I don’t see what’s wrong with books. We’ve done one of the scholastic paperback samplers and put it out in a basket, so everyone can grab one. If you end up with one you already have it’s no big deal — just donate to class library or a little free library or a neighbor. Peole always want books. When I put them on boy nothing, they are gone same day. Something like an assortment of magic tree house, or who is, or I survived or anything like that would be good for those ages. I don’t think there’s as much range as you think on 7-9–even the kids who are readying Percy Jackson as happy to read a quick little something.
A bag of candy is also fine but I find that the kids just eat it in the car after already having cake.
I just hate the small plastic toys.

DO NOTHING. The party was the thing. Can we please all stop cluttering each others’ homes, wasting money, wasting time and effort, and hurting the environment with these obnoxious bags of garbage? Please?!

A friend of mine, for a snake/terrarium party (we lived in Florida), did a play snake of nicer quality with a tag - “thanks for coming to Marlo’s party!” Or some such words.

It was a good idea. Each of my 3 kids loved those snakes for a couple of years.

I *have* tried to do this, and it gets hard depending on the theme of the party.

We once did a late-night non-sleepover with our young dd. We sent them home with a Duck donut for the morning. I put them in cellophane bags, shut with a nice label. That was the party favor, and I think it worked too.

My boys love Minecraft so we got these inflatable Minecraft swords and everyone took one home.

We've gotten an activity book (word puzzles, mazes, hidden pictures, etc.) before as a party favor and I thought that was a good idea.

We give a bag of the birthday child’s favorite candies.

If you do nothing - be prepared for kids to ask you where the goody bag is on the way out - it's fine if you're fine saying there is none but don't expect no one to notice.

One year I did a lego party and the kids got a lego kit to make and I didn't do a separate favor and on the way out some kids asked about the favor and I was like - uh, it's all the legos you're taking home right now. I don't really care but for what it's worth - that was my experience!

Kids just say the darndest things - they have no filter and they're just trying to make sense of things. One year - I had a party for my other son and invited the whole class. The next day was his actual bday and I went in to school - and instead of giving a food treat like everyone else, I gave little lego notebooks and pens and a kid in the class said - why didn't you bring in cupcakes? And in my head I am thinking - I gave you a cupcake for his bday YESTERDAY, how many cupcakes do you need for his bday? LOL.

Anyway - my kids like anything for the favor - something consumable is fine! Sometimes I try to go with the theme - idk what your theme is.

You should give them a free entry into a trampoline place.

If you want to give something, a nice lollypop or cookie would be great.

Having none is just fine, although somebody will comment (theres always somebody).

We had the kids decorate fabric pencil cases and then use them for pinata candy.

Hosted a similar party this weekend for the same ages. No goody bags were given. Maybe the kids complained in the car but they didn’t around me. Stop the goody bag madness.

Nothing! It’s so freeing!

It’s fine to do nothing. Really. If you really care, a few prices of candy or a cookie are fine.

I hate goody bags, but I know the kids expect them. I once did pop rocks and a whoopie cushion, which was a big hit. Normally, I do books and a candy of some sort (like blow pop). I have a wide array of books and they can find something in the basket. I buy tons in bulk at costco or on scholastic website and give them out like candy. When my kids have outgrown them I pack all the unused (and some of the used) ones and off they go to my godson. I think from there they get donated to a used kids bookstore. Nothing I like less than plastic crap that ends up in the landfill.

What I can hand out instead of (or inside of) a goody bag at my kid’s 7th birthday party. The party is 10 kids, a mix of boys and girls and ages 7-9, held at a trampoline place.

I don’t want to do gift certificates (feels weird) or books (who knows what everyone has, plus the age range is significant). What might be fun? A slinky? A big rainbow lollypop? A pop it thing?

Is it ok to do nothing at all? Personally, I’m never into goody bags as a parent.