Everyone loves a birthday, right? Especially small children, and what do you think is their favourite part? The presents, of course!
However, you may have decided that your child has enough, or you’d rather people bought something more meaningful. But how to say no gifts for kids birthday? This can be tricky, so we have worked out the best ways to do so.
How To Say No Gifts For Kids Birthday
This can be a bit of a tricky one, especially when it comes to grandparents who want to spoil their little darlings!
When you invite half the class from your child’s school, you may end up with a pile of unwanted things that your kids will never play with, but you might feel uncomfortable about asking for no gifts…
However, it is important to remember that people will generally respect your wishes – as long as you are polite about it.
Simply telling people, “We have enough toys so we would prefer that our little one doesn’t receive presents this year” should be enough – but it isn’t always!
You can try adding a funny rhyme to any party invitations, or simply saying “Nothing, thank you,” when asked what your child would like for their birthday.
You could also request that each guest contributes a small amount to one big present that the child has requested; that way people still feel as though they are giving something.
Sending photos or proof of purchase after the event to show people what their money has gone towards is a good follow-up.
Another idea is to find something that your child is passionate about, and ask people to get involved that way instead. Adopting an animal, or naming a star are both great ideas!
Here is a useful video giving you tips on how to have a no-gift birthday party:
Is It Rude To Not Give A Birthday Gift?
Gift giving etiquette can be slightly confusing. To gift or not to gift? How much should you spend, if anything?
If it is a “standard” birthday party where people have not specifically requested no gifts, then it may be considered rude to turn up empty handed.
If you are close with the birthday person then you may wish to arrive with a gift, in other cases a card may suffice.
As with most things in life, communication is key – you may not be in a financial position to afford a birthday present, but you will find if you are honest about this then no one will mind.
Conversely, if you are invited to a party where “no gifts” is specifically stated, it may be seen as rude to turn up with one!
Make sure that you know what the expectations are, maybe by having a quiet chat with the parent of the child, to find out what is the best thing to do.
Remember, receiving an invitation is not an instant demand for birthday presents, but you should check what the expectations are before you turn up.
How To Politely Say No Gifts But Money?
People do love to give gifts, especially to a small child who is a friend or family member. But how to decline more “stuff” and ask for cash instead?
This is actually pretty simple, although it may require some direct, polite honesty! Let’s face it, all our houses are cluttered enough already, aren’t they?
Simply saying,
“We already have more toys than we know what to do with, but a small contribution to our child’s piggy bank would be appreciated,”
should suffice.
Telling people that their contribution will go towards something that your child really wants but is more expensive than you can afford will make people feel included.
Another great thing to do, once you have achieved this, is to send a picture of what their money has helped to buy; this makes people feel included.
Basically, as long as you are polite about it, you should be able to ask for whatever you and your child want – even if this is nothing – for their birthday.
This article contains some super suggestions for wording “No gifts please:”
What Are The 5 Rules Of Gift Giving?
Obviously, giving someone something that they really want is a good rule of thumb for gift giving, but if you’re stuck for ideas then choose from the following:
Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read, or something they don’t know that they want.
These gifts can be practical or whimsical, depending on the person you are giving it to, and you don’t have to get something from every part of the list.
This can really help if you are stuck for gift ideas and aren’t sure what you should be giving someone.
However, the most important thing to remember is to stick to what people have requested – if no gifts are specifically requested, then definitely leave it at home!
Is Gift Important In Birthday?
We all love receiving presents, right? There are very few people who don’t want to have something to unwrap on their birthday!
However, the most important thing is not your presents, but your presence. People remember what people do and say far more than they remember what they are given.
If you cannot afford a gift, or have been asked not to give one, the best thing that you can do is to show up and bring your smiles, hugs and self to the party.
Children especially will remember the party far more than they will remember the gifts they received, especially after said gift has been outgrown or broken.
Although a present is lovely, it can be not exactly what a person wants or needs. You turning up, on the other hand, can be exactly what they both want and need!
Final Words
A birthday party is a wonderful thing – and in many cases, kids will remember the party long after the gifts have been broken or outgrown.
As long as you are kind and polite, no one is going to be offended if you ask for no gifts at your child’s party – in fact, many parents will breathe a sigh of relief!
