Birthday party goody bags, anyone else against the idea?

Question

Why put a bunch of trinkets or sweets in a goody bag for guests? Parties these days cost a fortune and are over-the-top as it is. Is this a newer trend or did I grow up in a strange neighborhood? We never expected a gift when we left at the end of a party. Gifts were for the birthday girl/boy.

Answer 1

I would guess this is something new from the last decade or so. I guess it depends how much you spent on the party.

Answer 2

I totally agree with you. We never got loot bags or whatever they call them these days. I think it is just another example of how society is teaching children to a/ overeat and b/ demand more stuff than anyone needs. kids get way too much these

days anyway. All we are doing is raising a bunch of little

consumers. In my area we are trying to buck the trend instead

of bringing a birthday gift (for a child who has tons of stuff)

we ask them to bring a food item and it all gets donated to the local food bank in the child's name.

Answer 3

Why not, particularly if the guests are little ones. Some small children do not have the ability to grasp the notion that they are attending a party for one particular child, and that the gifts are for him/her, so a small inexpensive goody bag given to each child as they leave the party helps them not to feel "left out"

Answer 4

I hate them.  Me and my friends made an agreement to stop doing them.  Our kids were fine with it.  With some explanation they don't even miss it.  

Birthday parties and goodie bags have become a competition among parents.  The whole concept sends the wrong message to kids.  If we don't stop our kids are going to grow up with the idea of receiving is better than giving, scary!!

Answer 5

When I was little in the 80's we got goodie bags after birthday parties. It was usually some candy and maybe a cheap toy you'd find in a 25 cent plastic bubble or some play dough.

I think it is a polite thing to do, give you guest a little gift, in a way thanking them for all their gifts.

Answer 6

You are right, but that just makes your child's birthday more memorable for him/her and their friends.

Just get some cute bags and put some candy, party favors, pencils,

etc... inexpensive things in them. After the money that you have already spent, it's not that big of a deal. You're kid only turns that age once.

Answer 7

Growing up us kids never had birthday parties and we were fine with it. We could invite a friend over for a sleepover or a bbq if we wanted to but there was no party. We got one party each, when we turned 16 our parents through a party for each one of us. I never minded not having parties though. Nothing wrong with them, that's just my two cents. :)

It was always fun for us kids when we went to a party though and little goodie bags, inexpensive of course, were given out to the guests. I think it's nice that the birthday person is giving something back in return to their friends, then all the focus is not on them getting all the gifts.

Answer 8

Gifts are indeed for the birthday boy/girl.  It's OK to give little things to party guests, but there's no rule that says you must do this.  Parties are not intended as means for guests to rake in the goodies.

Answer 9

it's like a door prize.. some people go a little over board...