things silly!)

There is such a range in reading ability in the early infant years and then subject interest in the junior years that it's virtually impossible to choose appropriate books for other people's children, in my opinion. (Although if you do get it right you're almost a hero!)

At the age of 5, for example, some children are struggling to read very basic words (and, but) whilst others are reading chapter books. When my daughter was 7, a few of her friends were reading Harry Potter, so most people buying books for them would get it completely wrong (oh I read that 2-3 years ago.)

I know you can buy books at very reasonable prices, but there are better alternatives out there when you don't know the child (& their reading level/interests) well.

[Deleted User]

Unfortunately i have just looked and the scholastics sale has closed. Shame, looked quite good.

maryjane01

WH Smith book bundles are really good, if you don't like the selection when they turn up you can return them to store, sorry typing one handed with a baby so can't link. Also for last minute presents (I normally try to spend under £5 but on sale so an RRP nearer £10) if there is nothing appropriate in my present box and nothing on sale, I look at the 2 for £15 kids toys at Argos so £7.50 each.