Why don’t we open gifts at kid parties anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, too boring for the other kids, takes too long and can be too over stimulating for the birthday kid. Many many reasons why

So it’s “boring” for the other kids? Yes heaven forbid these precious things be “bored,” even for 10-15 minutes. And be taught to express happiness for the birthday child? Never!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is not good with diplomatic responses and at age 6 I worried about a weird face and an honest comment that would hurt a gift givers feelings.

He also had friends who we knew couldn’t afford a gift or a big gift and I didn’t want those kids to feel embarrassed because they didn’t bring something or brought something small.

Because opening gifts is boring to watch.

Now, at 11, most of his gifts are gift cards to activities that he likes and that is boring to watch open.

That’s your kids problem and a reflection on you if you haven’t taught him better

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine wanting to bring this tradition back

It's boring
It's awkward
It's sometimes overwhelming for the recipient

[Anonymous]

Related question

when DO all the gifts get opened? Do you go home and allow your child to open them all right away? Put them in a closet and dole them out? Open all of them and have child pick a handful to keep, and return or regift the rest?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is not good with diplomatic responses and at age 6 I worried about a weird face and an honest comment that would hurt a gift givers feelings.

He also had friends who we knew couldn’t afford a gift or a big gift and I didn’t want those kids to feel embarrassed because they didn’t bring something or brought something small.

Because opening gifts is boring to watch.

Now, at 11, most of his gifts are gift cards to activities that he likes and that is boring to watch open.

That’s your kids problem and a reflection on you if you haven’t taught him better

I also think it’s really not a big deal if a 6 year old makes a face and another 6 years old is disappointed by that. That’s life and we should be letting our kids have at least some tiny doses or real life, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we were kids most parties were at home. There wasn't much to do other than sign happy birthday, eat cake, and play. Opening gifts was an activity that helped kill time. Most of the parties nowadays are either at some location (laser tag, bowling, etc), but even at home, they are a lot more structured. My kid went to an at-home party where they played outdoor laser tag; another time there was a video game van parked in front of the house and all the kids gamed. There's less time now for things like opening gifts.

+1. We would play pin the tail on the donkey (you could buy a kit at K-mart), duck duck goose, and then there was nothing to do but open presents and eat cake.

+1

We weren't on the clock at a birthday venue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Related question

when DO all the gifts get opened? Do you go home and allow your child to open them all right away? Put them in a closet and dole them out? Open all of them and have child pick a handful to keep, and return or regift the rest?

when you get home and have kids do thank you cards right away (keep them very short)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Related question

when DO all the gifts get opened? Do you go home and allow your child to open them all right away? Put them in a closet and dole them out? Open all of them and have child pick a handful to keep, and return or regift the rest?

We don't usually have a ton (introverted kid with a summer birthday so small parties), but we open them when we get home. We never return or regift and doling them out would make thank you notes harder to track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is not good with diplomatic responses and at age 6 I worried about a weird face and an honest comment that would hurt a gift givers feelings.

He also had friends who we knew couldn’t afford a gift or a big gift and I didn’t want those kids to feel embarrassed because they didn’t bring something or brought something small.

Because opening gifts is boring to watch.

Now, at 11, most of his gifts are gift cards to activities that he likes and that is boring to watch open.

That’s your kids problem and a reflection on you if you haven’t taught him better

I also think it’s really not a big deal if a 6 year old makes a face and another 6 years old is disappointed by that. That’s life and we should be letting our kids have at least some tiny doses or real life, no?

Absolutely. Could not agree more.

This whole thread is making me rethink plans for DCs party coming up in a couple of months. Maybe we will shock everyone by having a gift opening time during the cake serving. I think it’s a nice tradition that should make a comeback.

Thanks OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is not good with diplomatic responses and at age 6 I worried about a weird face and an honest comment that would hurt a gift givers feelings.

He also had friends who we knew couldn’t afford a gift or a big gift and I didn’t want those kids to feel embarrassed because they didn’t bring something or brought something small.

Because opening gifts is boring to watch.

Now, at 11, most of his gifts are gift cards to activities that he likes and that is boring to watch open.

That’s your kids problem and a reflection on you if you haven’t taught him better

I also think it’s really not a big deal if a 6 year old makes a face and another 6 years old is disappointed by that. That’s life and we should be letting our kids have at least some tiny doses or real life, no?

Why though? If opening gifts at a party served some purpose that made it more important than kids being rude to each other, then maybe. But what is the point?

I am so glad the tradition is gone, personally. It’s a waste of time. I didn’t allow it at my baby shower because I think it’s boring, both for the person opening the gifts (don’t they want to be having fun and enjoying their guests?) and for those who have to watch it. For my baby shower a small group (my mom and hostesses)came to our afterwards and watched me open gifts and helped me track. That was enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is not good with diplomatic responses and at age 6 I worried about a weird face and an honest comment that would hurt a gift givers feelings.

He also had friends who we knew couldn’t afford a gift or a big gift and I didn’t want those kids to feel embarrassed because they didn’t bring something or brought something small.

Because opening gifts is boring to watch.

Now, at 11, most of his gifts are gift cards to activities that he likes and that is boring to watch open.

That’s your kids problem and a reflection on you if you haven’t taught him better

I also think it’s really not a big deal if a 6 year old makes a face and another 6 years old is disappointed by that. That’s life and we should be letting our kids have at least some tiny doses or real life, no?

