Kids Party Favors--For 6 Year Old Party

Updated on June 04, 2014
L.K. asks from Lafayette, CA
17 answers

What do you think about doing a small gift card to a favorite ice cream store in place of those cheesy favor bags?

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G.T.

answers from Rochester on

Years ago we didn't give the guest gifts when they attended a birthday party. Gifts were meant for the birthday child.

And don't worry about him not learning to give as well as receive. He will learn that when he goes to his friends parties.

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S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I may be the only one who thinks this, but I think a gift card is kinda weird. Like, "thanks for coming to my party and being my friend, here's 5 bucks". Then again I also cringe at the "bag'o'junk" my kids come home with after a party.

I try not to just give a random bag of stuff at the end. I prefer it more interactive, like they have to earn it... Either we play games and they collect a trinket as they go, we do a piñata with some extra non-candy items like stickers and pencils thrown in, or we do a craft and that's the take-home.

I just had a party for my 7 year old a couple weekends ago. We did a marshmallow snowman craft (gotta be Frozen, right?), Pinata candy and stickers, and had homemade white glitter playdough they took in a Styrofoam container. So they had some take-homes, mostly edible and and playful, didn't break my bank and didn't need to be kept/saved longer than a week by the recipients.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I think giving kids a present for coming to your kids birthday party is silly. Really. Why spend that sort of money. I would probably say thanks but no thanks.

I don't want the kids thinking every time they give a gift it is so they'll get something in return. I don't do goody bags and I don't let the kids take one when they're passed around. The birthday kid should be the only one getting a present.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.T.

answers from Rochester on

I like the idea. But like someone else mentioned, gift cards could get spendy. Some places won't do gift cards less than $5. McDonald's does have the $1 coupons and I think Wendy's does too.

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I think it's a great idea. My kids are so happy when they get something like that and I would much rather have that than a bag of junk. Most frozen yogurt chains, as well as some ice cream shops (definitely Baskin Robbins) have one or two dairy free options. If you do know of a child with a dairy allergy, ask the mom if the child can eat there and, if not, if she has a different place she likes to take him. My son is allergic to dairy and this has worked well for us.

I have given books as party favors for the last few parties I've thrown. I usually purchase something for $1-3 through Scholastic. If you have a couple of weeks before the party, you can check out the upcoming warehouse sale in Fremont, where everything is 50% off.
http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/events/warehouse/inde...

For age 6, you could do a reader type of book or an easy chapter book. I give every child the same book, unless there are siblings or unless they are much older or younger than the bday child.

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S.H.

answers from Santa Barbara on

Those are nice. my kids got that from the national chain ice cream shop for a kid's size cone.

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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

My son got a gift card as a party favor. Here, many Dunkin Donuts also house Baskin Robbins ice cream. So the gift card was for DD and the mom explained that Baskin Robbins doesn't have its own card. No problem because my son loves doughnuts, too! It was a $5 card, so you just have to be careful how much you put on the card because it can get expensive. I went to another party for a 5-year old where they let the kids choose from a number of Stage 1 and 2 early reader books. Frozen for the girls, and The Lego Movie for the boys. If you get them from amazon, they're less than $3 per book. Great!! I stole the idea for my son's 7th bday and gave kids' joke books or a book of knock-knock jokes, about $2.50 on amazon.

C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I had a friend do this once. She gave out $5 gift cards to golden spoon frozen yogurt. It was great! I was actually thinking about doing this for my son's birthday next month

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E.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Great idea! I did t-shirts for my son's 3rd, they were a huge hit! I think people prefer 1-2 things instead of a bag with a lot of little things that are easily lost, swept under the couch, or swallowed by the dog :)

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

i usually just do a pinata and let the kids take home candy..

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T.T.

answers from Seattle on

If you want to get a little something for the kids attending, go for it. But don't feel obligated. It's not a requirement. I have liked the idea of having my son giving something to the attendees so that he appreciates the idea of giving and receiving and doesn't become too absorbed only in what he is going to receive. There are lots of ways to teach that though. So it doesn't have to be at the bday. I think your gift card idea sounds great. Other ideas - a balloon, book, sticker sheet, notebook, or fun pencil. Not all of these. Just one little thing is fine!

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

That sounds like a good idea.
Unless one of the kids is dairy intolerant or allergic

Or, www.birthdayinabox.com has great personalized luggage tags or bag tags, that are great. We got those once from a birthday party when my kids were toddlers and I STILL use it and it is good quality and not expensive. And it is not a throw-away piece of junk. And you just put the kid's name on it.
My friends gets favors from that website/store. That is how I know about it.

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Z.B.

answers from Toledo on

I know most mom's are not big fans of hoody bags, but the funny thing is, KIDS LOVE THEM. Yes, it's annoying driving home from a party and list ramming to silly noise makers or knowing the sticky from they're playing with isn't going yo kart the trip home. But my kids love them! And isn't that kind of the point? As a mom i might rather they get a book or an ice cream coupon. But they would much rather have a bag full of silly junk.

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I like that idea. Not a fan if goodie bags full of junk.

I've done gift cards, art sets, books, etc instead of bags.

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L.*.

answers from Chicago on

Awesome idea! The kids and moms will love it and you will save some space in our landfills !!!

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M.L.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I have read a lot of pros and cons on this site about goody bags, and it always reminds me of one thing. If you've read the Tolkien books - I don't know if this is mentioned in the movies or not - hobbits traditionally give presents to other people on their birthdays (and apparently most of the presents they give are things they have been given themselves in the past).

Way back in the dim and distant days right here, however, children who attended a birthday party may have received a party favor - one little "thank you for coming to my party" item for them to take home. I don't where the goody bag idea came from.

Yes, I think a small gift card to an ice cream store would be a fine favor, and I also think many of the mothers might thank you.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

Sounds like a great idea.

I just did an attendance party for kids at church. We set up two big plastic tubs and blew up about 8 green balloons and 8 blue balloons. 2 teams, each child with a pool noodle. The teams can't touch the balloons except with the noodle, batting it in. No doubling the noodle and picking it up.

That was so much fun for everyone, I had to share! In that case, I'd give a pool noodle and a balloon to go home with. Have fun!

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