Birthday party gifts

[Anonymous]

My children are 3 and 5 and in daycare. Almost all the birthday parties they are invited to for their classmates are no gift parties, which I think is great. (Not because I object to bringing a gift, more because I'm trying to avoid clutter in my house, so it's better if my children don't expect gifts at their own birthday parties.) Does no gift parties become less common for elementary school birthday parties or is this a change from when I was growing up (when every party was a gift party and opening presents was a big part of the party itself).

[Anonymous]

I think the whole class invited parties are usually no gifts parties. When they start inviting their best friends around age 8 or so, then gifts start coming. But there's only gifts from a few friends then, not 20 gifts.

[Anonymous]

One of my kids was invited to 3 ES whole class parties and none said no gifts. Parties with presents are still there, but gift opening is generally reserved for home. When we had a whole class party at a venue, my DC opened presents at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my kids was invited to 3 ES whole class parties and none said no gifts. Parties with presents are still there, but gift opening is generally reserved for home. When we had a whole class party at a venue, my DC opened presents at home.

I have never been to a party where a birthday child opened gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the whole class invited parties are usually no gifts parties. When they start inviting their best friends around age 8 or so, then gifts start coming. But there's only gifts from a few friends then, not 20 gifts.

We had the same experience. The bigger the party, the more likely it is to be a no-gift party. When it's a smaller group of friends, even just, say, all the girls or half the class, gifts are more common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my kids was invited to 3 ES whole class parties and none said no gifts. Parties with presents are still there, but gift opening is generally reserved for home. When we had a whole class party at a venue, my DC opened presents at home.

I have never been to a party where a birthday child opened gifts.

So ultimately, does the child need gifts? Part of the fun of gifts at that age is the givers getting to see their present opened and the resulting excitement,

[Anonymous]

Some of the Pre-K parties have been donation parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my kids was invited to 3 ES whole class parties and none said no gifts. Parties with presents are still there, but gift opening is generally reserved for home. When we had a whole class party at a venue, my DC opened presents at home.

I have never been to a party where a birthday child opened gifts.

So ultimately, does the child need gifts? Part of the fun of gifts at that age is the givers getting to see their present opened and the resulting excitement,

Part of the fun at that age is opening presents. So we did not say 'No gifts please'. My child had so much fun opening all the presents. I am not for the donation parties.

[Anonymous]

I have only ever been to one no gift party. They get one birthday a year, i am ok with gifts. If its something DD wont play with it gets regifted or donated.