Why though? If opening gifts at a party served some purpose that made it more important than kids being rude to each other, then maybe. But what is the point?

I am so glad the tradition is gone, personally. It’s a waste of time. I didn’t allow it at my baby shower because I think it’s boring, both for the person opening the gifts (don’t they want to be having fun and enjoying their guests?) and for those who have to watch it. For my baby shower a small group (my mom and hostesses)came to our afterwards and watched me open gifts and helped me track. That was enough.

Perhaps it is a moment to teach gratitude, happiness for others and that one does not constantly having to be “doing” in order not to feel bored. Life is not always about your personal entertainment, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is not good with diplomatic responses and at age 6 I worried about a weird face and an honest comment that would hurt a gift givers feelings.

He also had friends who we knew couldn’t afford a gift or a big gift and I didn’t want those kids to feel embarrassed because they didn’t bring something or brought something small.

Because opening gifts is boring to watch.

Now, at 11, most of his gifts are gift cards to activities that he likes and that is boring to watch open.

That’s your kids problem and a reflection on you if you haven’t taught him better

I also think it’s really not a big deal if a 6 year old makes a face and another 6 years old is disappointed by that. That’s life and we should be letting our kids have at least some tiny doses or real life, no?

Why though? If opening gifts at a party served some purpose that made it more important than kids being rude to each other, then maybe. But what is the point?

I am so glad the tradition is gone, personally. It’s a waste of time. I didn’t allow it at my baby shower because I think it’s boring, both for the person opening the gifts (don’t they want to be having fun and enjoying their guests?) and for those who have to watch it. For my baby shower a small group (my mom and hostesses)came to our afterwards and watched me open gifts and helped me track. That was enough.

I mean, maybe I am lame but I think this fun. I put thought into my gifts and I like to see the recipient open it. It’s the same with Christmas. With kid birthdays, my kid usually comes with me and we chat about what the bday girl or boy likes, he draws a card, and we do our best to put together something fun. Kid usually decorates the wrapping paper with stickers. It would be fun to watch the bday girl or boy open the gift. Why not?

As it is, we buy and wrap and drop off, never knowing how the recipient received it or felt about it. It feels a little like giving a gift card or something. Impersonal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is not good with diplomatic responses and at age 6 I worried about a weird face and an honest comment that would hurt a gift givers feelings.

He also had friends who we knew couldn’t afford a gift or a big gift and I didn’t want those kids to feel embarrassed because they didn’t bring something or brought something small.

Because opening gifts is boring to watch.

Now, at 11, most of his gifts are gift cards to activities that he likes and that is boring to watch open.

That’s your kids problem and a reflection on you if you haven’t taught him better

I also think it’s really not a big deal if a 6 year old makes a face and another 6 years old is disappointed by that. That’s life and we should be letting our kids have at least some tiny doses or real life, no?

Why though? If opening gifts at a party served some purpose that made it more important than kids being rude to each other, then maybe. But what is the point?

I am so glad the tradition is gone, personally. It’s a waste of time. I didn’t allow it at my baby shower because I think it’s boring, both for the person opening the gifts (don’t they want to be having fun and enjoying their guests?) and for those who have to watch it. For my baby shower a small group (my mom and hostesses)came to our afterwards and watched me open gifts and helped me track. That was enough.

Perhaps it is a moment to teach gratitude, happiness for others and that one does not constantly having to be “doing” in order not to feel bored. Life is not always about your personal entertainment, PP.

But a kid birthday party is supposed to be that— entertainment. I’m not worried teaching other kids that particular lesson at a kid birthday party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is not good with diplomatic responses and at age 6 I worried about a weird face and an honest comment that would hurt a gift givers feelings.

He also had friends who we knew couldn’t afford a gift or a big gift and I didn’t want those kids to feel embarrassed because they didn’t bring something or brought something small.

Because opening gifts is boring to watch.

Now, at 11, most of his gifts are gift cards to activities that he likes and that is boring to watch open.

That’s your kids problem and a reflection on you if you haven’t taught him better

I also think it’s really not a big deal if a 6 year old makes a face and another 6 years old is disappointed by that. That’s life and we should be letting our kids have at least some tiny doses or real life, no?

Why though? If opening gifts at a party served some purpose that made it more important than kids being rude to each other, then maybe. But what is the point?

I am so glad the tradition is gone, personally. It’s a waste of time. I didn’t allow it at my baby shower because I think it’s boring, both for the person opening the gifts (don’t they want to be having fun and enjoying their guests?) and for those who have to watch it. For my baby shower a small group (my mom and hostesses)came to our afterwards and watched me open gifts and helped me track. That was enough.

Perhaps it is a moment to teach gratitude, happiness for others and that one does not constantly having to be “doing” in order not to feel bored. Life is not always about your personal entertainment, PP.

DP. It also doesn't have to be about the personal entertainment of the weirdos who like watching a six year old open a toy, but no one seems to have explained that to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is not good with diplomatic responses and at age 6 I worried about a weird face and an honest comment that would hurt a gift givers feelings.

He also had friends who we knew couldn’t afford a gift or a big gift and I didn’t want those kids to feel embarrassed because they didn’t bring something or brought something small.

Because opening gifts is boring to watch.

Now, at 11, most of his gifts are gift cards to activities that he likes and that is boring to watch open.

That’s your kids problem and a reflection on you if you haven’t taught him better

+1