Instead of hats and typical party favors, give a gift kids can use after the big event.
If you have a child's birthday party to host coming up, you don't necessarily have to give traditional "goody" or party bags. You might be concerned about giving your guests a bag full of junk food and gender-specific toys that may not promote learning or creativity. Instead of giving bags of candy, focus on giving one or two larger gifts or include gifts that encourage learning, creativity and physical activity. Take caution when purchasing cheaper children's toys. Make sure you know what you're buying and that it isn't made with toxic chemicals in the paint or plastic. Does this Spark an idea?
Educational Gifts
Instead of giving a bag of candy that isn't nutritious for your guests, give the gift of learning. Small books, activity books and pads and puzzles all work wonderfully in--or in leu of--a goody bag. Make a homemade bookmark for your book gift by simply cutting strips of paper, letting your birthday girl or boy stamp and decorate them (with your help) and laminating them or spraying artist's fixative on them. You also can give copies of children's educational magazines, such as "Highlights."
Outdoor Goodies
Encourage physical activity with outside toys and items. Give guests a softball, glow in the dark bouncy ball or shovel and pail for some mud-pie and sandcastle making. Frisbees also work well for older children or smaller pool toys that encourage swimming, like pool rings. Plastic horseshoes, jump ropes and hula hoops will put a smile on your guests' faces and get them moving.
Art Supplies
Encourage creativity with a drawing pad and crayon set in your goody bag. You can also give water colors and paintbrushes, beading sets, stamp kits, a single jar of finger paint or colored pencils. Activity books that focus on one or two art projects would also be a hit, as would a packet of small origami paper squares with instructions for a relatively simple project.
Craft Activity Favors
Engage the kids in a creative craft project and let them keep the fruits of their labor. You can purchase tiny, cheap tera cota pots and some seeds-or seedlings, if you can find a deal at the local nursery- to plant during the party. Provide art supplies for the kids to decorate their pots with paint, glitters and fabric or decoupage glue, depending on their ages. Everyone helps clean up, then plants their seeds in pre-mixed soil or potting mix. Kids take their flowers home. instructions and reminders for watering the seeds and giving them plenty of sun should be included with the favor.
You can also have kids make picture frames from craft sticks. They use jewels, stickers, markers and paint to decorate them. If you have a Polaroid, you can have everyone take a picture with the birthday kid and insert that into the frame.
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