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Birthday Party at Daycare -- would you bring a gift?
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Anonymous
| A child at our daycare is having a birthday party at the center during daycare hours. It is really a nice treat since they have hired a children's entertainer to come and I'm certain it will be enjoyed by all. An announcement was given to all of the parents by the parent of the birthday child through the daycare (this is how all invitations typically come for bday parties within our daycare) and it did not specify no gifts. A teacher asked the parent about this and she said gifts would be okay but no gifts is okay too. The bday child is nice and always seems well behaved but for whatever reasons, it is is not someone my child mentions at home or seems to be very friendly with. If we had been invited to the party outside of daycare we likley would have declined, primarily because we are already overcommitted and feel that at the preschool age it is more than okay to decline invitations and because although we appreciate the invitation, we feel that with 2 kids we can't afford to accept every invitation. I am happy that my kid will participate in this but don't really want to spend the money on a gift but can't seem to get past feeling bad if I don't. I keep saying to myself, "It's only $15 bucks, right? How nice of the parent to do this for all of the children. My kid will likley be in this daycare for 2 more years with this kid .. it is the right thing to do. Etc." So, why is it bothering me to do it? |
Anonymous
| I did not give a gift in similar circumstances. From my mind-set of the less stuff, the better, I reasoned the parents of the children wanted to celebrate their child's birthday without the party (and resultant gifts). |
Anonymous
| I wouldn't bring a gift either. Because this party is during daycare hours, you don't really have a choice but for your child to attend. I can't imagine a parent would expect presents from a captive audience, however appreciative of the party and sentiment. |
Anonymous
| Have your child color a picture or card for the kid |
Anonymous
| FWIW, my dc's bday is coming up and I'm doing a little daycare party. I certainly don't expect gifts. |
Anonymous
Did you or will you clearly state this or will you leave the parents guessing? Another child at our daycare also did this but there was no pre-anouncement to the parents that this was for X's birthday. There was a notice that a special event was taking place at a certain day/time and I don't think anyone (and certainly not everyone) realized until afterwards that it was to celebrate a child's bday. The thing that is unclear about this situation is that the parent is unclear about gifts. |
Anonymous
| We did a daycare party minus the entertainment and did not expect gifts at all! |
Anonymous
| Yeah, I would do a homemade card from DS, or something similar. Or even just a party favor type toy, just a few bucks. |
Anonymous
| Our daycare always has bday parties for the kids. No gifts expected -- but I don't even know about them ahead of time. |
Anonymous
| I'm actually in a conundrum as the mom of the child having the party. Her birthday is right in the middle of summer and so many other children and their families are away. As a result a lot of her little friends (there are 12 in her class) are unable to attend and yet she is always invited to (and attends) their parties. The primary reason for hosting the party at her preschool is to avoid parents having to worry about being at the beach on the weekend of her party... I would hope parents would do as they would if they attend an event out of school, as I am having pizza, cake and an entertainer...is that wrong? And how do I express that (non-tackily) in the invitation? |
Anonymous
Day care parties are not gift parties since as others noted the kids don't have a choice about attending. And presumably no invitation is necessary since they are there already. If you want gifts you should have the party outside of school or after school. A few kids may be out of town but probably not all 12 are out of town every weekend? |
Anonymous
| You should not expect gifts at an in-school party. It would never have crossed my mind to send my child to school with a gift for this event. |
Anonymous
| I don't even announce the party ahead of time. Day of party I drop off my daughter with some store bought cupcakes. Done. |
Anonymous
In years past, I have done the general little class party (here's some cupcakes and a goody bag) AND had an out of school party which is the norm in our middle class area. However, due to the fact that her birthday is in early July, most people ARE away and we only get about 3-4 kids. Mind you, the ones who send their regrets regularly play with my daughter in and out of school, so it is not a matter of them not liking her... and insofar as I live about an hour from the Jersey Shore...yes most people are away most weekends or have BBQs to attend etc. Also, notwithstanding vacations, insofar as it is summer, some kids do not go to school every day --most of the families at her daycare have at least one parent who is a teacher (my husband is the teacher in our family), so the kids are only required to keep their spot by going in 2 days per week at our daycare. So, I still need a head count for the craft activity to make sure we have enough supplies as well as enough pizza... |
Anonymous
| Wow, is it really possible that I am the only one who thinks this is nuts? I am all for having a little birthday treat at a daycare center (cupcakes/fruit whatever) but hiring entertainment for a daycare party is simply not okay. Is this an independent daycare or a large chain? |