My son will be 2 next month and we'll be having a party with a large group - the only non-family members invited are our day care gal and her family - and it will be held in a park (assuming good weather). My question is: do we have to open all the gifts during the party, or is it ok to thank everyone and then open them at home later that night? I only ask this because my son is still too young to truly understand the situation and he'll loose interest quickly. Opening the gifts is something I would have to do, it's usually very time consuming and I get really uncomfortable in that position (I hated it at my bridal shower, baby shower and last year at his party). I will add that I always send personalized thank you cards.
Thanks Mamas!
Thanks everyone who responded! I think I got enough reassurance that it will be ok if we take all or most gifts home to open later and spare everyone, including me and my son, the lengthy and uncomfortable process of opening them during the party. Unless of course there is something special that someone brings or there are requests.
All responses were greatly appreciated and insightful! Thanks :)+
Nah, don't open at the party. Just thank everyone for coming and then send thank you notes for the gifts later. It's much more fun for the kids to just play at their party rather than deal with the chore of opening presents and it's easier on the people who don't give the "cool" gift if they don't see the kid's expression. ;)
No need at that age and I believe everyone will understand. We had our 3 yo's bday party at a park and opened the gifts later at the house. We invited any family that wanted to come over afterward to see the gift opening-- no one did. The kids couldn't be bothered to sit and they all just wanted to play. Totally understandable. Plus we had a time limit on how long we had the reserved sitting area so we truly had no time.
If you don't really need the extra toys, consider a book swap. Have each child bring a new, wrapped book that is gender neutral. Then either play a game similar to a cake walk or draw numbers to trade. Each child gets a party favour that way and you aren't in any positions that are uncomfortable and they guests are off the hook too!
open a few and make sure you open non family there and a few ppl that are not at your home often so they can see the "appreciation".
You open presents or not, its up to you.
Opening presents at a party, can take a LONG time. Then photos are taken as the child opens them, then the parent has to write down who gave what for thank you cards as you open them, then you ooh and aah at the presents, then thank the person there.
It can literally take, over 1 hour. Just to open presents. I have seen this happen.
Meanwhile the kids get antsy and will get distracted and play or fuss.
I have seen this happen.
For us, we open presents at home. After the party.
Kids are tired at parties, if it is a long party. Too.
If you open presents at the party, you HAVE to, incorporate this timing, into the party's timeline... and do it so that the party ends, when the invitation says it will.
People/families, plan their day, by when a party starts and finishes.
Especially if their kids naps or they have other things to do.
Unless, it is an ALL day party.
Hi Jennifer :)
Unless you open the presents right away he is going to be too tired to open them and you'll end up doing it all anyway. For our family party we do not open gifts but make thank you's ahead of time to hand out at the party :)
If your 2yo boy is like mine are and were, THEY will want to rip open those presents ASAP. At age 2, the unwrapping is the most fun. Enlist another adult to do the list for you. Personally, I love watching kids unwrap presents--it's wonderful to see their joy. You'll be surprised just how much more your son will "get it" this year over last year's bday.
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When our son was that age, we simply put "no gifts please" on the invitations. He didn't care about getting the gifts (although he liked the wrapping paper) and we didn't need a ton of toys. For those that will bring a gift, take them home with you and open them later.
Hi Jennifer - that one is totally up to you and how the party is going but I would probably recommend opening them up after the party. If you have a family member who wants you to open it there, then by all means accommodate them but usually people dont mind.
I think it's common courtesy to open the gifts that people take the time to buy/make and bring -- even if he is sitting on your lap and you are doing the openig and he jets off for a minute and comes back. Hopefully you have a supportive partner that can help manage the situation.
I think you should do whatever it is that will be easier for you/your son.
I have always done gifts at the party, but I really don't care for it. Mainly because I don't like the other little kids at the party lacking in impulse control or proper supervision who try to take over my DD opening the gifts. I also know how it is to have to try to control a small child & tell her she can't touch the presents because it's not her birthday - it's hard for a little kid that age to sit still & watch another kid open gifts for an hour, nor do I really care to do so, either, even at my niece's birthday party. It's boring & you can only look at so many toys & clothes. I have a friend who never has her kids open their gifts at their parties & I have always liked the idea.
No one at the age of two is going to sit quietly and open gifts! Nor is anyone going to have the patience to watch that! Just open them at home later and send thank you cards!
What about doing something like 'In lieu of gifts please consider a donation in (son's name) to (your favorite children's charity)'? Or 'In lieu of gifts for (son's name) please consider bringing a toy to be donated to (a charity)'? Then you don't have to deal with opening gifts in front of everyone. :-)
