Open gifts at 3 yr old party or not??

[hw77]

who knew this was such an important question??

Party is at Little Gym, should we open gifts or not? 2 classmate parties in the last month  gifts were not opened. 

[noodleoo]

I'd say no. I've been to 3 parties at My Gym and no one opened presents at the party. There was no time! Most of the party was play time and then the sit and eat cake and pizza was super rushed. I don't think they could have opened presents if they wanted to.

[hw77]

Yeah they said since we were only having cake and not pizza that maybe we'd have time... but i had already thought not to do it.

[vtdiamond]

The 3 year old parties we've been to, we've not opened gifts.

[huskymom]

Nope!

[jenna]

Not unless it's a family only party. So "no" for a friend party at the Little Gym.

[krystee]

We are having DS open his, but that's because we have to be in the party room for one hour, and I don't think pizza and cake will take that long.

[sju1982]

I have yet to attend a kid's party where gifts are opened.

We do open gifts for family-only parties.

[bronxgirl]

I haven't seen gifts opened at a children's party in over 30 years.

[krystee]

It's so interesting how different things are in different groups of friends/areas. Presents are opened at 90% of the parties we have been to, which is why I felt like I should have DS open them. But based on this thread, it sounds like no one else does that!

[tealblue]

Mar 14, 2018 15:11:00 GMT -5 krystee said:

It's so interesting how different things are in different groups of friends/areas. Presents are opened at 90% of the parties we have been to, which is why I felt like I should have DS open them. But based on this thread, it sounds like no one else does that!

Same, although I think they’ve been opened at every party we’ve gone to (both family and friends through the kids)

[countthestars]

It's about 50%/50% here. For play place parties, the venue takes gifts right out to the car and do not allow opening of gifts on property (probably so people don't open the boxes and lose a million legos and figurines?). We usually let DD open hers at the end when only family and close friends are left.

[tarajane]

Mar 14, 2018 15:11:00 GMT -5 krystee said:

It's so interesting how different things are in different groups of friends/areas. Presents are opened at 90% of the parties we have been to, which is why I felt like I should have DS open them. But based on this thread, it sounds like no one else does that!

Gifts are usually opened in the parties I've been to but in this case, I don't think I would.

[estrellita]

We didn't for E's party at a gymnastics place. We only had a half hour in the party room at lunch time. I took pictures of him opening the gifts at home and sent thank you cards. Our friend's son didn't open gifts at his 5th birthday party either - he was given the option to open the gifts or wait and continue playing with his friends, so he chose to play! If the party was at home or unlimited time that would be different.

[mrsho]

NEVER!

[momin2013]

Mar 14, 2018 15:11:00 GMT -5 krystee said:

It's so interesting how different things are in different groups of friends/areas. Presents are opened at 90% of the parties we have been to, which is why I felt like I should have DS open them. But based on this thread, it sounds like no one else does that!

Yep, same! I've never been to a kid's birthday party where gifts WEREN'T opened.

DS has been to 5 parties since he started school both at homes and at party places, and the gifts have been opened at all of them. I know this may be weird, but I totally look forward to the part where the kid opens his gifts!

[lucky3]

Nope

[cabbagecabbage]

My rule is at home is fine but if I’m paying for kids to play somewhere, I’m not wasting those precious minutes on gift opening.

[nicolewi]

Mar 14, 2018 15:11:00 GMT -5 krystee said:

It's so interesting how different things are in different groups of friends/areas. Presents are opened at 90% of the parties we have been to, which is why I felt like I should have DS open them. But based on this thread, it sounds like no one else does that!

Same here. They nearly always open presents here. But that said, my kids have never been to a "friend" party at a play place for anyone turning less than five years old. 

[ECB]

Most party places don’t usually leave time for presents to be opened.

[sunshine608]

Mar 14, 2018 13:35:46 GMT -5 krystee said:

We are having DS open his, but that's because we have to be in the party room for one hour, and I don't think pizza and cake will take that long.

CAn the kids go back out and play?

The last party I was at a place was like this and the birthday boy did open gifts.

Parties around here are half and half on opening gifts. 90% do though.

[lo]

No. Hell no.

[dcn]

Noooo. It takes too long. I really dislike when presents are opened at the party.

[gastro]

No. There probably won’t be time anyway. A bunch of three year olds and their parents do want to see one three year old get gift after gift.

[lmb5109]

Mar 14, 2018 15:11:00 GMT -5 krystee said:

It's so interesting how different things are in different groups of friends/areas. Presents are opened at 90% of the parties we have been to, which is why I felt like I should have DS open them. But based on this thread, it sounds like no one else does that!

Maybe it’s a Chicago thing but every school party I’ve been to, they opened gifts. DD would be so pissed if she couldn’t open her presents in front of her friends.

[niq]

At an event with a fixed end time, I wouldn't open gifts.

When we did parties at home, gift opening became an activity to kill time as the party was winding down. It's nice for the families that are using the parties as a way to parent with only light supervision.

[nextbigthing]

I'm in the heck no camp.

I've never been to a little kid party where they opened gifts

[hw77]

Thanks!!

[akafred]

In our circle, yes to opening if it is at a house, park, or other place with more laid back time. No if at a place where it's 45 minutes of play followed by 20 minutes of food type of thing, which is the case for most of the gym parties we've been to.

[imojoebunny]

I don't think most people around here open them at party kinds of places, like little gym. I've always have my kids open them because I think it is a good opportunity to teach manners, and have kids experience the happiness being gift giver can bring. Three is sort of on the cusp of this being productive though, so I would not worry about it, if there is not time.