What is the appropriate amount to spend for a kid’s birthday present (not your kid)?

[CBad]

Do you have twins? I do (plus another one 1.5 years older). So I don’t want to argue with a fellow twin parent 😉 but why would bdays be more expensive than having the same amount of children at different ages?

[CA renter]

[quote=JustLurking]I totally agree that kids have way too much stuff and I really don’t want my kids to get 30 presents for their birthdays. We only have kid parties every few years. On the off years, we have just the family party (that we have every year), or a small get together at a park with just a few friends and no gifts.

My daughter’s birthday is next month and I think we will do a book exchange this year. I have done this twice in the past and it has been a hit with the kids and their parents. Each child brings a wrapped book instead of a present. I usually make up a game – some version of duck-duck-goose or musical chairs or steal the bacon – to randomly distribute the books. Kids go home with a nice book instead of a goody bag full of plastic crap. I buy my own child a nice birthday gift. Everybody wins.[/quote]

I like this. 🙂

We also try to have the “extended family” parties most years. Every few years, we take some friends to Legoland, Sea World, The Wild Animal Park/Zoo, etc., or we have a simple party with close friends.

[CA renter]

[quote=JustLurking]I totally agree that kids have way too much stuff and I really don’t want my kids to get 30 presents for their birthdays. We only have kid parties every few years. On the off years, we have just the family party (that we have every year), or a small get together at a park with just a few friends and no gifts.

My daughter’s birthday is next month and I think we will do a book exchange this year. I have done this twice in the past and it has been a hit with the kids and their parents. Each child brings a wrapped book instead of a present. I usually make up a game – some version of duck-duck-goose or musical chairs or steal the bacon – to randomly distribute the books. Kids go home with a nice book instead of a goody bag full of plastic crap. I buy my own child a nice birthday gift. Everybody wins.[/quote]

I like this. 🙂

We also try to have the “extended family” parties most years. Every few years, we take some friends to Legoland, Sea World, The Wild Animal Park/Zoo, etc., or we have a simple party with close friends.

[CA renter]

[quote=JustLurking]I totally agree that kids have way too much stuff and I really don’t want my kids to get 30 presents for their birthdays. We only have kid parties every few years. On the off years, we have just the family party (that we have every year), or a small get together at a park with just a few friends and no gifts.

My daughter’s birthday is next month and I think we will do a book exchange this year. I have done this twice in the past and it has been a hit with the kids and their parents. Each child brings a wrapped book instead of a present. I usually make up a game – some version of duck-duck-goose or musical chairs or steal the bacon – to randomly distribute the books. Kids go home with a nice book instead of a goody bag full of plastic crap. I buy my own child a nice birthday gift. Everybody wins.[/quote]

I like this. 🙂

We also try to have the “extended family” parties most years. Every few years, we take some friends to Legoland, Sea World, The Wild Animal Park/Zoo, etc., or we have a simple party with close friends.

[CA renter]

[quote=JustLurking]I totally agree that kids have way too much stuff and I really don’t want my kids to get 30 presents for their birthdays. We only have kid parties every few years. On the off years, we have just the family party (that we have every year), or a small get together at a park with just a few friends and no gifts.

My daughter’s birthday is next month and I think we will do a book exchange this year. I have done this twice in the past and it has been a hit with the kids and their parents. Each child brings a wrapped book instead of a present. I usually make up a game – some version of duck-duck-goose or musical chairs or steal the bacon – to randomly distribute the books. Kids go home with a nice book instead of a goody bag full of plastic crap. I buy my own child a nice birthday gift. Everybody wins.[/quote]

I like this. 🙂

We also try to have the “extended family” parties most years. Every few years, we take some friends to Legoland, Sea World, The Wild Animal Park/Zoo, etc., or we have a simple party with close friends.

[CA renter]

[quote=JustLurking]I totally agree that kids have way too much stuff and I really don’t want my kids to get 30 presents for their birthdays. We only have kid parties every few years. On the off years, we have just the family party (that we have every year), or a small get together at a park with just a few friends and no gifts.

My daughter’s birthday is next month and I think we will do a book exchange this year. I have done this twice in the past and it has been a hit with the kids and their parents. Each child brings a wrapped book instead of a present. I usually make up a game – some version of duck-duck-goose or musical chairs or steal the bacon – to randomly distribute the books. Kids go home with a nice book instead of a goody bag full of plastic crap. I buy my own child a nice birthday gift. Everybody wins.[/quote]

I like this. 🙂

We also try to have the “extended family” parties most years. Every few years, we take some friends to Legoland, Sea World, The Wild Animal Park/Zoo, etc., or we have a simple party with close friends.

