Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 13:38     Subject: Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

Nothing is great! We have done books, stuffies, maybe bubbles when kids were 5 and under. As kids get older they learn that it's all junk and their treat is to come to a nice party. All the kids who complain haven't been invited again. Not because they complained but because over the next year they and my kid (who is not into junk) have grown apart.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 13:36     Subject: Re:Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

I did books when my kids were little. Now that they're older I focus on larger consumables - recently did hot chocolate bombs.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 13:34     Subject: Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

My kids have attended a few parties where each person brought a wrapped book and then each guest went home with one of them. In lieu of a gift, though.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 13:33     Subject: Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

Homemade play doh wrapped in wax paper?
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 13:33     Subject: Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

It depends - had a spa party theme for my daughter and did bath bombs, another party was a pottery party and they took home the pottery they made as their favor. When they were younger, stuff like a bubble wand to take home.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 13:32     Subject: Re:Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

Anonymous wrote:That is a great age for bubbles! I gave these big bubble sticks: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B086T62PPR?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title


Landfill for thousands of years after a few minutes of enjoyment.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 13:30     Subject: Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

We've done bath bombs. It literally disintegrates and goes down the drain. Package with paper packaging and done, no waste.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 12:43     Subject: Re:Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

That is a great age for bubbles! I gave these big bubble sticks: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B086T62PPR?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 12:28     Subject: Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

Stickers (the nice big ones the kids like to put on their water bottles). Theme-related snack. Or try to think of something seasonally useful, one of my kids has an October birthday so we’ve done those glow sticks on a necklace that kids wear for trick or treating. I’ve also done little bottles of sunscreen + sunglasses for my early summer birthday kid.

I know you said no candy, but we will do 1 ring pop in the bag, kids seem to love those.

But honestly I don’t think you have to do anything. As a parent I also hate cheap plastic crap. Please no more finger skateboards, little gooey creators, pop it key chains (my kids get like 10+ of these each year between bday and other holiday goodie bags).
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 12:27     Subject: Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

Skip the party favors. I have three kids and have never given party favors, and no one cares.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 12:27     Subject: Re:Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

Art supplies and coloring books from dollar tree. They have an assortment now and are actually good.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 12:27     Subject: Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

Art kits, bubbles
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 12:24     Subject: Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

Age 5. I like the idea of easy reader books!
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 12:23     Subject: Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

What age? I sometimes found easy reader books for cheap (99 cents) and gave them out rather than candy/plastic junk. Little bags of popcorn or tiny plants or soil/packets of seeds with a little pot are also nice.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2025 12:21     Subject: Birthday party - Alternatives to "junk" party favors

What do you put in a party favor bag that isn't candy or plastic junk? Looking for affordable recommendations. Or is it allowed to skip party favors altogether??