Birthday Party Fun: Goodie Bag Alternatives

If you’re looking for alternatives to pricey goodie bags,
here are a few ideas that will make your guests--and wallet-
-happy.

Any Fun Party:
Take Polaroid photos of each guest with the birthday child,
and decorate cardboard picture frames, or make frames with
popsicle sticks.

Dance Party:
Let the birthday child create a mix CD of favorite music.
Burn copies for everybody (and play it at the party too!).

Hawaiian Party:
Decorate inexpensive plastic sunglasses with artificial
flowers. String together more artificial flowers for one-of-
a-kind leis.

Royal Party:
Decorate paper crowns and make scepters from wooden dowels
and plastic jewels.

Sleepover Party:
Decorate plastic light-switch plates with stickers. Allow
your young guests to embellish white pillowcases with
fabric paints for a take-home sleepy surprise.

Spring or Garden Party:
Paint flower pots and include a pack of flower seeds for
children to grow at home.

Survivor Party:
Send the children on a scavenger hunt equipped with
compasses and trail mixes that they can make before the
hunt. The compass will become a new favorite gadget, and
the trail mix is a lot healthier that candy treats.

Tea Party:

Let the girls decorate straw hats with artificial flowers,
which they can wear for the party, and later take home.
Complete the party with candy necklaces.

Have fun!

About the Author

Deborah Shelton the author of "The Five Minute Parent: Fun
& Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones." Visit
Deborah's website for more family-friendly ideas:
http://www.fiveminuteparent.com Subscribe to The Five
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