Teen Bdays and Gifts

[nicolewi]

Once your kids hit 14/15/16+, if they are having a sleepover or some kind of bday hangout with friends, do you still do gifts? We've had a couple "parties" (like smaller friend get-togethers) in a row where parents said "no gifts" but then some of the girls still wanted to bring something. Just curious what the norm is b/c we have another one coming up. 

ETA: I mean, do you do gifts from friends? This is not about family gifts.

[charlatti]

In my 15yo’s circle, they do gifts. Relatively small stuff but more personal, rather than the generic gifts for younger kid parties. Most of my kid’s friends don’t have a birthday party or sleepover every year anymore, so she’s not being invited to tons of gift-gifting occasions.

eta: if the parent or invite says no gifts, we do not bring a gift.

[madringal]

My 15 year old still does gifts. Like pp, usually small things. Bracelets, candy, chapsticks, books, etc.

[nicolewi]

OK, yes, sounds normal. DD says everyone does a gift card package with some kind of little cute other stuff, small jewelry, or bath stuff/cosmetics

[formerlyak]

My ds is 17. The 14 and 15 yo birthdays were during pandemic times, so not really any parties. Since he turned 16 and most of them have jobs, if they want to buy a friend a gift, they do. I don't think I have bought a gift for one of his friends in quite a while.

[DarcyLongfellow]

Yes, in my experience with teen girls, they still do gifts. I actually think it's really sweet because when they're little it was pretty impersonal -- I'd take her to the Target toy aisle, ask her what the friend liked, get extremely unhelpful responses, then I'd end up picking out a Lego set or something. Now the gifts are completely chosen by the kids. DD will come up with exactly what she wants to get the friend. For her birthday, she got a couple cute gift sets -- one had her favorite candies, one was a water bottle with stickers that she'd like. Not always big presents, but sweet, thoughtful things. The girls want to watch the birthday child open her gifts too.

[pinkpeony08]

My tween had a no gifts party and lots of homemade cards and a homemade friendship bracelet. I think chapstick or a bottle of nail polish or something little would still be ok.

[jeaniebueller]

I’ll usually buy a $20 gift card and some candy for a party like this. I always send something.