Comments on: How Not To Do Things: Gift Wrap Edition

By: Amalah

Amalah — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:38:08 +0000

Re: bagging up of gifts. In a lot of cases, these parties have a very tight time schedule (it was at a kiddie gym place, which pretty much EVERY party we’ve been invited to has been at). There’s simply no time to open gifts, after the organized activities and playtime and food. You get the place for two hours, tops, usually. I agree that it’s a missed chance to get an early start on politeness (though at two and three years old, I think there’s still plenty of time for that), but honestly, as a parent of a very young guest who had nothing to do with picking the gift, who doesn’t even really grasp what birthdays are yet, and who is just trying to get through the party without a pre-nap meltdown, I’m actually glad to skip the present bit. In another year or two, I think it’s more appropriate.

(I’ve always gotten the most wonderful thank-you notes from the parents though. So if you must bag-and-dash, don’t skimp on the thank-yous afterwards.)

By: LizPres

LizPres — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:26:26 +0000

Very very funny .. and the lesson about the wastefulness of gift wrap is one I hope that LITTLE GIRL LEARNED. Ha. I’m much worse than you — I just went to a 4-year-old’s party and brought my gift UNWRAPPED. And I have no excuse other than laziness.

By: Josie

Josie — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:18:55 +0000

I hate that thin paper. A few years ago I bought a large end roll of paper at a print shop for packing up for a move. Now I wrap a gift in it, set it in front of my kids with some crayons or markers and let them decorate it wrapped. Slap on a bow…done! cheap, versatile, easy. My favorite.
Thanks for letting me laugh WITH you.

By: Wish they wouldn't...

Wish they wouldn't... — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:58:46 +0000

Edensky – I don’t know about the East Coast, but this is apparently the big trend in the Seattle area – parents who accept gifts but then just bag them up for their spoiled babes to unwrap in the privacy of their own homes. I HATE IT. I think it teaches kids the very worst about birthdays (you get lots of stuff) without teaching them ANYTHING about manners; how to be polite & say thank you for things even you might not really like them, or (as a guest) how to NOT be the center of attention & let your friend have the fun instead, etc, etc. I also just think it’s super disappointing to the child who has gone to the trouble of picking out & wrapping something that they think will be special.

Have I mentioned that I *HATE* this trend?

By: Marie

Marie — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:08:42 +0000

This is why I only “wrap” gifts in gift bags!

By: Danielle

Danielle — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:28:04 +0000

Eh, better than my son’s first present opening event for his first Christmas/Birthday (the 27th) this year. I inadvertently bought wrapping paper that did NOT tear (durn that BJs anyway!. Yes, we set up the video camera and everything to capture the rapture of him tearing into the bright shiny boxes, and um, he couldn’t tear a thing. Nor could my 6 ft, 6in tall linebacker brother. The paper did not rip. We had to Un-Tape it! It actually became a toy itself and was dragged around the condo for a day or two.

Pish – seems like the Mom team is down two this week…

By: EdenSky

EdenSky — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:26:08 +0000

Wait, why was he putting the gifts in a garbage bag before she opened them? Is this normal? I’ve never been to a birthday party where the kid didn’t open the gifts. Possibly a good idea when dealing with preschoolers but isn’t it kind of rude?

By: Serenity

Serenity — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:25:15 +0000

Ha! I think this is the very reason I have started using gift bags! Thanks for letting me know that I am not the only wrapping-challenged!

By: Monica

Monica — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:54:01 +0000

I know that roll of yellow paper. I have that roll of yellow paper. I HATE THAT ROLL OF YELLOW PAPER!!! Yet for some reason cannot throw out.

For next Christmas might I suggest a trip to IKEA for the kid’s easel (around Halloween). By Christmas you’ll have enough Noah art to wrap all your presents:

http://tinyurl.com/8s6o2s

By: Caryn

Caryn — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:26:02 +0000

What you need to do if you get stuck with the cheap stuff: take a big ol’ piece, twice the size you need, fold it in half with the pretty sides out, and then wrap with the doubled stuff. Works really well.

I don’t intend to end up with the cheap stuff, but I always do because I go for The Bargain.