OK, let’s have a little group participation on this one. I need to get a birthday present for a classmate of my third-grade son. The boy is friendly enough to invite my son to his party, but not in the “best friends” category. I’ve never met the boy or the parents. Other than “Star Wars,” my son can’t think of anything the other boy is into. Any ideas?
It was easier when they were younger, and a box full of art supplies would suffice. Now, I feel pressure to get something the other boy will think is “cool,” since I know my son will want to be seen as a giver of cool presents. I hate to fall back on Legos, cool as they are, since I don’t know what the other boy might have already.
Can any of you please give me a hand here and share ideas in the comments? Leave ideas for other ages, too—someone else might find them helpful. Thanks!
We lean toward gift cards to movie theaters, laser tag, play places, parks department classes, etc. Then the parents aren’t stuck with more junk and the kid gets a cool experience. Good luck!
We also gave a gift card recently – to the great toy store in town – to a nine year old we didn’t know well – and it garnered many oohs and aahs from the kids at the party. $15.
Too late for this one, I know, but we have stopped attending birthday parties of kids that my 7 y/o son is not really friends with, mostly because the birthday present circuit adds up! ;)
We’ve started doing comic book packages (inexpensive, wide variety, even kids who say they’re not into comics end up loving them) but there are also great little science kits (make slime, mentos/diet coke geyser) and spy gadget gear packs available in the $15-$20 range. Learning Express stores have a good variety.
Nano Bugs $7-15 at Toys R Us.
There are still some art supplies out there that are cool, like the color glow explosion things. Im a lego fall-back person because even if they have a particular set already, they are usually still excited. Also k’nex and other building sets like that!
As the mom of two teenage boys – I have had to pick out gifts for other kids more times than I care to count! Trust me – unless there are only two kids there – no one is really paying that much attention to what you bring! 3rd grader? Head to the local big box and get him a Star Wars something or other if your kid says that’s what the birthday boy likes. It doesn’t matter if he has one already – he’ll like another twice as much! And art supplies? Nice thought but IMHO most boys that age aren’t interested – unless you know FOR SURE they are! Get something your kid will be proud to bring – sounds shallow but at this age that’s what counts! Backup plan if there’s no cool star wars stuff – get the Blockbuster popcorn bin – put some candy and a $15 gift card in – good to go! Don’t over-think it!
Wow. Thanks to everyone for all the great ideas. I haven’t bought the present yet, but at least I’ll have some sense of direction when I do.