Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

[Anonymous]

I would hate most of these. So, you can't win. What you think is great will not be great for most of the guests.

[Anonymous]

One year at a backyard birthday party, I took a group photo of all the kids as soon as everyone had arrived. During the party, I used our color printer to print out copies for each guest.

We had a station set up with unfinished wooden frames from the craft store, a bunch of little wood/craft foam shapes and letters to glue on, and some paint pens. The kids each decorated a frame, and at the end we gave them a party photo to put in it.

I thought it worked well because it was both an activity and a favor.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We've tied party favors in the party theme.

One year we did a s'mores party -- gave kids the metal stick as a favor .. as I labeled them with their names

One party sleepover we puffy painted pillow cases .. Every kid takes theirs home -- that was the favor.

We did pillow cases at a slumber party once. I used printable iron-on sheets to put a b&w graphic on them, and they used fabric markers to color the design and sign each other’s pillow cases.

DD used hers as a camp pillow case for a couple of years afterward.

[Anonymous]

It’s so hard yet the kids go crazy over that closing gift!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We've tied party favors in the party theme.

One year we did a s'mores party -- gave kids the metal stick as a favor .. as I labeled them with their names

One party sleepover we puffy painted pillow cases .. Every kid takes theirs home -- that was the favor.

We planted seeds in biodegradable pots for a Lorax-themed party. I also made Truffula tree pencils, with brightly-colored fake fur glued to the end.

[Anonymous]

One helium ballon per child bought from dollar store. Tied a goody bag to the end of each balloon along with a balloon weight and used the cluster of balloons as a photo prop and decoration for the party.

I used brown lunch bag instead of plastic goody bag.
It contained a packet of goldfish, one pack of rice krispy treat bar, one individually packed ring pop, one bottle of bubbles. Most of the kids had some kind of allergy to nuts or gluten, so this was my solution. Most of the stuff came from Costco, and the bubbles came from Dollar store.

Tried to keep the price of each goody bag, less than $5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Awww that’s so cute!

[Anonymous]

I would not do goodie bags, but the birthday child wants them...so I do things like pencils and mini notebooks or post it notes, stickers, fruit snacks or a lollipop, one year we did a sports party so I gave tee balls. The dollar tree often has small crayola colored pencils and different crayons- neon, pastels so I have given those. I have also done socks with the party character. If we do an activity that they take home, I don't do a goodie bag. I try not to give into the plastic/one time use favors.

[Anonymous]

I also think you generally have no idea whether a gift was truly loved or tossed after an hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Live goldfish!

I hope you are joking

The kids loved it and the parents still talk about it years later!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Live goldfish!

No!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Live goldfish!

I hope you are joking

The kids loved it and the parents still talk about it years later!

In not a good way. I would leave gold fish behind...I have cats so fish would not last long

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Live goldfish!

I hope you are joking

The kids loved it and the parents still talk about it years later!

In not a good way. I would leave gold fish behind...I have cats so fish would not last long

It was a hit! A few parents still call my daughter "Goldfish"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We've tied party favors in the party theme.

One year we did a s'mores party -- gave kids the metal stick as a favor .. as I labeled them with their names

One party sleepover we puffy painted pillow cases .. Every kid takes theirs home -- that was the favor.

We did pillow cases at a slumber party once. I used printable iron-on sheets to put a b&w graphic on them, and they used fabric markers to color the design and sign each other’s pillow cases.

DD used hers as a camp pillow case for a couple of years afterward.

So fun for them! Love it!