Comments on: KIDS’ BIRTHDAY GIFTS: Do You Open Them During or After the Party?

By: Ivy

Ivy — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:05:27 +0000

In the Netherlands it is custom to open presents when the childs get them. The small givers keep their present with them at first when they arrive. Then cake eating starts after everyone has arrived and whilst eating the happy birthday boy or girl receives and opens each of his/her packages one by one.

However, at these parties hardly ever more than fifteen guests are presents (parents of visiting children leave and pick up their kids later).

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:14:15 +0000

My son’s only 4, but we’ve been to our share of parties for his friends. I’ve been to several parties where the under 4 guest list was over 30! Maybe it’s because we live in TX, but I’ve seen this with older parties as well.

Can I tell you how difficult it is for kids that small to sit through the orgy of presents? I think the only people who enjoy it, if you can call it enjoyment, are the grown ups. The kids just want to play.

I think the best birthday party we’ve been to involved a book swap — no presents, no silly gift bags. The kiddos brought an unwrapped book and then they got to go home with a book. The left over books were donated to charity.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:16:31 +0000

I have 4 children and the way we do b-day party gift opening is this: I set up 2 chairs in the front of the room and gather all the children on the floor in front of the chairs. The b-day boy/girl gets to sit in one chair and then each guest gets to take a turn “sitting” next to the b-day boy/girl while he/she opens “their” gift from them. This also makes the gift “giver” feel special and recognized. All the kids LOVE it and it also gives me a chance to snap a picture of the b-day boy/girl with each of their guests to include in thank you cards. :)

By: desiree fawn

desiree fawn — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:46:46 +0000

I really love the idea of presents being opened at the party, but size is a factor.

On a similar topic: my mother threw me a HUUUUGE baby shower and wanted me to open all of the gifts in front of everyone. The gift opening portion of the party took nearly an hour and I felt like I couldn’t say thank you in a real way to the givers.
It was also in a backyard and I was on the porch away from guests who were mingling and, in my opinion, trying to pretend to be interested.

I was grateful, but it was hard.

Thankfully children’s parties are usually smaller!

By: arcanabtn

arcanabtn — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:36:01 +0000

We don’t have birthday parties every year, but when we do – I let the child who gave the gift help open it with my child. Photos of this make great thank you’s and every one gets to help open something. We usually go on and let the children start the activities, take a break to open presents and eat cake and then follow up with activities.