Another goody bag question

[Jridou]

And I *think* I asked this last year too.

I'm having my DS 5th birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. (I'm not doing an official party, since it's on a weekday at 2 pm, there should be plenty of tables and I can do pizza and tokens cheaper with coupons. And I plan to feed all parents and siblings too, since at 2 pm, I can't figure anyone will be that hungry.)

I invited his entire PreK class and specified on the invite PLEASE NO GIFTS.

Do I still need to do a goody bag? Don't kids get crap with their prize tickets?

Last year I did a 'no gift' party at the nature center and each kid made a bird feeder which they brought home and I think I did dollar store binoculars.

All opinions welcome! Amy

 

[mantaz]

I think if you get each child a cup with their coins should be good. Then they get to choose their goody! I for one don't care for a bag of goodies. My child might play with it for a few days but then we move on and it dissappears! Maybe just a lollipop to go with the coins if you feel the need for something and attach a note thanking the child for coming to DS's party.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd do something - it's crazy, but the kids really expect a "goody bag." I personally dislike goody bags, so I usually get something small - even a $1 box of Mike and Ike's at the dollar store. The kids REALLY don't care how much you spent. We've been to so many parties, and there was always something given at the end, which is why the kids expect it.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I think a cup of tokens can count as a goody.
I do not think having goodie bags or not should be related to wether gifts are received or not. You invite people to a party and do all the thinsg related to it because you want to spend the time with them, not as payback for a gift. I do not see it as a tit for tat kind of thing.

 

[mjkacmom]

I think a cup of tokens can count as a goody.
I do not think having goodie bags or not should be related to wether gifts are received or not. You invite people to a party and do all the thinsg related to it because you want to spend the time with them, not as payback for a gift. I do not see it as a tit for tat kind of thing.

I wouldn't count the tokens - they are always given out at a CEC party, because there is no charge to get in, and without the tokens, there would be very little to do. I think the tokens are the party.

 

[Kellydelly]

(I'm not doing an official party, since it's on a weekday at 2 pm, there should be plenty of tables and I can do pizza and tokens cheaper with coupons. And I plan to feed all parents and siblings too, since at 2 pm, I can't figure anyone will be that hungry.)

I would expect to buy enough pizza that everyone can have two slices, just the smell of hot pizza can make you hungry even if you already ate lunch! If you don't want to actually feed people a meal, I wouldn't buy any at all, just serve cake.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I wouldn't count the tokens - they are always given out at a CEC party, because there is no charge to get in, and without the tokens, there would be very little to do. I think the tokens are the party.

I would include a take home, but I love to do parties. I guess I feel that if you do provide enough at the party ot have fun there (tokens as in party goody) that is okay. Goody bags are not required for parties, though they are nice. I do not think OP should forgo goody bags at a no gift party if she felt they would be needed for a gift party. She needs to throw a party she would be comfortbale with with out without gifts comming.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I agree that you may be buying a lot more pizza than you think. I too think you need at least 2 slices for adults if you offer for them. Most preschool kids will only eat one though some might eat two. They however tend to drink a lot!!!

I do not like goodies bags either but it might make for an akward good-by if they are expected in your area. If sibbling are included, do not forget to have enough bags and tokens for them.

I might do a small bag with just a few pieces of good candy, or maybe not bags but just a $ store item such as a puzzle or book.

Good luck. Be sure to get there early. We have seen our CC be CRAZY busy early afternoon.

 

[kkwis2]

I personally hate goodie bags - both giving and receiving. I won't do it just because it is "expected". My kids have received them at most parties they have attended. Some have been outrageously big and some quite small with just a few trinkets.

The past few years I have included a project of some sort that the kids do while at the party, and that is what they take home with them.

I my opinion, tokens are plenty for the kids.

 

[mnasf]

Just did my daughter's sixth bday party last week. I asked for no gifts but said we were doing a book exchange instead. Everyone brought a hardcover age appropriate book wrapped. When the child left the party they grabbed a book to bring home. No goody bags or thank you cards. Gotta love it.

And I *think* I asked this last year too.

I'm having my DS 5th birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. (I'm not doing an official party, since it's on a weekday at 2 pm, there should be plenty of tables and I can do pizza and tokens cheaper with coupons. And I plan to feed all parents and siblings too, since at 2 pm, I can't figure anyone will be that hungry.)

I invited his entire PreK class and specified on the invite PLEASE NO GIFTS.

Do I still need to do a goody bag? Don't kids get crap with their prize tickets?

Last year I did a 'no gift' party at the nature center and each kid made a bird feeder which they brought home and I think I did dollar store binoculars.

All opinions welcome! Amy

 

[brymolmom]

I did one for my dd and didn't do a 'real' party there back in Oct. We brought Happy Birthday tableclothes from the dollar store and a couple of balloons and a cookie cake in with us. It worked out great - our 'setup' with the decorated tables looked better than the sample bday party display they had setup there! I highly recommend the tablecloths.

