Would it be wrong not to give party favors? - Page 2

[P,T&C'sMom]

When did the whole "gift bags" thing start? When I was little, you went to the party, you played, ate cake and ice cream, gave a gift and went home. I don't think it is a bad thing for a child to not get a "gift" at someone else's party. I always fill a pinata full of candy and treats, pass out baggies/sacks and let them go wild. I love the string pinata because you don't have to worry about anyone getting hurt and it is exciting. I think that is way more fun than silly little gifts that I always throw away when we get home anyway!

[BusyMommy]

I'm sure someone's already mentioned this but we make our party favors. We usually have 3-4 craft stations set up and they bring home their creations. Last b'day we made tye-dyed silk capes & that was a blast.

[JenniferKSwan]

From a parent of a child with multiple food allergies, including that ever so lovely peanut, I can't begin to tell you how much better I would feel if more parents did art projects as opposed to handing out candy. One could wish that is what the future would bring but since I live in an area of one yuppy trying to outdo another yuppy, I can at least look forward to it at his parties.

Prior to his birth, I worked at a Jewish Temple and was very involved in the coordination of bar / bat mitzvah parties. It never failed to amaze me that parents were more concerned that they were throwing a better party than the family before them than the actual religious significance of the event. One family even rented out The Fox Theatre in Atlanta...when I think of how much money was spent and how many people that could have fed, well to quote the Rabbi "Oy Vey!"

[RubyWild]

A small annual makes a nice party favor.

[maya44]

I simply love throwing parties and for me putting together a gift bag is part of the fun.

I seldom do candy, though as my dd's got older, I often do some cool kind of gum. It's become my dd's "trademark" to give away some really unusual kind of gum

I tie the give away to the theme of the party and really try for it not be just junk. Often its something we've used at the party.

This year one of my dd's had a "before sleep away camp goodbye dinner" and all the girls exchanged addresses in the address book I got them. They also got a mesh backpack (Oriental Trading) as part of the goody bag.

I also had a pool party and gave away flowered flip flops (Target Dollar Spot, got to love it).

One time I had an art party and each girl got her own art kit. You know the one the comes in a case and had paints, crayons and markers in it (again Target and on Major sale).

Oh and I had a Hula Pary. The girls got to keep the Leis they wore but the goody bag was a Hoola Hoop (A play on "hula' that amused me, but probably nobody else!")

So I am really into goody bags. But you do NOT have to have one!

[MamaBug]

As the years have gone by the party favors I make have shrunk. If we do a pinata that is usually the favor. If we have parties at places ( this year it was a hockey game) I try to make theme tee shirts and that is the favor. I agree that doing crafts is also great and the kids love it. Just try really hard to plan easy crafts that will be fully dry when the kids leave

[medeanj]

Agree with most other pp. Party favors are not required and most is plastic/sugary garbage anyway. Last year for my twins' first b'day we did the pinata thing, that what they grabbed they took home.

This year we had a baking party. Each child received their own canvas apron and made egg/milk free rolls. If they ate the dough, the kid wouldn't get sick. They went home with their own apron and rolls they made.

[UUMom]

I don't think you have to, but my children like to give something to parting quests. It's part of the fun for them. I don't usually give out candy (well, maybe just a little in the pinata- but we've also put granola bars, gum, pennies and such in them), but over the years we've given out board books, bubbles, home made playdough, paperbacks that go with the theme of the party, stickers, crayons, markers, glue sticks, pencils, little cars etc.

Kids also like to decorate cupcakes, so I've often done that and then put them in baggies for the children to take home. I've also found little treats of pencils and stickers are helpful in getting children to go home. lol

[LuckyMommaToo]

I agree that I hate getting a bunch of junk. Last year for DS's construction-themed party, we gave our construction hats and a mix CD of some of his favorite songs (cleverly titled "Ronan's Cement Mix(er)"). But I wouldn't think anything of it if there were no favors.
-Erin

[marybethorama]

I think party favors can be fun (some great ideas here) but they're not mandatory IMO

I think it's perfectly okay not to give them out.

[RubyWild]

Originally Posted by medeanj

Agree with most other pp. Party favors are not required and most is plastic/sugary garbage anyway. Last year for my twins' first b'day we did the pinata thing, that what they grabbed they took home.

This year we had a baking party. Each child received their own canvas apron and made egg/milk free rolls. If they ate the dough, the kid wouldn't get sick. They went home with their own apron and rolls they made.

That's a great party favor. I'm in favor of party favors. In fact, I'd skip the junk in the piñata in favor of giving them a plant or and apron or a set of crayons with pencils or something useful.

[Babytime]

We always do goodie bags -- it's a highlight for my daughter -- but we are careful with what we select. I don't want to pay for bags of junk anymore than parents want their kids to come home with bags of junk! Some of the favors we received recently were great -- a flowerpot with a packet of seeds; a bucket with sand shovels.

This year we are having a luau and the kids are getting t-shirts that my DD helped tie dye and a hula hoop. My DD also picked out bubbles, rock candy and luau bracelets. We stamped paper bags with hibiscus flowers and Hawaiian t-shirts to put all the goodies into. They are also getting leis when they arrive plus party hats and noise makers. For a craft they are decorating picture frames with shells so they will be bringing those home in their goodie bags. The rock candy is junk, but otherwise I think the kids will enjoy the other items.

[JulesP]

You don't have to do favours at all, but I think they can be fun

I think the definition of 'favour' is part of the problem - to my mind the pinata goodies would be a favour, just put them in a neat little bag to take home with them.

When the boys have a party I always get a bag per child and pop in a balloon, a small token gift (a crayon or something similar) and a lollipop or similar small sweet (candy). Over the course of the party, any prizes won from party games get added to the bag and everyone gets a slice of birthday cake wrapped in a napkin.

I'm not sure what I'll do when they get older and want to do 'activities' rather than party games and cake

[suckyfish1]

You are having a pinata so you you ARE giving party favors. Other than that I wouldnt give anything else. How much junk do you actually let your kids east out of thosde goodie bags? lol Mine maybe gets two or three pieces and then it sits in a cabinet until I throw it away. I think too many prents just over do it these days.