Ever not opened gifts?

[Mickeyluver37]

I would say it's about 50/50 around here for the parties, and it seems to be an increasing tradition to not open them. I find it odd when gifts aren't open at the party either. My kids are generally disappointed because they take the time to pick out a gift for a friend and then don't even get to see them open it. I have a friend who pretty much has an "after-party" of her (extended) family only where the parents and grandparents sit there and watch them open all the gifts. The kids want to open them earlier and therefore are eager for their friends to leave! I find the whole thing rude.

 

[Liberty Belle]

We always do. I know the kids are excited to see the birthday boy (in our case) open the gifts they got him.

It does happen a lot down here, though, and I hate it. Of course I wouldn't say anything, but I find it a bit rude.

 

[surfgirl]

I'm in the "much much rather do it after everyone is gone"

- no managing kids if double gifts
- no managing "I have that" (when they are 2 they have no filter!)
- no managing bored other kids who really don't give a cr@p about watching someone ELSE open gifts
- no trying to keep the list and being a host

In fact, I have one kid who loves to spread out his opening gifts over a week... two a day ... we write the thank you for those two before the next ones are opened. He loves the anticipation of being able to have presents for a while.

Not surprisingly, he is the kid with the big pile at the end of Christmas while everyone is done... he likes to "save" them!

 

[EMom]

I would say it's about 50/50 around here for the parties, and it seems to be an increasing tradition to not open them. I find it odd when gifts aren't open at the party either. My kids are generally disappointed because they take the time to pick out a gift for a friend and then don't even get to see them open it. I have a friend who pretty much has an "after-party" of her (extended) family only where the parents and grandparents sit there and watch them open all the gifts. The kids want to open them earlier and therefore are eager for their friends to leave! I find the whole thing rude.

What we do depends on the circumstances. If there is time, we will probably open them. But not always. Just being practical. Once, DD had a birthday party at Pump It Up. They have it for 2 hours. Up to 90 minutes for the play area and 30 or so for cake and refreshments. We expected half the kids invited to show up, but pretty much everyone did. Twenty five guests with 25 presents. Even if she speed opened them, it would have taken at least an hour to do so. We didn't have an extra hour. And NONE of the kids would have been satisfied to watch presents being opened for an hour. So we took them home and did it there. We weren't being rude, we were just being practical and realistic.

 

[moon]

I don't have children, but people didn't open gifts at parties when I was growing up, thank heavens! I would have hated to open the gifts in front of everybody, like some sort of entertainment, no way!

If I give a gift, I don't care when the recipient opens it in front of me or not. It's all the same to me.