Do You Bring a Gift for Your Own Child's Birthday Party?

I cannot stand when the parents bring "their" gift(s) for their child to open. It's usually unfair for everyone else as the parents KNOW their child best and often spend more money on the gift(s) than everyone else. I've seen this happen too many times where the kids push their other presents aside because they are too enthralled with what mom&dad got them.

We go to a lot of birthday parties, and I can't recall ever seeing anyone bring a present for their child. Another vote for save it for home.

No, don't bring it to the party. Give him the spiderman at home. It will mean more to him!!

Dawn

Ummmm....the party IS a gift. A huge one!

Parties can be a blur and a flurry, so we gave the kids their presents separate from the party. Since your son's birthday is the day after, I would give him his Spiderman the next day so his REAL birthday has a special surprise too.

Just my opinion.

I just save our presents for when it's their actual birthday and it's our own little family gathering. I know he has his heart set on it, but I wouldn't tell him you got it but then not give it to him until the next day - you might just have full-blown melt-down on your hands. He might end up finding out that he actually likes everything he gets - that's how Christmas was for our daughter. She was happy with the things she got that were on her list, but some of her favorite things have been the games and toys that were not. He might also be so happy he's having a party that he won't even notice he hasn't gotten the Spiderman. I would probably just save for it the next day, or at least give it to him beforehand - at some point they need to start being grateful for what they do get instead of so focused on what they don't (or think they don't).

He will be so overwhelmed with the party experience I wouldn't bother to bring it. Most party venues give the kids 2 hours which is enough time to play, eat, and cut cake. There isn't enough time to open gifts. We always open everything at home.

I would give it to him before the party or at the party and maybe a couple of smaller things on his birthday if you want both to happen. Personally, I just give all of the gifts on the party, whenever it is and on their actual b-days, I take them for ice cream.

We always did the family birthday at home on the real birthday, even though the party may have been another day. Let the presents from the guests be the center of attention at the birthday party. Your boy will enjoy whatever his friends bring, because presents are always exciting!

You might remind him that the family presents will be opened the next day, and, well, who knows what "spiders" might turn up then? But don't mention it unless he says something about it.

Birthday gifts are always given on the birthday itself in our house, regardless of when the party is held. Good luck!

Give the 'family' gift at home, on his real birthday.

I would remind him how to be a gracious recipient and give him the gift at home, either before or after the party. Maybe after if you think he'll ignore other gifts.

No, I don't. I give my gifts at the family birthday dinner. In this case I would save my gifts for the next day so that he had something to open ON his birthday.

I would save it for the actual b-day.

I have a daughter that I too think "what is she going to say" ... and she's never done anything sassy at one of her b-day parties.. they are just so excited to be getting anything! I also make a big deal out of each gift they open saying how great it is, etc. she got a few doozie gifts this year and nope - not a peep out of her!

Our kids get their gifts from us on their actual birthday, NEVER at the party. I personally dislike that. I think it's tacky to give your kid their new 3D DSI at their party in front of all of their friends. But that's just me!!

We don't ever have time to open gifts AT the party...normally they are 2 hours and there is so much else to do. If we have time, we open gifts. But I have drilled into my kids that they are to be gracious and if they don't like something we will address it later. My youngest will be 5 in March and even he knows to be kind and gracious. So maybe you can just talk to your little one about it?

in almost all parties we have been too kids didn't open presents at the party. they open them after the party is over and guests have left. so i would say keep presents somewhere and when people have left give him your presents too along with others.

I normally give my children their presents both at their party AND on their actual birthday. The big/important gift gets given at whichever comes first.

Keep one present aside for him to have at his birthday and then the others you should open privately at home with him. I wouldn't tell him what he is getting but tell him how you expect him to behave--- please/thankyou, and that whatever gift he opens--he should be gracious and politely thank them. The gift itself shouldn't be emphasised as much--it should be the thoughtfulness of the giver and how much fun he will have at the party. Good luck and have a great time!

M

It's hard to find time to open gifts from the kids at parties. Plus, your gift would probably overshadow the gifts his friends bring. I agree with Shane. The party is his gift from you.

I have yet to go to a birthday party for a kid where they open the gifts at the party. And for good reason. It's usually only two hours, and that is just enough time for the kids to play and have food/cake.

But perhaps more importantly -- opening gifts at the party creates all sorts of pressures and anxiety for your guests. Kids don't want to sit around and watch another kid open gifts, and parents will be feeling the pressure of whose gift is bigger, or gets a better response. Especially with a 4 year old, you will have no control over what he says and feelings may be hurt.

I think you solve everything (and have a more fun party for all) if you wait to open gifts until after the majority of guests have left and it's just family and a few close friends who have lingered on. Then bring out the Spiderman gift and enjoy!!!!

Oh for the spiderman days!! They were so cute! I have quite a fondness for spiderman action figures.

Give it to him beforehand, so you get that expectation out of the way. If he's like most kids, he will still be very enthusiastic about tearing into the other gifts.

We always wait until the actual birthday to give our kids their gifts. It doesn't matter if they have a party with their friends or just the family party, the gifts from mom and dad don't get opened unless it is their actual birthday. That is why they are called birthday presents not "any day" presents.

Now, I have to say wow.

I have never heard of kids parties being so short that there is no time to open presents. That seems silly.

Isn't the point of a kids birthday party for there to be games, food (whether it's just cake and ice cream or an actual meal) and presents?

It must be a location thing.

The birthday parties my kids have gone to last more along the lines of 3 and 4 hours and the kids are always the ones asking if the birthday kid can open their presents yet.

Then again, most people I know think having a birthday party at a venue is ridiculously expensive. Around $200+. For double the time and half the cost, I'll have the parties at home and have plenty of time for the kids to have fun and eat AND open their presents.