No Goody Bags

[Porcelain Interior]

What's the general attitude about not getting a goody bag at a children's birthday party?

[BellinghamCrunchie]

My DD cried all the way home when she went to a party that didn't have goody bags (she's 4.5). A few of the other kids were disappointed, too. It didn't seem to matter that they had a fun time and had cake and ice cream and played games. She didn't get over it quickly, either. Four months later she's still trying to process that she didn't get a goody bag. Its like goody bags are now part of the american birthday party ritual, and some kids aren't able to be flexible to deviations from that.

I wish goody bags had never been introduced I like old-fashioned cake and ice cream parties and fun and that's that. But it seems to mean a lot to DD to get that darn bag, and I am not going to take her to another party where I know she won't be able to not feel hurt and disappointed. Better to just skip it.

[Alyantavid]

We do goody bags at our kids' parties. All of the kids have been thrilled with them. At ds1's last party, a bunch of his friends were there and they all seemed really surprised by them.

I don't think they should be expected. My kids have never said a word about not getting one and love it when they do.

[daytripper75]

We don't do them and no one has ever commented. However I usually rent a helium tank and have a gazillion balloons. Everyone takes home a balloon and a gc for an ice cream cone.

[zinemama]

I think they are ridiculous. At least, the ones I've seen. An assortment of cheap plastic junk that gets broken in a minute. A waste of money.

We tend to send littler kids home with a helium balloon. I've also gone to the library's book thrift store, where you can get hardcovers for 50 cents and wrapped those nicely to hand out as kids leave. Or we make something (craft project) that kids can take home with them.

[ChetMC]

In Defense of Goody Bags

I like having our kids prepare goody bags to give to their friends. I think that it helps to take the focus off of the host child just getting stuff at their birthday party.

Also, kids really seem to enjoy goody bags. Our kids don't get candy and junky toys on a regular basis, but I can tell you that the enjoyment they get out of even the crappiest treat bag (containing the junkiest of the candy and dollar store toys) is worth the trouble that went into making it.

I don't think our kids would be upset if they didn't get a treat bag at a party. They're still at the stage of it being a surprise when the goody bags come out when it's time to leave. It can be so hard for young kids to have the party end, that a little bag of surprises really seems to help ease the transition.

For the record though, I think that any give-away or take home falls into the same category. Letting kids take home helium balloons, a single $4 or $5 item, or a craft that they made at the party is really the same thing as a treat bag as far as I'm concerned.

I appreciate the complaints on MDC about really junky goody bags, but there are so many nice and inexpensive favour ideas. In the spring, I got neat little "Grow Your Own Tree" kits from the dollar spot at Target for $1. Or I saw somebody on MDC recently who sent home playdoh and mini rolling pins they made by cutting up dowel from the hardware store.

[marybethorama]

I'd personally be thrilled.

The kids would probably be okay as they're older now. They might have been upset when they were younger, but I don't know.

[aprons_and_acorns]

Originally Posted by Porcelain Interior

What's the general attitude about not getting a goody bag at a children's birthday party?

The last birthday party we went to didn't have goody bags. DS (age 5) didn't notice it or mention it to me if he did.

We didn't have goody bags at DS's birthday party either. No one said anything to me or to him about it. It was a really casual party, just lemonade, cupcakes and playing.

[mamazee]

I hope you start a trend.

I'm not so brave, but I am trying to substitute something else for goody bags. Last year, I got Dover coloring books.

[CanBoo]

Originally Posted by ChetMC

I don't think our kids would be upset if they didn't get a treat bag at a party. They're still at the stage of it being a surprise when the goody bags come out when it's time to leave. It can be so hard for young kids to have the party end, that a little bag of surprises really seems to help ease the transition.

For the record though, I think that any give-away or take home falls into the same category. Letting kids take home helium balloons, a single $4 or $5 item, or a craft that they made at the party is really the same thing as a treat bag as far as I'm concerned.

I appreciate the complaints on MDC about really junky goody bags, but there are so many nice and inexpensive favour ideas. In the spring, I got neat little "Grow Your Own Tree" kits from the dollar spot at Target for $1. Or I saw somebody on MDC recently who sent home playdoh and mini rolling pins they made by cutting up dowel from the hardware store.

I like what Cht MC said...
I did not used to be in favour of a goody bag, but I now like them. It is the easiest way to bring back DD1 to the car after all the fun.
In the past I've also given a single inexpensive toy per child, which is the same as the goodie bag in my mind too.
It doesn't have to be just sugar and crappy toys. My DH cousin put socks in the ones from her son's 3rd b-day along with a juice box. All the kids were happy with that.

