Bill Hanifin

Parents Just Saying 'No' to Birthday Gifts

July 29, 2010

FROM RETAILWIRE:
If a lot of people follow the example of Bill Doherty, a researcher in childhood consumer culture at the University of Minnesota and co-founder of BirthdaysWithoutPressure.org, retailers could see a big drop-off in the amount of goods purchased as birthday gifts. Are there ways retailers can actively work with parents looking to create more responsible birthday celebrations?      [more...]

The examples in the article are so over-the-top that one has to smile as much and just take it all with a grain of salt.

I think it might be too much to ask toddler birthday parties to go green and start asking for eco-credit donations instead of Transformers, but I believe the excess is often in the entertainment, not the gift giving.

Most people bring the customary $20-25 gift and, if you are a friend, I see nothing wrong with it. As parents, we should remove pressure from ourselves by limiting the venues, tents, clowns, ponies, and face-painters rented. Nothing against these folks, but enough is enough.

Retailers don't need to take action here, parents do....