My youngest son is having his 7th birthday party in a couple of weeks. It's at an indoor gym/pool but his cake will be a Green Day (as in the rock band) theme so we're going with more of a rock star theme to the party. Whenever possible, I try to give a party favor that's not just going to end up as useless clutter and I've come up with some pretty decent favors in past years every now and again.
This year, I'm thinking of giving the kids a pair of drumsticks that are personalized a bit with the Green Day logo and/or the date of the birthday party or something like that along with a small bag of candy. I have a house full of drummers so I'm used to them walking around with their sticks and playing on the couch, their lap etc. but to non-drummer parents, would you be incredibly annoyed with this favor? I just don't want to be "that mom" if the universal reaction will be "who the hell gives drumsticks to a 7 year old, those are so going in the trash."
Thanks!
LOL thanks everyone - the chicken and ice cream comments made me LOL so thanks for making my day. You all crack me up! Not sure what we'll end up doing, so thanks for your candid feedback. Definitely gives me something to think about.
well, now that I know you weren't suggesting giving out a hunk of chicken or an ice cream treat that will melt 2 minutes later on the car seat, i think it's a great idea!
Fun to give, annoying (for the parents) to receive. My boys were given the coolest electronic drumsticks which drove me and their father insane!
Yikes. I would really be unhappy about it. More than anything, if the child attending the birthday party has younger siblings, thinking of my son with his younger sister, that to me presents a problem (keeping baby or toddler from nap times, weapon...).
As an alternative, Oriental Trading Company has inflatable guitars that are reasonably priced. A friend of mine gave those to the kids in her class (she teaches 3rd grade) and they LOVED them. Maybe that is an option? Still rock and roll, but quieter?
They'd be in the garbage the instant we stepped foot inside our house.
I think it's a GREAT idea! Of course I am a huge Green Day and rock fan in general so I am biased ;-)
If the kids decide to take the sticks home and use them to whack their siblings then their parents can take them away (and let's face it, some kids will turn anything stick shaped into a weapon.) But you know, my daughter got a drum machine when she was around five years old and I don't ever remember the sticks being a problem, even with an older brother and younger sister, they all played with it. Same with their Rock Band game a few years later.
Rock on!!!
fun, and I bet no kid has ever got them for a party favor ever. That makes it even better!!
& before the kids are out the door, they'll all be dueling!
sorry, but that's what I've seen with every single group of kids thru the past 25+ years. Give 'em a stick/straw/you name it, & they'll be dueling like pirates, playing Karate Kid, & poking the heck out of each other! Not a bad thing, just not what a lot of parents would want.
& now that I think about it.....(sigh) even the adults in my world would be acting up, too!
Cool idea...not sure if it's good for a group.
My kids would love them and I would hate them . . . :/
if my 7 year old came home with drum sticks as a party favors....i'd be pissed. and i wouldn't care what was written on them. banging walls, other kids, banging on furniture.....i think you need to go back to the drawing board for another idea!!
I might rethink this...
Some other ideas:
- Earbuds -- I saw these in the Target dollar section at Christmas, you should be able to find inexpensive ones -- and a mix CD of Green Day songs
- Green Day posters or stickers
- A group pic with Billy Jo photoshopped in... This would require a helper at home to photoshop the pic and send it to one-hour photo for processing! But it could work.
I love the idea. I would be fine with it...much better than the cheap junk that is normally in goodie bags...like the horns etc.
Like with anything else, if the parents have a problem, they can take them.
I'd probably be less than happy with drum sticks around the house. It's a cool idea but at 7 they'll be hitting siblings over the head with them within 2 seconds of getting home. 7 yr olds aren't known for their ability to follow directions so telling them what they can and can't drum will be lost as soon as they figure out "Hey I can wack Joe with this thing" or "When I hit mom's vase lightly it makes a cool sound. Wonder what it'll sound like if I hit it hard?"
I think it's a great idea! My son would love them, for a day or two, then stash away as a memento.
Very cute idea..but then again I have a son that has been playing drums for years. He is always drumming..dashboard,table tops,knees, side of couch etc. Not everyone appreciates this though..you might have a few parents give you a "thanks a lot lady for the "noisemaker!"
I would love for my kids to get drumsticks as a gift...and personalized..wow..even more special!! Better than the junkie trinkets...that go to the landfill.
Another idea would be to give each kid a box of Drumstick ice cream bars with a tag attached that says something like, "Party on dude!! Thanks for coming to my party!" They come in a box of 4 or more. Or you can get the big box of smaller sized ones to pass out. Just have to eat them quick or get them home and in the freezer.
Whatever you do will be great...I love that you are doing a unique party theme..love it!!
Have fun!!
That would be cool with me.
Your son sounds like my son.
My son is 6, but loves rock and drumming and carries around his drumsticks drumming on things in the house.
I don't mind that at all.
For me, drumsticks would be a bit much. We don't have a drumset at home, so they would end up beating up my furniture. Now a guitar pick, toy tamberine, or a kazoo I could live with.
Or, even a 'I'm with the band' backstage pass laniards
I like the idea, but in reality, I'm not sure that most parents would like it.
