Comments on: Local love: Set up a gift registry for your child’s birthday http://kidoinfo.com/ri/local-love-set-up-a-gift-registry-for-your-childs-birthday-nk/ Connects families with creative ideas, useful tips and local events in Providence, Rhode Island and beyond. Tue, 22 May 2012 13:25:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: amy http://kidoinfo.com/ri/local-love-set-up-a-gift-registry-for-your-childs-birthday-nk/comment-page-1/#comment-7217 amy Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:38:21 +0000 http://kidoinfo.com/ri/?p=7372#comment-7217 I made a deal with my boys when they began school--if they wanted a "friend" party, we would suggest no gifts, with the understanding that celebrating with friends IS the gift. They get gifts from family members for their birthdays, and I feel, especially in the early grades, that the best thing to do is invite the entire class--but I didn't want a dozen gifts flying in. So on the invites, we suggested a donation instead, some place the boys wanted to support. They received some gifts anyway, and some parents asked me about it, and to that I said that if their child wanted to give something, of course we didn't want to squash the giving spirit. (And those who gave gifts took a modest and thoughtful approach.) The donation really is a suggestion, not a requirement (and some folks did neither, and that's okay too!). My boys were required to write thank you notes to everyone regardless, because, like I said, it's a gift to celebrate a birthday with friends. And they both had really great birthday parties! :-) I made a deal with my boys when they began school–if they wanted a “friend” party, we would suggest no gifts, with the understanding that celebrating with friends IS the gift. They get gifts from family members for their birthdays, and I feel, especially in the early grades, that the best thing to do is invite the entire class–but I didn’t want a dozen gifts flying in. So on the invites, we suggested a donation instead, some place the boys wanted to support. They received some gifts anyway, and some parents asked me about it, and to that I said that if their child wanted to give something, of course we didn’t want to squash the giving spirit. (And those who gave gifts took a modest and thoughtful approach.) The donation really is a suggestion, not a requirement (and some folks did neither, and that’s okay too!). My boys were required to write thank you notes to everyone regardless, because, like I said, it’s a gift to celebrate a birthday with friends. And they both had really great birthday parties! :-)

]]> By: Hannah Marcotti http://kidoinfo.com/ri/local-love-set-up-a-gift-registry-for-your-childs-birthday-nk/comment-page-1/#comment-7216 Hannah Marcotti Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:31:14 +0000 http://kidoinfo.com/ri/?p=7372#comment-7216 Brilliant as always! I find it interesting that as parents who don't want many gifts, when we go to a party we feel the need to buy gifts. My friends and I have started to think about gifting experiences instead which is fun. And books are always my go to. Brilliant as always! I find it interesting that as parents who don’t want many gifts, when we go to a party we feel the need to buy gifts. My friends and I have started to think about gifting experiences instead which is fun. And books are always my go to.

]]> By: Katy http://kidoinfo.com/ri/local-love-set-up-a-gift-registry-for-your-childs-birthday-nk/comment-page-1/#comment-7209 Katy Sat, 21 Aug 2010 01:31:40 +0000 http://kidoinfo.com/ri/?p=7372#comment-7209 Wow, that's a good idea. I don't know if I have the cojones to do it. I hope it becomes a trend I can latch onto without being a pioneer. I hate little boy birthday presents of every type, but a gift certificate to the bookstore would hit the spot, and maybe I could sneak a little something for myself in at the cash register. Wow, that’s a good idea. I don’t know if I have the cojones to do it. I hope it becomes a trend I can latch onto without being a pioneer. I hate little boy birthday presents of every type, but a gift certificate to the bookstore would hit the spot, and maybe I could sneak a little something for myself in at the cash register.

]]> By: KathyS http://kidoinfo.com/ri/local-love-set-up-a-gift-registry-for-your-childs-birthday-nk/comment-page-1/#comment-7207 KathyS Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:06:02 +0000 http://kidoinfo.com/ri/?p=7372#comment-7207 Love this idea! Wish I had heard about it sooner, my son's birthday is at POW!Science in a few days and wish I could have done something similar with them...oh well, next year! thanks for the great tips all year round!! Love this idea! Wish I had heard about it sooner, my son’s birthday is at POW!Science in a few days and wish I could have done something similar with them…oh well, next year!

thanks for the great tips all year round!!

]]> By: Jamie Glowacki http://kidoinfo.com/ri/local-love-set-up-a-gift-registry-for-your-childs-birthday-nk/comment-page-1/#comment-7206 Jamie Glowacki Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:32:30 +0000 http://kidoinfo.com/ri/?p=7372#comment-7206 What a great idea! We also love to give and receive donations from Heifer International. You can buy a flock of chickens or a hive of bees that go to a family in need, so they can start their own business. You get a fun, colorful card and it's never too early to talk about giving even while receiving. What a great idea! We also love to give and receive donations from Heifer International. You can buy a flock of chickens or a hive of bees that go to a family in need, so they can start their own business. You get a fun, colorful card and it’s never too early to talk about giving even while receiving.

]]> By: Margaret http://kidoinfo.com/ri/local-love-set-up-a-gift-registry-for-your-childs-birthday-nk/comment-page-1/#comment-7204 Margaret Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:56:52 +0000 http://kidoinfo.com/ri/?p=7372#comment-7204 Love the idea. My friends and I have run into the same gift problem after the first 4 years -in addition to the fact that while we may not want so very much STUFF in our home, others love to give gifts and it doesn't seem fair to deprive the giver. Thanks! Love the idea. My friends and I have run into the same gift problem after the first 4 years -in addition to the fact that while we may not want so very much STUFF in our home, others love to give gifts and it doesn’t seem fair to deprive the giver. Thanks!

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