Do you let your kids open their presents during the party?

Question

My 5 year old is having a party tomorrow at home. Should she open the presents while her friends are there or wait until they go home. We have a lot planned during the 2 hours her friends will be here. What do you think?

Answer 1

It is not only fun for the Birthday Girl, it is fun for the children that brought the gifts for her.

Let them see the delight on her face and fully enjoy the gift of giving!!!!! It is one of life's most precious lessons....

Answer 2

I have a lot of neices and nephews, the way we do it with them, and the way I had it when I was kid, as well as how all my friends do it with their children's parties is this; You have all the fun stuff and the party, then towards the end you have the cake and open the presents. Visit a little while longer, ooh and aah over the gifts, then people start leaving. It just makes sense to have the cake at the end (after everyone's worked up an appetite, and after the vigorous activity that may cause a cake repeat). Also, by that time the kids are tired and ready to settle down and watch another kid open presents. The big question is, what's the point of getting someone a present if you can't see how much they like it? For some, that can be a big deal. Especially for kids, they get to see that giving a gift can make someone else happy and they get to experience that joy, and learn that it is as fun (at least almost as fun) as if they were to get something. I know that most children are very excited to see what another child will think of their present, they actually anticipate whether their gift will be liked. Personally, I would be offended if someone refused to open a gift I took time to get them at the party. It's like, here, I'm having a party, give me stuff and leave. In my social circle anyways, it would be considered rude. But like I said above, there are practical reasons to open them at the party, and to do it after all the big activities.

Answer 3

Traditionally children open the gifts at the party while their guests look on.

When a 5-6 year old is invited to a party, most parents let the kids pick out the gift for the birthday child. The guest wants to see his/her hard work pay off by seeing the smile the birthday child gets from their gift.

At my children's parties it is usually the second to last "thing" we do. The last thing to do is hand out the goody bags and let the kids who have just patiently watched birthday child open their gifts go to town on the goodies. Let them play a little more and then call it a day. Thank yous should be sent out in a two week time frame.

NOW, on the flip side to that:::::: if you're party was NOT at home but at a ChuckECheese or something.....I'd save the opening of gifts for a home project and be sure to send out the thank yous quickly. This gives the guests the notion that you did open gifts and you appreciated them.

Answer 4

I agree with everyone else that answered...YES!

What's the one thing that every kid looks forward to when they hear the word "birthday"? PRESENTS!! If you have too much on the schedule, then revamp it a little. I know others have suggested scheduling ideas, but I know how chaotic kid parties can be, and nobody but Mom looks at the clock when they are having FUN!! Have present time early, but comfortably after everyone arrives.

The plan that works best for me is to eat and socialize until everyone is there, then open presents (so latecomers can still eat to their heart's content while watching). Then have cake and ice cream. Have a HUGE trashcan available and encourage everyone to pick up after themselves...it saves you cleanup time later. Say something like, "Okay, let's get ready for (games, whatever). Throw your plates away and (give instructions to start game prep)." Keep drinks available in the kitchen, but eating is over when the plates are tossed. When the mess is disposed of, continue with the balance of your schedule (games, crafts, etc). That way, if someone can't stay for the entire time, they won't miss the "important" stuff or feel bad about leaving early. And you can adjust the number of games to fill whatever time is left.

I hope this helps. Have fun!!

Blessings

Answer 5

I personally like it when the kids open the presents during the party. I think it's very good social practice for the guests to sit politely and watch, and for the birthday girl/boy to practice polite thank-you's, etc. Plus after buying a gift I like to watch the child open it. I feel kind of cheated when the parents sweep the unopened gifts aside and that's the last you hear about it.

Answer 6

I've never been to a party where the gifts were NOT opened while the guests were there. I would cut something else from the schedule and let her open her presents.

Answer 7

Half the fun of the party is opening the presents. The other kids are usually as excited to see the presents as the birthday kid is.

Answer 8

Of course you do! That is all part of the party. If you are concerned about your child not reacting appropriately to some gifts then you should teach him/her to thank everyone individually for gifts as they open each one. The gift opening should be made part of the party - you need to fit it into the schedule of activities. I think you would be doing your child and the guests a disservice by not opening up the gifts. There will be time after the party to look closer at each gift.

Answer 9

Well of course if the presents are from the friends then yeah but presents from parents can wait. They need to see her open them

Answer 10

I think she should open the presents in front of the other kids, so she can thank them and show how much she likes the gifts.

Answer 11

Yes. Everyone wants to see the look on her face as she opens the gift the picked out for her. I would do it when everyone is sitting down eating cake. That way the kids are quite and everyone can see her. Good Luck.