Would you let your child open birthday presents ^before^ their birthday?

[Prufrock]

It's birthday season in our family. Ds(4) and I have just had ours, my dad's is tomorrow and dd's (6) on the 8th.

For the past few years we have tended to have last weekend as ds's party for friends, next weekend fro dd's party with friends, and this weekend as a family party (with my family - dh's are not bothered/involved).

So we are going to be spending this weekend at my parents, and ds/I/my dad will get to open our belated birthday presents and will get a cake. DD will also get a cake (and candles to blow out). Should we let her open presents? Not all, but the ones she will get from my family, who otherwise will not see her open them.

I am inclined to say no, but I think that's partly because my mother will want her to open them, and I am conditioned to react negatively to every suggestion that she makes. Please help me to make a decision based on what is right and fair rather than on not doing what my mother wants!

Last year, it was DD's birthday on a Thursday. She saw one set of grandparents the weekend before her birthday and opened presents from them then, opened more presents on her birthday and then when she saw the other set of grandparents the next weekend, opened presents from them.

I found it spread things out for her and it was also nice for grandparents to see her opening the presents. She was only 2 though; as DS is only 4 I'm not sure if things change as children get older .

I would let her open them. Grandparents get to see her do it and she gets to thank them in person. Also, she'll appreciate the gift more when it's not one of many being opened in a frenzy. I let mine open xmas gifts in advance that come from far away by post.

Yes, because like you say it's nice for the person who gave th epresent to see it opened.

DS2 was 7 on Tues. Had GPs and Aunties here gor tea on Sun, he opened the presents from them.

On Tues he had pressies from us.

This w/end he is having a sleepover so three more pressies and one from another aunt who was away last week.

Quite nice to spread it out.

With birthday presents we are happy for DD to open before and after her birthday when from visiting family/friends.

We wouldn't do this at Christmas, but I think that birthdays are different.

My Dcs very rarely get their presents actually on their birthdays - we generally let them open them when they get them from the giver, sometimes it's early, sometimes it's late. I do think you should let her open them this weekend, I wouldn't have the heart to make her wait anyway but the fact that the rest of you will be opening presents and she'll be doing the cake (cake=official birthday time imo ) makes me push it even more.

I would let her open them. Sometimes it's best to spread it out a bit as it can be a bit overwhelming if all at once.

DS1's 4th birthday was a couple of weeks ago.

he had a couple of presents before his birthday, some on his birthday, and a few after.. it felt like his birthday went on forever.

I would say yes

Thank you - I thought I might be acting a little irrationally. She wil be opening them on Saturday.