Anything stick like can be used as a weapon, a tool to break something, poke others, etc., etc. I could see it getting old really quick. A 7 year old that's not into drumming wouldn't use them for their intended purpose, ya know?
i dont know why anyone would give chicken as party favors
neener just kidding. i like it.
Eh, as a mom I probably would not care. That being said I would have no problem throwing them away or putting them up to be forgotten about if things got out of hand with them. And I would not like my kids just using them around the house on furniture. It wouldn't be the worst party favor...but it sounds like you'll be personalizing them quite a bit and I'm guessing that is going to take time & money. If that is the case, I'd probably forgo giving them and come up with something else.
I would have hated them, my son would love them. My cousin gave my son a fish......I told her next year I am giving her daughter a kitten.
ANNOYING!!!!!!!!!! had to write that in caps lol. Unless your kid is in the band they will use those drumsticks to pound on every available surface including siblings heads lol. I would toss them straight into the garbage can.
I would think they were a great gift for a seven year old. If my kid couldn't behave with them I could put them up until he was ready to behave with them, but I think most seven year olds should be able to handle a set of drum sticks.
Annoying.
The most annoying goodie bags gifts are things that make noise.
Whistles
Slide whistles
kazoos
Things I got positive comments on:
Small puzzles (great if there are not too many pieces)
High bounce rubber balls
colorful knit hackey sack balls (they are great to learn to juggle with)
Those tiny ball bearing mazes (they are all self contained)
glow sticks
Some other parents included some pretty cool looking pencils and erasers - they always get used.
I think as long as you give the kids a QUICK bit of direction about what surfaces are most appropriate, it would be fine.
Show them how they can use them on their laps, or their books, and that table tops and other "finished" furniture can become damaged so those are NOT good places.
Then you are good. If they misuse them at home, I'm sure they'll lose them. If not, I don't see why a parent would care. I'd just send mine to his room so I didn't have to listen if it was bothering me (or I was on the phone or something). LOL
Love the idea, very unique! My son had been playing the drums since he was 2 and I would not mind such a useful party favor.
Updated
Love the idea, very unique! My son had been playing the drums since he was 2 and I would not mind such a useful party favor.
Updated
Love the idea, very unique! My son had been playing the drums since he was 2 and I would not mind such a useful party favor.
It will likely be annoying...at their houses. I think it's cool.
I would not be thrilled if my son came home with drumsticks, though I'm sure he would love them. It's a fun, creative idea and the kids would all love it. But as a parent, I'd vote against it.
Great idea!
~Although my opinion might not be useful, I have a family of drummers, including my 7y/o!
I think its a very cool idea! nearly any toy can be annoying in some way, but I love your creativity and the fact that kids could actually really use them
Mixed feelings...but I am the Mom who handed out light sabers to 6 year olds, so....I'd have it coming!
Whatever you decide, have fun!
a few decades ago i gave my baby brother drumsticks for christmas. today he's a killer drummer who has toured europe and japan.
i say hand those puppies out!
:) khairete
S. (whose parents were not amused back then)
No thanks. Neat idea how you would use it but think they would end up in the trash. If it was all band students that would be different.
Perhaps ask some of the kids parents their HONEST opinion
I think these would be neat
http://www.orientaltrading.com/inflatable-guitars-a2-49_4... ( for all ages)
Heres a few things the dollar store could have
glow stick, necklace or bracelet or wands
puzzles
stickers
fake guitars
other non loud making music ideas
LTD may have items as well or party favor stores.
Here is a quick google search people could decor
http://www.lorisparties.com/Guitar-Cookie-Cutter.item
Or have the cookie cutter to take home and make?
http://www.lorisparties.com/Guitar-Birthday-Party-Supplie...
Let us know what you decide and if you do how the parents react.
I like to have links to what people are talking about perhaps this will help.
very cool-go for it!
Drumsticks with the rubber ends might be a good idea.
After age 5 I nixed the gift bag idea. All gift bag stuff that my son gets ends up in the donation bin or garbage. So save a few bucks and a head ache for yourself and just foget about it.
Lol I was thinking chicken drum sticks. I thought wow you lost it lol
I think it is a great idea. You may have to,tell them what to do with them, but I think they will,love them. Very creative idea.
Wait I think I changed my mind. I was thinking of the drum things that fan out. Can't remember what they are called. Looks like a fan. Makes some great sounds. Sticks I think might present a problem for some kids. Like poking brother etc.
Cute idea that I would not welcome unless you also gave my kid a drum. Yes, your kids use the couch or their laps, but I can see other kids going home and banging on every surface, resulting in a round of "Not on the coffee table, not on the dining table, not on the kitchen counter...." until mom or dad dumps the sticks. That'd be a waste of your money and your creativity. An alternative would be giving each kid (or better, having them make, as a party craft) buttons for Green Day or ones that say "Rock Star" or "You Rock" etc. You can get inexpensive button-making devices at craft stores these days. If it's a mostly-boys party, use designs like skull and crossbones, electric guitars, etc. -- you can find very cheap bandanas with such designs, cut out pieces and make them into buttons, or have kids write their own slogans on paper for buttons.
