Birthday gifts for school friends - how much and what do you buy?

This is our second year now of school related parties and I'm starting to question how much I spend on gifts and what I buy. I don't like buying junky presents for kids I don't really know, and therefore don't know their parents views on plastic stuff, popular movie themed stuff etc so I tend to buy what I consider to be better quality stuff - books, jigsaw puzzles, more educational based things that are still fun but not crap IYKWIM. Don't want that to sound boring - I always buy stuff that I would (and frequently do) buy for my own kids too, its just not junk. I usually spend about $20. Between them my DDs have 7 birthday parties to go to over the course of three weeks. I know its a busy time with birthdays but the expense is really starting to add up! My own kids' birthdays are also in May so it is going to seriously blow the budget this month

So, I would love to know what everybody else does.

Always books. Try for around $10.

It just gets too expensive to do it any other way.


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I spend around $15-$20 on school friend presses and around $25 on good friends.
I buy usborne doodle cards from book depository in the UK as they are around $6 there and $20 here, my DD1 loves them, tat nd books or smiggle stuff

Unfortunately my DD isn't Invited to school "parties" as the parents know shes diabetic and don't want the "extra work" that comes with it.

If she started to go to some I would aim to spend $10 or so. I guess also depends how close they are. I would look at buying books, puzzles, craft type things and would generally steer clear of character things (I do the same for my DD)

It's my nieces birthday this week and for 3 presents (one from my mum as she's in england, one from DD and one from myself, I only spent around $60) so I definitely couldn't justify spending the same on someone from school

I buy in bulk in advance. I currently have two in school and they both get invited to parties of the opposite sex as well as their own sex so I buy gifts in bulk that can be used for either sex.

Basically if I see something super cheap or on clearance I will buy a couple of them and put them in my presents drawer. I do this either at the shops or using websites like catch of the day - they sometimes have really good book sales and I have gotten some great cheap ones off that.

I do aim for around $15 per child but am happy to spend over if it is one of their closer friends.

cmkm, that is terrible!! What extra work is involved seriously in including your DD! FWIW, I would invite her in a heartbeat as I am sure you would be able to guide a parent as to what needs to be done to include your DD. I hope you find some more reasonable people in your community as your DD makes her way through school.

As for $$ I aim for about $10-15 for general friends and $20-30 for close friends. I try to get activity based presents, something for the birthday child to do at a later time like a sticker book, craft activity, bead set etc.

I also buy ahead when possible and keep a present stash, although if I know the child well and have an idea of their likes etc I might buy something less generic and go for something they would like or that relates to their interests.

Miss H has only just started 4 yr old kindy, so no parties for her yet!

However...I am one to steer towards books and puzzles as well as art craft stuff!

Riot Art is having an awesome sale atm!

Also, we went to Ikea the other day, and they had a set of finger-puppets with a lil stage thingy, for $1.99!!!! so I bought like 6 of them hehe

unless specifically asked to go with a certain character theme, I usually just get things that require lots of messy fun!

cmkm that is terrilble :cry:

I also have a bit of a present stash lol! Agree with Nicky that Riot Art has some great art/craft things, I try to grab a few things when they are on sale.
Also I do what Olive does and get books/sticker books/activity cards from book depository (I am addicted to that site!). The Usborne stuff is great and very reasonably priced and I can also vouch for the doodle cards, we love them. Plus while I'm there I might as well get a little something for myself lol ;)
Also for little girls, Diva has cute little necklaces/bangles/rings. Also hair clips and head bands. I keep an eye out for when they have a sale too.
Bubbles are also a hit for the younger ones!

I aim for under $15 for kindy friends and around $20-25 for close friends.

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Unfortunately my DD isn't Invited to school "parties" as the parents know shes diabetic and don't want the "extra work" that comes with it.

