If you have a child you have most likely thrown a birthday party at some point in time. If your children are school aged, the topic of goodie bags and party favors has most likely come up around their birthday time.
Love them? Hate them? Don't do them? Don't know what to put in them?
Goodie bags are basically made up of candy and cheap toys that are going to break, get lost or end up in the trash. Most of the time parents don't say it but they think, "Great now my kids are hyped up on sugar, have a bag of sugar and a whistle, this should be a fun night, at least they had fun at the party!"
I understand the whole reasoning behind goodie bags...
It is a nice way of saying "thank you" but why not just say "thank you" instead?
... but why are we giving children other than the birthday boy/girl a gift?
Yes I get that they brought a gift to the party but aren't you going to return the favor and buy their kid a gift if you are invited? You already gave them food and cake so why do they need a gift as well? Free cake and junk food is good enough for me!
In the end, the experience is what matters most, not the gifts received or given. Kids should want to go to a birthday party because they want to celebrate their friend and not expect anything in return so don't stress out over what to fill the goodie bags with and just be their with your child.
If you do decide to pass out goodie bags or party favors think to yourself, Is this something I wouldn't mind my child having?If the answer is no, then don't buy it.
I get that it is your child's party so it shouldn't matter if you give out party favors or what you give out, people should just be appreciative and you are totally right but wouldn't you like to know that you are spending money on something that will get used instead of collecting dust or thrown in the trash? You don't have to pass out goodie bags or party favors, times have changed, you are throwing and paying for the party so do what you want to do but if you do decide to add goodie bags/party favors to the party, here are three things to help narrow it down and come up with ideas:
I get that it is your child's party so it shouldn't matter if you give out party favors or what you give out, people should just be appreciative and you are totally right but wouldn't you like to know that you are spending money on something that will get used instead of collecting dust or thrown in the trash? You don't have to pass out goodie bags or party favors, times have changed, you are throwing and paying for the party so do what you want to do but if you do decide to add goodie bags/party favors to the party, here are three things to help narrow it down and come up with ideas:
- Something you can Learn with
- Something you can Use/Need
- Something Healthy to Eat
By keeping these three things in mind you are more likely to spend less or at least spend money on something that will last and you will make the parent's happier instead of sending their kids home with a bag full of sugar.
Find something that will help the children learn by using their fine motor skills, creativity and imagination. Add a cute saying to match the party theme and you are set!
- Bubbles - check out these Bubble party favors
- Block Set
- Crayons
- Coloring Pencils
- Coloring Books
- Game - tic tac toe, checkers, dice, cards, rubix cube, matching
- Markers
- Notepad/Notebook
- Play Dough
- Puzzle
- Sidewalk Chalk
- Small Book
- Stickers
Find something that the parents or children will actually use or something that they may need. Add a cute saying to match the party theme and you are set!
- Bath Bomb
- Bath Crayons
- Bag - reusable bag, purse, backpack, wallet, makeup bag
- Ball
- Body Wash
- Chapstick
- Costume Jewelry
- Cup
- Flowers or Flower seeds
- Hand Sanitizer
- Hat
- Head Bands, Hair ties, Bows
- Lotion
- Lufa
- Nail Polish
- Picture Frame
- Phone accessory
- Scarf
- Slippers
- Socks
- Stuffed Animal with an "Adopt a pet" sign next to them
- Sun Screen
- Sunglasses
- Swim Floats/Noodle
- Mini Tissues
- Tooth brush & tooth paste
- Toy Car
- Utensils
- Wash Rag - they make cool kid ones that grow in the bath tub
- Water Bottle
Healthy to Eat
Find a healthy snack to eat or make some specialty baked goods to send home. Even though it is sweet, it is still better than a bag full of candy. Add a cute saying to match the party theme and you are set!
- Beverages - gatorade, bottled water, capri sun, juice box
- Fruit cups
- Fruit pouches
- Homemade Snack - granola bar, cookie, brownie, chocolate dipped pretzels
- Mini Box Cereal
- Specialty Cookie - 1 or 2 specialty cookies can act as a nice treat for later
- Snack bag - gold fish, animal crackers
- Trail Mix Bar - check out my trail mix bar HERE
- Wrapped Snack - rice krispies, nutrigrain bars, chips
Alternatives
The new thing to do at parties is a goodie bag/party favor alternative. This is an activity that the children can participate in at the party such as making a craft or snack that they are able to take home with them.
- Craft
- Mini Canvas Painting
- Canvas Bag Decorating
- Make a Crown/Hat/Mask
- Door Hangers
- Dream Catcher
- Ornaments
- Paint a Picture Frame and put a party picture in it
- Paint a Jewelry Box
- Paint their initial - Monogramed letters
- Picture Rock Holders
- Rock Painting
- Swords - light saber, knight armor/sword
- Tie Dye T-shirts
- Wands - magic wands, fairy wands, princess wands
- Cookies - have the children decorate their own cookie to take home
- Coupon for free ice-cream or future play date
- Leftovers - set out bags and let your guest take home the left over party food
- Piñata
- Pass out handmade Thank You Cards when the guest leave
If you plan ahead and are on a budget, you may be able to find several of these items in the clearance aisle - I've seen kids slippers for $1 before in clearance aisles. You can also check out your local flee market, the party aisle at the grocery stores or the Dollar Tree for some cheap, but nice party favors.
These are just a few ideas I came up with, I'm sure there are tons of other goodie bag/party favor ideas out there that are just as awesome. If you do decide to pass out goodie bags or party favors remember to ask yourself "Is this something I wouldn't mind my child having around the house?" If the answer is no then don't buy it.
I personally am not a huge fan of goodie bags but my children are still little so I haven't really had to give goodie bags because our parties have mainly consisted of family but I see myself giving out a small party favor related to the party theme in the future.
2 Comments
I've never seen so many party favors ideas. I would never have though of half of these items. They are fantastic ideas. I wish my son was little again so I could buy party favors. Who knows, maybe I will buy some of these items for myself like the bath bombs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list! And you make a valid point - who wants a bag of tat anyway?! Love the homemade healthy granola bar idea.
ReplyDelete