Explaining 'no gifts please' to your kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If an invitation says "no gifts," you tell your kids that. If you are throwing a no gift party, you tell them that you are requesting no gifts from guests. This isn't a concept too difficult for a kid to grasp (even if adults seem to struggle with it).

Agree. My toy-obsessed autistic 6 year old understands “no gifts” birthday parties.

[Anonymous]

I'm convinced these threads are constantly reposted by people trying to prop up ad revenue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please. Most kids have tons of stuff already and get multiple gifts from family members. No one is said they didn’t get 30 more gifts from their whole class party- if they are, you have a spoiled child. My kids pick- invite closest few friends and I put no stipulations on gifts, but if they want to have 6+ kids coming, it’s no gifts.

That’s no big deal to get gifts at birthdays. Your kid is spoiled as you buy too much, not them having a party and getting small gifts. You don’t stipulate gifts. Let families do what they want. We always had 20-40 kids at parties as we did not want to leave anyone out. Some brought gifts, some did not. No big deal either way but we love getting and giving gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. Most kids have tons of stuff already and get multiple gifts from family members. No one is said they didn’t get 30 more gifts from their whole class party- if they are, you have a spoiled child. My kids pick- invite closest few friends and I put no stipulations on gifts, but if they want to have 6+ kids coming, it’s no gifts.

That’s no big deal to get gifts at birthdays. Your kid is spoiled as you buy too much, not them having a party and getting small gifts. You don’t stipulate gifts. Let families do what they want. We always had 20-40 kids at parties as we did not want to leave anyone out. Some brought gifts, some did not. No big deal either way but we love getting and giving gifts.

The irony.

[Anonymous]

My SN kid was very excited by getting gifts, so I didn't say anything on the invites at all. I didn't really want more stuff in the house, but it was his birthday, so I gave in. There were a couple of folks that I told privately (the families were going through some bad stuff) not to worry about a gift at all - we were just happy to have their kids at the party. Also one of the gifts my kid enjoyed the most I saw later at the $2 bin at Target.

So if your kid is really excited by the idea of birthday presents and is talking about it at their party (especially if they're little kids), just don't say anything on the invite. And don't mentally keep score on who did or didn't bring anything or calculate how much they spent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. Most kids have tons of stuff already and get multiple gifts from family members. No one is said they didn’t get 30 more gifts from their whole class party- if they are, you have a spoiled child. My kids pick- invite closest few friends and I put no stipulations on gifts, but if they want to have 6+ kids coming, it’s no gifts.

That’s no big deal to get gifts at birthdays. Your kid is spoiled as you buy too much, not them having a party and getting small gifts. You don’t stipulate gifts. Let families do what they want. We always had 20-40 kids at parties as we did not want to leave anyone out. Some brought gifts, some did not. No big deal either way but we love getting and giving gifts.

The irony.

Serious question: what did you do with up to 40 birthday gifts, just from party friends?

[Anonymous]

Mind blown by how many people seem to feel personally attacked by no gift birthday parties. Why on earth do you care? A no gift party is a gift to fellow parents who don’t have to spend time or money buying your kid a birthday gift. It’s not an attack on you personally. Jfc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mind blown by how many people seem to feel personally attacked by no gift birthday parties. Why on earth do you care? A no gift party is a gift to fellow parents who don’t have to spend time or money buying your kid a birthday gift. It’s not an attack on you personally. Jfc

No one s saying they feel personally attacked.
Reading comprehensive problem? Jfc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mind blown by how many people seem to feel personally attacked by no gift birthday parties. Why on earth do you care? A no gift party is a gift to fellow parents who don’t have to spend time or money buying your kid a birthday gift. It’s not an attack on you personally. Jfc

No one s saying they feel personally attacked.
Reading comprehensive problem? Jfc.

Dp. A lot of the comments on this thread definitely give off that vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully, the kid will counter with " No gifts is fine. Have fun at my party. I am sending my regrets and will not be attending".

LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Your birthday is all about me. I know you're new to this world but I've been here for years and I'm tired. I'm tired of all the things you find new and exciting, so we're just cutting them out. You understand, don't you Larla? It's so boring to get gifts these days. What, it's not boring for you? Well then you're being selfish! What about mommy? I mean, all the plastic in the world?"

It usually goes over well. Don't worry so much about what they think and feel and you're be fine.

What? How about they already got 20 presents from parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and various others besides their school friends. Kids should be able to understand excess

Ok, and? You put some away and give them out every few weeks. Problem solved. It's their birthday. A bit of excess is ok.

Oh great, something else for me to manage - gift backstock.

See? It really IS all about mommy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mind blown by how many people seem to feel personally attacked by no gift birthday parties. Why on earth do you care? A no gift party is a gift to fellow parents who don’t have to spend time or money buying your kid a birthday gift. It’s not an attack on you personally. Jfc

Yes, it is a gift to fellow parents and to the parents of the birthday child not to have to deal with gifts. But the birthday party is FOR THE CHILD. Not for the adults. It's sad that some parents don't see the distinction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mind blown by how many people seem to feel personally attacked by no gift birthday parties. Why on earth do you care? A no gift party is a gift to fellow parents who don’t have to spend time or money buying your kid a birthday gift. It’s not an attack on you personally. Jfc

No one s saying they feel personally attacked.
Reading comprehensive problem? Jfc.

Dp. A lot of the comments on this thread definitely give off that vibe.

this.
i am kind of shocked at the level of anger and defensiveness about this.
If you want your kid to get gifts at their birthday party, then don't say no gifts!
totally fair enough that some people don't want others to feel obliged to get their kid a gift. Maybe the kid has a ton of gifts, maybe they have a small space, maybe they don't want to add pressure to other parents - who cares why!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mind blown by how many people seem to feel personally attacked by no gift birthday parties. Why on earth do you care? A no gift party is a gift to fellow parents who don’t have to spend time or money buying your kid a birthday gift. It’s not an attack on you personally. Jfc

Yes, it is a gift to fellow parents and to the parents of the birthday child not to have to deal with gifts. But the birthday party is FOR THE CHILD. Not for the adults. It's sad that some parents don't see the distinction.

A party can't be for the kid without gifts? We have parties with gifts and even i can see that that's a stupid thing to think.

[Anonymous]

I dont care if gifts or no gifts but asking for money (even if for donation) to me is tacky as f***