Questions about birthday party

[allison1887]

Tomorrow I will be throwing my ds his first "non-family" birthday party. We have about 15 kids coming so far and I just wanted to ask some questions. Things have changed a lot since I was a kid.
1. We have been to several birthdays in the past where the children do not open their gifts at the party. Is that the new norm:? I always liked seeing what the birthday person thought of my gift?

2. Thank you notes- I always thanked everyone at the party when I was growing up and we never really did the notes, however- lately the last 2 parties we have been to have sent them.

3. What kind of foods do you serve? I have capri suns for the kiddos and canned drinks for the adults- cake and cheese puffs but I also wanted to add something else.

Thank you in advance for all of your help

[bethanyam]

1) My 4 kids always opens the gifts at the parties. I like seeing the people I give a gift to open it and I just assume other people would as well.
2) Sometimes I do, but most of the time I don't send thanks you's for b-day parties unless it's a really special gift or something, but maybe I should.
3)You might could do ice cream, regular chips and dip, pb&j sandwiches cut into triangles, or if you want something heavier you might try hot dogs or frozen pizza for something cheap and quick.

One trick I do with Ice cream, is to get small disposable drinking cups and fill them with ice cream before the party and put back into the freezer so I don't have to spend an hour dipping ice cream in the middle of the party. Each cup I use (about coffee size) holds 2 scoops of ice cream. Good Luck and Hope it helps some.

[MrsD.]

Just my opinions based on my kids parties and family parties we go to:

1. Opening gifts is one of the highlights of the party, especially younger children.

2. I wish I sent out thank you cards. I always have the intention but always fall short and don't send them out. I have only attended one party that I received a TY note from.

3. I always do easy things such as pizza, or if you want to do finger foods, most kids love pigs in a blanket, chips and dip, etc.

Hope that helps some! Good luck with the party! :)

[allison1887]

Thank you so much for the help. I thought it was odd that the kids didn't open their presents at the party, but like I said it has been awhile since I was a kid and times may have changed!

I loved the food ideas! I really appreciate all of the help!!!!!!

[isis]

The last 2 years, my nephew didn't open his presents at the party because of time restraints (last year was at a bowling alley, year before @ childrens' museum) So my sister called everyone and had him thank them over the phone.
DS1 went to a party last month where the kid didn't open his presents either (ds was super excited b/c he picked out the gift himself) and was pretty bummed. Someone asked and the mom said thats how it was in her family, noone opened gifts until after the guests left! DS did get a TY note though.

Foodwise, I usually do a tray of finger sandwiches, chips/dip, cocktail weenies in bbq sauce and pasta salad. Last year we did hot dogs & chili & chips/dip. I put the dogs in the crock pot with just enough water to cover them about an hour before the party on high, then turned it to low.

You could also do a bag of the tyson any'tizers, and serve with bbq sauce, ranch dip, ketchup, sweet n'sour sauce or honey mustard. Just put a container of toothpicks so everyone can help themselves.

[tmsmalley]

Definitely open gifts there and definitely send thank you's. Sending a written thank you is an important etiquette thing that few people have learned over the years. This is a great chance to teach your kids.

Food depends on what time of day. Assuming you're in a lunch time zone, you need something lunch-able. Hot dogs, chicken nuggets, pizza (or pizza bites), mini sandwiches... If this is between meals, then juice and cake are fine.

Tess

[allison1887]

Thank you all so much for your help
We did open the gifts at the party. For food I had cake, cheese puffs, and ice cream with different toppings for the ice cream. For the kids we had capri suns & pepsi products for the adults. I took pictures of each kid having fun at the party and will send that with a note telling them how much we appreciated them coming. I really do appreciate all of your help!

[sbp]

Speaking as the mom of 2 little boys that generally want me to stay at the parties with them, we've never gone to a party where the presents weren't opened. I have been to many parties where the present opening takes so long that the guests start getting bored while they are watching the birthday boy/girl, so maybe that's one reason that someone has to not have the presents opened.

Thank you's - I do have my kids send thank you notes to their friends, not just thanking them for the present, but also for coming to the party!! When they were too little to write the whole note, I'd write it and have them sign their name the best that they could (sometimes legible, sometimes not )

Food - The past few years we've bought a monster size pizza for the boys' parties. We can get a monster pizza with about 40 good-sized slices for about 20 -22 bucks. And I always make sure to add that we'll have pizza for everyone, since we usually have a 1pm-3pm party. That way the parents know not to feed their kids lunch first. We also have chips/dip, tortilla chips & a salsa dip, a cheese/pepperoni/cracker plate and sometimes a spinach dip... and sometimes a fruit platter, in addition to cake and ice cream after presents. We always have more food than we need!!

[zansammommy]

my kids birthday party (close birthdays same friends so party is in between days) is next weekend. It will be at one so I am only planning on cake and drinks and little snacks (fruit and chips). Might go and buy those little ice cream in cups.

We will send out thank you notes because that is just something we do in our family.

yes we will open presents there because I think it is nice to have the kids have that connection. A tip, have the birthday kid sit in a chair and guest on the floor or separte the kids some how (my brother in law lays down his miltary sword). i don't know how many parties we have been to (including just extended family) were the birthday kid is crowded and the guest ends up pulling paper off the package. Sorry that is just rude especially when parents don't correct the behavior.


Not to go off topic: anyone have any ideas for games? We are doing a Jedi Knight/ Princess theme.