The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Marketplace
    • Autos
    • Jobs
    • Real Estate
    • Classifieds
    • Shopping
    • Dining Out
    • Education
    • TWT Store
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • National

    Justices weigh juveniles' life without parole

  • National

    Leadership changes at the Times

  • National

    Hood suspect earlier came under scrutiny

  • National

    PRUDEN: Fatal reluctance to see evil

  • World

    Envoy: Europe relies on U.S. shield

  • National

    'Anti-vaccine' attitude hampers H1N1 effort

  • Business

    Sinking dollar fuels new gold rush

Home » Culture

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Families try present-free parties

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

Alternatives to excess may reduce stress

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos
Please stand by, images loading!
  • Jack Hornady / The Washington Times.

More Culture Stories

  • Michael Jackson's father seeks piece of estate
  • Hot Button
  • GREEN & GLOVER: Santa loves the troops
  • Media Room: DVD & Blu-ray reviews

By Gabriella Boston

Fifty-two presents, limousine rides and hired help. No, we're not talking weddings here. Just run-of-the-mill children's birthday parties in the 21st century. "It's a kind of 'weddification' of childhood," says Bill Doherty, professor of family social science at the University of Minnesota. "Seven-year-olds get picked up in limousines." The question is, how do you top that for the 8th birthday party?

You don't, says Mr. Doherty, co-founder of Birthdays Without Pressure, a group that encourages a simplification of birthday parties, including gatherings with no gifts and no goody bags.

"You can keep it simple and fun, but you have to articulate your values to children or they will feel resentful," he says. "Deprivation is a subjective experience."

It's not as if children today - even if the parents succeed in pulling off no-gift parties - are lacking stuff. Most are showered with gifts from grandparents, parents and other family members and end up celebrating their birthday several times: at home, at school, with friends, with relatives.

"That's the difference. When I was growing up, we didn't get gifts throughout the year," says Lisa Kothari, founder of Peppers and Pollywogs, a children's party-planning Web site. "Today, kids get gifts all the time."

If no gifts at birthday parties, then what?

Ms. Kothari suggests offering the birthday child and a couple of friends an experience - such as rock climbing or a visit to an amusement park - rather than an elaborate party.

Another solution is to suggest that fellow parents bring books for a book exchange instead of gifts or give gifts that can be donated to a charity.

"It helps if you can get the birthday child excited about the charity," Ms. Kothari says, adding that a visit to the designated charity - the local Humane Society or children's hospital, perhaps - can help the child feel engaged and gratified.

Mr. Doherty, however, says the charity solution can be a problem.

[Get Copyright Permissions] Click here for reprint permissions!
Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Please login or register to post a comment

Ask a Question

You Report

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. EXCLUSIVE: Rare virus poses new threat to troops
  2. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
  3. Parents buying homes for kids at college
  4. EDITORIAL: Too scared to recognize terrorism
  5. Deer dies after leap into D.C. zoo lion exhibit
More Top Stories »
  1. Federal Reserve opposed as big bank savior by odd allies
  2. Court refuses to halt sniper's execution
  3. House OKs health reform bill
  4. Annandale man killed in hit-and-run
  5. Inside the Beltway

Most Shared

  1. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
  2. Deer dies after leap into D.C. zoo lion exhibit
  3. EDITORIAL: Too scared to recognize terrorism
  4. EXCLUSIVE: Rare virus poses new threat to troops
  5. Parents buying homes for kids at college
More Top Stories »
  1. The enemy at home
  2. EDITORIAL: President Obama causes more unemployment
  3. Federal Reserve opposed as big bank savior by odd allies
  4. After the Berlin Wall: German unity proves elusive
  5. Patent case goes to Supreme Court

Most Commented

  1. House OKs health reform bill
  2. EDITORIAL: Too scared to recognize terrorism
  3. Army chief wary of backlash against Muslim soldiers
  4. Health bill faces roadblocks in Senate
  5. EDITORIAL: Mr. Obama, stay away from this wall
More Top Stories »
  1. Lieberman vows probe of Hood rampage
  2. Suspected Fort Hood shooter is awake, talking
  3. Obama: It's Senate's turn on health care
  4. EDITORIAL: President Obama causes more unemployment
  5. The enemy at home

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

Question of the day

Now that the House has passed the health reform bill, do you think the Senate will try to kill it?

Blogs & Columns

  • POTUS Notes

    New Dem talking point on Obama approval doesn't wash

  • The Back Story

    12 arrested at Pelosi's office

  • Belief Blog

    New Vatican constitution released

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • Technology

    Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Redskins 360

    No interest in Johnson

  • Tara's Two Cents

    On their way to summer vacation..

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Videos

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.