[sdduuuude]

Pump It Up – fixed fee for first 25 kids. Nominal charge per kid over 25. Two parties w/ 12 kids each costs double 1 party with 24. We had 28 or so.

At home – you have to set up and tear down twice. Takes double the time.

Legoland – smaller twin effect. Same kid cost, but assuming we don’t let the kids run amok in Legoland without us, we would have to pay to get the parents in twice.

[sdduuuude]

Pump It Up – fixed fee for first 25 kids. Nominal charge per kid over 25. Two parties w/ 12 kids each costs double 1 party with 24. We had 28 or so.

At home – you have to set up and tear down twice. Takes double the time.

Legoland – smaller twin effect. Same kid cost, but assuming we don’t let the kids run amok in Legoland without us, we would have to pay to get the parents in twice.

[sdduuuude]

Pump It Up – fixed fee for first 25 kids. Nominal charge per kid over 25. Two parties w/ 12 kids each costs double 1 party with 24. We had 28 or so.

At home – you have to set up and tear down twice. Takes double the time.

Legoland – smaller twin effect. Same kid cost, but assuming we don’t let the kids run amok in Legoland without us, we would have to pay to get the parents in twice.

[sdduuuude]

Pump It Up – fixed fee for first 25 kids. Nominal charge per kid over 25. Two parties w/ 12 kids each costs double 1 party with 24. We had 28 or so.

At home – you have to set up and tear down twice. Takes double the time.

Legoland – smaller twin effect. Same kid cost, but assuming we don’t let the kids run amok in Legoland without us, we would have to pay to get the parents in twice.

[sdduuuude]

Pump It Up – fixed fee for first 25 kids. Nominal charge per kid over 25. Two parties w/ 12 kids each costs double 1 party with 24. We had 28 or so.

At home – you have to set up and tear down twice. Takes double the time.

Legoland – smaller twin effect. Same kid cost, but assuming we don’t let the kids run amok in Legoland without us, we would have to pay to get the parents in twice.

[UCGal]

[quote=JustLurking]
My daughter’s birthday is next month and I think we will do a book exchange this year. I have done this twice in the past and it has been a hit with the kids and their parents. Each child brings a wrapped book instead of a present. I usually make up a game – some version of duck-duck-goose or musical chairs or steal the bacon – to randomly distribute the books. Kids go home with a nice book instead of a goody bag full of plastic crap. I buy my own child a nice birthday gift. Everybody wins.[/quote]

I LOVE this idea. I’m shamelessly stealing it. Goody bags bug the crud out of me and my kids don’t need more STUFF – but books are always good.

[UCGal]

[quote=JustLurking]
My daughter’s birthday is next month and I think we will do a book exchange this year. I have done this twice in the past and it has been a hit with the kids and their parents. Each child brings a wrapped book instead of a present. I usually make up a game – some version of duck-duck-goose or musical chairs or steal the bacon – to randomly distribute the books. Kids go home with a nice book instead of a goody bag full of plastic crap. I buy my own child a nice birthday gift. Everybody wins.[/quote]

I LOVE this idea. I’m shamelessly stealing it. Goody bags bug the crud out of me and my kids don’t need more STUFF – but books are always good.

[UCGal]

[quote=JustLurking]
My daughter’s birthday is next month and I think we will do a book exchange this year. I have done this twice in the past and it has been a hit with the kids and their parents. Each child brings a wrapped book instead of a present. I usually make up a game – some version of duck-duck-goose or musical chairs or steal the bacon – to randomly distribute the books. Kids go home with a nice book instead of a goody bag full of plastic crap. I buy my own child a nice birthday gift. Everybody wins.[/quote]

I LOVE this idea. I’m shamelessly stealing it. Goody bags bug the crud out of me and my kids don’t need more STUFF – but books are always good.

[UCGal]

[quote=JustLurking]
My daughter’s birthday is next month and I think we will do a book exchange this year. I have done this twice in the past and it has been a hit with the kids and their parents. Each child brings a wrapped book instead of a present. I usually make up a game – some version of duck-duck-goose or musical chairs or steal the bacon – to randomly distribute the books. Kids go home with a nice book instead of a goody bag full of plastic crap. I buy my own child a nice birthday gift. Everybody wins.[/quote]

I LOVE this idea. I’m shamelessly stealing it. Goody bags bug the crud out of me and my kids don’t need more STUFF – but books are always good.

[Author]

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