Why would a family say "no gifts please" on a child's birthday invitation?

Question

My daughter is in kindergarten and was invited to a classmate's birthday party. On the invitation they wrote "no gifts please". I am curious why they would do this. Any good ideas?

Answer 1

It's because it's a class party, and the parents don't want all the parents buying a gift for their kid (who they do not know).

Answer 2

Maybe they don't like to keep lots of things! Like, they're the opposite of pack rats? lol...

  I dunno, I'm like that. When someone gives me a gift, even though its really thoughtful of them, I'd rather not have it- it takes up too much room!!! I rather prefer the thought behind a gift than the gift itself

Answer 3

Maybe they don't want to spoil their child?

Answer 4

May be they celebrate the birth of the child, and don't care to focus on superficial monetary tokens that mean nothing in the long run.

Answer 5

Maybe they already bought her all the toys she needs and they don't want to raise a spoiled child.  Perhaps the party itself is her gift.

Answer 6

some religions prohibit gifts, giving and getting. Some parents just don't want to make a child's bday about gifts. Some would rather that day be about the appreciation of life, how much work their mother put into birthing them, etc.

Answer 7

Well, I have an idea but I am not so sure. Maybe the kid that sent out the invatations got in big trouble with her mother, and because of that, she faces consequinces. And you know how kindergardeners are, always getting into mischief!

Answer 8

I do that.  There are several reasons.  1.  My kids have enough stuff.  2.  I want people to know that we just want the pleasure of their company - they don't have to buy anything.  3.  I don't want anyone to worry about whether their gift is as good as anyone else's (and I don't want my kids, who are still too young to reliably know better, to express any views on this in front of the gift-givers).

Answer 9

i was going to do similar to this on my kids birthday invites however i was going to say no presents please just bring a plate of party food. my kids have so much junk as it is and that way i wouldnt have to do so much work organising food.

Answer 10

Because the child has a lot of toys and need nothing

Last year my daughter went to a party, instead of gifts, they ask for donantions to the local dog/cat shelter

The child were really into this.  They also talked about giving in class, and did a class project.  They were in 1st grade

If you are inviting the whole class, that is a lot of gifts

I like instead of no gift, collecting food or pet stuff or toys for the poor

Answer 11

Perhaps they know that if another child in your daughter's class was having a birthday party, they probably wouldn't go out and buy that child a gift. They probably just want to share their daughter's birthday celebration with the class and are also having a traditional birthday party at home. Perhaps they are well off and don't want to spoil their child. Or maybe they just don't want to go through the hassle of sending everyone thank you cards. Whatever the reason, i suggest fullfilling their wishes out of respect. Hope this helped!

Answer 12

Maybe they don't want people to feel pressured to buy presents.

Another reason could be they don't want their child to be "spoilt" with too many presents.

Answer 13

Because their child probably has an overabunce of things already and doesn't need anything else.

Answer 14

maybe the gifts aren't important in this family.  maybe your daughter coming to celebrate the day their child was born is enough of a gift.

Answer 15

Well sometimes families feel that the birthday party in and of itself is the actual present and they figure the child will be getting plenty from the family.  Also they figure the reason most people do not go to birthday parities is because they do not want to buy gifts (not me but other people) this way they can get more children to go!!!

Answer 16

Possibly because they are worried that some children can't afford a gift and would feel bad. Some parents won't send the kids if they don't have a gift.  If the parents spend money on a birthday party and only a few show up then it is upsetting. Here I usually spend between $90-$125 to rent a facility for a b-day party. If noone show up you feel as though you are wasting money.

Answer 17

So as not to cause embarassment if some people bring one and some people don't and to let everyone know that they prefer their child not to receive gifts.

It's a good idea.  Many people feel that an invitation to a childs party obligates the guest to give a present.  These parents obviously want to give a party for friends free and want nothing in return.

Answer 18

They might not want their child to have inappropriate gifts (from their point of view - if they were opposed to toy guns for instance) or simply not want the child to be spoiled.

I would respect their wishes.

Answer 19

Maybe they think about the thought of getting a gift.

Answer 20

Probably because the kids have enough stuff, and they just want the celebration - the fun of their friends' company for the party!

Answer 21

I would imagine that they don't want you to fell like you have to buy a gift for their child. I think that is great that the children can just enjoy each others company without having to buy a gift.

Answer 22

maybe the kids really spoiled and has to much already!

Answer 23

Oh my God, parents trying to raise an un-materialistic child, SHOCKING! Kudos to them.

Answer 24

Most of the time, gifts are trash even though the thought behind it is golden. They are saying this to prevent you from rushing to the toystore at 7am the morning of the party and just haphazardly throwing down thirty quid on "something...ANYTHING"

Just a thought.

Answer 25

I dont know why, but sounds like a good idea for parents (makes life easy), but bad idea for kids. Kids love to get gifts and without gifts birthday is nothing.

Answer 26

I do this for my sons birthday.  My son simply has tooooooo much.  So it got to the point that we would take it back so I did not want people wasting their money.  A girlfriend of mine does this as well except she puts in lieu of gifts please make a donation to the March of Dimes (an organization that helped her family out tremendously).  Some people just feel their kids have tooo many toys and simply just dont want to have people waste their money...

Answer 27

maybe they dont want anymore toys to pick up around the house or some parents want to make sure that the presents they get from others are nice gifts and not walmart brand.

and some strange parents (like me) dont think their kids need any more toys and are just happy that someone came to the party

Answer 28

Maybe because the child has everything she needs.  Also many parents don't want other parents to think they are having the party just for the gifts.  I see nothing wrong with this request.  When you call to RSVP ask them why .

Answer 29

some people do not want to make it a "commercial" day. Instead it is about getting together to celebrate the birthday of the child. Easiest way thought to find out for sure....ask

Answer 30

Yes, because the parents do not want guests to bring gifts.. perhaps they feel that the child is fortunate to have good friends to come and celebrate with him, and that is gift enough.

I can tell you that, when i had a birthday party for my son when he turned 7, i was ready to kill him!  He was TERRIBLY greedy about his gifts, and was actually mean to the other kids.... I was shocked and embarrassed!!!

The next two years, he asked for a party with only 3-4 of his friends, and i begrudgingly let him have the little party.  I called the parents and said NO GIFTS... guess what? My son didn't act like a greedy, horrid spoiled brat at either of those parties.

Sometimes no gifts is a good strategy.

Answer 31

Maybe because they don't want birthday parties to be a competition of who can buy the best gift?  Or maybe they feel their child has enough stuff......Or maybe they want their child to be happy with having friends and not what their friend's can provide them with.