Opening Presents

**BlackCat** · May 13th, 2013, 01:51 PM

We are about to host a 5year old birthday party. What is the protocol for opening presents?! Does the birthday child open them on arrival? Do they put the on a table and open them in front of everyone later? Do they put them on a table and open them once the guests have left?

**Jaycee** · May 13th, 2013, 01:59 PM

At DS1's 5th birthday last year (the first we've had with school friends) we let him open them as the guests arrived.

I don't think there's really any ettiquette involved at that age

**nothing2lose** · May 13th, 2013, 02:01 PM

I think it is rude to wait because the giver (particularly if they are little kids themselves) love seeing the joy their gift has brought.

**~Hestia~** · May 13th, 2013, 02:04 PM

So far we have managed to keep them for opening later, it's been easy enough with them both being so young. Moo is going to be 4 next birthday so not sure if he'll be able to wait!

Some parties I go to they open right away while others wait like we have done. I only wait as I'd hate for anything to go missing when he's only just received it, plus I like to write down who gives what for thankyou messages etc.

**OceanPrincess** · May 13th, 2013, 02:13 PM

Yep I reckon it was DD's last birthday (4) that was let her open them then and there. More fun for all involved. Especially when you have excitable younger gift givers saying things like "it's a car!!!!!!," before birthday child even has a chance!

**Mum2SweetCs** · May 13th, 2013, 02:14 PM

We usully open them after cutting the cake. All the kiddies help out with dd's permission of course.

**Kazzo** · May 13th, 2013, 02:27 PM

I let my girls open then as they get them. That way you they can say thank you straight away to the person and it be a proper thank you in stead of just a nos/smile sort of thing when everyone stands around watching you open them. Plus, the last couple of birthdays my eldest has gone to the presents have been put on a table and left for later. DD has asked before we have left if I could ask (host) to let (child) open so she can watch them. The giver can enjoy a present just as much as the one getting it.

**Charlotte91** · May 13th, 2013, 02:38 PM

I think it's wrong to give a gift if you're only doing it to see the birthday person open it and see their face.

When/if my kids have birthday parties, they won't be opening them in front of guests.

**Jaycee** · May 13th, 2013, 02:45 PM

I think it's wrong to give a gift if you're only doing it to see the birthday person open it and see their face.

Can I ask why you think it's wrong?? Why wouldn't you want to see the joy on their face??

**RainbowRiver** · May 13th, 2013, 02:46 PM

We always wait til guests have gone and the kids are a little calmer otherwise they don't stop and look what they have received, but rather rip and move into the next present

**nothing2lose** · May 13th, 2013, 02:47 PM

It is wrong to give a present only to see the reaction it brings. Who would do that???

I think it's bad manners (according to me) not to share the authentic and immediate joy a gift has brought you. I don't understand why you would want to deprive the gift giver of that

Unless you are worried about your/your child's reaction to the gift????

My DD has never ripped into any gift and has always given each gift thoughtful consideration and appreciation because that's how she was raised.

**AnyDream** · May 13th, 2013, 03:06 PM

We usually put on a table, and open in a group after the cake. Kids love seeing the parcel they brought being opened, and it gives the giftee the chance to thank the giver immediately.

But I'm aware that this is a very culture-specific practice. In some other countries it is considered the height of rudeness to open a gift while the guests are there, and elsewhere it's highly rude not to open it on the spot. I think we just all need to be aware in this big melting pot of a country that there are many ways of doing things, and many different ways of being polite.

**lilima** · May 13th, 2013, 03:39 PM

W have opened afterguests have left.
If I let DS open them while the guests were there, he would want to play with certain things and not engage in the party.

**LimeSlice** · May 13th, 2013, 04:13 PM

DD1 went to a 6th bday party on the weekend. There was a gift table and presents were not opened at all.

There were 20 5/6 year old there, TBH I would think it huge waste of time to try and open 20 presents and keep 20 5/6 year olds still and interested through the process, in a 2 hour party.

I would/was not offended - nor was DD - that our gift was not opened in front of us.

**Cass72** · May 13th, 2013, 04:39 PM

I let DS1 open presents as he received them. I never got the whole "present table" it always seemed a bit egocentric to me. Nine times out of 10 the kids wanted to play with the toys anyway. I did though, try to notice what he got so I could write on the back of the cards so he could do thank you cards to everyone.

**Doing my best** · May 13th, 2013, 04:45 PM

I think there was a thread on this no so long ago..

But I let mine open as they receive, and if they happen to miss one due to receiving more than one at once, they normally open before the guests leave.. at the parties amongst our friends, I find most kids are asking the birthday child to open their present sometime throughout the party..

**Liviam** · May 13th, 2013, 08:30 PM

At DD's party on the weekend she opened her presents after the cake with all her friends sitting down sharing the joy with her. It was just gorgeous to watch.