As for goodie bags...You will find that when you go to order drink cups for all the kids that it is only like 99 cents more to upgrade the drink cups to the refillable - bring-back-with-you-every-visit cups with Chuck E on them. That's what I did. I needed to buy them cups for drinks with the pizza anyway - so I spent like $12 more (we had 12 kids there) to upgrade their cups. I put one at each place setting. AND, this part is important - I brought a SHARPIE pen with me so that as each kid sat down I marked their name on the cup - WAY TOO easy to get them confused since they are all identical cups. This way I kept them straight. So everyone got to bring it home and they can either use it at home or bring back to CEC with them for FREE drinks from then on. That's a favor that I don't think parents will mind as much as the 'usual' goodies.

 

[labdogs42]

Just did my daughter's sixth bday party last week. I asked for no gifts but said we were doing a book exchange instead. Everyone brought a hardcover age appropriate book wrapped. When the child left the party they grabbed a book to bring home. No goody bags or thank you cards. Gotta love it.

That is a fantastic idea! It takes all the guesswork out of the whole thing and the awkwardness out of the "no gift" party. I can't wrap my head around the no gift thing because I want to bring something to the party when I go to one. This would be perfect for me. Love it.

As for the goody bag thing, I like to use it as a way to teach my child the joy of giving. He likes picking out things to go in his goody bags for his friends. He is an only child, so he doesn't get a lot of chances to give gifts to other kids. I like having him participate in the goody bag process and I think they are fun to give out!

As for the CEC favors, I think you can buy the kids refillable soda cups for just a few cents more than just the kid soda. I'd go with those so the kids can have all the drinks they want at the party and they can keep the cup as their favor!

 

[JamesMom]

My DS just had a impromptu birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese last week!

For the tables I bought a table cover ($.75), confetti ($1), red paper plates & forks for the cake ($1.50 each).

I baked the cake (Wall-E) ($7 for cake pan, $5 for ingedients)

We had six kids (including my son - invited 15...)

I ordered 2 of the $30 coupon specials - 2 large pizza (1 cheese/1 peperoni), 8 drinks, and 200 tokens. We handed out 5 tokens at a time.
No goody bags - the kids could buy their own crap with the tickets they won. After parents and kids ate and I handed out extra coins at the end - we still had half a pizza left over, 2 drinks and about 30 tokens to save for next time.

The whole thing cost about $85 and got him gifts for $50 (another thread)

I wouldn't do goody bags for chuck E. cheese - they can make their own with their ticket winnings. At Little Gym parties I had goody bags with small toys, but didn't see the need at CeC though I did go to 2 parties there where the parents did hand out bags (they also overpaid for the hosted party, too)

Have fun!

 

[newtodis]

I did DS's 3rd birthday there in Nov. He wanted a Toy Story birthday so I got a cake from Publix and put my own toys (ran them through the dishwasher first) on the cake (cheaper to buy a "plain" cake than one they decorate!). CEC provided the plates and forks so I didn't have to buy that. We provided the cake, pizza, drinks and tokens for the kids. Each kid got a cup of tokens when they got there. The good bags were a little green army man (big bag from Walmart for like $1), a big Toy Story picture (from a Crayola coloring book for like $4), small box of crayons (again from Walmart for like $2) and I think a tatto and sticker. Nothing too crazy plus the kids had a bag to put their "prizes" in that they bought at the end. I didn't want to count on kids getting tickets to buy prizes because some of them were smaller and had more fun doing the "rides" and weren't worried about the tickets.

HTH a little bit!

 

[belle41379]

I don't think goody bags are necessary, but when I do do them, I make sure to do something nice. One year I did a cup for each kid and put a homemade mini coloring book in it themed to the party. It kept the kids busy for a little while, and they already had their drink cup with their name on it. One year I cut different shapes out of foam paper, used a hole puncher to make a hole, then threaded it with the ribbon of the kids choice. I provided markers for them to decorate the hand-made Christmas ornament.

For your party, I like the idea of the refill cups. You could put their name on it, and maybe get a crazy straw (pack of them from $1 Store) to put in it. That way you really have no bags to put together, but it's still something to send them home with.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure it is something you are happy with and WANT to do. A few of the moms around here have made the goody bags into a competition of who puts the best ones together. It's sad, really. Just have fun and make sure you do only the things you want to do for your child and his/her friends.

 

[poohfriend77]

I like the re-usable cup idea!

I'd also suggest maybe providing empty treat bags, like the small gift bag-type with handles, with each child's name on them. The kids can use them to hold all their tokens and tickets, and then use them to carry home their prizes. My DD went to a party at a restaurant like CEC, and all the kids were just piling the tickets on the table. At the end of the party, there was a lot of arguing about whose tickets were whose.

 

[labdogs42]

I like the re-usable cup idea!

I'd also suggest maybe providing empty treat bags, like the small gift bag-type with handles, with each child's name on them. The kids can use them to hold all their tokens and tickets, and then use them to carry home their prizes. My DD went to a party at a restaurant like CEC, and all the kids were just piling the tickets on the table. At the end of the party, there was a lot of arguing about whose tickets were whose.

That's a great idea about the empty bag for keeping their tickets and trinkets in!

 

[Jridou]

Wow, that was really a lot of very helpful feedback! I haven't been to CEC in years, so I had no clue about the refillable cup! (And with 3 kids, I bring a Sharpie everywhere I go. We label EVERYTHING!)

Thanks so much!

Amy