Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or other, one thing most parties have in common are the party favors. Serious question here: Are party favors really necessary or are they a huge waste of money?
There are people who think they are very necessary while others think they’re ridiculous. So, let’s get to the bottom of why some people are for them while others are against them.
I’m All for Party Favors!
Whatever the occasion may be, party favors should be on the list when planning the party. After all, a party favor is essentially a way to thank your guests for coming… because they didn’t have to come.
Now, if you’re one of those people who are totally against party favors, it’s understandable as to why you feel the way you do. Everyone has gone to kid birthday parties where they hand out bags that are full of candy and useless junk that your kids will never use… they’ll eat the candy for sure, but a squishy frog serves absolutely no purpose!
Don’t get me wrong, kids birthday parties are supposed to be fun, so you don’t want to give away favors that are boring, but you also want to give away gifts that they’ll actually use or play with.
The kinds of parties for tweens and teens will be totally different than the kinds you would throw for younger kids and the party favors you give away will be different too.
Acceptable party favors for tweens and teens include:
- Nail polish and lip-gloss
- Sunglasses
- Headphones
- Personalized drawstring backpacks
Acceptable favors for younger children include:
- Candy
- Bubbles
- Play-Doh
- A small box of crayons with mini coloring book
Against Party Favors: They’re So Unnecessary…
It’s completely understandable why some people are against party favors. One of the main reasons is because typical favors are dust collectors and more clutter that parents have to throw away.
The key thing to remember about favors is to get ones that your guests will actually use. Just think about it… what’s the point of spending money on something if it’s only going to get thrown away?
Another reason, there’s always that possibility that you might have miscalculated exactly how many people were supposed to be in attendance and someone might get left out… That’s why you need to have extra just in case you do happen to miscalculate.
Most people will get their favors from Dollar Tree, which is perfectly fine but when you shop there, shop for things you know your guests will actually enjoy or use. And no one ever said that your gifts have to be several things either. A favor can be just one thing.
Parents.com actually conducted a survey asking people if they thought single favors were acceptable and 30 percent of people stated that one favor would do just fine versus a bunch of little knick-knacks in a bag that will get thrown away.
Alternative Party Favor Ideas
If you are open to some alternative favor ideas, consider these great and cost-effective alternate options.
- Baskin Robins gift certificates of two dollars or more
- One song or game credit off of Amazon
- Baseball caps (bulk) from Oriental Trading
- Homemade hand lotion
Are You for Them or Against Them? What’s Your Take?
So, we’ve gone through the aspects of why people choose to have party favors and why they choose not to have them… There’s no wrong answer here either. The real answer is that whether or not to give them out is completely up to you and what you want.
Essentially, the main focus of parties is the people. As long as people are having a good time, that’s your main concern. If they’re having a great time, a party favor would just be an added bonus!