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that is so seriously wrong!! yes, you have to change your catering a bit for diabetics, but it's not that hard - and it's just rude to exclude a child (or anyone!) like that

we are having DD's birthday next month and knowing we've invited people with allergies and diabetes, i simply ask for some guidance on what is and isn't ok. we cater for people no matter what special requirements there are (vegetarian as well - it's really not that hard!)

as to how much to spend on kids at school, i don't know. i think it will really depend on who the child is in DD's life. "just" a class mate will have less spent on them than someone DD considers to be a close friend kwim? At a guess, i'd say about $10 for average. probably up to $20 or $30 for her close friends (or long term family friends where we've had a relationship with them for quite some time as it then becomes a gift from ALL of us). you can pick up some decent books and/or craft stuff for a small amount really. I tend to avoid character stuff due to the pointless added expense too - even if the party child has a "theme" (DD is a tinkerbell nut for instance) i wouldn't shop to that theme unless i found a bargain (ebay is awesome for that - esp if you have a lot of kids at once and can grab from one seller!)

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Unfortunately my DD isn't Invited to school "parties" as the parents know shes diabetic and don't want the "extra work" that comes with it.

If she started to go to some I would aim to spend $10 or so. I guess also depends how close they are. I would look at buying books, puzzles, craft type things and would generally steer clear of character things (I do the same for my DD)

It's my nieces birthday this week and for 3 presents (one from my mum as she's in england, one from DD and one from myself, I only spent around $60) so I definitely couldn't justify spending the same on someone from school

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That is terrible so very sad for her and for you. It is not that hard to cater to others needs DS1 had a party for his 3rd birthday and I catered for Diabetics, Coeliacs, allergies and Vegetarian. It is not that hard! so sorry to hear your DD is not invited.

I tend to spend $10 - $20 on a gift but I am talking friends and mothers group as not at school age yet.

$15 for Kinder friends
$40 for very close friends and family.

Thanks so much everyone. Good to know what I generally do is among the popular ideas, and better to know I can drop my spend a bit and still be doing the right thing.

Riot Art & Craft is one of my favourite shops. I get heaps of stuff for my kids from there and it makes for lots and lots of fun (and mess!!)

CMKM - your poor baby girl. That is so incredibly awful that people exclude her like that.

I aim to spend $10 to $20 including card and wrapping. Tend to just go for the $1 or $2 cards, rather than the ones for $5.95.

At DD1's age level (6 to 7), I am finding the girls love a pretty notebook/dairy and some nice pens. Kmart can have some nice ones at times and so can Target (great when they are on special). If we don't buy that, then I look at a book. I wont buy anything like a Barbie, or Bratz or makeup, unless I know the parent is fine or has stated that they are ok.

PJs here between $10-$20.

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Unfortunately my DD isn't Invited to school "parties" as the parents know shes diabetic and don't want the "extra work" that comes with it.

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Well that is just plain wrong from those parents, I have a niece who is allergic to everything, her friends parents know and my Sister Inlaw just provides the food she can eat and it all works out.

Usually around $20 here for the kids school friends.

I tend to buy what I think my kids would like or what I would have liked. It really depends on what is 'in' at the time as to what I get. I also ask my DS's if they know what the birthday child is into and go from there.

Oh wow. My DS has a dairy allergy and is invited to parties, although I don't know how many have excluded him. There's no way a child should be excluded because of a medical issue!

For me, depends how close DS is to the child, or I am to the parents. Books or jigsaws usually go down well for either gender (about £10), but for a little girl DS didn't even know from his new class at school, under £5 for some fairy wings, fairy wand and a card. Cheap science toys are great for slightly older children. I bought DS a solar-powered grasshopper you have to make yourself for under £5 (all electrical componants etc provided in box).

I try to avoid high-heeled play shoes, barbies (etc) or attack toys, including things like Jedi/X-Men stuff. Does rule out quite a bit, but only my SiL has ever complained (to my face, at least) about her children being given books. Unless I know the mother/child in question adores the stuff.