Why not open all gifts at a birthday party?

Someone just asked a question regarding birthday party schedules, etc. It brought to mind a question: Besides time constraints which can easily be avoided with planning, why don't some parents let their children open all the gifts at birthday parties?


Recently, my daughter spent almost an hour picking out a gift for her friend. She was so excited and couldn't wait to see her friend's reaction when he opened her carefully wrapped gift. At the birthday party, the birthday boy's parents let him open some of the gifts, but not all of them. I'm not sure whether it was a matter of time constraints, but my daughter and some of the other children were very disappointed when he didn't open their gifts. In addition, the parents didn't even send a thank you card to my daughter acknowleging the gift.


What do you think is proper etiquette in this situation?

Why not open all gifts at a birthday party?
Because sometimes particular gifts overshadow others and sometimes the parents want to avoid the awkwardness encountered when a child gets 2 presents in a row of obviously different levels of thoughtfulness. Otherwise the parents couldn't be bothered to send a thank you card. Odd though, since I don't send out thank you cards and nobody I know does so I wouldn't be offended if i didn't receive one, but it is nice - don't be offended they probably didn't realize it was important to you and it's just assumed you believe that you're thankful. That, or they're jerks.
Reply:I think gifts should be opened at home and thank you notes should be sent.
Reply:I'm appalled by the fact that no thank you note was sent but unfortunately that is just a sign of the times. More than anything, a thank you note should be sent to get the b-day child accustomed to expressing their gratitude.





As for not opening up all of the presents, sounds like a lack of prior planning.
Reply:I understand not opening gifts at a wedding reception but I've never heard of anyone not allowing a child to open all of his birthday gifts at his birthday party. It's sort of bizarre. There's only one thing to do in this situation and that's to explain to your daughter why thank you notes are so important. You've already done well for her with her attitude towards giving.
Reply:Possibly its also to do with the high level of excitement that can be present at these occasions among the children. There might be a concern that things will not be properly appreciated when opening so many presents at one go, the amount of new presents around that could get lost or inadvertently broken, and the mess created by all the wrappings. That being said, if the unwrapping is properly planned and monitored, I think that most of that could be avoided. But will small children sit still long enough for a full present unwrapping? And its unacceptable not to respond to gifts with a thank you note.
Reply:i believe you are right about the planning of a party where the opening of all the gifts is mandatory . thank you notes for children ? if you are a member of say a higher society where every gift is expected to elicit a response than it wouldnt hurt to teach the kids to be ready for the low laying rules of such a society , if not , dont worry about it , as long as they bring a gift for your child on her birthday youll know it wasnt un - appreciated .
Reply:Maybe because the other kids at the party would be jealous that they don't get presents, especially if they see the birthday boy or girl opening a present that they really want for themselves.