Why don't kids open presents at birthday parties anymore?
Seems like the last couple parties my child has gone to, their presents were never opened at the party, just taken home.
It used to be that the birthday kid opened the presents and everyone could see what they received and the birthday kid thanked the givers..
Is this just not "usual" anymore?
You don't think guests should be entertained at a party? How...odd.
Quoting bookmommy:It may be but the whole idea of a birthday party is that it's THAT person's special day. The guests shouldn't have to be entertained..
Quoting Paperfishies:
I will be honest, I hate sitting through present opening at a birthday party. It is so boring and tedious.
google etiquette on the subject and you 'll see it not considered rude.
Well, yeah, who would?
Quoting little.worthen:
For young kids like 3, it's hard for them not to want to try and "help" an take the toys and want to play with them, and some parents don't like that.
I understand what you're saying, but this is an opportunity for the parents to remind their children, in advance of course, that they have an obligation to be grateful and gracious about what they receive. DD has a couple of friends who make gifts every year, for the same reasons you mention. She knows they've made the gifts and she loves them so much for taking the time to do that. DD enjoys the gifts, but she enjoys having her friends around her for the party, way more than the gifts.
I think you have an obligation, as a parent, to teach your child how to be a good guest and a good host/ess.
Quoting LucyHarper:Some kids might not be able to give as nice of presents as others and that can make them feel bad. I had very little money as a child and you would not believe the humiliation and shame I felt when kids opened all of their nice gifts and I had something crappy I got at a second hand store and wrapped in newspaper, I felt bad as if they would all think I didn't care about their birthday and I would get made fun of, I would never want another child to feel that way. So, we take the gifts home and send out nice thank you cards for each gift.
It never had anything to do with how grateful the birthday kid was, I had lots of friends who showed plenty of gratitude to my crappy gifts, I still felt insecure about it, knew they were just being nice, and would still get teased by other kids. My kids know to be grateful of every gift they get and they are, so we do nice thought out thank you cards to show that.
Quoting inspain:I understand what you're saying, but this is an opportunity for the parents to remind their children, in advance of course, that they have an obligation to be grateful and gracious about what they receive. DD has a couple of friends who make gifts every year, for the same reasons you mention. She knows they've made the gifts and she loves them so much for taking the time to do that. DD enjoys the gifts, but she enjoys having her friends around her for the party, way more than the gifts.
I think you have an obligation, as a parent, to teach your child how to be a good guest and a good host/ess.
Quoting LucyHarper:Some kids might not be able to give as nice of presents as others and that can make them feel bad. I had very little money as a child and you would not believe the humiliation and shame I felt when kids opened all of their nice gifts and I had something crappy I got at a second hand store and wrapped in newspaper, I felt bad as if they would all think I didn't care about their birthday and I would get made fun of, I would never want another child to feel that way. So, we take the gifts home and send out nice thank you cards for each gift.
Quoting cherrywaves21:
Lol. Yeah clearly the children you have around are well behaved. That doesn't work with the kids I've seen.
Quoting Aamy:
Gee then as thw birthday child's parent you say ok everyone sit here and have the birthday child sit away from them and if kids get touchy you so no , its so and so's birthday he/she opens the gifts.
Quoting cherrywaves21:
In my experience it's because parents haven't taught their children to keep their hands off of others new gifts.
It's a shame that happened to you. We've never run into that with the kids that have come to DD's parties. Either they don't know each other outside of knowing DD or they do and they're part of a very tight little group of her friends and very protective of one another. Perhaps we've been unusually lucky?
Quoting LucyHarper:It never had anything to do with how grateful the birthday kid was, I had lots of friends who showed plenty of gratitude to my crappy gifts, I still felt insecure about it, knew they were just being nice, and would still get teased by other kids. My kids know to be grateful of every gift they get and they are, so we do nice thought out thank you cards to show that.
Quoting inspain:I understand what you're saying, but this is an opportunity for the parents to remind their children, in advance of course, that they have an obligation to be grateful and gracious about what they receive. DD has a couple of friends who make gifts every year, for the same reasons you mention. She knows they've made the gifts and she loves them so much for taking the time to do that. DD enjoys the gifts, but she enjoys having her friends around her for the party, way more than the gifts.
I think you have an obligation, as a parent, to teach your child how to be a good guest and a good host/ess.
Quoting LucyHarper:Some kids might not be able to give as nice of presents as others and that can make them feel bad. I had very little money as a child and you would not believe the humiliation and shame I felt when kids opened all of their nice gifts and I had something crappy I got at a second hand store and wrapped in newspaper, I felt bad as if they would all think I didn't care about their birthday and I would get made fun of, I would never want another child to feel that way. So, we take the gifts home and send out nice thank you cards for each gift.
Am I overreacting or? Eta and small update
- bookmommy
on Aug. 14, 2012 at 7:45 PM