Presents
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
It's polite to say "thank you!" for a gift and show real appreciation, even if you don't like it or already have one. Remember that you're not thanking them for WHAT they gave you, but for the time and money they spent on your gift!
Someone at the party has a special snack to eat instead of what the other kids are being served. Someone else notices and says "that's so weird! Just eat what we're eating!"
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
Sometimes people can't eat the food everyone else is eating. They might have an allergy, be on a special diet, or have a religious reason that they can't eat certain foods. They might even have sensory issues with food. You can ask why they're eating something different if you're curious, but don't be rude about it!
The birthday girl has lots of friends at the party, but not all of them know each other. Someone goes up to somebody new and says "hey, what's your name? How do you know the birthday girl?"
Is that expected or unexpected?
EXPECTED!
This is a good way to meet someone new. Maybe they'll become a new friend when you get to know them better!
There's bowling at the party, and someone thinks it'll be funny to run out into the lane and try to knock down the pins themselves instead of with a ball.
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
This is really dangerous and would make people think weird things about you.
The birthday girl rips through the wrapping paper with lots of energy and excitement.
Is that expected or unexpected?
EXPECTED!
We're always excited to get a gift! It's okay to show that by ripping up the paper. Some people like to be more careful, but it's their choice how they open it.
At the party, the kids have to wait to eat cake until the birthday girl blows out the candles.
Is that expected or unexpected?
EXPECTED!
At most parties, the cake is served after singing Happy Birthday and blowing out candles. It would be rude to take a slice of cake without permission or before that happened.
The birthday girl is busy talking to all her friends, when someone comes up and tries to get all her attention just for themselves.
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
A birthday party isn't like a playdate, so you probably won't be the only one trying to talk to or play with the birthday girl. Try to meet someone new if you're not sure who to talk to.
Everyone is playing tag, and the first person out is frustrated that they can't play anymore and didn't do well in the game. They stomp away and growl angrily, then stand alone and refuse to talk to anyone until the game is over.
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
Nobody likes losing a game, and it's normal to be frustrated. But it's rude and unexpected to let it ruin the entire game, and get mad at other people.
When a guest gives their present to the birthday girl, they blurt out what it is.
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
We wrap gifts so that what's inside is a surprise. Don't spoil the surprise! You can talk about what the gift is after they open it.
At the party, the birthday girl's mom serves cheese and pepperoni pizza. Someone says "I only like thin crust pizza, can you order one of those too?"
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
The food at a party is free, so we are thankful to get anything. If you don't want what is being served, you can politely say you don't want any, but you can't ask for more money and time to be spent just on your preference.
The birthday girl invited a lot of people, but not everyone could come to the party. One of her friends wasn't able to be there, so she spends the whole party talking about how she misses them and saying "I wish she was here, she's more fun."
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
It's too bad not everyone can come to everything we invite them to, but it would make your friends feel weird if you said that you like other friends better or that you don't really care about them being there.
When bowling, somebody pretends to try to hit someone in the head with a bowling ball.
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
Even when you're just joking, you can really hurt someone on accident. People don't like it when you hurt them, or pretend to, because it makes them feel unsafe around you.
When a guest gives their present to the birthday girl, they say "somebody gave me this but I didn't want it, so you can have it."
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
Gifts are supposed to be something you think the person will like. Even if you already had it before being invited to the party, you don't need to tell the person about that.
When it's time to eat cake, somebody decides it would be funny to start a food fight, so they throw cake at someone else.
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
This is pretty rude and dangerous. Cake is for eating, not throwing.
Some of the guests at the party form their own group, and only play with each other without including anyone else.
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
It's rude to not include people, especially at a party that everyone was invited to. You may not be friends with everyone there, but you only have to all be together for a few hours... then, after the party is over, you can go back to seeing just your own friends.
All the kids at the party are running around outside, being loud and silly while they play a fun game.
Is that expected or unexpected?
EXPECTED!
Outside is a great place to run, be loud, and play.
The birthday girl opens a present and then thanks the person who gave it to her. The guest who gave it then tells the birthday girl how much money the gifts cost.
Is that expected or unexpected?
How much you spent on the gift doesn't matter as much as how much thought you put into it. Not everybody has the same amount to spend on gifts, so we're just thankful that we get any gifts from our friends!
When it's time to eat the pizza, someone at the party touches a bunch of different slices before deciding which one they want.
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
Even if you just watched your hands, try to only touch things you are going to eat and not what someone else will eat. Otherwise, it could be rude and might even get yucky germs on their food.
Someone who was invited to the party was worried about not knowing anybody else there, so she brought some of her own friends that the birthday girl doesn't know.
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
Only certain people are invited to a party. It would be weird and rude to bring people that weren't invited without asking first.
All the kids are running around the birthday girl's house, screaming and throwing things, and climbing on furniture.
Is that expected or unexpected?
UNEXPECTED!
There are rules for inside the house, like "inside voice" and "no throwing." These rules keep everyone safe. Make sure you know what parts of the house are for playing in and which ones aren't.