Works for Me Wednesday--Birthday edition

Shannon's doing a birthday edition Works for Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer. Lots of fun tips.

So I'm not going to claim my tip as my own. It's an idea I saw at a kid's birthday party just this past weekend.

Everyone knows that no kid likes to sit and watch another kid open present after present when they know they can't play with them, or help open the presents (this is especially true for the younger kids). My kids lose interest, get bored, whine, wander off....not a fun time. And the birthday kids sometimes just tear through the presents not slowing down to thank the gift-giver. I went to a birthday party for a 2 year old several weeks ago where the mom just skipped present-opening for the very reasons I mentioned.

But this party we went to this past weekend...it was for a 4 year old. And the mom had 2 chairs set up for present opening. She would hand her son a gift, find out who it was from and then ask that child to come sit next to him. The gift-giver got to watch him open his present (and help if they wanted), the kids got their picture taken together and the birthday boy got to thank the gift-giver right then and there. So many good lessons for both kids, I thought. Then when he moved on to another present, the next kid hopped up in the chair. Present opening went much slower than normal, all the kids stayed put for most of it and they got to get involved. Everyone seemed to enjoy it more and it was less of a whirlwind than when my kids have opened presents.

I haven't tried it yet, but it certainly works for me!