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

[Anonymous]

At small gatherings, the kids often open them. But I am glad it’s not typical (often two of same gift, things like that). I think the possibility bad outweighs the good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it’s boring AF to watch someone else open gifts, and it makes kids jealous or makes the gifter feel badly when the kid gets a duplicate or tosses the gift aside. Most people give gift cards anyway.

Most people do not give gift cards, at least not the parties I go to. There’s always a pile of wrapped or bagged gifts.

The older kids get gift cards more than little kids.

[Anonymous]

Some people are having a very hard time understanding that traditions die out. No one is asking why kids don’t play pin the tail on the donkey at parties anymore. Party hats used to be omnipresent. Anyone remember “button button who has the button”?Or pass the parcel? If it’s not good, it dies out. Even the birthday cake has changed over time - cupcakes, donuts, cookies are acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people are having a very hard time understanding that traditions die out. No one is asking why kids don’t play pin the tail on the donkey at parties anymore. Party hats used to be omnipresent. Anyone remember “button button who has the button”?Or pass the parcel? If it’s not good, it dies out. Even the birthday cake has changed over time - cupcakes, donuts, cookies are acceptable.

Okay - but opening presents at a birthday party, and giving/receiving gifts, are both traditions that happen at most birthday parties, once you get past the invite-absolutely-everyone phase of life.

[Anonymous]

We didn't let my son's birthday partly because we ran out of time and partly because there was a pretty large wealth gap between those who attended. We don't like to single anyone out and make them feel badly because their parents couldn't afford the latest and greatest gift for a 9-year-old. I'm glad we did too because the difference in gifts was quite noticeable..... And even though my son loved and appreciated everything, I know that other kids would have picked up on the differences.

[Anonymous]

How old are the kids at this party? I've found as my kid got older and the parties got smaller they open the gifts and are all into it.

[Anonymous]

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.

Agree, the kids would rather play games or whatever the activity is. More fun than sitting around watching the kid open gifts.

[Anonymous]

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.

Agree, the kids would rather play games or whatever the activity is. More fun than sitting around watching the kid open gifts.

Is this your justification? Because it isn't true.

[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.

Agree, the kids would rather play games or whatever the activity is. More fun than sitting around watching the kid open gifts.

Is this your justification? Because it isn't true.

It's true for you, meaning it must be true for everyone else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Agree. I live in California. Gifts are the norm, and if the party is small kids will open the presents there. There is no hand-wringing.

In the DMV it is more common to do a no gifts party. If people bring gifts anyway it would be extremely rude to open them in front of other guests who didn’t bring gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Agree. I live in California. Gifts are the norm, and if the party is small kids will open the presents there. There is no hand-wringing.

In the DMV it is more common to do a no gifts party. If people bring gifts anyway it would be extremely rude to open them in front of other guests who didn’t bring gifts.

Not really, not when the kids are older than K or 1st grade.

[Anonymous]

We usually don't have time to open the gifts during the party and having to prevent the other kids from wanting to open/play with the gifts is frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people are having a very hard time understanding that traditions die out. No one is asking why kids don’t play pin the tail on the donkey at parties anymore. Party hats used to be omnipresent. Anyone remember “button button who has the button”?Or pass the parcel? If it’s not good, it dies out. Even the birthday cake has changed over time - cupcakes, donuts, cookies are acceptable.

Okay - but opening presents at a birthday party, and giving/receiving gifts, are both traditions that happen at most birthday parties, once you get past the invite-absolutely-everyone phase of life.

Obviously opening presents and even giving/receiving gifts is not as common as it used to be. Many parties request no gifts these day - did you ever encounter that in your childhood? I didn’t. There are traditions that are dying out that I am sad about, but it is what it is. It’s hard to hear it, but we are no longer the generation deciding how traditions will evolve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it’s boring AF to watch someone else open gifts, and it makes kids jealous or makes the gifter feel badly when the kid gets a duplicate or tosses the gift aside. Most people give gift cards anyway.

So you don't go to baby showers where they open gifts? I think it is a lost art in getting a gift and waiting patiently for the person to open it. Its fun to see their expression

For the birthday person learning how to be gracious and thank someone even if you already have two or its boring socks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people are having a very hard time understanding that traditions die out. No one is asking why kids don’t play pin the tail on the donkey at parties anymore. Party hats used to be omnipresent. Anyone remember “button button who has the button”?Or pass the parcel? If it’s not good, it dies out. Even the birthday cake has changed over time - cupcakes, donuts, cookies are acceptable.

Okay - but opening presents at a birthday party, and giving/receiving gifts, are both traditions that happen at most birthday parties, once you get past the invite-absolutely-everyone phase of life.

Obviously opening presents and even giving/receiving gifts is not as common as it used to be. Many parties request no gifts these day - did you ever encounter that in your childhood? I didn’t. There are traditions that are dying out that I am sad about, but it is what it is. It’s hard to hear it, but we are no longer the generation deciding how traditions will evolve.

Whose generation? Parents are literally the ones making these decisions. Kids would choose to open presents at the party every time if given the option. And when birthday parties move past the invite-the-whole-class to only inviting friends, then they do open them at the party.

This whole thread is about a short span of time in a child's life. Decisions (no gift, open presents later) made purely for the parent's convenience.