How much do you spend on daycare friends' gifts? A few classmates were invited to a 2nd bday party at a play gym. We don't intend to do friend parties until the twins are in K....so we are entering new territory. I have met the mom 3x at pickup since September.
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Honestly, I'd probably order 2-3 Melissa and Doug type activities (sticker books, etc.) off Amazon, toss in a gift bag and call it a day. I wouldn't spend more than $20 but wouldn't try to fill it in either, if I only hit, say $12.
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We gift favorite books we suspect are uncommon/ people don't have. So I usually order on amazon where I can get a favorite book in hardcopy for less than $15, which is doable for our family budget. (This was the year we gave literally everyone Rosie Revere, Engineer). I just sent out invitations for my son's 3rd birthday and was completely on the fence about whether to request no gifts or not. My hope is that we will get either books or consumable gifts (art supplies, coloring pages, etc). I would not bat an eye if someone got something that was less than $10- at two, they don't know the difference anyway! Go with whatever fits in your budget and don't stress!
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I voted $25 but that’s my absolute top limit. Probably more like $20.
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$20 is pretty much my gift limit unless they are a super close friend. There’s plenty of nice toy sets under $15. I try to shop clearance and keep some toys on hand and in that case I’m often spending less than $10.
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I usually gift art supplies that I get on sale or a cool book I buy in bulk- $10 or less for most kids. $20 for friends. $50 for nephews and one friends DD. But we get invited to/go to a lot of birthday parties.
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$10 seems pretty standard where I am for daycare parties. We'll probably increase to $15 or $20 once they hit elementary and the parties are just for friends instead of full class.
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$15! You can get a lot for $15! For example, this fall we had three 2 year old bday parties. One kid got an art set, one kid got wooden Melissa and Doug trucks, and one kid got a fingerling monkey!
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I'd say $15 now. The first 2 birthday parties my LO was invited too, we spent like $30 b/c I had no idea haha!
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15.00. I almost always give a nice, hardcover book. Sometimes art supplies.
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I really like to gift games that the entire family can play together. For the preschool set, I like Zingo and Spot it.
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we have been invited to at least a dozen daycare parties this year (DS is in the two's class, so these are all 3rd birthdays). I do what @mrsbucky does: we pick one of his favorite books and buy it in bulk. Everyone gets a copy for their birthday gift, and I'm never rushing or panicking or worrying about "boy vs girl gifts"
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I really like all the book ideas and consumable gift ideas!
I think we'll do about $15 from each twin and call it good.
Thanks everyone!!! I was totally feeling overwhelmed!
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@meadow: honestly I think you’d be fine doing $15 total. I think one gift per family is totally normal at this age.
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@MrsBucky: I go back & forth on that.....they are paying for 2 kids to attend.......so I feel obligated to bring 2 kids worth of gifts.....
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@meadow: I know it’s so hard! Everyone is different and has different priorities and preferences which makes it so hard especially for parents you don’t know well. I’m alrwady so worried about the volume of stuff/junk that will influx into our house for this party, so that’s my perspective. But I do gat that some people might think of it more like a wedding gift / cover your plate idea. Kids parties can be expensive around here! Anyway, I’m sure you won’t go wrong
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@meadow: Eh...I know that they're paying for 2 kids to go, but even when both of my boys are invited to a birthday party, I spend $15-$20 total. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I don't throw my kiddos birthday parties to get presents. I throw them birthday parties so that they can have fun with their friends outside of school.
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I love this idea of buying a favorite book in bulk!
We are doing a fiver birthday for my LO's upcoming birthday. People seem relieved. I really hope it catches on!
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Both my sons are in preschool, and we get invited to quite a few parties. I usually spend between $15 and $20 on a gift. I try to keep it to something I know kids can use, like art supplies, play-doh, books, etc
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@meadow: I voted $15 for a daycare gift but realized you have twins. I don't have twins, but at 22 months apart, both of my children are often invited to attend parties. Similar to you, I feel like if they're paying for spaces for both my kids (at a venue party), I need to be a little more generous with the gift. I prefer to buy one larger gift, or things that go together, like multiple parts of a lego set) than to buy two totally separate gifts.
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19 comments