No gift birthday parties

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like saying no gifts is a bit rude. Nothing you bring is wanted! We prefer high end things. But I also know many kids have plenty to play with.

I don't think this is true. We write "no gifts" and give our kids 1 book, 1 toy, and 1 item of clothing usually. Nothing "high end." I think people nowadays are much more aware of waste and how many toys a kid can actually play with. It's actually bad for kids to have too much stuff- they get overwhelmed. Almost every party we have ever been invited to is also "no gifts."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Handmade card and nothing else. When people make an effort to say no gifts, they mean it.

Op what do you think no gifts means?

It means they’re minimalist posers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Handmade card with a $10 gift card for the local ice cream spot.

Don’t do this. It obligates the parents to go to the ice cream place. If they ask for no gifts just bring no gift. Why does DCUM find that so hard?

[Anonymous]

If I request no gifts and you bring a gift, I will not be secretly grateful and think you went above and beyond. I will be annoyed. And I will think you’re rude. Just follow the host’s request.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like saying no gifts is a bit rude. Nothing you bring is wanted! We prefer high end things. But I also know many kids have plenty to play with.

Yes, it exactly means that nothing you bring is wanted. I’m not sure why that’s hard to understand.

It doesn’t mean they only want high end gifts. That’s a weird leap. It means they want nothing, which is what they said.

[Anonymous]

I'm so grateful to the first parent in our class who started no gift parties. Everyone else followed and it became the norm. In our experience, the people from class always followed the rule (with many bringing handmade cards as others noted). There were 18 kids in the class. I just don't that much more stuff. We have many family members and friends who like to send my child a little something for birthdays so as it is I feel like we're constantly opening Amazon boxes that week.

Someone commented they think stating no gifts is rude. It did feel a bit odd to me at first, but I think it's polite because you're making it easier for people to attend your party and taking away the comparison of who gave which gift. It's a feeble attempt to make the party about having fun with friends versus the gifts.

[Anonymous]

I would be happy doing a fiver party. But it's weird, I'm fine asking for no gifts but it feels entitled to denan cash from people even though they obviously spend more on a gift

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so grateful to the first parent in our class who started no gift parties. Everyone else followed and it became the norm. In our experience, the people from class always followed the rule (with many bringing handmade cards as others noted). There were 18 kids in the class. I just don't that much more stuff. We have many family members and friends who like to send my child a little something for birthdays so as it is I feel like we're constantly opening Amazon boxes that week.

Someone commented they think stating no gifts is rude. It did feel a bit odd to me at first, but I think it's polite because you're making it easier for people to attend your party and taking away the comparison of who gave which gift. It's a feeble attempt to make the party about having fun with friends versus the gifts.

One of the parents started a trend where you'd make a donation in honor of the birthday child to a charity if their choice. It was a lovely tradition.

[Anonymous]

A card is great. No stickers needed! But if you and your kid want to pick something out, stickers is a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Does no gift means a card with a maybe $20 target/amazon giftcard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does no gift means a card with a maybe $20 target/amazon giftcard?

No it means they your child to come and enjoy the party without having to bring a gift. We are all busy and our kids have plenty. It makes it easier for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does no gift means a card with a maybe $20 target/amazon giftcard?

I hope you’re kidding.

[Anonymous]

I ask this genuinely — who are the people who don’t understand what “no gift” means or refuse to follow it? Is it a cultural thing for people from some countries/cultures/SES backgrounds? Most of the parties my kids attend and all of the ones we host are no gift, and everyone knows what that means. Most people follow it. But DCUM has a lot of trouble with the concept. I’m wondering what the disconnect is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Handmade card and nothing else. When people make an effort to say no gifts, they mean it.

This, please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be happy doing a fiver party. But it's weird, I'm fine asking for no gifts but it feels entitled to denan cash from people even though they obviously spend more on a gift

What on earth is a fiver party?