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If you know me at all, you know I love throwing kids parties and I love Amazon prime. There is a lot of debate these days over goody bags. Critics of the beloved party favor say kids shouldn’t expect to get something for attending a party and no one wants a bag full of “crap” anyway. In my opinion, I think if you bring my child a gift and spend time celebrating with us, you deserve a little something to go home with. And we all know that no one loves a bag full of crap more than children. It’s just the truth. So if you can’t get out of it, get into it. I am pro goody bag and I give out some pretty awesome crap, if I do say so myself.
The secret to a good goody bag is PLANNING. I order my goody bag stuff before the invites have even gone out. This gives me plenty of time to get the stuff shipped over, since all the good deals usually don’t have 2-day shipping. (AKA: shipped from China) Today I am sharing some goody bag ideas that never fail. Kids love this stuff.
5 Awesome Goody Bag Ideas for Kids:
- Splat Balls: These are sticky balls filled with water provide endless hours of entertainment. I wrote about these awhile back in a family favorites post. They were selling them at the mall for 3 bucks and I found a dozen for $12 on Amazon. I have put these in 2 goody bags so far, and no one ever complains about them being a repeat. You throw them against a wall or window and they completely flatten out. It is a little addicting. They DO randomly break sometimes, but overall I am very happy with the quality of these. (considering they are slammed against the wall over and over again)
- Laser Fingers: Why do kids obsess over these? Kids love to put these on each finger, on Lego Mini-figures or on doll feet for light up shoes. I know they also sell these at Target for $5 for a set of 3. That deal is for last minute goody bag shoppers. You, my friend, are ahead of the game and know that you can get 40 for 6 bucks from Amazon. Nice try Target… but here take $200 anyway.
- Foam Rockets: This is a great deal for what you get. Each air shooter comes with 3 darts. These are easy enough to work, so even the younger kids can enjoy these… and the older ages love them as well. We have a few darts stuck on top of our dining room light that we will eventually need to get down.
- Minecraft Glasses: These were not exactly what my son wanted for his birthday, but once we got them he was really happy. The kids went crazy over them and were trading colors and trying them on as soon as they saw them. Hudson wanted the green pixelated glasses, but at $26 for 10, I thought it was a bit steep for goody bag swag. I try to only spend a dollar or less per item. These were around $13 for a dozen and I liked the idea of the different colors. The quality was great and they easily fit kids and adults. Glasses are actually a great option for kids swag bags, especially during the summer months.
- Light Rockets: If you have never tried these rockets, you should. They are VERY cool and are a huge hit at night. Once you get the proper technique to shooting these in the air, they are awesome. We came across someone selling them one year at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show and they kids lots their mind over it. I think we paid $3 for each one. I looked for them again for a 4th of July party and found them dirt cheap on Amazon. These are fun for night events where you know kids are going to be and fantastic goody bag fillers.
All of the things I have mentioned about I have ordered and been very happy with. Another favorite of mine is to grab some Hot Wheels cars from Target or Walmart since they are usually around 90 cents. Grab a pack of gift bags from the dollar store, throw in some candy and you have a totally amazing goody bag. Kids will be thrilled and moms will think you spent way more than you did. So spill it… are you team goody bag?
Awesome list. My kids love the finger lights. Even though they are getting older now I think they would also enjoy the light rockets. Definitely gonna grab some for next summer! Great post!! As they get closer to the tween years I am going to be really struggling for ideas.
This sounds much better and more fun over some of the goodie bags I have seen.
I love those glasses! What great ideas for goody bags!
Really great ideas here!! Thanks for shairng! I am always at a lost for new ideas for goodie bags and usually revert to candy LOL
Great post! I wish your blog was up when my daughter was young. Ha! I feel cheated. So many great ideas out there now thanks to Moms like you and now my daughter is 13 and too old for things like this. But I still enjoy reading about them.
These are such great ideas! That photo of your family in those glasses is one of my favs:)
Love these ideas! especially those glasses! haha
I love goodie bags. I start shopping for them months in advance picking up items on sale. Love party planning. Love all your ideas.
Such cute ideas! When I was an elementary school teacher I remember the kids loving splat balls!
I love all of these ideas! I am a party planner and am always looking for unique goody bag favors!
SPLAT BALLS!!! My son LOVES them!! I appreciate the bag of toys and trinkets over a bag of candy thats just going to get thrown out anyways! The light rockets look awesome…there is a birthday coming up as well. Thanks for the ideas!!!
I agree…nobody likes a bag of crap more than kids lol!!!
Love those glasses. I am always looking for fun new items to use in treat bags!
I have never heard of laser fingers but totally checking them out! My kids would love the Minecraft glasses too! Plus we have a party coming up soon, thanks for the suggestions.
I’m totally Team Goody Bag! I also get all of my stuff way ahead of time. I try to get it to go with the theme of the party, if I can. I love those glasses, and I know we’ll be having a Minecraft party sometime in the near future. The kids would love those splat balls too.
Love the Minecraft glasses! ha! Great list, Lauren!
Great ideas. I really love the Splat Balls, how cute. Btw, the pic of your family wearing glasses is awesome. Thanks for suggesting.
Wow! You such a kids-savvy. Laser fingers and Light rocker are what my son is in love with. Thanks for sharing.
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Creating the perfect goody bags for your child’s birthday party requires walking a very fine line: You want kids to be thrilled about the contents (especially the birthday kid!), but you don’t want to aggravate parents with useless plastic junk just for the sake of having a goody bag to send home. For time-crunched parents who don’t have the extra hours in the day to DIY their own goody bag fillers, this birthday task can be even trickier.