HOw do I manage all the presents my 6 year old will be getting for birthday

djdymond · 29 June 2009 at 10:17AM

i have to say being pregnant, there was no way i was going to have a baby shower!! i think its very cheecky to invite people to a party where the reason for it in my opinion is just to give the mum pressies for baby! if they want to buy something for the baby, its down to them when they visit when its born if at all so im afraid i dont agree with you there. as for wedding lists, i got married last year. a few people asked what we wanted and we asked for vouchers for argos. that way if they wanted to give us 10 pounds worth we were happy with that, instead of saying we want this and that, all of a certain price.

thing is, most wedding guests are close friends and family... im assuming youve invited his whole class to this party? so its not as if parents will be thinking well we want to get him a 20 pound gift.. if i was taking my child, it would be a pressie to the value of 5 pounds. nothing too big... lets face it. if all the kids in his class had parties of 30 kids, parents wouldnt be able to splash out for every kid!! especially when theres a recession going on. it would have to be very cheap and cheerful... im also pretty sure that not all kids make it, due to colds, other plans, last minute reasons. im also sure out of 30 kids, some will only bring a card, especially if your child is not a "best friend"?

to be honest i dont see what the problem is, what ever he gets from anyone is nice. perhaps if your that bothered about too many gifts, it may be easier to say to everyone no gifts at all?

cazscoob · 29 June 2009 at 10:17AM

TBH i would prefer it if every party invite stated that they would prefer a voucher! i hate shopping for children i dont know what they like or already have!
also usually when you ask the parent they say to buy whatever????

newcook · 29 June 2009 at 10:18AM

I think its ok to say this to family and close friends but not to other parents!

a friend of mine is having a party for her little girl at the weekend - when I asked what I could get her DD she said 'we dont expect anything but if you wanted to get her something just pop some money in a card' (though her dads reply was 'she said the other day she wants a golf cart...'!!!!)

Coupon-mad · 29 June 2009 at 10:29AM

cazscoob wrote: »

TBH i would prefer it if every party invite stated that they would prefer a voucher! i hate shopping for children i dont know what they like or already have!
also usually when you ask the parent they say to buy whatever????

Yes but not everyone can spend a fiver or more every time. It doesn't sound like much but when you have several children and lots of parties going on at this age, it's just too expensive.

aliasojo · 29 June 2009 at 10:35AM

HappySad wrote: »

Some parent don't want to offend but have a house stuffed with toys they don't want when they would prefer clothes or a one large toy that everyone put a little towards. ....

I do actually see your point, from a practical angle it does make sense to be given wanted items rather than tat or things that wont even be looked at.

However there are certain situations (and this is one of them) that you just dont get to voice your opinion, largely for the sake of manners and common decency. You gratefully accept whatever comes your way....you're just not entitled to choice imo. (Unless it's close friends or relatives who have asked what you/your son would prefer.)

I also dont think you can draw any comparisons between this situation and a wedding list scenario.

Flashdaisy · 29 June 2009 at 10:39AM

OP, I do understand about not wanting toys cluttering up everywhere, but I don't think people would take too kindly to being given a "birthday list" TBH.

However, you might well find that lots of the parents approach you to ask what your LO would like for his birthday, in which case you could then say "ELC vouchers would be fab please, he's saving up to buy X"

Mumto2 · 29 June 2009 at 10:44AM

I have a 6 yr old DD and a 5 yr old DS. Both will be 7 & 6 in August. They are both having a party this year, so for 2 weeks our house will be a mad present opening/cake eating/birthday house of fun!

I wouldn't dream of stating vouchers etc (although every year I swear that we can't cope with another influx of toys!). If we have duplicates or things which aren't suitable then I put a few pounds in their money box and recycle the gift appropriately. As others have said, if people ask then you can always steer them in a certain direction. Last year most of the mums in my sons classed asked, but no-one in my daughters classed did

We also seem to be in the middle of all their friends birthday parties, having had 7 in the last month. I cope with this by limiting spend to £5 max and buying bargains when I see them. If a request comes for vouchers, it is normally ignored

as I feel it rude and already have a stash of decent (imho) presents to give out.

