To open gifts at a 4yo bday party or not?

[hannahfroodoo]

Hi!
My oldest daughter has just turned 4 (where does the time go?!) and she is having her first ever birthday party this Saturday. I've never done the whole party thing before - like I say, this is her first party, we've never even had so much as a family BBQ for other birthdays, (we usually just do a favourite dinner with grandparents, cake and happy birthday and presents) so I'm a little new to the whole party thing!
I think we are all sorted though. Just not sure if we should let her open her gifts while her little friends are there or if we should wait til they go home. I would like to leave it until all her friends leave as I know this will be easier but how do you feel when you go to a kiddy party and they don't open the gifts? I will help DD write thankyou notes to give to her friends.
What do you think?
Thanks! Hannah

[AnyDream]

I prefer if they their gifts while we are there, because by that age 4 yos are learning to enjoy giving them as well as receiving them. Most of the little parties we went to, gifts were opened, either when the guest arrived or all together right at the end.

Last year we went to a massive party, there must've been more than 30 kids there, all the presents were piled on a table...by the end of the party the kids were too over it so they didnt' get opened until afterwards. Clearly no-one knew who gave what gift because a couple of months later they re-gifted my DD the thing we'd bought them!!! So I'd say, yeah, open them at the party and pay attention while it's happening.

[Miss H]

Definately open at the party. It will help DD to accept and thank people for the gifts. Showing you are grateful is learned sometimes. It's nice for the people giving the gifts as well that she likes them.

[Erin_25]

It's great to open them as they are received I think, as then you can thank the person who gave it and know who it came from. But I like to be there greeting the guest and making sure my DS says thank you for the present. My pet hate is when there are kids everywhere and the child runs up grabs the present & runs off....then it's left on the ground somewhere because of all that's going on and the parent doesn't even acknowledge its been given or know who it came from......that really annoys me.

[Rouge]

So long as whatever you do have a list going at the same time so you can send thank you notes.

[Lulu]

Oh I think my kids would die if the present wasn't opened straight away. They take such time choosing, wrapping and writing the cards - and half the fun is seeing someone happy with what you gave them.