Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Goodie Bags Not So Good For You?

As a parent I often ponder what goes through the minds of other parents when they select items that they give away in the form of goodie bags to other students in their child's class or friends at day care. I've come across a lot of items in our child's goodie bags that aren't necessarily age appropriate or nutritional a lot of times. Of course being a parent it behooves you to monitor what you give your child and such but it does make you think.

Is it because it's cheap? Is it because it's easy? In my own experience as a boring and conservative parent, I rack my brains trying to figure out what would be age appropriate, useful, educational, and/or nutritional to put in goodie bags. I can just see it now, the child that opens such a bag, and then tosses it aside 'cause it's not filled with fun, bad treasures like noisemakers or candy.

So I ask you parents (and non-parents) out there, what have you seen in goodie bags (or not in goodie bags such as snacks, etc.) that you really thought were great things to give children in their toddler and older years?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree - I've also seen age-inappropriate items and thought, "hmm, what where they thinking?" Hubby/daddy usually ends up eating the sweet stuff like chocolates and hard/chewy candies. While not necessarily the best nutritionally, I appreciate and allow our daughter to have snacks like chex mix, animal crackers, goldfish crackers, you get the picture. The best goodies we've received are usable things, like books, crayons, coloring books, stickers, and even a beach toy set with shovel, rake, bucket, etc. Toys are good too if they encourage play and imagination. As you probably already know, Price Busters has a pretty good selection of not-so-expensive gift items that won't bust your budget. I agree that it's challenge to focus on each kid's age and maybe even personality as you go about making goodie bags that you hope will be appreciated. But I think that, in the end, the parents will recognize the efforts and the thoughtful consideration of their child.

Angry Asian Girl said...

Yeah, MSO and I have had some of the stuff too.

The snacks that you allow your daughter are snacks that I would give and allow our child to eat as well.

Those are great goodies!

And I have made my way to Price Busters, recently in fact. But I had to make a beeline to the door 'cause someone wouldn't behave long enough. =(

Lack of a budget (Which I really need to create. Anyone got tips?), I've also bought things at Toys R Us, Longs Drugs, Office Depot (Yes, Office Depot), online, etc.

And in the end, I am very appreciative of the things that our child (and MSO and I) have been given. Thank you!