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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Actually it's a social occasion for the purpose of honoring the birthday child. Social occasions can and should be used to show and teach children how to behave in social settings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Are you the grinch? My 6 year old son would have fun seeing his friend open gifts. We like seeing other people have a good time and we like to help celebrate people.

[Anonymous]

My kids are young teens and always did this at their elementary bday parties and so did most of their friends at their parities. Never for big parties or parties at event spaces. But when they started having sleep overs. It’s cute, they all got excited to open and see .

[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

+1

Oh, come on. How many lessons have you imparted upon your kids that take awhile to stick? I wouldn’t torture myself or the other kids if I knew my 6 year old kid hadn’t taken to heart that particular lesson yet.

[Anonymous]

The tradition is alive and strong

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are young teens and always did this at their elementary bday parties and so did most of their friends at their parities. Never for big parties or parties at event spaces. But when they started having sleep overs. It’s cute, they all got excited to open and see .

See this sounds cute. I could see kids opening gifts with a smaller group (not 20+ at a venue) and then all playing with those gifts together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This. That's why I always preferred home parties. They can last as long as you want, I always thought even two hours for a party was too short. But, I don't remember parties being as boring as some are describing.

[Anonymous]

I dont because my kid is awful at showing gratitude and I would be embarrassed. Also it would be a comparison game where some people give relatively “lavish” gifts vs others give a ten dollar bill. No need to put it all on display.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some kids have searing, awful memories of those times OP. Imagine if you couldn’t give a “good” gift or if yours was meager compared to someone else. It became a pissing contest that, like always, generally embarrassed some kid with less money than everyone else who remembers it as “a fun time”.

Also, we’re all drowning in crap.

This.

Imagine the kids laughing at the gift that your kid brought.

[Anonymous]

I have a four year old and we’ve never been to a party that didn’t say “no gifts,” I’m hoping the trend continues!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a four year old and we’ve never been to a party that didn’t say “no gifts,” I’m hoping the trend continues!!

Similar, I’ve only been to on non no-gifts party

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a four year old and we’ve never been to a party that didn’t say “no gifts,” I’m hoping the trend continues!!

Similar, I’ve only been to on non no-gifts party

This must be regional. I don’t live in the DMV and we’ve never been to a no-gift party or heard it talked about.

[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.

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.

I agree. If I had gone to the apps shower and she did not open gifts, I would have thought that was weird. People go to parties expecting to celebrate the honoree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids have searing, awful memories of those times OP. Imagine if you couldn’t give a “good” gift or if yours was meager compared to someone else. It became a pissing contest that, like always, generally embarrassed some kid with less money than everyone else who remembers it as “a fun time”.

Also, we’re all drowning in crap.

This.

Imagine the kids laughing at the gift that your kid brought.

If my kid did that, he would be called out immediately in front of his friends. They are children and they are learning. Why are you so afraid to put your kid in a situation like this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IDGAF what present the kid got and am glad we don't have to sit through that waste of time.

It would just be the kids though. I can’t think of the last kids party that had parents stay.

Depends on the age group.