when do you let them open presents?

[2CheekyMonkeys]

just wondering the etiquitte of opening presents at birthday parties. do you let them open the presents as guests arrive and hand them to the child, do you collect all presents on a table and open them all in one go at beginning of party, or at the end of the party or when guests have left? or does it not really matter? it would be for a 3 year old party. :-)

[Rach75]

depends on age of child

I personally wait till everyone has gone but jack is only 2

I have been to a few toddler parties and the parents open pressies in one go if they open them while we are there

older kids parties I have seen kids rip party off as friend gets there, which I hate as Ilike to know who gave who what etc

[AnyDream]

They go on a table and are opened towards the end of the party when the guests have been fed, watered and entertained.

[kawazuki]

we do it after cake, so everyone is having cake as we open pressies then lol

but DS doesnt like this as it means he has to wait. but we feel its the polite thing to do.

otherwise its to hectic if they arrive give present DS opens it throws rubbish here there and everywhere cards get lost etc

[~CrazyMumOf3~]

They go on a table and are opened towards the end of the party when the guests have been fed, watered and entertained.

this is exactly what we do. I also use this as an chance to grab some pics of them and their friends while they are still and in one place.

[*Ang*]

Depends on the party itself...eg DS's recent 3rd party was at a park so we chose not to open the presents as it was to hard for transportation reasons - ie the cards are bound to get mixed up etc. So we opened them all at home with the grandparents.

If the party is at our house we usually let them open immediate families presents when they arrive (usually before everyone else anyway) and open the friends presents at the end.

[Tinks]

My kids open them as the guest arrives and gives it to them.

[Visitor7]

Depends on Nina's mood LOL. Her birthday last year, some presents she wanted to open straight away, some she was too busy playing when she received them, so they went on a table and after cake we opened the remainding.
I make sure they're all opened before guests leave though, so we can personally thank them for their presents.

[Willow]

They go on a table and are opened towards the end of the party when the guests have been fed, watered and entertained.

:yeahthat:

I always make sure they are opened before the guests leave, I think it's a bit rude otherwise, I'm sure they'd like to see the kids' reactions when they open them and to be thanked for the gift.