Alternative Party Bag Ideas

Maybe give each a coupon to Baskin Robbins or somewhere for a free scoop of icecream? Might be cheaper than doing a goodie bag anyway...

I started off getting $1 McDonalds bucks for each kid this year so that they could go get an ice cream or drink. I don't like goodie bags either and was determined to stop doing them then added a few little things at the last minute but I think the kids liked that they could go get ice cream with their "gifts"!

I have found my favorite new idea for this. I bought two big bags of popcorn (a business around here sells it) and he also gave me smaller clear popcorn bags. So then I divided it up into the individual bags, and tied curly ribbons on each bag. The kids really loved it, and I love not having junk to throw away in a day or so. Popcorn is healthier than candy, and there is something exciting to the kids about getting their own bag of popcorn. I decided to do this after going to a party where they gave out small mason jars with gumballs in them. So colorful and cute (although breakable) and best of all consumable! My only advice on the popcorn would be to buy it professionally popped instead of trying to do it yourself with microwave popcorn. I say this because I made a few bags up with microwaved because I ran out before I was sure I had enough, and later when I ate some of one of the bags with microwaved popcorn, it was much greasier than the stuff I had purchased.

Each child gets to take a balloon home (helium filled) but before filling put in a certificate to McDonalds, or something like that. They all love balloons, and the added surprise of a trip to McDonalds is a real treat! Obviously if there is an ice cream parlor, or any restaraunt that gives out gift certificates, that will work too, have fun, good luck!

K. if you'll go to foodnetwork.com and put "ice cream cone" in the search engine and then find the one that says ice cream cone party favors by Sandra Lee. I've done this for the last 3 years and it's always a hit. You can fill them with whatever you want. They look like you worked really hard on them but they're super easy. Good Luck!

i always take lots of pictures during the party and after i send a cheap photo album with a thank you card in the first slot and then a select group of pictures to the child

Maybe I'll change my mind when my kid is older, but they didn't do party bags when I was a kid. We got cake, icecream, and whatever and that was fine. In my opinion, it's your kid's birthday - why buy other people presents? You're going to the trouble and expense of putting the party together. That's good enough :)

you might try planting seeds. like flower seed packets buy the potting soil and cups. let the kids decorate them and then plant a few seeds and carry them home. sven cheaper use beans folded in a wet papper towel. Place them in a ziploc bag and the kids can tape them to their windows at home.

For my daughter's party I gave each of the children a baggy of mini cookies tied with pretty bows and a big bouncy ball from Wal-Mart. Her theme was polka dots so I wanted to give round items, but I wanted to avoid spending a bunch of money on junk that would inevitably end up in the garbage. The kids LOVED it and many parents commented on how much nicer this was than the normal goody bags. It was much cheaper than filling the goody bags, too. Which was a major bonus.

My sister is having a party for my niece and she bought popcorn from Mom & Pop Corn in McKinney. It is colorful candied popcorn and it is $2.25 per bag. My sister in law did this as well & it is a real hit w/ the kids. This is just an idea; although it is sugary!! Good luck!

When my daughter was younger we always had some type of craft activity and that was the childs take home instead of a bag. It kept them busy for awhile and was less expensive than the bag. Some of the things I remember were decorating visors, inexpensive t-shirts. But the one that was here favorite was the kids decorated cup cakes. They each got two cup cakes to decorate, one to take home and the other to eat instead of cake. I decorated one before the party and that waa what we put the candles on. She was 6 at the time. She is now 24 and she can't wait to do a party like that for her daughter.

For our Son's birthday party we made our own bags. Got plain brown bags with handles and put stickers on the outside (it was Fire Truck theme). They were unique and cute and reusable.

You might ask Pump It Up if they have goodies or freebies they could give you.

How about a picture- either a group or individual of each of the kids at the party. Then you could send that to the child after the party.

We were given a unique gift a CD of favorite songs and the birthday child's picture on the CD. Hope these help, C.

I think that the dollar store or party store sells Frisbees. Buy one for each party guest to have instead of goodie bags. Maybe they could stick some stickers on them prior to leaving.

A friend of mine and her mom started a cookie business. They make a party themed cookie and wrap them pretty and I used them at my daughter's party and they went over great! I also don't like the junky party bags either they are expensive and the cookies get ate up!

We recently went to a party where they gave out those cups where the handle doubles as a straw. They're like $.97 at Wal-Mart. My daughter loves hers. I don't know if it's made with BPA or not, but I really liked the fun cup idea.

My daughter is 14 now. Her parties now are quite large and we specify no gifts. We do have some games with prizes which are usually gift cards. Last year the "big" prize was an Ipod shuffle. I know, the 5 yr olds are a little young for that.

The last party she had when we did party favors was when she was 11 and we gave gift cards to Abercrombie because that is what the girls liked. I only had 6 girls....

Other favors we did were art sets with a sketch or coloring book, puzzles, books, pencils, markers, playdough, McDonald's, etc

US Toy in Plano has some neat items. Oriental Trading has some cute things that are larger items for fun. The art sets were a huge hit when we did that and I found them at an after Christmas sale for about $3 each. Daughter's bday is 12/27.

Ihave done sports bottles(Wall mart sometimes has reasonable priced ones.

I have also done fanny packs I have found at discout stores (hit and miss) When I did the fanny packs I put pens and note pads in them.

Us Toys stores has some really cool stuff. So you can get some toys, that are cool and not spend a whole lot. Higly recomend them. They are located at Parker and Indepence.

We buy several large balloon bouquets to help decorate the cake table and then give them out to the kids as they leave the party. They are always thrilled to get a balloon! Dollar Tree does balloons as well as the party supply stores. We usually get about 12 balloons for $6.50. Happy partying!