What wording for invitations when asking for no plastic toy gifts?

[Nocommentisacomment]

My DD will be 5 soon and I’m planning a birthday party for around 15 children.

People have always been incredibly generous with gifts, which is lovely, but she really does have plenty already and I’m trying to reduce the amount of plastic in our lives as much as possible. I don't want more plastic toys that might only get played with once or end up being thrown away.

I can’t really ask for books either: my kids already have 300+ and we go to the library regularly (both DH and I read for a living, so our house is basically a library itself). There’s also a very good chance we’d end up with books she already has.

I could ask for a £5 donation towards something she really wants, but she gets so excited about receiving presents that I feel a bit bad about her having nothing to open.

I was thinking of putting something on the invitation along the lines of “no plastic toys, please”. I would be more than happy with second-hand wooden toys (Vinted etc.), craft things or similar. But I’m worried people might find this annoying or feel it’s an inconvenience.

What would you put on the invitation?

I see you’re not willing to forgo all gifts, op. Just the ones you don’t want 😆

I have been to birthday parties that parents say no presents and give the details of their preferred charity for donations. You can do something like that!

I have been to many parties that they say no presents and they usually give you their prefer charity details to donate if you want.

Just say no gifts are necessary and the pleasure of their attendance is sufficient. For those that want to gift, requesting a small charitable donation made in your child's name would probably be fine

You can't really dictate what gift any one else chooses to gift without coming across as entitled or or giving the impression you think your values are better then theirs..

I can't believe how many people are saying no presents! Just because you don't want to sort through the tat! Think how any child would feel with no presents at their own birthday party!!!!!!!!! Absurd!

I've read all your responses & I think you have asked the wrong question & then got cross at the answers.
My answer to your question is 'no gifts thank you'.
My answer to the real question is: 'If you'd like to bring x a gift, please can you make it a packet of seeds'

Take a look at the No crap parties website. Gives you lots of ideas on how to throw a plastic free party and how to word your invites.

We say "no presents" for our daughter's party, 25-30 new things are just way too many. She still gets plenty of presents for her birthday, and it's not as if she opens gifts during the party - not sure if we're in a weird area, but no parties I've been to have presents being opened at the party.

It depends how committed the parent is to the lifestyle they advocate. Maybe she should be instructing their children in unnecessary gifts. Are they essential?

Here's a late advice my kiddo gets invites that say no to toys but give shoe, clothes size but also information on what the kid is into ..

I did it also .. I didn't want toys, clothes or shoes but my kid is crafty and goes through arts and crafts supplies quickly, so I request if they ever feel like getting a present (that's what to get) but at the same time they're not obligated because I get my child things through out the year. And sometimes it's just one specific thing they want.

Shoe size and clothing size? Wow. Might as well just pop your bank details on there.

if you could write a wish list of presents ( you can’t do this ,it would be rude) what would you put on it?

Thank you for the comments.

So far, I’m thinking of asking for craft-related gifts or money so she can choose something she wants and will use.

To the commenters saying I sound entitled and that it’s outrageous I even assume I will receive gifts: of course I assume there will be gifts. Have you ever been to a child’s birthday party where nobody brought anything and the birthday child received nothing? I genuinely haven’t. In my experience, bringing a gift to a child’s birthday party is the normal expectation.

As some PPs have said, it feels like we have moved from children simply being excited about receiving gifts to parents having to think more carefully about what enters their homes, because children receive so much. It’s not that I don’t appreciate gifts — I do — but we are trying to live a certain lifestyle, and plastic toys simply don’t fit with that.

Many parents are also spending hundreds (sometimes £700–£1000+) on birthday parties with bouncy castles, entertainment, soft play, etc. It’s therefore not unreasonable to assume that the birthday child probably doesn’t need another plastic toy on top of everything else.
This is why, when I attend other children’s parties, I choose non-plastic gifts myself.

I’m not saying my choices make me better than anyone else, or that everyone has to do the same. I’m simply saying that plenty of parents feel the same way, and asking for alternatives is not the same as demanding gifts or being ungrateful.

Craft related gifts are full of plastic.

I know 😂
If someone suggested crafts for a 5 year old I would probably get a bead jewellery making set because I have yet to meet a small child who isn't obsessed with beads.
@Nocommentisacomment good luck with the party.
It would be interesting to know what gifts your daughter does receive.

Because it’s two different things…..wanting to reduce plastic is wonderful crack on. But specifying this on a children’s party invite I personally find rude.

I haven’t done it but on an invite we received from the same family every year they say something like “Your presence is her present enough - but if you want to then pennies towards her drum kit would be appreciated”

i gave money in response but i did also see some people turn up with gifts.