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sourpatchkids
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/12 728 total posts
Name:
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If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
So DD's birthday party with her friends is coming up...this is the first year she's having one. I'm not sure how many kids are coming yet, maybe 20ish. So my question is do you let your DC keep all the gifts they receive?? We have no room for 20+ more toys in this house!
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Posted 9/10/17 9:34 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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nycgirl
Angels!
Member since 3/09 7721 total posts
Name:
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
Some parents do a collection towards a large gift.
They typically collect $15-20 (which is less than I'd spend).
I get an email saying "Mike would really love a pop a shot for his birthday... if you are interested in contributing to a group gift, we are collecting $15"
We have said "no presents" in the past (and gone to those parties too).
Also have had parties ask for Lego sets so that their kid could donate to a hospital.
Personally, I like the group gift idea!
Message edited 9/10/2017 10:09:28 AM.
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| Posted 9/10/17 10:07 AM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
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If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
I've found that parents understand how you feel and are pretty good with gift choices. We've gotten lots of boardgames and craft supplies. I don't mind thosr bc they go into a closet and only come out now and then. We've also gotten clothes, gift cards, and books. I find the actual toys are kind of minimal.
Eta- I do sometimes pack a few things away that I'm not excited about lol. I may pull things out when I'm looking for a nice distraction but if I haven't after a while I do donate once the holidays come.
Message edited 9/10/2017 10:15:24 AM.
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| Posted 9/10/17 10:13 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
Yes. I can't imagine not letting her keep her presents. She gets so excited about them. She isn't going to be this age forever. I love her innocence and how excited she gets over toys at this age. I love seeing it.
We have a small house and NO storage either. I just deal
Imo a messy/disorganized house is worth it for a few years.
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| Posted 9/10/17 10:16 AM |
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Tiggeruth
I am a mom :-)
Member since 6/06 3433 total posts
Name:
Heidi
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
At DDs last birthday she got about 30% crafts, 30% clothes and 40% gift cards. It worked out nice. I've been giving gift cards lately because then the kid can buy what they want at a later time. DD has enjoyed using her gift cards over time as it allows her to get something fun and special even after her birthday is over.
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| Posted 9/10/17 10:47 AM |
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blu6385
Member since 5/08 8351 total posts
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
Yes they keep them all unless its duplicate. We have storage so I am put some away but if I do that I do usually end up just selling/giving it away cause I forget about it and they grow out of it by the time I remember  so I tend not to do that anymore
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| Posted 9/10/17 1:45 PM |
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Chai77
Brighter days ahead
Member since 4/07 7364 total posts
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
Yes. My kids would pitch a fit if we took away any of their birthday presents, and I wouldn't blame them. I try to make space by getting rid of the stuff they outgrow.
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| Posted 9/10/17 2:23 PM |
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M514
Hi
Member since 8/10 6011 total posts
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If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
Of course my DD keeps her gifts. I actually find that we don't get a lot of toys. It's mostly crafts, gift cards and maybe an outfit or two.
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| Posted 9/10/17 3:01 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
What else would you do with them?
I mean, we had a party once where we told the guests to bring a gift for Birthday Wishes (homeless shelter bday parties), instead of bringing one for my DD, and my DD made that choice. But, unless your child asks to do that, I can't imagine getting rid of the gifts.
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| Posted 9/10/17 5:45 PM |
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hmm
Sweet
Member since 1/14 8009 total posts
Name:
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
Posted by BargainMama
What else would you do with them?
I mean, we had a party once where we told the guests to bring a gift for Birthday Wishes (homeless shelter bday parties), instead of bringing one for my DD, and my DD made that choice. But, unless your child asks to do that, I can't imagine getting rid of the gifts.
very thoughtful of you DD
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| Posted 9/10/17 9:04 PM |
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sourpatchkids
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/12 728 total posts
Name:
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
Posted by BargainMama
What else would you do with them?
I mean, we had a party once where we told the guests to bring a gift for Birthday Wishes (homeless shelter bday parties), instead of bringing one for my DD, and my DD made that choice. But, unless your child asks to do that, I can't imagine getting rid of the gifts.
That's a really nice idea, I never even heard of that. I wouldn't want to necessarily "get rid" of the gifts, but maybe donate or try to return some. We have no playroom and are literally tripping over toys constantly, but I guess I'll just have to really purge before the party.
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| Posted 9/10/17 11:04 PM |
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
Posted by sourpatchkids
Posted by BargainMama
What else would you do with them?
I mean, we had a party once where we told the guests to bring a gift for Birthday Wishes (homeless shelter bday parties), instead of bringing one for my DD, and my DD made that choice. But, unless your child asks to do that, I can't imagine getting rid of the gifts.
