Basic Birthday Celebrating (that an Executive Mom can Love):
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Give your child one nice present instead of several, and explain that the party itself is part of the present. (Indeed)!
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Older children with an emerging social conscience (and an already bulging closet) might be open to asking their guests to bring something to donate rather than a gift. Let them play an active role, by picking the charity and perhaps delivering the donation itself. (And let them still enjoy a great gift from you).
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Ask grandparents and family members to give no more than one gift. If they feel they need to give more ask them to donate to the birthday child’s 529 account. (Still trying to get our family to do this)!
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Consider giving, or asking others to give experiences versus things. On the high end this might mean tickets to a show, but it can just as easily mean a date with friends to the movies, an ice cream outing, or a round of miniature golf. (Bonus points for not requiring additional shelf space).
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The party games we grew up with can now be retro cool; whether in your own home or in a rented or borrowed space, Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey, relay races or musical chairs can feel like fresh fun to kids of different ages… and really do not require extensive stress-inducing parent prep.
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Forget building a goody bag with lots of little (or big) items in each, and opt for a goody bag one simple memento, either from an activity created at the party itself or our favorite idea is to give an inexpensive picture frame, and do a quick print-out of a picture from the party to fill it.
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Insist that your birthday child write thank you notes before playing with any of the newly received gifts. We’ve done this starting at the 3rd birthday, and even if it means you are writing the note and they are adding a scribble, it’s a great way of instilling appreciation for what’s been given (and pacing gift consumption).
Still wondering from whence this need for birthday basics has arisen? Take a look at this compilation of examples of kids’ birthdays gone awry, like the six year old boy who won’t accept an invitation to a friend’s party until he knows what’s in the goody bag… or the Chicago mother who specified on the party invitation that gifts should be worth at least $35, as "last year her child received some gifts worth only $10, which did not even cover her costs."
9Which really speaks to the fact that no amount of money in the world can buy good taste, we suppose).
[Photo courtesy of Sharon Pruitt, via Creative Commons]