Let My Child Bring a Gift to the Birthday Party

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One of my daughter’s favorite activities is creating cards and selecting small gifts for her loved ones. She has a generous spirit and often saves her allowance to buy a little something special for her brother. Just the other day, while sorting through some old toys, she expressed a desire to wrap up a toy car in colorful tissue paper to gift to a neighbor’s child. Rather than discouraging her, I grabbed some tissue, and we found a slightly crumpled gift bag in our stash. She was so careful wrapping the car and placing it into the bag. As we walked over to deliver the gift, the joy on her face said it all; her excitement in giving was just as profound as the joy of receiving.

I’ve made it a priority to nurture a spirit of generosity in my kids. It’s not about extravagant or expensive gifts; it’s about being thoughtful and aware of others. We’ve collected pretty stones during our walks to use as gifts, picked a lovely bracelet for grandma, and even covered the cost for the folks behind us in line at the bakery. I strive to show them that being kind and giving is part of who we are.

Lately, most birthday invitations for my daughter have included a “No gifts, please” note. While I understand the reasoning—many kids have enough toys already, mine included—I can’t help but question the underlying message. Shouldn’t kids be able to give gifts to their friends on their special day? For little ones, expressing their affection through a thoughtful gift is so meaningful.

For instance, my daughter’s best friend recently celebrated her sixth birthday, and her mom (a good friend of mine) requested no gifts. I completely understood her intentions—she didn’t want anyone to feel pressured or stressed. However, when I told my daughter that we couldn’t bring a gift, she was genuinely upset, saying she had a special present in mind. I didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm for her friend’s birthday, so I decided to let her go ahead and bring a little something. She was overjoyed to buy her friend a small gift with her own money and even made a cute birthday card.

Since it was a small gathering, there were no issues with other kids feeling left out. Had there been more children, I would have suggested she give her gift privately at another time. But it was important to me to encourage her kind heart, so I let her gift her present with joy.

We’ve attended other parties that requested donations instead of gifts, like contributing to an animal shelter or a food drive. I wholeheartedly support these initiatives, and I think it’s a fantastic idea, but I still believe that a small, personal gift can really brighten a child’s day. I want my daughter to feel free to express her love through gifts, be it a rock, a card, or a small purchase.

So please, let my child bring a gift to the birthday party. And while we’re at it, let me gift you a lovely arrangement for the holidays. The spirit of giving should not be restricted or defined by others, even with the best intentions. We want to show our appreciation and love, and if we didn’t wish to give, we simply wouldn’t. In a world full of takers, acts of kindness, whether through gifts or time, should always be encouraged. Giving should come from the heart, spontaneous and genuine.

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In summary, encouraging children to give gifts fosters kindness and thoughtfulness, helping to build a generous spirit that lasts a lifetime. Let’s celebrate these small acts of love and support each other’s efforts in nurturing generosity.