Does anyone have ideas for an alternative to a Party Favor bag?!
Thanks
Answers: My 5 yr old daughters bday is coming up. Party favor bags are fun, and deemed necessary for proper party ettiquete. However they are expensive, and basically filled with usless crap. I am wondering if there is an alternative? Perhaps something small and with more worth then candy or cheap crappy toys, that is fairly inexpensive that I can give out as a parting gift?
Thanks
I totally agree. I call those goody bags full of cheap plastic junk "bags of crap". We can all do without another bag 'o crap. Most of it I throw away anyway within a day of my kids bringing them home. I have done books as well; trickier with 5's as most of them aren't reading yet, but I've bought boxed sets from the Scholastic book orders the schools send home and given those books out; they end up being about $2 each. I will give a book with a fancy lollipop (hard to describe but it's on a 10" stick with a heart or flower shaped candy piece at the end. That way there's still the candy element but not so much that it's overkill. With 5's you need to assume a parent will read the book; go with something with mass appeal like Strawberry Shortcake. Maybe if you go the book route you can consider those paint with water books.
I've also given out seasonally appropriate t-shirts; one of my daughter's birthday is in May and I have given out patriotic tshirts (in stores for Memorial Day, continue wearing all summer/4th of July.) These shirts are easy to find at Target for $5; a little less at Kohls if you use a coupon. Again I package with a lolipop. I have seen them on kids all summer. Other friends who feel the same way have given out hula hoops, those skip-it things (like a jumprope that attaches to your ankle and has a ball at the end), and a stuffed fairy. There are a lot of perfectly cute toys out there in the $5 range; too cheap to give as a gift but perfect as a "party favor" which is what you are giving instead of a bag of crap.
Five year olds might not "get it" right away as to why they aren't getting a plastic bag filled with yo-yos that don't work, teeny paper pads they don't use, etc. but it's fine to explain you are giving "one nice thing" instead of a bunch of "little stuff your mom just throws out".
Give each child one thing of bubbles, a coloring book and crayons. You should look at the dollar store.
buy some terra corta planters and paint, have the kids decorate them them at the end of the party, have each one write a wish on a slpi of paper and put in in the planter, then plant a flower over it. you can buy flowers real cheap[69 cent each] and places like walmart. or have the girls decorate a plain lunch sack [paper] and fill it with free samples, beads, and string. choose something that is both a craft, and a favor. Good luck, wish your daughter a happy birthday!
I normally go to oriental trading company for my party favors, they are fairly cheap.
http://www.orientaltrading.com/
What about books? You could buy paperback books, especially the "Learn to Read" kind or your daughter's favorite for $3 a piece. They are special, educational, fun and probably not quite as expensive as a gift bag.
How about a packet or packets of flower or vegetable seeds that the can plant for the next growing season. Even a few tulip or mixed bulbs which can be planted now for spring.
Perhaps a starter herb pot, planted with a young herb. Check with your local farm & garden store.
It's a little time consuming, but just make them.
Go and get a roll of cellophane and some ribbon. Cut off sections and fill with one or two of those mini containers of playdough. Tie a cookie cutter to the outside.
Another thing I have done, which is a good organized activity is let the kids decorate a paper lunch bag with crayons and stickers. Then I put a few pieces of paper that I have rolled and tied with ribbon and a few mini containers of paint and a paint brush.
You really need to be aware of your crowd for this, but considering the season you can get a cheap box of silver christmas balls and let the kids color them with markers that you get in a craft store. You can do the same with dreidls. I am not sure what Muslim's use for a traditional holiday decoration, it might take a little research, or it might not even be an issue.
I will suggest this Princess Iron Cloth Patches as a Favor
like for example Little Mermaid
http://cgi.ebay.com/Princess-Little-Merm...
Or like all Princess:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Disney-Princess-Part...
They can use after the party to decorate bags, tote bags, and backpacks, hats, clothing, towels.
Congratulations!
The have for all the Princess check it out.