Another Birthday Party Question

Updated on May 01, 2013
A.W. asks from Saint Charles, IL
23 answers

Hey mamas, got yet another birthday party question. We are having an art party for my daughter's 8th birthday next month. We have a few art projects planned (an upcycled art project, a painting, and rock animals) and since each kid will take home 3 projects I'm thinking of not doing goody bags. But my husband thinks that we should. What do you all think?
Also, when should I send out the invites? The party is June 1st.
Ugh, this birthday party planning stuff is so stressful!

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So What Happened?

I love you guys! Thanks! I read the hubby all your answers and he said fine no goody bags. He's concerned that the other kids will think the party is cheap because it's at a park and we're just having cake and ice cream- no food and the trend here are these big, expensive bashes. But I explained to him that a bunch of 8 year old kids wouldn't know expensive from a hole in the ground. LOL And who cares what the parents think?!
Great idea on the bags! I have a bunch of those smaller paper bags with the twine handles. I'll set out some markers and let them go nuts. Thanks again ladies!!!!

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C.O.

answers from Minneapolis on

Have them decorate some bags to put their projects to take home in and that will be their goodie bags.

3 moms found this helpful
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B.H.

answers from Houston on

Love Tori.H idea about the bag to carry their art pieces! My son was invited to his friend's birthday party and got a decorated bag as a gift! He loves it and we still use it! You need to send the invitations at least 3 weeks early.

2 moms found this helpful

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

The art projects ARE the goody bag.
Make sure you plan enough time for the paint to dry!

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Send the invitations out, before school ends. In my State, public school ends May 24th. For example.

AND have your RSVP info on it, e-mail address and phone number.
Because, summer parties, per my observation, not many parents RSVP once school ends for the year. They are off on summer trips or have other things planned. Or their kid, forgot to tell them about the invite.
*And, hopefully, you also have the contact information of the parents of the kids that are invited. Because, if you do not hear back from anyone about if they are attending or not, there will be no way for you to contact them.

Typically, my friends and I, send invitations about 3-4 weeks in advance. With the RSVP, being 1-2 weeks in advance. Because, a headcount, needs to be known. So that, the parent(s) can order things per any supplies for the party and for food quantities etc.
And I will typically say, on the invite, that I need a hard headcount, and the RSVP is for those that can attend and not attend. So that I can have, a hard headcount. To then, plan the party. And how many of whatever things, I need.

I really get irked, when an invite is sent out, with only like 1-2 weeks head's up. And then the RSVP is only 3 days later, of getting the invite.
That is too last minute.

Goody bags... not real necessary. Because they will be making things they can take home.
OR, if you really want to, then get the goody bags.
Its not really a big deal.
Tell your Husband, to get it.
Since he seems into it.

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J.K.

answers from Kansas City on

goody bags not required with all the cool stuff they'll be taking home. I love Tori's idea of a carrying bag. That would help out a lot when it is time to leave the party! Even if you went and bought some of those white paper sacks like lunch sacks, and maybe they could draw on them or put stickers on them. Or if there are not many people coming to the party, you could already have them decorated with your daughters name like "Amandas Birthday Party Fun" or something like that so they could remember it that way.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

Go to hobby lobby and get some brown paper bags with twine handles. They can decorate those and then carry the projects home in them. You could stick a cookie or candy in there along with a thanks for coming note

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B.B.

answers from Missoula on

Skip goody bags. I despise them anyway, but especially for this party, the guests will have projects to bring home. That's enough.

I would send invites two weeks before the party.

Good luck, an art party is a great idea!

2 moms found this helpful

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

Skip the goody bags, and make all the parents happy!

I'd send out invitations 2-3 weeks in advance.

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

I would not do goodie bags. When we had an art party the project they took home was the goodie bag.

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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

I agree that the art is the goody bag but I was also going to suggest possibly decorating a bag of some kind for them to carry their stuff. It could be paper or canvas, either would be fine.

I would send out invites at least 3 weeks in advance and plan to contact the people who don't RSVP. Even if it's just a flag down in the drop off line at school, I'd try and find out a pretty concrete number.

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R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

You don't need to do a goody bag as they'll be taking things, their projects, home with them already. Any crafting party I've been to or aware of did it that way.

Send the invitations out next week, with your RSVP date at least a week to 10 days before the party. State that you need to know "yes or no" by that date so you can purchase enough supplies for the party.

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L.S.

answers from Fort Collins on

We recently had an Art Party for our 7yo. We did similar take-home projects. The kids did get a goodie bag, which was another project at the party (canvas bag to decorate with fanric paint). Then, it was filled with things they could use at the party, then take home - crayons, fancy art paper, watercolors, etc..

1 mom found this helpful
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G.D.

answers from Detroit on

Ok, I do like for my kids to get goody bags. We usually leave a little early-1st or second family to leave (our 4year old doesn't last too long).
I did an art party for her 1st birthday. It was July, so we also had a slip n slide for them to clean up in.
When the kids left I gave them a build your own jewelry kit. Basically o shaped cereals, o shaped gummy candies and elastic and red shoe string licorice. They were a huge hit. I've said this in response to every goody bag question because they were such a hit, and easy to make. I put them in small cellophane bags and gave them to each child as the family said they were leaving.

1 mom found this helpful

C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I agree with you, you don't need goody bags on top of all 3 art projects that they get to take home. I would send out invites in about a week from now. I usually send them out about 3 weeks ahead

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B.B.

answers from San Antonio on

No need for goody bags. The art is more than enough.

I always send invites 3-4 weeks in advance. Long enough for ppl to plan, but not too long so that they forget.

Have a great time!

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

You don't need goody bags. If the projects are small enough though, you can get small, colored paper bags (the kind with handles) and they can carry all their projects home in those. Then, it will be easier for them to carry and they'll feel like they're getting a goody bag.

My son's party is going to be May 27 and I am sending the invites out within the next couple of days. I already got an invite for a party that is May 25. I know of two friends having parties June 1 and 2, but we haven't gotten those yet. I usually recommend 3-4 weeks in advance.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

One project and no goody bags. Three is a.ot u less you are only having like 4 kids plus your own. Goody bags are good for nursery school and kindergarten kids. I never did them for first grade or above.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

IMO, the art IS the goody bag. Let them decorate plain bags to collect their loot from the day. I did that with the dino party I did last year and nobody complained.

I'd send out invites 2 weeks ahead, at least.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I don't do goody bags and will be very very glad when this fad goes out of style. They don't need to get a reward for coming to a party.

1 mom found this helpful
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V.P.

answers from Columbus on

If they're taking the projects home, nope. And I'd send out the invites 2-3 weeks in advance.

1 mom found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

No goody bags!! save yourself some money :) The projects are a good bag they get to make.

I would think 3 weeks is good for invites.

1 mom found this helpful

C.V.

answers from Columbia on

Don't bother with goody bags. Nobody really cares about the cheesy junk toys that are usually in them anyhow. Whenever my kids brought them home, I'd put them in the trash after they went to bed.

1 mom found this helpful

☼.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

No goodie bags. You're good to go, IMO!

I usually send out invites ~3 weeks beforehand.

1 mom found this helpful
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