4 year old birthday, I am against goodie bags..is that awful?

[Anonymous]

Is this bad of me? I absolutely hate goodie bags as I always end up throwing the crap out. My kids love it but they never use anything so now my child is turning 4 and I planned a party for her at gymnastics place (not cheap). I don't want to do goodie bags but am I horrible and bad etiquette if I go without them at the party? I was thinking I can give each child a balloon as they leave?

[Anonymous]

Skip them. It's fine.

[Anonymous]

We did early readers. They cost about $2 each and, I thought, were less likely to end up in the trash. 4 is young enough that they'll be disappointed with no favors.

[Anonymous]

I do favors, not goodie bags. One year it was a long bubble wand, one year it was a Hot Wheels car etc. You don't have to do it at all, but I find one item to be much more manageable than a goodie bag. I tend to throw that crap out too.

[Anonymous]

A balloon is a nice goodie bag. As is a sticker book or other small item. It doesn't have to be plastic junk, but kids like goodie bags and I'm happy to find little toys or books to give out.

[Anonymous]

Hate goody bags! Hate the fact that now my kid expects a present every time we go to a party.

[Anonymous]

I do a book. Kids would be happy with a balloon too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hate goody bags! Hate the fact that now my kid expects a present every time we go to a party.

I did, too but at this age I still did a small party favor. I can't remember when I stopped.

OP no goody bags is fine. I think it's a little sad that it's come to be an expectation. You go to a birthday party to give a gift, not get one.

[Anonymous]

My kids would be disappointed but no big deal. You don't need to do a goodie bag full of junk. You could do a book, crayons, etc.

[Anonymous]

My kids LOVE goodie bags. But they have been trained that not everyone does them and to never say "I didn't get my goodie bag." to the hosts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hate goody bags! Hate the fact that now my kid expects a present every time we go to a party.

I did, too but at this age I still did a small party favor. I can't remember when I stopped.

OP no goody bags is fine. I think it's a little sad that it's come to be an expectation. You go to a birthday party to give a gift, not get one.

Party favors have been an expectation for a very long time. Decades, and in the case of wedding favors, centuries. If you're going to throw a party, you can thank your guests for coming. You can even do them the favor of giving them some small gift that they would like, rather than a bag of plastic toys that are immediately tossed in the trash.

[Anonymous]

Kids love balloons!

[Anonymous]

We do a nice favor, never a goodie bag. We have done homemade play dough, tutus, necklaces, and sand buckets. One nicer item instead of loads of junk.

[Anonymous]

I'd do a gymnastics ribbon on a stick toy. I've bought them for $2. Can be used in the party too

[Anonymous]

We have been to a few parties with no favors and my kids haven't noticed! And I didn't hear any other kids whining upon exit. Go for it--you really can do whatever you want.