I use a mixture of collected cheap crap stuff over the years, and then add in some cool stuff. However, instead of pre-filled bags every year we've had some kind of unisex theme (for three kids all born in the same week of september) and the kids worked for their goodies. We've done candy land, pirates, carnival... and the prizes match toward the theme a bit as well. The toys are there as a sort of fun prize at the party (and during the carnival theme kids got to pick from a variety each time they played a game)
Honestly, I think the kids enjoy the themes better. Our pirate themed birthday we drew a map and the adults dressed up and we had to go on a pirate adventure to collect pirate booty. They got soooo many dubloons. And in candy land they actually had to go around the yard like the board game, and I put a brown blanket into a kids pool and threw mini chocolate bars and tootsies on top so they had to 'dig' through mollasses swamp. Good times! (Sorry I got a bit carried away there)
I have just stopped giving out gift bags. No one has said anything, although the occasional brat will give me the side eye and ask where their bag is. I just lean over and smile big: "thank you so much for coming! I hope you enjoyed the cake, ice cream, and games!". Occasionally I'll add: would you like a second piece of cake? But only to really snotty and mean brats. ;-)
I'd like to point out that my three year old girl loves princesses and sword fighting (and it's okay).
To turn a blind eye and avoid the idea of violence is to deny an integral part of the human dynamic. We can't make violence disappear and frankly we shouldn't.
I don't know that you ban any mock-aggressive play, but I'm willing to bet you do. By doing this one takes away a child's opportunities to work through and come to terms with the concepts of aggression and violence in a healthy cooperative way.
All I can really do is shrug at your disdain for princesses. In order for stories to have impact with the human psyche, the protagonists have to take on a quality of power and the prevailing social ideal (look at Beowulf, King Arthur, Hermione Granger, or any other literary character).
Princes and princesses are just a lazy way of accomplishing that.
@tracy, based on yoru snarky remark, yes you are "hoity toity".
@jusu, you don't get to decide how parents spend their money. if they want guests to chip in, that's their prerogative.
We rent bouncy castles for kids birthday parties, mostly during summer, and we always tell the parents to NEVER make too many cakes or get too much stuff.
All you need is some chips/popcorn and lots of juice of different tastes.
The best party a kid can have at young age, is to have a bouncy castle in their yard, some good music from their own player, and when the quests leave, give em an ice cream.
Trust me, those are the parties your kid and his/her friends will ALWAYS remember.
Just don't be a cheap parent that makes quests PAY for it, yes, we have had one of those in the past. We left without putting the thing up, and put it up somewhere else for the quests to jump for free.
LOLOL Went to 2 parties for 6 YO's this weekend....yup, exactly the same crap you mention in both bags. Sigh. I make it a policy to not go there with my kids' bags, but I overheard someone saying that I was "hoity toity". I spent less money on the cool Mickey Coin Holder or the LIttle Critters books than you did lady!!! And, they were in theme with the party that didn't involve violence or princesses!!!
Comments
Crystal
Thursday, May 26th @ 03:15 am by Crystal
I use a mixture of collected cheap crap stuff over the years, and then add in some cool stuff. However, instead of pre-filled bags every year we've had some kind of unisex theme (for three kids all born in the same week of september) and the kids worked for their goodies. We've done candy land, pirates, carnival... and the prizes match toward the theme a bit as well. The toys are there as a sort of fun prize at the party (and during the carnival theme kids got to pick from a variety each time they played a game) Honestly, I think the kids enjoy the themes better. Our pirate themed birthday we drew a map and the adults dressed up and we had to go on a pirate adventure to collect pirate booty. They got soooo many dubloons. And in candy land they actually had to go around the yard like the board game, and I put a brown blanket into a kids pool and threw mini chocolate bars and tootsies on top so they had to 'dig' through mollasses swamp. Good times! (Sorry I got a bit carried away there)
Rebecca
Wednesday, March 16th @ 06:34 am by Rebecca
I have just stopped giving out gift bags. No one has said anything, although the occasional brat will give me the side eye and ask where their bag is. I just lean over and smile big: "thank you so much for coming! I hope you enjoyed the cake, ice cream, and games!". Occasionally I'll add: would you like a second piece of cake? But only to really snotty and mean brats. ;-)
Roxanne
Tuesday, March 15th @ 03:32 am by Roxanne
Grandparents
Dad in Spokane
Monday, March 14th @ 18:33 pm by Dad in Spokane
I'd like to point out that my three year old girl loves princesses and sword fighting (and it's okay). To turn a blind eye and avoid the idea of violence is to deny an integral part of the human dynamic. We can't make violence disappear and frankly we shouldn't. I don't know that you ban any mock-aggressive play, but I'm willing to bet you do. By doing this one takes away a child's opportunities to work through and come to terms with the concepts of aggression and violence in a healthy cooperative way. All I can really do is shrug at your disdain for princesses. In order for stories to have impact with the human psyche, the protagonists have to take on a quality of power and the prevailing social ideal (look at Beowulf, King Arthur, Hermione Granger, or any other literary character). Princes and princesses are just a lazy way of accomplishing that.
umberto
Monday, March 14th @ 17:35 pm by umberto
@tracy, based on yoru snarky remark, yes you are "hoity toity". @jusu, you don't get to decide how parents spend their money. if they want guests to chip in, that's their prerogative.
Jusu-Sama The Funfair King
Monday, March 14th @ 15:41 pm by Jusu-Sama The Funfair King
We rent bouncy castles for kids birthday parties, mostly during summer, and we always tell the parents to NEVER make too many cakes or get too much stuff. All you need is some chips/popcorn and lots of juice of different tastes. The best party a kid can have at young age, is to have a bouncy castle in their yard, some good music from their own player, and when the quests leave, give em an ice cream. Trust me, those are the parties your kid and his/her friends will ALWAYS remember. Just don't be a cheap parent that makes quests PAY for it, yes, we have had one of those in the past. We left without putting the thing up, and put it up somewhere else for the quests to jump for free.
Scott Wild
Monday, March 14th @ 13:18 pm by Scott Wild
So true! XD
Tracy
Monday, March 14th @ 11:16 am by Tracy
LOLOL Went to 2 parties for 6 YO's this weekend....yup, exactly the same crap you mention in both bags. Sigh. I make it a policy to not go there with my kids' bags, but I overheard someone saying that I was "hoity toity". I spent less money on the cool Mickey Coin Holder or the LIttle Critters books than you did lady!!! And, they were in theme with the party that didn't involve violence or princesses!!!
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