Now that my son is in preschool, he is invited to at least one, if not two, birthday parties each month. While I appreciate the invites, he’s not really friends with classmates yet and to be honest, I don’t want to spend a lot on gifts.
But, it’s rude to arrive to a child’s birthday party empty handed, so here are a few inexpensive items I have found that are great go-tos:
Dino Age-Imaginetics (ages 36 months and up) $6.99 on Amazon.com
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Reinvent prehistoric times with the Dino Age Magnetic Play Set from Imaginetics and watch as the past comes alive! The Dino Age Magnetic Play Set features a cartoon lagoon, volcano, and mountain landscape on a convenient 14.5″ x 8″ playboard, waiting for kids to construct a prehistoric scene using magnetic dinosaurs.
These 16 sturdy magnet pieces are easy for small hands to hold, so kids can move pieces around the lush landscape to create stories and play games. Perfect for travel, the Dino Age Magnetic Play Set from Imaginetics will lead to imaginative creations that will really stick!
Dr. Seuss Matching Game (ages 36 months and up) $11.16 on Amazon.com
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It’s the classic game of picture matching, now celebrating the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss. Flip over two tiles and discover cherished characters like The Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, Yertle the Turtle, The Sneetches, and many more. Did you find a match? If so, keep them in your scoring pile and take another turn. If not, turn them back over—but try to remember what pictures they had for later in the game. Collect the most pairs to win.
I Can Do That. Games foster self-confidence by giving kids a chance to discover what they can do. Favorite Dr. Seuss, Curious George, and Richard Scarry characters come to life—challenging kids to run, slide, hide, seek, sort, explore—and more. By engaging kids physically, socially, and creatively, I Can Do That. Games provide endless hours of fun for the whole family.
I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. (ages 4 and up) $3.99 on Amazon.com
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I am a big fan of giving books for any and every occasion, but with spring time birthdays and Earth Day right around the corner (April 22), I’m in love with a “green” series called Little Green Books.
I recently discovered I Can Save the Earth! One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Not only is it printed on 100% recycled paper, but it teaches children what they can do to be more eco-friendly. I include a package of planting seeds and shovel and wrap in a small pail or bucket.
Cash/Gift Cards
I know, I know, super impersonal, right? But let’s face it, kids (and adults alike) love cash. If you decide to go this route, you’ll almost certainly be given a huge “Thank you!†Don’t feel like you have to give the equivalent amount of cash as you would have spent on a gift, however. Similar to many rewards programs, cash is given a higher value than merchandise because it is so versatile.
If you don’t feel like you can spring for a $20 novelty toy, give a ten dollar bill in a nice card, instead. Present it in a creative way and consider making a play date to have your child and the birthday boy or girl go shopping together.
Photo credits:
Kid’s Birthday Parties, Amazon.com
