Goody bags for birthday parties???

[jjj444]

Do you guys do goody bags? I have 15 boys coming to a R/C car shop where they have a track and race the cars. I am doing pizza, drinks and cake. Do I need goody bags? It always seems like they get a bunch of little do-dads that I end up throwing away. How do you feel about goody bags? Yah or nay? Id yah-what do you give?? Thanks

 

[Soulsearching]

Do you guys do goody bags? I have 15 boys coming to a R/C car shop where they have a track and race the cars. I am doing pizza, drinks and cake. Do I need goody bags? It always seems like they get a bunch of little do-dads that I end up throwing away. How do you feel about goody bags? Yah or nay? Id yah-what do you give?? Thanks

I always gave out something at the end of a party, but your right it seems like they do get a bunch of little do-dads.

One thing that always seemed to go over well was a Hershey bar wrapped in the party themed wrapper. I made them on the computer, cut and wrapped them around the bar. Gave out one each and they were on their way.

So easy to do. You could do one in black and white check with a Race Car, your sons name and a thank you for coming on it.

 

[mjkacmom]

My kids always get a goody bag, or some token. I like to give an object (personalized candy bar, kickball, hula hoop - depends on the ages, sex, and theme). How old?

 

[cari12]

I always do goody bags for the kids parties. However instead of filling it with dollar store junk that ends up in the garbage, I try to find useful things that kids that age like. For example play doh/bubbles for preschool/kindergarten age. Lip balm/small craft kit/bracelets for girls. Themed pencils and notepads (kids love to draw, write lists etc.). And a few treats.
We are having a Christmas party with 11 kids aged 3-10. I do up goody bags in lieu of gifts. This year I am putting in Christmas pencils, snowman stick eraser, an activity pad, Christmas jelly belly jelly beans, Christmas Kit Kat bar and then a TRU gift card.

 

[jjj444]

it is for boys ages 7-10. Not all of them can have candy and with Christmas coming and the school parties he will get alll the pencils, erasers and notebook plus a ton of candy. I am paying a lot for the party at a place and feeding them too. I really don't want to spend anymore money especially on something that may get thrown away

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

No--you do not NEED to.

I like to because it is nice and I keep it low key.

For my dd's birthday party a couple months ago, she picked candy corn, party size play doh and then barbie paper cups that held the candy corn and fit with her theme.

Simple, low key and not too pricy at all.

 

[peekinglemer]

I didn't this year for my son's 6th birthday held at a gym. Each kid was given a helium balloon on the way out so I figured that was enough.

I know my son likes to get a little goodie bag at the end of a party but to be honest with you he has a bunch of full-sized play-dough so he never uses the smaller ones; we had so many pencils from various parties that we never even sharpened that just sit around collecting dust and those tiny things of bubble never seem to get played with either. Honesty...most stuff ends up in my trash after a few days. I say save your money. The experience is what is fun and what they will remember, NOT the trinkets.

JMO.

 

[mjkacmom]

it is for boys ages 7-10. Not all of them can have candy and with Christmas coming and the school parties he will get alll the pencils, erasers and notebook plus a ton of candy. I am paying a lot for the party at a place and feeding them too. I really don't want to spend anymore money especially on something that may get thrown away

While I understand not wanting to waste money, 99% of birthday parties here are held out, averaging $18 a head (although we've attended some that cost over $25 pp), and there is always some sort of goody. I still remember going to a popular CEC-like place, $23 pp, and the "goody" was a Barbie doll. I remember another mom commenting "sh**! That is what I bought her!"

 

[bigmama67]

I always give something (though we have had DS' last two parties here at home). When he turned 7 we were new in town and I invited his whole class. I went to the dollar section at Michaels and got very cool wooden animal puzzles, all different (the kind where you actually build the animal) and we wrapped them up like a present.

Last year he had a LEGO party and at the beginning, each kid got a small LEGO racer toy to put together - it was also a contest to see who could do it first. I got these at Five Below for $3 each and they were also the favors. We also had games with some Star Wars LEGO sets (also small) as prizes.

This year we are having a bowling party for him (this coming weekend, in fact), and I have bought the Target LEGO gift cards. I had to put money on the cards in order to be able to get them, but then I spent the money and will just give the sets to the boys. I'm sure they'll love them, and I don't really mind if anyone figures out that these were, effectively, free LEGO - they are super cute! (I made sure to get one for DS too, and left $5 on it).

So, while I can understand not wanting to get anything junky, there are ways. ;o)

Have fun, whatever you decide!

 

[TosaTrio]

I always give goody bags but I buy one nicer item rather than a bunch of junk. This year I got each girl a lil kinz which I found for $4 each. I think the Lego suggestion is a great one for boys. You can find Lego party favors for as little as $2-$3.

 

[Swimalie]

It's not a necessity but I always give one out. Since you are doing a car themed party, how about some car legos? If you have 5 Below near you, they sell them for around $4 per set and that's all you'd need to give.

 

[McKelly]

I think McDonalds and Dairy Queen have Christmas coupons out right now. You could rip those apart and give one to each boy (free ice-cream or something like that) with a crazy straw or a packet of hot chocolate. You could even put the coupon in a thank you card - generic, thanks for sharing my birthday with me...and it will save you the trouble later.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

it is for boys ages 7-10. Not all of them can have candy and with Christmas coming and the school parties he will get alll the pencils, erasers and notebook plus a ton of candy. I am paying a lot for the party at a place and feeding them too. I really don't want to spend anymore money especially on something that may get thrown away

If you already KNOW you don't want to spend more money on goody bags, why are you asking whether or not you should do goody bags?

 

[Swimalie]

I think McDonalds and Dairy Queen have Christmas coupons out right now. You could rip those apart and give one to each boy (free ice-cream or something like that) with a crazy straw or a packet of hot chocolate. You could even put the coupon in a thank you card - generic, thanks for sharing my birthday with me...and it will save you the trouble later.

Good idea. At one birthday party we went to at a jump place, the mom handed out $3 gift cards to Cold Stone. They were a hit!

 

[QVCshopper]

I don't like junk, but I think it's good to give something. Yes, I've fallen into the goody bag habit, but this year my DD has a Build A Bear party, so everyone got a bear plus a pack of foil BAB stickers. I'm actually surprised how affordable the party was ... We just did cupcakes, juice, and BAB.

Other years, I've done nice coloring page tubes and cars tied to balloons. Or, at the ice cream shop party, I stuck stickers into their goodie bags which came with a free ice cream cone coupon. I picked up the .39 cent Legos for my son's party this year. For me, the key is to shop early to find the great clearances, which is like getting good stuff at junk prices. After holiday sales like Targets 90% off are especially good.

 

[Patience]

I would place a Hot Wheel car at each child's place setting and call it good. Or, if you want to spend a bit more, the Lego car kit. I usually do not give goody bags but each child goes home with a little something. For example, the year my oldest had a swim party, each child received a pair of swim goggles. The year we had a horseback riding party, each child received a toy horse. For my 4 year old who's birthday is in the spring, we are going to a local strawberry farm and having a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party. Each child will get to pick and take home a small basket of strawberries.