Party invitation says "No need to bring a present"

[FrannyandZooey]

If you got an invitation with this on, what would you think about it? And would you take a present, or not?

Ah, ah, now it is not my child who was allowed to semi-blind themselves with heuristic play materials

Nobody has ruddy read the whole thread

Well you have, and it's obviously sending your stress levels soaring so it's probably for the best that no-one else does.

Hope the party goes well.

LOL, I am fine about it now, bran

the invites have almost all gone out and people are being very kind and encouraging about it

now for the food thread

i only invite them for th presents

Wait till you get onto party bags

Yeah, put on the invite 'staying at the party is optional'

love them too

your friends must buy a better class of present to ours, cod

oh yes.
i liek gettign books ( always a treadt fo me too) colouring pencils a football or somesuch
nomore thna a fiver
BUT we never have huge parties most ever is 10

I have read the whole thread and I will seriously think about putting a slip of paper inside the invites with something like this on;

Please don't feel obligated to bring a present as DS just wants to spend his birthday with his friends.

I suspect I am not the only mum who hates to rush around looking for presents for children I hardly know, so I really don't want you to. I also hate the mountains of plastic tatt in toyboxes as much as you do. Lets start a trend - no presents.

I haven't done the school gates yet, would they really lynch me??

not at all
btu i wuite liek thinking abotu the freind
i give books fo ages till ds1 didnt want to - love shoosing them

Yes I think a few nice presents from your friends is lovely

we always think of the person when we are using the thing and talk about when they gave it to us

it is especially nice if it is someone you don't see very often

Haven't read all thread...I would say that 'no need' means that there will be friction / anxiety about who does and who does not.
I think it would be perfectly acceptable to say "If you would like to contribute to the festivities, you are welcome to bring food to share or a small gift, or a modest bottle or your good wishes and sense of humour.

We look forward to seeing you!"

But faced with that invitation, i would probably take food and a present!

Jut talk to people when you invite them!

"No need to bring a present" is just an unclear instruction which people won't feel confident they have understood or complied with - therefore I think it is unhelpful.

"No presents" is a but like telling people what to do when the social convention is otherwise...so they will still feel uncomfortable

"Please buy from the approved list" is easy to interpret but would be seen as weird and controlling for a kid's party

Just send out a normal invitation, F&Z! I urge you to put your brain to work on more worthwhile issues!

This thread is going to keep popping up like a poo that just won't flush, isn't it

I have sent the invitations

there was no mention of presents on there

I kinew I shouldn't have looked at this thread

...I'm trying to do one thing and everyone is so desperate that I should pack up and forget it being a purveyor of all things all for children etc etc

that is all things awful

oh zippi noooooo

Cod says she loves party bags

and the opinions on this thread are quite extreme IMO

(and I honestly was saying "no need to bring a present because I didn't want everyone to have the EXPENSE)