Thank You Notes for Birthday Parties?

Question

I wrote thank you's for wedding and shower gifts but never expected to recieve or sent thank you's for birthday presents growing up.

Now my daughter is 2 1/2 and I haven't sent birthday thank you's the past 2 years. However, my friend's daughter sent us a thank you for her 1st birthday gift and it made me start wondering if I should be having her write thank you's for birthday gifts.

Also, If I do it for birthday, should I also do it for Christmas or Easter or Valentine's day or random gifts throughout the year? Just curious what everyone thinks. Thanks in advance!

Would I still have to send a thank you if we opened the gift in front of the giver and said thank you at that point?

From what I have read so far - In your opinion I SHOULD send thank you's (according to the website someone recommended its not necessary but a nice gesture) but I guess I'm also curious how many of you ACTUALLY DO send thank you's for birthday/Christmas etc. Thanks again

Answer 1

honestly- any time a gift is received, a thank you note should be written.

edit...

I have "oopsed" this one before...yes, it seems you "should" send a thank you note even if rec'd in front of the giver....(personally I'm not good at that one- seems a little much)

but as for gifts received and the giver wasn't present? yes, a thank you note is sent :)

Answer 2

I agree with other poster...whenever you get a gift...whatever its for, you need to send a thank you card!

EDIT!! (because of your extra info)

As a kid I was always required to do so!! I am an aunt of 5...the youngest is only 3 weeks old so no gifts yet...but the other ones are required to send me a thank you note for ANY gift that i give them, no matter what its for....even the 2.5 year old...my sister writes it out but she "signs" it. She colors on it as if shes writing it out. it gets her used to getting into the groove of things, she will be required in a couple years to do it!

Oh yea...yes i was required to write a thank you note even if i opened it in front of them and said thank you....i got a gift from someone i wrote a thank you...BOTTOM LINE!! I loved gifts, but hated the thank yous! Yet today I see how nice it is to receive one. So i am glad that my parents made me, because now i know how they felt to receive theirs!

Answer 3

I haven't sent thank you notes to anyone. But I make it a point to my 4 yr old son to say thank you. The only other thing that would be nice is to send a picture of your youngin to the people who gave gifts. ie were they at the party and you got a pic of them or her opening the gift they brought?

Answer 4

I always send a thank you card if I have received a gift, regardless of what time of year or the event. I think it's the most polite thing to do.

Answer 5

You really don't have to.
I send them on my son's behalf and have him color the note.
But I enjoy doing it and have a relatively small circle of family and friends, so it's not all that much work.
I do Christmas and birthdays, but not other holidays or random gifts.
But, I don't receive them from my nephews or other kids I gifts to.

Answer 6

You should always send a card anytime anyone gives you a gift. Also, I always send a card to anyone who attends the party, not just those who bring gifts. As soon as your little one is old enough to write her own name she should be helping send cards.

Answer 7

I write thank you's for every gift I receive. My parents always made me when growing up

Answer 8

I have never heard of thank yous for birthday gifts. I like to make my thank yous very personal. Myself I feel it is much better to call the person and express my thanks or see them in person and express it. A card realy is not the way to say thanks sometime. I think Birthdays are one of those times.

Answer 9

I have always sent thank you cards.
I think it is just a thoughtful thing to do.

Answer 10

If the person isn`t there, I have my daughter to call on the telephone& Thank them. If a person is present& thanks them in person I don`t think it`s nessacary.