What's your theme OP? We did a baseball themed party a few years back and gave baseball hats as favors. Target had them on sale for like $4 each. Who doesn't need an extra hat to keep in the car or something?

I found cute princess play doh at target for $3 on clearance. Comes with 2 mini glitter playdohs and princess doll to use as a mold. I'll probably do a lollipop with that.

Could we just do away with party favors? this seems like madness. Will I be an awful parent if I don't give a goody bag? I know, I know, the bag is for the kids but what if we just stopped with the goody bags (similar to how kids don't open their bday presents in front of everyone). Then they wouldn't expect them and we wouldn't have to waste money, resources, and throw this stuff in the trash/recycling?

The best one I've gotten was a camelbak eddy cup for each kid!

The best I got was a book for a 3 year old party. The price on the book was $6,so bit pricey, but I don't know what it really cost. There are some books on Amazon with great reviews at $3-4 range.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a book with music CD inside it for DD's 2nd birthday. Got them all at the dollar tree, It was typical kids songs but for 2yo's it was great. May not be so great for 5yo's.
You could do markers and activity book, chalk, stickers, glow sticks ( from dollar tree).

For the love of God no more cheap bubbles that dont work.

Hear me out. Those are the best bubbles. Your kid will REFUSE to out them down, so you, the kid, and your other kid will sit outside while 3yo tries to figure it out. After like 10x of trying, and only 3x of getting bubbles, someone will spill it. It's a tiny amount and a lesson learned on indeiendentlh holding bubbles, and the consequences of spilling them (game over).

NP disagree. Those go right in the trash.

All that sounds like such junk - stickers, activity book, glow sticks that work for 5 min. We have a ton of markers and stickers and chalk at home. No need for more.

AND please don't hand out Oriental Trading party favors. I cringe when that happens.

What do you suggest instead? I'm a newbie to this party stuff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did a book with music CD inside it for DD's 2nd birthday. Got them all at the dollar tree, It was typical kids songs but for 2yo's it was great. May not be so great for 5yo's.
You could do markers and activity book, chalk, stickers, glow sticks ( from dollar tree).

For the love of God no more cheap bubbles that dont work.

Hear me out. Those are the best bubbles. Your kid will REFUSE to out them down, so you, the kid, and your other kid will sit outside while 3yo tries to figure it out. After like 10x of trying, and only 3x of getting bubbles, someone will spill it. It's a tiny amount and a lesson learned on indeiendentlh holding bubbles, and the consequences of spilling them (game over).

NP disagree. Those go right in the trash.

All that sounds like such junk - stickers, activity book, glow sticks that work for 5 min. We have a ton of markers and stickers and chalk at home. No need for more.

AND please don't hand out Oriental Trading party favors. I cringe when that happens.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are older, but back in the day I opted for "nice" takeaways, like books or art supplies, vs. goody bags, and after thanking me for the book the guests would ask where the goody bag was.

There's no substitution for a bag o' crap, is what I'm saying.

Really? We gave a book and a helium balloon, and the kids were thrilled. To be fair, we probably could have just given them the balloon, and they'd have been equally thrilled.

Same. The balloons are the party decor and party favor. Win-win.