Mom Hacks – Loot Bag Ideas

I will never forget the time my 9-year-old daughter came home from a friend’s birthday party with a beautiful, red Betta fish in a tiny, glass bowl. She was thrilled – her first pet!

On the other hand, I was not thrilled. In fact, I have I never wanted to punch another mother like I did that day. It wasn’t this mother’s place to decide when my daughter would have a pet. Not to mention, if we *did* decide to get a pet, it wouldn’t have been a fish in a tiny bowl to exist purely for our pleasure. I felt so badly for that little fish in its minuscule bowl, that of course, I ran out to get it a proper tank with room to move and stimulation in the form of caves, plants, etc.

I still don’t know what that mom was thinking, but I do know that some parents seem to want to outdo others via loot bags. But it’s not a competition, there are no winners.

Loot bags are fun reminders of the party kids attended, something to get them out of the party and into your car without a fight, and that’s all. Party parents aren’t judged on their contents, nor are they intended to represent lifelong keepsakes to party attendees. Relax, parents!

Once you’ve established a budget for your loot bags, and depending on age & time of year, here are some good ideas:

• crayons & coloring books
• kaleidoscope, or magnifying glass
• modeling clay, silly putty, or the like
• sidewalk chalk, skipping rope
• flashlight, or keychain that lights up
• bubbles and wand
• PEZ candy & dispenser
• glitter glue & construction paper
• mini spray bottle, flower pot & seeds
• stickers & sticker book
• fun toiletries like hair ties and lip balm
• comic books
• candy, treats

P.S. my kid was friends with the Betta fish mom for years. Once, I invited her kid to a slumber party, and the mom sent her with a chocolate fondue set. Which I had to put together, then dismantle, hand-wash each part, re-box and return to her.

Good times.

Featured image credit: stacey_newman/Thinkstock

Natalie Rea

Mom to two amazing daughters - a feisty teen in middle school, and an ambitious young adult in university. Originally from Montréal's West Island, I now explore the beautiful trails of Hamilton, Ontario. Proud Canadian, vegetarian, dog-adopter, & bleeding-heart liberal. I smile a lot because I have Resting Bitch Face.