No Gifts Please
If you have children, the odds are that you have more toys lying
around than your child knows what to do with. Unfortunately for us,
unlike our parents that most likely grew up in a productivist culture
where things were made to last, we live in a consumerist culture.
As explained by Polish sociologist Zygmunt Bauman, a consumerist culture, departs from the previous productivist culture, where the society values transience over duration, newness and reinvention, and the ability to acquire things immediately. Simply put, things aren't made to last and a newer and "better" version of what you have is made to make you believe that what you have isn't good anymore. Fashion and following trends are all factors that determine who you are and how you are identified in this culture.
Our children are growing up in a culture where toys don't last, where a new version of the same toy comes out the day after you caved in to buy the "latest" version of the car, characters you didn't even know existed are now sold as part of the collection of toys and children are targeted fearlessly by marketers making them want more and more and more.
I am sure there are hundreds of studies that go into this topic and explain the repercussions this may have on our children but I am not an expert and don't intend to bring up a debate, I'm just setting the scene as I make my way towards the "No Gifts Please" you may have seen on some birthday invitations.
The first couple of times I saw this I went ahead and took a gift anyway because it felt odd to arrive empty-handed. I took it upon myself to make the decision but the truth is that even though I went for the "something useful" rather than a flashy toy, I didn't respect the request being made (I'm sorry!).
Now that I have been around a bit longer and have had the chance to see this decision made by close friends I understand it. For whatever reason a parent decides to add a "No Gifts Please" to the invitation, it isn't up to us to decide if we take a gift or not. The parent has made a conscious decision and an explanation has been given to the birthday child. Showing up with a gift will only cause confusion. Those that followed the instructions feel bad because they didn't take a gift and so on.
I personally made the mistake and in hopes to help all of you that don't know what to do when you see a "No Gifts Please" the answer is, don't take a gift. If you really, really can't live without giving the child something then ask the parent if there is any charity they would like you to donate to in their name. I am sure they would appreciate the gesture and you will feel you didn't arrive empty-handed.
As explained by Polish sociologist Zygmunt Bauman, a consumerist culture, departs from the previous productivist culture, where the society values transience over duration, newness and reinvention, and the ability to acquire things immediately. Simply put, things aren't made to last and a newer and "better" version of what you have is made to make you believe that what you have isn't good anymore. Fashion and following trends are all factors that determine who you are and how you are identified in this culture.
Our children are growing up in a culture where toys don't last, where a new version of the same toy comes out the day after you caved in to buy the "latest" version of the car, characters you didn't even know existed are now sold as part of the collection of toys and children are targeted fearlessly by marketers making them want more and more and more.
I am sure there are hundreds of studies that go into this topic and explain the repercussions this may have on our children but I am not an expert and don't intend to bring up a debate, I'm just setting the scene as I make my way towards the "No Gifts Please" you may have seen on some birthday invitations.
The first couple of times I saw this I went ahead and took a gift anyway because it felt odd to arrive empty-handed. I took it upon myself to make the decision but the truth is that even though I went for the "something useful" rather than a flashy toy, I didn't respect the request being made (I'm sorry!).
Now that I have been around a bit longer and have had the chance to see this decision made by close friends I understand it. For whatever reason a parent decides to add a "No Gifts Please" to the invitation, it isn't up to us to decide if we take a gift or not. The parent has made a conscious decision and an explanation has been given to the birthday child. Showing up with a gift will only cause confusion. Those that followed the instructions feel bad because they didn't take a gift and so on.
I personally made the mistake and in hopes to help all of you that don't know what to do when you see a "No Gifts Please" the answer is, don't take a gift. If you really, really can't live without giving the child something then ask the parent if there is any charity they would like you to donate to in their name. I am sure they would appreciate the gesture and you will feel you didn't arrive empty-handed.
http://www.SimplyGenie.com
is an online boutique that creates Designer Parties in a Box and
handcrafted personalized party decor for children. It's the stylish
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Our goal is to be a one stop solution for moms who don't want the same boring, pre-packaged box of plates and balloons that you find everywhere else!
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Valerie_Biaggi
Our goal is to be a one stop solution for moms who don't want the same boring, pre-packaged box of plates and balloons that you find everywhere else!
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thank you