It is for our two year old. Expecting about a dozen kids ages 1-9. It will be at an environmental center. I like giving books and candy or something consumable (soap, food, craft supplies) nothing which is going to stick around and clutter someone’s home.
Open to ideas or suggestions
Bought suet bird feeder balls and bird themed coloring books. Should work for this time of year.
My favorite party favor lately is a water bottle. You can get them at the dollar store. I put each kid's name on one. They can use it at the party instead of going through a ton of paper cups (bonus - they have lids so no spills), then they take it home.
Does the environmental center have a gift shop? Could you visit it in advance, and perhaps select something from the gift shop for the guests that reflects the environmentally conscious theme, like a little bird house kit.
If your guests are going to do a craft, that presumably they will take home, I think that would suffice as a party favor. It sounds like your party experience will be enough for such young kids. I'd skip the favors altogether.
We stopped doing favors and no one said a word. I got the idea after seeing another parent skip them. I'm not sure when favors became the norm but we never had them when I was a kid.
I know you aren't trying to do things that people won't use.
One birthday party our son went to when he was little they gave out mini beach balls.
We still have that beach ball.
It deflates and we keep it in our swim bag and we use it at the beach or in pools.
I agree most of the stuff you bring home from these things gets thrown away fairly quickly.
But every once in awhile something really turns out to be quite useful.
I used to give homemade playdough or slime. They loved it!
One year I found bars of soap with money in them When the child was finished with the soap, there was a bill in the soap, mostly $1 but up to a $20 bill.
I got rave reviews from parents on that one because it made bath time and washing hands fun.
I ordered mine from a magazine and I forgot the name but I have seen them at Hallmark stores.
reusable water bottles, a biodegradable soap, drawstring bags, candy, cookies, any ideas on here: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/environmentally-s...
i love that make a wand out of nature items idea, it sounds fun... a birdhouse kit or melting down broken crayons to make one larger multi-colored crayon is another idea too (my dd got a heart shaped crayon from the library at valentines day ( broken crayons melted into a cookie cutter and chilled till solid) and here she is 3 years later still using that heart crayon!
If it's theme related - nature, animals etc. maybe just a beanie boo and some candy? Our kids come home with that from parties and love it.
Some people turn those walks into scavenger hunt (basic) - if you see a (animal) you get a (candy) for your treat bag. Then just give the candy and keep it simple - that and the craft would be plenty. I'd probably do that.
