Gift bags for 4yo birthday party?

[Anonymous]

My 4yo daughter is having a birthday party in a few weeks. We need to get gift bags for the 20ish children that wil be attending. Does anyone have an idea for a gift that would be appreciated by the kids and their parents? All we have ever received before is cheap candy and crayons. What can we get for under $3 per bag that would not be thrown directly in the trash?

TIA

[Anonymous]

I know people hate the cheap stuff, but my kid just LOVES playing with it. Only for a day or so, but still, he enjoys it.

However, one of the things he got a lot of mileage from was a punching ball-type balloon that I blew up for him.

http://www.amazon.com/Neon-Punch-Balloons-Party-Favors/dp/B0052FC8XU

Other than that, paint or craft kits are fun. Even if they are cheap. Sometimes especially if they are cheap. I get those at Michael's.

[Anonymous]

Bubbles, matchbox cars, balls of varying sorts and sizes, snacks for the ride home. Generally, one item rather than a bag o'crap is generally appreciated.

[Anonymous]

please please skip those bags, who needs the crap? maybe a coloring bookw/crayons or a book of some sort, a puzzle book, puzzle instead? A coupon for an ice cream, wow anything rather than a bunch of plastic toys, stickers, a mini-notebook etc etc. I personally feel you don't need to have any gift but that's me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:please please skip those bags, who needs the crap? maybe a coloring bookw/crayons or a book of some sort, a puzzle book, puzzle instead? A coupon for an ice cream, wow anything rather than a bunch of plastic toys, stickers, a mini-notebook etc etc. I personally feel you don't need to have any gift but that's me

Agreed. In the past, I have given a gift card to a bookstore but mostly, my group of friends does not do these bags.

[Anonymous]

Those cheap balls from the grocery store or target...they ar the size of a basketball but are only a couple bucks. They will last long enough to play for a while and then..trash. Or a bag of M&M's with a bow on it. Who doesn't love M&M's.

[Anonymous]

I'm all for goodie bags that do not contain candy or choking hazards. Unfortunately, most of the bags we get have both. Seriously, many parents have younger children and don't need a bag of choking hazards in the car for the 2 year old to grab.

Here's what I like:
a small coloring book w/ 1 crayon or 1 washable marker.
bubbles
playdoh
balls - but not the small choking hazard ones.

[Anonymous]

My DD got the best goody toy recently- a small (cantaloupe size) inflatable beach ball. It's been a big hit since it's the only ball they're allowed to throw in the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:please please skip those bags, who needs the crap? maybe a coloring bookw/crayons or a book of some sort, a puzzle book, puzzle instead? A coupon for an ice cream, wow anything rather than a bunch of plastic toys, stickers, a mini-notebook etc etc. I personally feel you don't need to have any gift but that's me

I like this idea.

Another vote for 'Skip the gift bags!'.

[Anonymous]

I agree with others-don't give food. There are kids with food allergies and sugar issues and...what if the kid begs the parent to let her eat it and the parent feels the kid had enough sugar that day...the parent is stuck with whining..not a good gift. I and my children appreciate bubbles, side-walk chalk, stickers, inflatable beach balls, and little pretend toys which I guess tend to be gender oriented and perhaps biased (e.g cars for boys). I am totally fine with skipping the gift bag. I do not expect my child to get one and sometimes I have felt genuinely uncomfortable when i have seen how lavish some are. I don't want my kid to expect to go to some else's birthday and get that generous a gift just for attending. A "glad you came" is enough.

[Anonymous]

My 4 yo daughter doesn't really expect anything from a birthday party except for cake and ice cream. I'd rather leave with nothing that a piece of junk that she'll cry over when it breaks, or candy that I'm afraid she'll choke on...

So my rec: a balloon. It doesn't even have to be helium filled. Just a soft, squishy regular ol' balloon on a string.

Or nothing.

Or stickers! Even just one strip of stickers from a pack, and she's THRILLED!

[Anonymous]

Here's another idea:

Get paper "superhero" masks from orientaltradingcompany.com. Get some self adhesive start etc. stickers. Put a couple-a stickers and the superhero mask into a bag, and vioala! Instant fun decorating the mask. Or hat. Or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Balloons are a big choking hazard, sadly.

My four year old loves glow sticks (I often find them in the $1 section at Target, for a tube of 10) and stickers. Maybe those cute old-fashioned boxes of animal crackers with the string handle.

[Anonymous]

Have the kids take a balloon as they leave. They get a gift, you get help cleaning up.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for NO goody bags. Just a simple single item is wonderful.