Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 15:14     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
Anonymous wrote:I am not a parent but mentor a family. Through an activity I take one of the kids to, he has been invited to a birthday party. Birthday invite says "no gifts, please." Do we follow this? Bring a gift anyway (and if so, ideas? I had been thinking about a card game like uno or taco cat goat cheese pizza, plus some candy or Takis or something)? Still bring a card? Birthday kid is early elementary and is dcum middle class (lives in mostly gentrified DC neighborhood). I want the kid we mentor to fit in as much as possible!
This is a wild question!
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 15:14     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
We bring just card and if it’s a close friend we throw $20 cash.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 15:09     Subject: Re:"No gifts" on party invitation
DO NOT BRING A GIFT. DO NOT BE THAT PERSON.

Yes, a handful of people will bring a gift. That does not change my answer.

I would show up completely empty handed. If that makes you uncomfortable, a card (handmade or store bought) is fine but completely unnecessary.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 15:01     Subject: Re:"No gifts" on party invitation
I generally follow the host’s instructions. Having said that, my go-to is a gift card for the ice cream store in our neighborhood. All the kids go to the neighborhood school with my son. Parents appreciate a fun gift without adding crap to their house.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 14:56     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why WOULDN"T you follow it? So weird!


Because if it's an unspoken rule that everyone brings gifts anyway, I don't want the kid I am bringing to stand out. I will go with a card --thanks all!


Your manners can never be faulted if you have followed the host's instructions. You should also share this thought with your mentee as a social lesson. It's not out of the question that someone will show up with a gift. But you can explain to your mentor that we make our host happy by respecting their wishes. And that the host doesn't value guests differently based on gift-bringing.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 14:54     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
I truly hate how this topic comes up so frequently. Why are people so incompetent that they cannot follow an extremely simple, easy to understand, direct instruction?

“No gifts” means do not bring a gift. It’s not some secret code.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 14:49     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Bring a card only.
We make our own cards in our house so I’d have my kid make a card.

On a side note, I think no gift parties for kids are stupid but that’s just me. I’d still respect the request.

Why? We say no gifts bc we truly have too much stuff. Our kids get plenty of gifts/money from family. When people bring gifts, it’s always stuff we don’t need or want, my kids generally choose to donate them and still need to write a thank you. We also go to a school with a diverse socio economic student body so don’t want anyone to feel different when they walk in without a gift and others have them. Please respect the no gifts.

I’m the PP. the gifts are part of the fun of a birthday. Mine is almost 13 now and I would say 50% of her gifts are either gift cards or cash. 25% are stuff off her wishlist ( I’ll send it only if people ask). The other 25% are surprise gifts she has always enjoyed receiving from friends.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 14:44     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
I always bring a gift
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 13:53     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
For no gifts, I bring an oversized birthday card.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 13:46     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
Anonymous wrote:Why WOULDN"T you follow it? So weird!


Because if it's an unspoken rule that everyone brings gifts anyway, I don't want the kid I am bringing to stand out. I will go with a card --thanks all!
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 13:40     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You should respect what's on the invite. A homemade card would be nice.


This.

If appropriate, you can review these social lessons with your mentee:

1) People celebrate birthdays all kinds of ways.

2) Birthdays and celebrations do not have to involve gifts.

3) Hosts give information to help guests know what to do to enjoy the party. Look for these clues and use them.

4) Making a handmade card shows respect and appreciation and should take a reasonable amount of time (be nice instead of slapdash).

5) Remind the kid to thank the adult host before leaving the party.



I like this.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 13:36     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
A card - drawn or go to the dollar store. Sometime I will put stickers or a $2 bill or $1 coin in the card.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 13:33     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
We do $20 gift card in a card. Cash if we are out of gift cards.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 13:33     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
Anonymous wrote:Bring a card only.
We make our own cards in our house so I’d have my kid make a card.

On a side note, I think no gift parties for kids are stupid but that’s just me. I’d still respect the request.

Why? We say no gifts bc we truly have too much stuff. Our kids get plenty of gifts/money from family. When people bring gifts, it’s always stuff we don’t need or want, my kids generally choose to donate them and still need to write a thank you. We also go to a school with a diverse socio economic student body so don’t want anyone to feel different when they walk in without a gift and others have them. Please respect the no gifts.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 13:30     Subject: "No gifts" on party invitation
Just bring a card or nothing. That’s what we do and what most people seem to do at these things.