Present for a childs party

MrsSippi

My daughter had a birthday party invite from one of her friends at nursery but as this is her first invitation I wasn't sure what type of thing to take as a gift. I have never met this childs parents so can't ask. All I know this boy will be either 3 or 4 years old (not sure which). What would be a good present to take? I don't want to spend too much on something but I do want to get something decent. Help!

balletshoes

at that age, i used to buy gifts for boys and girls as i saw them on offer throughout the year, and until my DD was about 8 I had a birthday pressie stash drawer - so start in the January sales .

For this birthday coming up, I'd have a look in H&M, poundworld etc, for a nice picture book, and team it with a colouring book and some crayons. You could easily do that for a couple of pounds, and it makes a nice big parcel .

As a general rule round here, pressies of around a fiver's worth (or less if you can get a bargain) is considered plenty for a classmates birthday present.

hardpressed

Matchbox cars.

MrsSippi

Thanks for the ideas, it's given me a starting point. This sounds really silly, but when you go to a party for smaller kids are the parents expected to stay with them or can they just pick them up later?

silvermist05

Home bargains have some lovely things that would be suitable toys, books etc. At that age I would certainly stay with your child.

Threebabes

I would stay. I have stayed with mine until about 9. Especially if you dont know the parent.

I would go to home bargains, wilkos, poundstretcher, argos (buy something half price). I sometimes buy pj's from george.

gingin_2

Balletshoes always gives wise pressie advice . We do similar, unless it's a special friend something comes out of the pressie box, under the £5 mark ( and if I've bought it in the sale then even better) and usually some sort of car/play set for boys and craft type thing for girls. Now mine are older we spend a little more as there are less parties and they tend to be more special friends.

Although it's your child's first, it's probably the first of many from this age until about 7-8 my kids would go to many parties. You can get cheap cards 10 for a £ from card factory and cheap wrapping paper, too.

I've not really stayed at parties once they started school but as yours is younger I'd do what you feel comfortable with. I'm sure the mum would not be offended if you asked what she would be happy with. You could always stay for a bit and see if she settles and if so pop off and do some shopping for half an hour.

couponqueen123

balletshoes wrote: »

at that age, i used to buy gifts for boys and girls as i saw them on offer throughout the year, and until my DD was about 8 I had a birthday pressie stash drawer - so start in the January sales .

For this birthday coming up, I'd have a look in H&M, poundworld etc, for a nice picture book, and team it with a colouring book and some crayons. You could easily do that for a couple of pounds, and it makes a nice big parcel .

As a general rule round here, pressies of around a fiver's worth (or less if you can get a bargain) is considered plenty for a classmates birthday present.

i do the same was in town the other day and managed to get hello kitty glass tumblers all packaged up nice for 50p each i got quite a few as they make nice gifts

but i also look in home bargins there jigsaws in there for few quid and colouring books n pens

i dnt genrally spend more that £5 per kid but tbh last time i did that it was my dd best best friend;) the party we went to on sunday the little boy had a spiderman torch (9p morrisons) and a hotwheels car (9p)morrisons and my dd made a card (she loves making things ) wrapping paper was xmas paper but i did have an angrybirds bag here to pop it all in :rotfl:

also i dnt think the kids look who the presants are from so anything will do lol

couponqueen123

MrsSippi wrote: »

Thanks for the ideas, it's given me a starting point. This sounds really silly, but when you go to a party for smaller kids are the parents expected to stay with them or can they just pick them up later?

iv always been asked to stay the partys are so busy theres no way one parent can look after all kids and take them toilet:cool:

if they havent asked i still stay as the partys we have been to are at leisure centers and are used by public when partys are on so are busy

but ask them but id imagine when you get there you will see other mums n dads there watching there kids

DigForVictory

If the parents are on for it, give bubble mixture as a gift, take all the photos the parents haven't time to & then give them a CD with the pictures & a little photo album of your 20 best...
If they don't want a "stranger" taking photos, have a flowerpot full of B&M sweeties in the boot. (They'll learn...)

rachbc

I stock up in the 3 for 2 in M&S and Boots for party gifts.

I usually stay and certainly would with a 3 year old but for a smaller party at someones house I would check with the parents - it was easier for me to ask them to leave the kids as it was less crowded.