No gifts at child's birthday?

FatVonD

fierystormcloud wrote: »

LOL no it's not!

Get some perspective!

Having/bringing presents to a birthday party is what virtually everyone does FGS!

Indeed there are adults on here that complain about not receiving birthday presents. I agree it is quite mean to engineer a 5 year old having a birthday party where they receive no gifts. It's not about monetary gain, it's about kids that age wanting to be the same as their peer group.

purpleshoes_2

meer53 wrote: »

OP, you are aware that you have to send each child home with a party bag too aren't you ?

Why do you have to do that? Because it's the done thing?

People don't need to do anything. If a family spend a lot of money on a party where kids get fed watered and entertained why do they need to go home with a party bag?

I don't like myleene klass but she had a point.

purpleshoes_2

Some kids probably don't get a present never mind a party.

Sod tradition. Or ridiculous etiquette

Do as you please

Kaye1

I have never sent party bags home. I would say I have only received them about 30% of the time.


You don't HAVE to send party bags home. We play games during the course of the party and ensure everyone wins a tiny gift (badge/sweeties/crayons/hairclips) but they cost about 50p each.


The 'big' gift in the pass the parcel is usually a big book of stickers from the Works- they are always super popular and they spend some time sharing stickers. (Usually about £3-4)


You don't NEED to spend lots of money when they are only 5. My daughter won a plastic keyring of a star once and she still has it! She was very pleased to win it.

fierystormcloud

musogirl295 wrote: »

Fierystormcloud - thanks for your input. It's something I hadn't considered doing until DH mentioned it. In DD's class there are a number of children from less well off families and DH was concerned that they would feel excluded if they couldn't bring presents. Also we are quite conscious about bringing DD up to be non materialistic and the whole point of her having a party is so that she can enjoy her birthday with her friends. Not to mention that there will be family members there that will provide more than enough presents for one day!

As I said in my previous post, having presented the varying opinions from this forum to DH we have decided to not put anything on the invites and just take things as they come.

Glad you have come to a decision.

That sounds sensible, and I am sure that most people will WANT to give a gift: and as I said, I think a 5 y.o. would feel confused and hurt, and possibly the target of ridicule if she got no birthday gifts.

As some have said, maybe giving to a charity instead may be the OK thing to do if the child is say 14 or so, but not at five.

As the poster above me says, you can easily get a gift for a couple of pound from the Works, and even the 99p store will provide something half decent.

Hope she enjoys the party.

themull1 wrote: »

I personally wouldnt want my money/presents going to a charity i might not want to support, when my kids were little, they used to get a present or a card with money in and i would put them in a bag to open at home after the party has finished.

If the parents want to donate to a charity they can use their own money.

Same here.

FatVonD wrote: »

Indeed there are adults on here that complain about not receiving birthday presents. I agree it is quite mean to engineer a 5 year old having a birthday party where they receive no gifts. It's not about monetary gain, it's about kids that age wanting to be the same as their peer group.

I agree, and like I have already said, I wouldn't want to engineer a party either, that meant that a 5 y.o. would get no gifts.

That said, the OP has decided to not do it now.

JimmyTheWig

purpleshoes wrote: »

Making myself sound like an antique here (which I am), but kids parties when I was growing up comprised of having some friends round to your house, a few games, some ice cream and jelly and I can't ever remember thinking, that was rubbish.

These have been some of the best parties that we have thrown for our children in recent years. I love doing the games and the music. The children love playing and dancing. The parents are all impressed that we held a "retro" party (I call it a "normal" party). Doesn't cost a fortune, especially if held mid-afternoon so minimal food (which mainly goes to waste anyway) and you have space to hold it at home.

Kaye1 wrote: »

You don't NEED to spend lots of money when they are only 5. My daughter won a plastic keyring of a star once and she still has it! She was very pleased to win it.

I think this hits the nail on the head.

Indie_Kid

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

These have been some of the best parties that we have thrown for our children in recent years. I love doing the games and the music. The children love playing and dancing. The parents are all impressed that we held a "retro" party (I call it a "normal" party). Doesn't cost a fortune, especially if held mid-afternoon so minimal food (which mainly goes to waste anyway) and you have space to hold it at home.

It also means you don't have the issue the little boy had at the start of the year - the one that didn't turn up to a party and was invoice £15 or whatever it was for no show.

meer53

purpleshoes wrote: »

Why do you have to do that? Because it's the done thing?

People don't need to do anything. If a family spend a lot of money on a party where kids get fed watered and entertained why do they need to go home with a party bag?

I don't like myleene klass but she had a point.

Sarcasm doesn't come across well in print does it ?

Gra76

I have to say I'd feel bad for any 5 year old who didn't receive any presents at their own birthday party. Especially if it wasn't their own choice. I've never known a childs birthday party not to involve giving the birthday child a gift. Imagine how child is going to feel when they go to other childrens birthday parties and realise they were the only one who no-one bought a present for...

As for when the presents are opened, I'd say after the party, and send a thankyou card to every person who bought something.

Yolina

Gra76 wrote: »

I have to say I'd feel bad for any 5 year old who didn't receive any presents at their own birthday party. Especially if it wasn't their own choice. I've never known a childs birthday party not to involve giving the birthday child a gift. Imagine how child is going to feel when they go to other childrens birthday parties and realise they were the only one who no-one bought a present for...

As for when the presents are opened, I'd say after the party, and send a thankyou card to every person who bought something.

My birthday parties were "retro" style too (then known as "normal" :rotfl: ) and I honestly can't remember if I got gifts from the other kids or not - I do remember having cake and fun with my friends though so all good