Birthday Gift

[Anonymous]

We are from Asia and do not know the norm about giving bithday gift to kids here. My child has been invited to her friend's birthday party but do not know how much I should spend on the gift. One of my co worker told me that she usually spends little bit more than what the other family will pay for the child to attend the party. For example, if her child is invited to My Gym then she will spend $20-$25. I am also wondering if they also invite the sibling, what is the norm to bring gifts in that scenario. Do you bring two gifts or one very nice gift. Back home we usually bring two gifts or one very nice gifts. I knwo there is no monitory value for thought and effort parents takes to give birthday party for their child and their friends. Since we are not from here, like to get as much information possible so that we do not offend anyone. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I usually spend $15-$20 on a birthday gift, regardless of how much money the party may have cost. For good friends, I will spend a bit more.

If siblings are invited, I think one gift is fine, and I see no reason why it should cost twice as much.

[Anonymous]

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I generally try to spend between $10 and $15 for the gift if one of my DDs is attending. If both DDs attend, they each bring a gift in that price range.

[Anonymous]

Usually spend about $20-$50 on gifts depending on how well we know the family and how close DS is to the child. We only have one child but in my experience when we invite siblings they usually bring two presents. I guess the idea is that we will have to give both kids presents when we attend their parties even if the parties are separate.

[Anonymous]

I usually aim for a gift between $10 and $20 but if I find a great gift for under $10, I would be comfortable giving it and I would go a bit over $20 as well. We give one gift from both kids. This is the norm in my group of friends and in our preschool and elementary school.

[Anonymous]

$15 is my top limit! But I do try to really pick something that is not junky or has a bunch of small plastic-y parts in case the family has younger kids. A nice puzzle, book, water bottle, etc. will all fit the bill. For example, we were invited to a "mad Science" party and I bought a book on experiments for kids 5-7...$20-50 is very generous!

[Anonymous]

If my child is close friends with the birthday child, I let her choose the gift. If I bring my other child as well, his gift will be more educational in nature, a book, a craft, etc.

[Anonymous]

I would bring two gifts if I had two children attending the party and would spend $15-$20 each.

[Anonymous]

Each child should bring a separate gift, or maybe one larger gift from both children. Include a card that the child signs so they know who its from. I usually try for roughly $20 for one gift for a classmate. A best friend might get up to $30. If its a large party and my child isn't good friends with the birthday child, maybe closer to $15.

[Anonymous]

I would not connect the value of the gift to the cost of the party. That's weird - it means that rich kids get better presents than the less affluent in the class. To extend the example, it means that my brother should have gotten a better wedding gift from me (he married a rich girl) than I should have gotten from him (I married a student). Wouldn't that be odd?

I try to spend $15 or less. I think my friends would find it very awkward if they received a $50 gift from me - perhaps this says something about our respective circles.

[Anonymous]

yeah, no need to spend more than $15. i'm surprised people spend alot more than that.

[Anonymous]

So, it seems like eventhough some one spends a lot for inviting a child, on average a $15-20 gift wound not offend them. This averave $15-20 gift range for certain age group? If so, what is the age range? I got lot of informtion about giving birthday gift and thank you so much for that. I do not want parents to feel awkward by giving an expensive gift and at the same time I do not want to come accorss cheap by spending little on the gift.

[Anonymous]

I think this is an appropriate amount all the way through elem. school.

I think that as long as you put thought into each gift, its actual monetary value is of no consequence.

We do "no-gift" parties for my kids. I know some people actually don't like these, but I have a large family who shower our kids with gifts and I don't want friends to feel like they need to give us gifts too.

[Anonymous]

I always aim for $15 and will spend a little more occasionally. If both children were invited, I would have each bring a gift, because I feel that gift-giving is a learning experience for the child doing the giving and I value that. I would target $15 for each gift.

My daughter was recently invited to a party where the child (a 4th grade girl) asked her guests to each bring a small dog toy instead of a gift for her, because she wanted to donate the toys to an animal shelter. We were very touched by this -- I don't think it's common at all, but it would be nice if it were.