As if planning a birthday party for your kids wasn’t tough enough, goody bags (those ubiquitous little bags handed out at the end of the party) have gotten more elaborate and expensive over the years. If your child is over the age of 5, you’ve probably seen your fill of bouncy balls that land under the couch, cheap games that break by the time you get home and stickers that end up on mirrors forever. The alternative is loads of candy given to kids already hopped up on birthday cake and ice cream.
But the pressure is high and who wants to be the only parent (or only kid) not handing out a goodie bag? At the same time, if you’re the kind of parent who balks at the time and creativity involved, to say nothing about the impact of goody bags on landfills, then maybe it’s time to rethink the goody bag. Take it down a notch and simplify your life (and other mom’s lives as well).
Less Is More
Resist the urge to give out lots of little trinkets and just go for one nicer item. Work with your party theme and be creative. Try monogramming something that kids would use and enjoy: a cute, reusable water bottle for sports practice, a flashlight or a baseball-style hat.
The possibilities are endless once you start brainstorming. “Dinnerware actually makes a very practical party favor that both young kids and parents love,” says Janet Doherty, who writes the popular blog, www.birthday-parties-for-kids.com. She also loves two other practical party favor ideas: a book with a bookmark or placemats. “Even kids’ paperback books can often be purchased fairly inexpensively. Just keep your eyes out for a book that coordinates with your child’s party theme,” she says. Placemats can be fun as well as educational. And if it keeps their child sitting at the table calmly for a few meals parents will love this gift too.
Combination Craft & Treat
Get a two-for-one bang and have the kids decorate an item at the party that they can take home. Have them embellish a T-shirt, pillowcase or tote bag using fabric markers or fabric paint. Make a fleece scarf or hat. Or decorate the edges of a picture frame or flowerpot with paint, stickers, shells or foam cut outs. You can also have them design and embellish a doorknob hanger, a wooden birdhouse, sand pail or mini snow shovel.
Many birthday party venues in the area specifically cater to the idea of creating a treat at the event to take home. Resist the urge to add to this. Truly, the carry-home handmade item is enough. Look for clay parties where children get to make and take home their creation, or baking parties where the party-made cookies go home to enjoy, even some sports-themed venues include a goody bag with their birthday package so be sure to ask.
Embrace the Old-fashioned
Jes Gordon of www.celebrations.com suggests digging up an old Polaroid camera, or borrowing one. “Then just get snap happy at the party. Take lots of pictures and let them take the pictures home!” he says. Watching the film develop and seeing the old fashioned image emerge is a thrill for partygoers of all ages. Hmmm, maybe play some vinyl while you’re taking the shots to add atmosphere.
Old-fashioned toys such as a hula-hoop and sidewalk chalk can also be a nice goody gift. And there’s always the timeless jump rope – no more plain gray, today’s ropes come in bright, bold colors that make them a fun treat.
Make a CD
Burn a CD of your child’s favorite songs for each guest. You can slip it in an inexpensive case and have your child decorate the cover or copy a photo. If you have a party theme, the songs can all be theme-related. For instance, for an animal-lovers party include songs such as “Animal Crackers in My Soup,” “At the Codfish Ball” and the “The Hippopotamus Song.”
Earthly Delights
Celebrate nature by giving children little potted plants that they can take home and nurture. They could even decorate the pots at the party and then fill them with dirt and add either flowers or seeds. This is especially lovely for a spring party. A summer event could feature take home potted sunflower seeds. And an autumn harvest theme could include a take-home decorated pumpkin.
Gift Cards
You can also keep things simple by giving children gift cards. Consider the local ice cream, hot dog or cookie spot. Have your child personalize the gift card envelope with stickers and a note.
Seasonal Fun
Find a cute coffee mug and fill it with hot chocolate, marshmallows in a baggy and a couple of candy canes for stirring. Fill a beach bucket with a shovel and sieve and other sand toys. If you have a literary or creative group, hand out a small notebook with a pen neatly tied on and add a few stickers for fun.
The idea is to avoid the overload of useless stuff. Most of us have enough of that in our lives already. Birthday parties are stressful enough so make it easy on yourself – the pleasant surprise is that other parents will even thank you.
