An inexpensive book, bubbles, or sidewalk chalk. Things that get used up are the best, and kids always like bubbles.

Chalk, bubbles, temporary tattoos, play doh, silly putty, stickers. Maybe a wrapped treat like a lollipop.

My kids have gotten a few of these birthday goody bags and they love it. I’m pretty minimalist but don’t mind it either, this year.

This may be more than you want to spent, but like three years ago my son got a shiny superhero cape with his name on the back - I think they just stuck letters on it. He absolutely loves it and was wearing it yesterday.

I gave each kid a book (Step into reading) from Kid2Kid that cost about $1 - $2 each and a box of crayons. I made a bitmoji of my son saying Thanks for coming to my birthday part and printed it off and placed like a bookmark in each book. The teacher said it was a hit with the kids and the parents.

OP here. Thanks for those suggestions. Normally, I would have a party with food and cake with the kids from his class at my house. His birthday falls on a weekday and in non-COVID times I would send some sort of treat to serve at snack time. He is turning 4 and his birthday is a big deal to him. The teachers have told me that they allow goody bags and that is what they have been suggesting to the parents so that 'is what I am going to do.

The best thing I gave out when my son was that age were party hats. The kids loved them, and wanted to wear them.

I gave a animal "backpack" something that would be fun for going to the park or a quick hike. In it I put mickey headband, coloring book pack, dinosaur tattoos and ice cream cone ball launcher. All things that my kid loves since we werent having a birthday party for him. I felt like they were usable for rainy day activities.

Ugggh, the worst. Especially so soon after Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day, with Easter around the corner.

WHY? Why a bunch of junk? Why not ONE decent thing, like a water bottle or one thing of bubbles or one cool pen?

Wiki Stix

Bubbles and chalk. This is always the answer.

How about those activity packs you find in the dollar section of target? They have a mini coloring book, crayons, and a few stickers. They're all pre-packed, which might make parents more comfortable, rather than an open bag filled with lots of little things that you've touched.

Slap some blank stickers on the front, write "thanks for celebrating larlo's birthday" and you're done.

OP, about how much do you want to spend per child? That helps focus the recommendations.

Anonymous wrote:Please don’t do this

Please stop responding with this. There is a small subset of parents who feel like you do. But there are many families out there who enjoy even the cheap junk. It entertains the kids for a few days and then you can toss the cheap junk away.

In addition, I often collect the junk that isn't used, into bags and give them to our elementary school. The teachers use them for prizes that are used to award good behavior. And it works as positive reinforcement, so a bunch can be recycled for a good purpose.

If you don't want the cheap junk, don't take the bag. But stop advising the parents to give out goody bags because there are families that enjoy them.

Please don’t do this

My son is in preschool and his birthday is coming up.(4) The school has told us that because of COVID restrictions I can't send a food treat but I can give out goody bags. I need some ideas of what to put in them. Stickers? What else? Thank you.