Party Favors - Warrenton,VA

PLEASE DO NOT DO GOODY BAGS!!!!!

Whatever happened to a kid going to a party - bringing the special bday kid a present and simply having fun?? When did this horrible habit of goody bags begin?? Was it a way for a mom to give their non-bday kids gifts so they wouldn't be upset?

I refuse to do so. Either you spend too much money to make it something that won't break within minutes or get lost in the car, or you spend nothing and generally get stuff that breaks within minutes or gets lost in the car. I don't care the quality, I just don't think kids who are getting a free party, free swimming, free cake and free entertainment need anything more than a good time!!

Do not feel guilty, and if you daughter asks again, just tell her that she is going to have such a wonderful party with cake and ice cream and presents and there is no need anything more. Then change the subject ;-)

J.

Dollar stores sometimes sells the wash clothes that open up in the tub ?
I would do that and some bubble bath.

Walmart has packages of Silly Bands (googly bands) in the toy section that are a $1 a bag..for like 8 or 10 - maybe just a pkg of bands for each kid, or a beach ball....they have them @ the dollar stores - usually they start showing up about this time of year. Also - you can make labels for chocolates. I usually make labes for Hershey's miniatures for my daughter's party. You can make them on Microsoft Publisher - on Avery mailing labes. Iinvert the text so that so that it prints sideways on the label and then wrap around the chocolate. Example - for my daughter's "fairy themed" party - when wrapped around the chocolates there was a little fairy image centered on the top, and where the ends of the label meet in the back, it said "Thank you for coming to my party, I hope that you had as much fun as I did. Love Holly". I used the miniatures, because I was putting a couple in a little gossamer bag with a tiny bottle of fairy dust and a good luck token. I did the same thing the year we had a magician, and the image was a rabbit in a hat, and I sprinkled them on the tables in the pizza place where we had the party, and tossed a few in the goody bag with some take home magic tricks. I've always used the miniatures, but you could make your own on plain paper, cut it so size, and then wrap around a regular size Hershey chocolate bar, and then just give a swipe with a glue stick in the back to seal it (over the original label of course). Hope this helps! Have fun!

skip 'em. i wonder the average time until they up in the landfill anyway. sounds like a fun party!

as far as scratch-offs some people might not be ok giving them to kids. i think you'd be better off skipping googies altogether than risk your guests' parents ire.

If you could get some dive sticks/dive rings cheap...or multi packs (like at Costco/Sams Club) of goggles....and the cheap beach balls...thats what I would have been seeking and "goody" items. Not sure about this time of year tho? We did one of these parties many years ago for my DD...but it was in the summer with her August birthday, so these things were more readily available.

All the kids DID love them, however! They got to use them right away for the party...everyone had goggles and play in the water items and had a blast!

Good luck!

I think it's okay not to do the goody bags. But, since it's a pool party, you could get something like those little blow up pool balls, so they can play with them during the party and then take them home, or some similar pool toys.

I agree to keep it simple. I think goodie bags have gotten out of hand. I think they would like the silly bandz or something associated with a pool party. Maybe inexpensive sunglasses and some candy? You can look at Oriental Trading for ideas. Glow sticks are also a hit with most kids.

Search TickleMe Plant if you want a really cool educational party favor that makes everyone smile. This is the plant that closes its leaves and moves like an animal when you Tickle It!

Get a high school art student to come and draw caricatures of each of the guests to take home. You will be giving the student an opportunity to establish themselves to be hired on at parties and helping them launch a career. Tell them to come up with a flyer to advertise and promote themselves.They can give each child one of the flyers and maybe get a paid gig the next time. Provide the pad of art paper and other-few supplies.
have fun!

what about something they could use while at the pool...goggles, beach ball, ect i saw walmart putting beach stuff out a couple weeks ago so dollar store or dollar general may have them too. or if they will have time for a craft have them make something they can take with them.

Read the archives on this topic, there were some great suggestions a few months ago. I like going to Target $1 baskets or Big Lots or Dollar Store or Ollie's Bargain Outlet and budget $1-$3 a kid and buy a puzzle or a travel game or frisbee, or other toy, something more substantial looking than a cheap gift bag that costs the same but ends up stuck in the cracks of the car. At those stores you might even be able to find a towel or pool toy for that budget. Another fun one that is cheaper but more time consuming is making a CD mix of your daughter's favorite songs or a picture frame and take a digital picture of each kid as they arrive and print them and frame them.

Good luck and have fun!

P.S. I liked the suggestions of sunglasses and expanding washcloths and bubble bath. Another thing I do is buy several different types of gifts and let the guests choose what they take home from the variety of choices. The kids and parents always thank me because they get to have their preference heard. I totally over buy because I don't know what will tickle their fancy that day, and then whatever is left over gets to be returned after the party so there isn't financial waste. Go to these stores with an open mind you can be really creative on an small budget. We have friends that had a super hero party and gave each kid a cape from cut up fabric and took reading glasses from the Target $1 bin, popped out the lenses and explained they were undercover glasses. My kids loved those and used them for playing for years until they finally broke.

As a parent I think it's perfectly fine not to do goody bags and would not be offended or think badly of a host who didn't offer them either since I think b-day parties have gotten so out of hand. On the other hand I know my son would probably be embarrassed if I didn't....so maybe like a beach ball or something. You can get them from Joann's or Michaels for like $1 each and they come in all different colors.

Do a gift card to Subway or an icecream place. Since it's a pool party you can go with the theme and purchase beach balls at the dollar store and hand them out with some other swimming related stuff or candy.

absolutely not! in fact, i hate when my 5 year old comes home with party favors, it's just more junk that he plays with for a couple of hours and then forgets about. i am in favor of nixing party favors all together!

Get $2-$3 gift cards to a local ice cream place (should cover a scoop or cone). I know Brusters has them and I think Coldstone Creamery does as well. You could wrap a ribbon around w/a note that says something like "Thanks for coming to my "summer" party; here's a cool treat for when the real summer comes around." Just off of the top of my head - I'm sure you could make it sound better! Cheaper than even the most inexpensive goody bags, easy, good for both genders and fits your "theme." Another item I have used several times is a template to make your own covers for Hershey bars - easy, cheap and custom - the kids always love them.

If you do skip the goody bags don't feel bad about it. As the mother of a 9 and 7 year old, I LOVE it when they come home from a party with NO goody bag! I have a feeling a lot of moms agree :) Problem is, my daughters love getting and giving them! So now I like to pick up one thing for each kid at 5 Below or Dollar Store or the dollar section at Target. Have fun at the pool!

I keep our parties small and the kids all get $5.00 McDonald gift cards. Everybody is happy.