That's a really nice idea, I never even heard of that. I wouldn't want to necessarily "get rid" of the gifts, but maybe donate or try to return some. We have no playroom and are literally tripping over toys constantly, but I guess I'll just have to really purge before the party.
I purge before every birthday and before Christmas. I have a 72 hour rule. it goes for Christmas and birthday gifts. If they aren't opened from the box in that time frame then DC wasn't interested in it and it gets put away and brought out at either another time or donated to toys for tots at the end of the year. The favorite items always are opened up right away but we usually have a pile that just sits there.
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| Posted 9/11/17 6:41 AM |
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ChristinaM128
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 4043 total posts
Name:
Christina
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
DH and I usually use our judgment, and while she's still overwhelmed and not remembering each and every toy, we will hide some away that we don't think she'd play with right away. We will bring those out at a later date, but if we don't, we donate them the next Christmas. Both our dd's have birthdays within a week of Xmas, so we tend to get a lot all at once.
I do have to say that thr gifts from friends are usually very practical - clothes, arts & crafts, that sort of thing. I guess we just feel compassionate regarding the toy overload from one household to another!
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| Posted 9/11/17 6:49 AM |
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J9-13
We're gonna be big sisters!
Member since 6/06 14887 total posts
Name:
J9
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
Posted by Chai77
Yes. My kids would pitch a fit if we took away any of their birthday presents, and I wouldn't blame them. I try to make space by getting rid of the stuff they outgrow.
This is what I've been doing. Before a Birthday or Christmas, I go through all of their stuff (twins so the stuff is times 2!  ) and anything they've outgrown and that is still in good shape we give to their little cousin or donate to a daycare to make room.
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| Posted 9/11/17 8:45 AM |
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
As other's have said, you'd be surprised how many people get it, and give things like art supplies, clothes and gift cards.
I only give toys if I really know the child and know that he/she would really love something specific. Otherwise, the things I give are disposable - arts & crafts, bubbles, one-time use things...or I'll give books.
Last year my friend's son received 14 packs of Pokemon cards  So ya never know, and in that case I would definitely be making returns, but usually we keep most of it.
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| Posted 9/11/17 8:56 AM |
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Sixofus
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/13 594 total posts
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If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
Sometimes I donate or regift. I live in an apartment with 4 dc. I purge a lot but I just don't have room for all the stuff. My kindergartener's bday is coming up and I don't want to exclude anyone when a lot of kids don't know anyone yet(my ds went to the affiliated preschool so already has friends but many do not). That is 30 boys and 30 gifts!
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| Posted 9/11/17 10:37 AM |
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hidingin1516
LIF Adult
Member since 9/15 1009 total posts
Name:
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If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
Yes we keep them. Sometime sif I have the gift receipt I return some stuff. I put away and take for a rainy day. Or we donate. I try and purge right before a big gift event as well.
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| Posted 9/11/17 1:17 PM |
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FirstMate
My lil cowboy
Member since 10/10 7790 total posts
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
Of course!
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| Posted 9/11/17 2:19 PM |
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MrsW2010
Mommy of two!
Member since 5/10 2202 total posts
Name:
Jill
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Re: If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
my son gets a bunch of gift cards usually so we are okay.
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| Posted 9/11/17 3:03 PM |
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SLPRunner
LIF Adult
Member since 12/13 1101 total posts
Name:
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If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
So my 3 year old DS had his first friends birthday party in June. I did up exchanging some items that we had similar items. And tried to put stuff away so it wouldn't all be opened at once. I underestimated his memory though and he remembers opening something that I returned. I know, bad mom, shouldn't have done it in the first place. I actually went and re-bought the item. He scoured the house looking for it. Next, we just keep the gifts. I usually end up doing a gift card unless I know the child.
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| Posted 9/11/17 7:34 PM |
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Leb
LIF Adult
Member since 12/09 4166 total posts
Name:
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If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
I give all kids a gift card to the book store so they can go and pick out their own books.
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| Posted 9/14/17 11:37 PM |
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LiveItUp
Love my babies!
Member since 8/11 4096 total posts
Name:
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If Your Child Has a Friends Bday Party
When my dd turned 4 last year she had a combo friends and family party. We kept most of her gifts, but any thing we exchanged we explained why to her: One gift wasn't age appropriate and also a choking hazard for her baby brother, one gift she had already, and another gift she had something very similar. She enjoyed picking out something else at the toy store when we exchanged them.
Message edited 9/15/2017 6:15:12 AM.
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| Posted 9/15/17 6:14 AM |
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