Birthday party goodie bags
Do away with those sacks of gimcracks! There’s tremendous pressure to provide bags of treats for each guest, but who really needs more little plastic toys that will break within hours, if not minutes?
Expect pushback. Children have been socialized to expect handouts, and they might not be shy about expressing their disappointment. Have a calm response ready, such as, “We think it’s important not to buy so much plastic stuff that will just end up in the landfill” or “I’m sorry you’re disappointed, but we don’t do goodie bags. Thank you for attending the party.”
It’s a good idea to let the guests’ parents know in advance that there won’t be any to-go treats. They’ll probably be relieved not to have yet another batch of junk brought home. The University of Minnesota’s Birthdays Without Pressure project has tips for festive parties without wretched excess.