Although the party invite which asked pepple to give the receipt incase they wished to return it really took the award on rudeness. :eek::rotfl:

At that age, like people have said, it is all about having your friends and big fun. In a year or so, I'm sure it will change to just a couple of friends doing something.

Then I'll be ready to start it all again with no 3 :eek:

SugarSpun · 29 June 2009 at 10:44AM

djdymond wrote: »

i got married last year. a few people asked what we wanted and we asked for vouchers for argos. that way if they wanted to give us 10 pounds worth we were happy with that, instead of saying we want this and that, all of a certain price.

We had a wedding list that had items on it ranging from £4.50 to £170. The £170 item was put there because a group of my friends often go in on a joint present so if the 12 of them wanted to go in on something together there was an idea of what we wanted. As it was they all bought us box sets of DVDs to keep us amused when we have a little one and can't go out and socialise any more

I'm planning some hot nights in with a cup of tea, my baby and Monsieur Poirot.

30 gifts is overkill for such a small child, but asking parents to contribute to a bigger gift is such socially dodgy ground that I'd avoid it altogether. Rewrap the gifts he isn't immediately interested in for Christmas, save any duplicates for other kids' birthdays and plan a clearout of the toys he already has so you're not overwhelmed.

gill_81uk · 29 June 2009 at 11:56AM

I would like my son to get presents as he love opening them

If you ask for vouchers then surely your son misses out on the opening of the presents?

HappySad · 29 June 2009 at 12:20PM

Inviting 30-40 means that you would be getting at least 30 presents. From my own culture (I'm first generation from UK) we get offending when people purchase things that are a waste and unnecessary because people don't like us in this country have loads of money to buy things for people without really knowing if they really would make use of this. So for example in my culture to buy clothes for a child that is exactly for their age is offensive because that child would only get a limit amount of time to wear that item. So many culture purchase clothes for other friends/family children at least a year ahead and many times more years ahead so that the child gets more wear out of it. I am awear that this culture purchase clothes for children without thinking how much wear they would have but this how things is done in this country.

When my son was born I was aware that people would be buying new born clothes and most of it was never used and was given to charity with the new tag on it. My family & closer friends were more appropriate and gave clothes for much older children and I was able to make use of them.

Last year we had 20 present & I kept them aside and he opened one every few months throughout the year. I know that this culture is about giving present without knowing wether the person would make use of it but from my background we look at making the most of what presents are given which is why I am looking to recycle etc.

I know that many want to give but from my culture I want to ensure that the giving is relavent and not a wasted present.

I am considering to ask parents that want to give something to make a donation to our local children's charity of £5. So it 15 could give to charity then they would be getting about £60. Then only ask close family to give present. I know of a person that hosted a party and collected for Annesty international with a voluntary donation.

In my culture we say what we want and ask what the other person wants. We can not afford to spend money of things that are not wanted/needed. Also as I am now a greener person I see it as complete waste to purchase things that people don't really want just to clutter their house.

People have been to previous parties without presents and I would rather that than buy just buy something just to give something.

My son most love looking at all the birthday cards that he had and at his birthday photos of everyone that came to celebrate his birthday.

I am not looking to invite lots to gain present but the opposite. I am being put off in viting this number because of having to manage the number of potential present we would inevitably get. I don't really want to just get 30 present from people who just want to buy stuff for my son. I would rather a card a hug and a fun time with my son on his special day. If someone want to give then contribute little to something large he really wants & contribute to a charity or don't bring a present. Rather then me ending up with a massive pile of toys for my son. Its not being green & a waste of their money to make a purchase just for the traditions of having to give a present.

HOw do I manage all the presents my 6 year old will be getting for birthday

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