Awesome alternatives to sugar-filled lolly bags

We all loved taking home a goodie bag at the end of our friend’s birthday party when we were kids. But with so much unhealthy food served during the party, is it really necessary to give our kids even more sugary junk to leave with? Lolly bags give our kids the wrong message about healthy eating and they’re also not enjoyable for the many who have food allergies.

There are still plenty of ways you can give your child’s friends a special memento at the end of a birthday. Try one of these ideas:

Give a small potted plant or flower that the child can plant it in their own backyard and watch grow. Small fruit plants are ideal, imagine how much fun it would be to harvest your first strawberry as a child!

Have a lucky dip at the exit. Many K-Mart and Target stores have $2 and $5 toy sections where you can grab a selection of trinkets to match your theme. You can have one box for girls and another for boys, or even include both in the same box. There are plenty of girls who love matchbox cars!

Make the take-home gift one of the party activities. If you were having a cooking themed party, like one of our very own, kids could take home biscuits or gingerbread men they baked and decorated themselves. If you’re doing art & craft activities, why not decorate some cheap t-shirts and hats with fabric markers, dye and glitter.

Take a photo of the birthday girl/boy with their friend as they arrive. Have a helper print each them out during the party and give each child their own in a cute frame they can decorate.

Make your own gifts. Playdough is just as fun to make as it is to play with, and the ingredients cost virtually nothing. You can give each child their own in a decorated container with their name on it. Another cute idea, which is perfect for girls parties, is to create your own soaps. Purchase some novelty shape ice-cube trays, melt some soap, mix with food colouring, and re-set in the mould.