| Gone are the days when birthday parties were | | | | a picture frame, or designing a t-shirt. |
| comprised of games and cake. Nowadays, birthday | | | | - Have a treasure hunt as part of the birthday |
| parties are expensive whether you host your child's | | | | activities where children find a small yet useful item |
| birthday party at your home or at an off-site | | | | to bring home like a flashlight or compass. |
| location. This leaves many of us wondering if party | | | | - Burn a CD for each guest with children's party |
| favor trinkets found in loot bags are a necessary | | | | music or songs related to the party theme. |
| expense in addition to the cost of the food, drinks | | | | - Provide one item pertaining to the party theme, |
| and entertainment. | | | | such as a ball for a sports theme. |
| Although party favors are not a necessity, many of | | | | - Have the birthday child create homemade |
| us feel compelled to provide them to birthday guests | | | | bookmarks for party guests. |
| as a way to express our gratitude. In reality, party | | | | - Offer a grab bag where the children can select one |
| bags are generally filled with cheap choking hazards | | | | item at the end of the party such as a ball, bucket |
| that kids break upon receiving then forget about | | | | of chalk, playdough, book, etc. Collect these items |
| within a few minutes. | | | | when they are on sale. |
| Following are some alternatives for those looking to | | | | - Recycle trinkets from previous parties attended and |
| break the cycle of offering party bags: | | | | hand them out to guests as prizes for party games. |
| - Bake cookies and wrap them in colorful cellophane | | | | One final idea - Ask guests to bring a wrapped book |
| as the party gift. | | | | to trade at the end of the party in lieu of a birthday |
| - Provide each child with a helium balloon as they | | | | gift. This eliminates a house crammed with birthday |
| leave the party. | | | | gifts and avoids the necessity to write thank you |
| - Have the children create a craft project during the | | | | notes. You may receive silent gratitude from parents |
| party they can take home such as homemade | | | | tired of shopping for endless birthday gifts and |
| playdough, painting and planting a flower pot, creating | | | | contending with the trinkets found in party bags. |