I may be in the minority, but I don't like the idea of treat bags being given out at school. It's one thing if you actually
attend someone's birthday party and give them a gift. The treat bag is sort of a thank you to the guest for coming to your party. When they're given out to an entire class, they seem to lose their meaning. In my son's 3rd grade class, the teacher asks that treat bags not be brought to school. Parents may send cupcakes or cookies and each child in the class draws a picture for the birthday child which is then made into a book. This way, everyone is treated equally and honored on his/her birthday. Just my 2 cents.
I also love the idea of the birthday book made by the class. My daughter's class did this, too. She loves it.
Everywhere we turn, we acquire more stuff. Now my DD brings home a treat bag about 30 times a year from school. Nothing lasts more than a week before hitting the landfill. What a waste of time, money, our world's resources.
Our school encourages a "treat" like a special pencil. (Most parents send a bag with stickers, playdough, a pencil,etc.) The children aren't allowed to bring cupcakes or candy for birthdays or holidays. A healthy initiative supposedly state wide. To be honest, I like this idea. Between twenty some birthdays, plus every holiday party, plus other special things events--my daughter had been eating a cupcake at least once a week at a three day a week preschool. I am not completely anti-treat. . . But I found it frustrating to limit treat intake when the school handed her stuff all the time. It meant I had to say no that much more.
(OT--I am even more frustrated after sports. We provide snack for the darlings after they "play" for thirty minutes of soccer. Some of this is spent on the sidelines, much is standing still. Yet they have to have a snack!!! I have my child there to exercise and burn off some energy (calories.) My child consumed more energy than she burned at the games. The parents bring stuff like a bag of chips and "juice" box (sugar water.) Argh!!)
But back to goody bags. . .
I think the empty canvas bag is more than enough. If the children expect more--that is a huge problem. They shouldn't expect anything. They should be thankful for any treat. A canvas bag is plenty.
We budget pretty tightly. To me, buying a dollar store item (which unless the kid really wants it--is just more clutter.)
Consumable clutter is still clutter. (bubbles, crayons,etc. How many of these kids really don't have markers?! The markers they have or the new ones will just end up in the landfill.)
I want to make my daughter's birthday special, but how many times and places should we really hand out stuff? The junk is only exciting for a minute or two. Then they don't even notice if parents pitch it (or care if they pitch it.)
I agree with your husband. The bag alone is just fine. The kids who don't like that and make it known need a lesson in manners.
