The pinterest mom. The mom who sees it and makes it, and it looks incredible! Hats, scarves, gloves, giant forts, mini forts, art easels, snackadiums, and more. Some of us love them, most of us envy them, and some even hate them. I'm mostly on the envy side. For the time and carefulness it takes to make that stuff. I'd love the time and patience to prefect my rose carrots, and meticulously cut out edible rabbits that you can eat. And that indoor jungle gym out of pallets, man oh man! Don't even get me started on those avenger crocheted hats that I wish I could learn to make.
My point is, you don't have to be a that mom to make something nice for a class party. I'm crafty, I like crafts. Popsicle picture frames and coloring pages are my forte. I'm a kid too, I like to color and make projects, but I have no where near the knowledge or fortitude to begin some pinterest imitated project. I'm a 90s mom, not a pinterest mom. I've put together cute goodie bags for most of his classes, but I also think of those over bearing parents who want organic everything and no sugar. It's impossible to please all but here's what I do to seem like the conscientious parent.
Goodie bag, plastic, mostly see through with a basic non-denominational, non-sexist message. (i.e. Happily Holidays, snowmen, presents, smiley faces, arrows with hearts, Happy Valentines day, shamrocks, rainbows with pots of gold, sunshine, rain, clouds) Something cute but nothing that screams boys or girls. Hard to do, I know but they're out there. I get mine from Walmart, Target, Party City, Hobby Lobby or Michaels mostly.
Candy. Yes, Candy. Don't put too much in, anywhere from 2-5 pieces per kid is sufficient, small sized is important. You want parents to see you are fun but you're respectful. It's they're choice if they want the kid to eat all the candy at once or just one piece a night. Typically chocolate is good, sometimes something gummy. I try to avoid starburst or sweet tarts, it's a bit much for little kids, but as they get older it should be fine. Don't do sour or hot for little kids. They're fun but not for kids under 5 who don't know what's coming.
Add in a toy or something non-food. Not all kids can enjoy candy. The sugar, the nuts, the red dye no. 6. It's annoying how many allergies there are out there, but it's real. You don't want to single any kid out, so add in a small toy or a pen or something else fun and gender neutral. Some ideas include: whistle, parachute dude, glow bracelet, jumping frog, little notebook and pen set, stickers, silly straws.
Each little goodie bag needs only a few things. The smaller the kids are, the less they need. The older they are, the more impressive you might think they need to be, but that's not so. Funny thing about kids, they like opening things. Even if they can see it, the satisfaction or opening something and getting to take it out is a little bit of fun. You can put the stuff together in a bag or a box or a tin can, they'll appreciate it. Any candy will work, they won't hate on your kid because they were given some off brand, candy is candy, just make sure it's wrapped. And the toy doesn't matter either, the toy is probably being forgotten about in a day or two anyway, so go for something cheap. You really shouldn't need to spend more than $1-2 on each kid in the end. I will spend about $20-25 in total on bags, toys and candy, but my kid has about 20ish kids in his class so it makes it very simple to just put together a goodie bag and call it a day. I typically don't put names on the bags, you never know who will be added last minute and you never want to single the kid out, so add in one extra just in case. After the party, your own kid can have it or the teacher can decide what to do with the extras.
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