Kids' goody bags don't have to be expensive or elaborate to complement a great birthday party. There are just three elements to a successful goody bag for kids: edible treats, a small toy, and an activity. Have them match your child's party theme, or just choose fun stuff the kids will enjoy. Does this Spark an idea?
Edible Treats
Adjust the type and amount of treats to the age of the children. Give toddlers a minibag of pretzels or dehydrated fruit pieces. Preschoolers love Twizzlers and mini chocolate bars that you can buy in big bags at the supermarket. For grade-school kids, lollipops and gummy candy are popular. And girls always love Ring Pops (a candy and toy in one).
Small Toys
Avoid the multi-packs of plastic toys you can buy in the supermarket; they are poorly made and guaranteed to break within 10 minutes. Small bouncy balls are fun, as are jump ropes and mini-frisbees. This is the best way to use the theme of your child's party. For example, if your child wants a cooking-themed party, buy a large package of plastic food or play utensils from the toy store, and put a couple of pieces in each goody bag. That way, the guests can continue the fun at home. Art supplies are also a great take-home, if your child had an art-themed party. Fat crayons are good for toddlers, and washable markers for preschoolers. Grade-school girls will appreciate glitter glue, mini-scrapbooking kits from the craft store, or packets of beads they can use to make their own bracelets. For boys, try small models or action figures.
Activities
For a toddler, inexpensive coloring books and board books abound. For preschoolers, look for simple card games or stickers. Kids love tattoos, and they are easy to find a in a variety of themes, from trademarked characters to animals and to rock stars. Older kids may enjoy puzzle books, hair accessories, or trading cards. For something less traditional, have your older child put together a custom mix on iTunes, and then purchase it for his friends. You can print out gift certificates with redemption instructions included, and put them in the bag as a nice surprise.
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