When you host a birthday party...(gift Ideas)

[Melaniee]

...and people (eta: classmates' and friends' parents) ask you for gift ideas, what do you say?  My Dd will be turning 6 and I'm generally at a loss as to what to tell people, even "Waldorf" people.  I don't really like reading off of a list (except to family, LOL, they request and receive the list), anyway, plus my house is *full* and she goes to school where she gets to play with anything her heart desires that we happen to not already own, all week long. However, I know if I requested no gifts, at this age, she would be disappointed not to receive any. 

So perhaps this is more of a small, handmade or inexpensive gift ideas, please, thread. Thank you. ;)

[sweetest]

I usually suggest art supplies - it's a broad enough category that I don't feel awkward about it and the best part is that they get used up.

[zoebird]

i like consumables, so i ask for consumable art supplies.

though, i also like what children themselves create. DS often gets art from his "girlfriend" and he gave her some shells in a little basket for "christmas" (in june). he was really proud to find, select, wash, dry, and package those shells. and, it's something very open-ended, and can go in the garden or whatever.

so, either something made by the child or something consumable like "art supplies."

[JudiAU]

Almost all of the parties we go too say "no gifts please" at the bottom of the invite. They tend to be larger parties. Some people cheat, generally with books. It makes it easier when everyone is doing the same thing. None of the kids are in need and most will get to much from the families. Not perfect etiquette but I've come to terms with it. We do it too. If someone presses me then I say books or art supplies. I've noticed that some of the parents are really careful to come with a homemade, decorated card or picture for the birthday child.

We don't give out party favor bags either, which usually have a bunch of  break-by-looking-at-them or art supplies that don't perform in them. We have a bowl with some assorted goodies and let kids pick something. usually play dough/clay, schliech figures, some small wooden toy bought in bulk of etsy, playmobil figures, seed packets, fairy crowns, unlicensed coloring books or sticker books from Dover, etc.

We keep an amazon.com wish list which can family can use, or not.