2007-02-08 06:42:24 · 21 answers · asked by Josie K 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
My daughter has way too many toys, she even has a separate toy room. She's turning 2, l would like her to get clothes or books instead. How do I politely write this on an invitation?
2007-02-08 06:58:42 · update #1
Okay, here's the deal: You don't get to pick the gift. You either put on the invitation, "No Gifts, Please", or you deal with whatever she gets. If she gets new toys, sort out the old ones, and let her decide which ones she keeps and which ones go to Goodwill...just donate the same number of toys she gets as gifts, and you get her the books she wants to have. If someone asks you what she needs you can tell them, but if not, just let it go.
2007-02-08 13:21:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No toys needed...your company is a gift in itself.....unless you want other gifts for your child...ie books, clothes etc. To which I would pass the word through family members and a mutual friend. IE little Mikey has so many toys; I am really trying to get him to focus on reading. This eludes to "books will be a great gift." Be prepared for people to be clueless, miffed, passive aggressive (to which they will still bring a toy and give it to the child and then say "oh I forgot no toys allowed."
Just out of curiousity what do you not want toys for the kiddo?
2007-02-08 14:48:56 · answer #2 · answered by christina k 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I had a no-toys policy until the kids were 3......I tend to be fairly practical and could not stand to visit the houses of friends that were piled to the ceiling. I never put it in the invite.....since its just immediate family....I told them.....please no toys until they are 3.....after that, all bets are off....grandmas and aunts don't want to be known for gifting with cash or footie jammies because its boring and because its so much fun to buy kiddie stuff. The thing is to control your own spending during the year....why does this kid have sooooo much stuff already? Trust me, it keeps getting more expensive....figure out how many times a year you shop for clothes/toys and get an entertainment budget started....it makes the holidays much more special and frees up the relatives to spoil at will.....lol Unfortunately, we are their parents, we don't get to spoil them.....
2007-02-09 07:36:13 · answer #3 · answered by Sweetserenity 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is never polite to specify what gifts to bring. Perhaps something like "Joey has too many toys to keep track of already, please consider your being there to celebrate as his present." That is similar to what another reply said, but a little different.
It leaves the door more open to people asking what to bring. Receive the toys that will inevetibly be brought graciously. They mean well, but perhaps they are simply too self absorbed to listen to what you have to say :-)
It is always a good idea to ask for suggestions on gifts. It is never necessary to ask, but one can get a better idea that way. Probably not a good idea to get guns for a Quaker kid or a cowboy outfit for a Native American kid anyway.
2007-02-08 15:18:45 · answer #4 · answered by Mia R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Stelly and others are right -- Just ask for no presents. It's considered rude to invite people to a birthday party and then say what kind of gifts to give. So asking for no gifts will ensure that your daughter doesn't receive toys.
2007-02-09 16:35:20 · answer #5 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My sister does this often. She puts on the invitation no toys, books only to donate to their school or church. But family gifts, or toys are accepted. So this way she can manage all the toys otherwise it would be a landfill of toys in their home.
2007-02-08 14:50:07 · answer #6 · answered by star 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
ok this may sound silly .. but you could try this ..
give the party a BOOK theme...
you could have the guests attend dressed as a favourite children's character.. say Cat in The Hat, Humpty-dumpty.. then suggest that in keeping with the theme that you would appreciate books that have had a special Message to your daughter written on the inside so that she can remember it (and the givers) when she is older.
I understand your wish perfectly , you told us she has too many toys .
2007-02-09 04:38:18 · answer #7 · answered by ll_jenny_ll here AND I'M BAC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is no polite way. however you say it, many people will take offence. you can either have "no presents" or you deal with what you get. even if she does have too many toys as it is, sort them out and give the ones she no longer plays with away or sell them on ebay.
2007-02-08 23:55:25 · answer #8 · answered by Minerva 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you can have a theme! For example, the invitation can say it's a Robert Munsch theme, or whatever series is appropriate for 2 year olds...
2007-02-08 15:08:27 · answer #9 · answered by babysport 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if my mother wouldn't let people buy me toys i'd be mad, so if i got an invitation that said no toys, i'd buy 2 for the kid
2007-02-08 16:02:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