[savannah smiles]

DD1 is having a party this Saturday and I was thinking that since she's getting older (she'll be 8) that I could get away w/ not doing them. My dh, however, really wanted to do them so we are. I am making sure to get decent little gifts, not cheap ones.

[orangefoot]

We don't do goody bags either. You have a good time, you eat cake and ice cream and jelly and you go home happy. At least it seems to work for us and new friends have commented on the fact that their kids didn't even notice that they didn't get a bag of tat to take home.

[bugginsmom]

We do them and it has always been a nicer type toy/favor in a bag with a healthy theme oriented snack. For the farm theme several years ago, we added an apple with a Dover coloring book and crayons, this year my ds is having a steam locomotive theme and we are giving out those metal heavy duty pencil sharpeners in the shape of a steam locomotive, two train pencils, and personalized note pad (that I made for each child) and bag of homemade trail mix. All of the birthday parties we go to have favors and I would actually feel awkward not doing them, since ds has received some really nice favors from his friends parties. Also, I agree with the pp who said whether it is in a bag or not, if you give the guests something as a party favor, they make a take home craft, etc. it is the same as giving them a goody bag.

ETA: It is also part of the fun for us when planning the party. DS helps me pick out the favors, assemble the bags, decorate the bags and hand them out to his friends. It's all part of the process and he really enjoys the act of giving, so it works wonderfully for us to have him involved.

ETA: (again!) That my ds doesn't expect them and I would care less if someone else didn't do them, as I don't think they are necessary. I honestly can't remember a party without them since my son has been attending parties. I never had a party as a child nor was I ever invited to any , so I can't speak as to what it was like during my childhood.

[newbymom05]

I"m not a fan because they are almost always candy and plastic junk, but DS is thrilled by them. He's 4.5 and doesn't expect one, but then again, I don't think we've ever been to a party w/o them. Around here, goody bags are as much a part of the celebration as the cake.

[Drummer's Wife]

My kids would not even notice.

ETA:

We did hand them out at DD's party, but it's not something they would ever expect.

[vbactivist]

[QUOTE=BellinghamCrunchie;14461197]My DD cried all the way home when she went to a party that didn't have goody bags (she's 4.5). A few of the other kids were disappointed, too. It didn't seem to matter that they had a fun time and had cake and ice cream and played games. She didn't get over it quickly, either. Four months later she's still trying to process that she didn't get a goody bag. Its like goody bags are now part of the american birthday party ritual, and some kids aren't able to be flexible to deviations from that.

I wish goody bags had never been introduced I like old-fashioned cake and ice cream parties and fun and that's that. But it seems to mean a lot to DD to get that darn bag, and I am not going to take her to another party where I know she won't be able to not feel hurt and disappointed. Better to just skip it.[/QUOTE]

Are you really saying that if there won't be a goody bag, you won't attend the party? couldn't you explain to your daughter that it's the birthday child's special day, and so she gets teh present. but taht youyr daughter gets to enjoy the party, playing,eating cake etc...? I am surprised by this.

also, will you ask when you call to rxvp, "will there be a goody bag, because if not, we won't come?"

[karemore]

We've been to a lot of parties in the past few years and we have always come home with a goodie bag or some token.

It would be noticed here and the kids would be disappointed if there wasn't something. Even a balloon would be fine, a flower to plant, an extra cupcake they decorated, all those are fine substitutes for a plastic bag with plastic junk.

I don't mind the plastic junk bags either. I put them in a large bag in the closet and when we are heading on a road trip I mix them all up and pull them out at intervals to entertain DD, it works great.

[loraxc]

I hate them and I don't do them. In our circle, some people do them and some don't.

I think that if a kid can't have fun without a goody bag...well, I dunno. I'm not that sympathetic to that.

FWIW, we have also always had no-gifts parties.

[GardenStream]

My oldest is 3, so we're just getting started with the b-day parties. I hate the goody bags, but thankfully we've only been to one party that had them. The last party was a no gift and no goody bag party. That was wonderful. The kids did a tour of the farm, a hay ride, everyone got to pick out pumpkins, and then they all got their choice of a cupcake or an apple.

[caiesmommy]

I HATE GOODY BAGS!..for the most part! Ds is 3 and I have to search through them constantly, we have a no gun policy and it seems like almost every b-day party gives some form of a weapon and we're vegan so I have to make sure there's no chocolate or ds will get very ill.

We do give out loot bags for ds's bday. Last year it was an assortment of toys-bubbles-playdough-crayons(all toys that get used up) and raisins/fruit leather.

This year ds had a train themed b-day party and F-I-L made all the kids wooden train whistles and we got wooden trains from the dollar store. Each kid got a train whistle and a train...that's it and truthfully the kids didn't seem to expect them but we're totally excited by the whistles when they got them