What is your opinion? Gift Registry for kids?

[tanner413]

My daughter received a invitation to a birthday party and in the invite was a gift registry for the child. My mom thought this was very tacky, my husband said it was a good idea and I was unsure on what I thought of this.
My daughter will be having a big birthday party in April (she is turning the 05) and I am not sure what people will think if there is a gift registry in a 5 yr old b-day invitation.

Honestly, what would you think?

[Sib2of11]

My children are grown, so that's probably why I haven't heard of this yet. My opinion? I don't like it. When my children were invited to a birthday party I bought a gift that I could afford and something that my child and I picked out together.

I'm with your mother on this one...I think it's pretty tacky. Most children are happy with whatever they receive (at least mine were), so I don't see the need for a gift registry for children.

[gemsab]

Sounds like a wedding not a 5 year old's birthday party.............I am opposed to even the idea of it and I think it is tacky as well.


Emily

[royallady]

My children are also grown. But their fav thing to do was to pick a gift or make a gift for their friend. I also think it is tacky. Sounds like it is more for the parent then the child. I would just have my child pick a gift for their friend and be done with it.

[Ms Big Butt]

Bleah :( Is the child "furnishing" her toybox? Stocking up on must-haves?

Not only are the party-givers dictating what to buy, but also the price range. IMO, I think it's very tacky...

Did I already say "bleah"? :(

[Parrothead]

I'm on the fence. If I don't know what the child is in to it's a good idea, otherwise I would be calling the parent to get ideas what they want, unless my own child knew what their friend would like.

But to include it in the invitation. . . , well instead maybe wait til someone called (like me) and tell them the kid has a wish list and where and how to find it.

[SouthDakotaSherry]

I think my kids are too old for this one as well, but I am on the tacky side of the fence. My kids loved the shopping experience and they always knew what they wanted to get their friends. If it were me, I would go shopping with my child and get what we thought was appropriate. Get a gift receipt and give it to the mother telling her that you didn't want to deprive your child of the shopping experience, but that she can take back what the two of you purchased if need be. That is a polite way of telling her that she is wrong. Just my opinion!

Sherry

[Kyleigh]

I don't like the idea of gift registries for children. My son was recently invited to a birthday party. When I RSVPd, I asked his friend's mother if there was anything special her son would like for his birthday. Her reply was simple and sweet: "He will be so happy just to have his friends over."

[tanner413]

Thank you very much for your honest replies. Myself, I felt alittle uneasy about a b-day gift registry. It seeems to say "I expect you to bring my kid and present and it should be one she wants".
My daughter will love having all of her friends over and getting a present would be just an added bonus. I just wasn't sure if these registries were the new "thing" and I was being weird. Thank you for confirming my feelings.

[MalteseJane]

I join every body else, it's tacky. This is going too far.

[clogaholic]

My first reaction was - HUH - a gift registry for kids? It sounds tacky to me. My kids always enjoyed being surprised, they found that they enjoyed games and things that they had never heard of.

[Ms Big Butt]

Ok, me again... I just think that this is a time when kids can learn that "you don't always get what you want"... but they might love it anyway!!

[Kathy]

Nopers...don't think this is appropriate at all. I think its icky and if my kiddos were young and invited to a party with a gift registry we would ignore the list and go with a gift of our choice...because that is what a gift is.

"Gift: Something of value that is voluntarily transferred by one person to another out of affection, generosity, charity, or like impulses, and which is cost-free to the recipient."

This doesn't sound like the receiver should be dictating their requests otherwise..is it voluntary?

When my kids were little we had some friends with 5 children. On their kids birthday they turned the tables. They had a party, invited their friends and requested no gifts. Then when the friends arrived there were gifts for them....in celebration of friendship to the birthday child.

We didn't change our birthday celebrations because of it but it always gave me food for thought. Birthdays are special because of the uniqueness of the individual and the value you place in terms of friendship...which can not be dictated by a gift registry for a 5 year old.

[shoppergirl]

I think it is 100% rude and very selfish. And is not teaching the child to respect others giving. In life he/she will only respect who gives what /he/she wants when they want it. Save the REGISTRY for the wedding!

[crunchies0313]

To me its teaching the child the wrong thing. In their life will it rarely happen that they get what they ask for. Besides weddings and baby showers there should be no registries. That is a real scary thought for a birthday party!! :(