Favor bags are a staple of most kid’s birthday parties. How can you put together a great one?
Find a Goody Bag Theme
Usually, the theme of your goody bag should match the theme of your party. In the past we’ve helped parents make some of the following:
- Mickey Mouse Goody Bags
- Baby Shark Goody Bags
- Dinosaur Goody Bags
- Paw Patrol Gift Bags
- Mermaid Goodie Bags
- Spiderman Goodie Bags
- Pokemon Goodie Bags
- Minecraft Goodie Bags
- Unicorn Favor Bags
- Moana Goodie Bags
- Sesame Street Goodie Bags
- Trolls Goodie Bags
- Winnie the Pooh Gift Bags
You’re only limited by your imagination here! You can generally find small toys that fit almost any theme, as well as decorative bags that fit any theme.
Gather Gift Bag Supplies
You can put almost anything in a goody bag. Given a wide variety of health concerns, dietary preferences, and allergies you probably want to stay away from food-based bags. Many parents go overboard on the candy, but it’s not necessary.
Try puzzles, coloring books, game books, and small toys. You can include candy, but try to limit it to a few pieces.
Remember to limit the “goodies” by bag size. Overstuffing your bag will make it bulky, unattractive, and difficult to pretty up. Under-stocking your bag makes you seem like you’re giving out something dinky and cheap.
Make Them Beautiful
The easiest bags to use are usually craft bags with rope handles. They come in a ton of different sizes. The best ones have gusseted bottoms and pleated sides so they open up square. They come in dozens of colors, and some will be pre-themed for you.
Use stamps and glitter to add each child’s name. The more visually attractive and personalized the bag, the more kids will be excited to tear into them.
Fill in the bags with tissue paper so the kids can’t see what’s in them right away. You can find tissue paper in a variety of colors and designs, too!
Want to get a little fancier? Get cellophane, wrap everything up in it, and put a big ribbon on it.
Deliver Your Goody Bags
During the pandemic we’ve been telling our customers to offer “curbside gift bag delivery.” That is…we recommend driving out to each birthday guest’s house and dropping off the bags, then having all the kids open their bags at the virtual birthday party later.
It’s just an easy way to honor your child’s birthday while building some anticipation for the party to come.
Eventually, of course, you’ll be able to offer your goodie bags in person!
At Paper Plus, we have all the goody bag supplies you could possibly need. Stop by and see us today at 1629 San Pablo Ave in Berkeley or call us at 510-525-1799.
If you have a younger child it might be a good idea to talk through what a virtual party will be like. You can help set the tone by making it a fun, interesting, exciting challenge.
You don’t have to decorate your whole house this year, and that might be kind of nice! Instead, you can just stage your Zoom background.
If you and your family have formed a “Covid Pod” then you might be doing an outdoor gathering this year. Look for decorations that won’t be defeated by wind. If you’re doing balloons, add weights to them to keep them in place.
There’s no glossing over the fact that a Zoom Thanksgiving isn’t “the same” as the festivities you’ve enjoyed in the past. Try not to let that get you down. If you treat your call with your family and friends like an event for the day that allows you to connect and catch up, and go out of your way to make it as festive as possible, then your holiday can still be meaningful and special.
Get more than one mask. You need more than one because you have to wash them anyway.
Are you a super fan of a TV show like Star Trek, Supernatural, Game of Thrones, or Stranger Things? There are plenty of face mask makers out there who will make a mask with your fandom in mind. Try Etsy for just about every kind of mask you can think of, or make your own.
Having trouble getting your kids to wear their masks? Remember to lead by example…if you don’t wear yours, your children won’t wear theirs. Yet you don’t have to make it grim and gloomy. Get the masks that are fun for your kids! Help them think of getting to wear a mask as being akin to getting to play dress-up every time they go out. Help them get masks that are comfortable for their face, and let them choose the ones that make them feel special.
Make your guests feel special by starting with a pretty evite. 
You may wish to use a Zoom background to simulate a themed decoration or create a background of your own by choosing a nice location to decorate inside your home. You might invite each of your attendees to create their own festive in-theme decorations so they can feel like they’re doing something special.
There are two schools of thought for how you should open your gifts at a virtual shower. The first says you should always open each of your gifts on camera, holding up each gift so everyone can see.
If you can’t stand the thought of leaving anyone out then it’s a good idea to opt for a small, outdoor wedding. You have room to invite a few more people because there’s more room for social distancing and the chances of infection are a lot smaller outside.
There will be some family members, friends, and loved ones who just won’t be able to attend, no matter how many precautions you take. Some won’t want to travel. Others will be immunocompromised.
While it might be disappointing to switch over to a small, intimate wedding, or a small wedding reception, there are benefits. Pre-covid, most weddings cost over $25,000. That’s more than enough to put a down payment on a house or to indulge in an epic honeymoon when things are just a little bit safer.
If you want to encourage your kids to get out and get walking, then this can be a fun low-investment idea that still brings a lot of cheer. Grab some sidewalk chalk, then visit friends’ houses one by one. Leave a quick message in the driveway or on the sidewalk.
Grab some window paint and paint a bold, beautiful rainbow (or anything else your child wants to paint). Include an encouraging message for friends, the neighbors, essential workers, or anyone else your child wants to give a shout-out to.
This summer doesn’t have to be a drag. With a little work, you can make it one of the most memorable your child has ever had. Don’t forget to schedule in other fun arts and crafts activities for you and your children, 
If you’ve got a yard then put it to use! Go big with large-letter signs, posters, 
This is an especially effective celebration for family and friend groups who are scattered across the country, especially if video chats aren’t an option. Pick out one thing your loved one really enjoys: bears, frogs, teacups, 
If you haven’t heard of 
Video chats have become the coronavirus go-to for social interactions of every kind. How can you turn it into a party?
The specifics of what you do don’t really matter. What matters is showing your love for each other on your birthday, spending time together, and having some fun. Think outside the box, gather some art or party supplies, and try not to let your disappointment over not having “normal” birthday activities bring down the mood.
