{just for you thursday}
I’ve been to numerous birthday parties for children under the age of 6 lately and have observed that kiddos no longer open gifts at the parties. Is this true for my circle of friends or are you experiencing this, also?
I can remember when I was little and opening gifts at my party. It went a little something like this:
We all began in a circle and someone passed me a gift to open. The giver of the gift said “it’s from me” and would tell me why they picked it out. So, back in the day, it would go like this: “It’s from me! I got you a Baby Come Back doll because I know you like babies!!!” This would be repeated until all of the gifts were opened except a little louder and faster with each gift while the circle grew smaller as everyone tried to get closer to the action. I would begin to get overwhelmed and hot and forget to say thank you, so a well-meaning adult would remind me and then I would feel bad that I wasn’t doing it right. Oh yea, there was also someone trying to take pictures. So, in between the gifts being passed, the circle growing smaller and a sibling yelling out “you already have that”!!, I was supposed to look up, smile for the camera and say thank you.
For my son's recent birthday party, we opted to wait and open the gifts at home (granted he is only one, but he would have had a lot of cousin help). It was a relaxing and fun time as Charlie was able to explore the toys. I did have a few friends comment on this, some comments were supportive of our choice and some not so much.
What are your thoughts? To open gifts or not open gifts at the party? I’m sure some of you have created different ways of handling this and I would love to hear about it.
Have a happy week~
Janel Perez, LPC
We have are having a Lego exchange this year. So every one gets to open and take home!! In the past we've done donations in lieu of gifts (balls for a boys home, dog food for the shelter). My oldest just turned 6!
ReplyDeleteI'm torn on the issue both ways. While I don't really enjoy the dozen kids clamoring on top of the pile and pushing gifts to the birthday child so quickly that I can't keep track of who gave what, I also don't want the guests to feel slighted that we didn't open the gift in their presence and thank them in person. And when the roles are reversed, as a guest, I have to admit that I have left such situation and on the ride home thought to myself that I would have really liked to see the birthday child open what took me 4 hours to pick out for him or her. All in all though I think it's ok as long as you still send a sincere handwritten thank you note - I've been to parties that don't open the gifts AND don't send thank yous, and it really made me wonder why we bothered.
ReplyDeleteI've done it both ways (my kids are 5 and under). I didn't like the year that we didn't open as I felt people were waiting for it. I just wish parents would be mindful of their children and not let them attack the birthday child while they are trying to open!! It makes it very frustrating and I don't blame the kids as they are young and excited. Now we open the gifts from the family before the party (they get there early anyway) and then only the gifts from guests AT the party (we have small parties so it works well). BUT...I still always send a thank you note as well. Like Jill, I get frustrated when gifts aren't opened AND thank yous are not sent!
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