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“Trash.” “Complete waste.” “Just landfill fodder!” These are just a few of the messages I received when I expressed my frustration with goody bags on social media. While a handful of parents appreciated a carefully chosen bag, the consensus was clear: goody bags are a colossal waste.
Lately, it feels like my home has become a storage unit for unwanted items. A massive Ziploc bag of sugary treats has taken residence in my kitchen cabinet, while our office supply drawer is bursting with cheap novelty pencils, erasers, and mini packs of crayons. At the bottom of my son’s toy bins lie a collection of flimsy plastic toys — most of which are broken or missing pieces. Astonishingly, nearly all of this has made its way into our home since school began in September, and my son hasn’t even attended a single party!
I’ve never been a fan of goody bags. For each birthday, I’ve made a point to find take-home treats that minimize eco-guilt (like paper sacks filled with marshmallows or homemade wooden bead necklaces). This might make me come off as pretentious or a joy-sucker, but the wastefulness of typical party favors drives me insane. Almost everything my son brings home eventually ends up in the trash. It’s a poor use of materials and parents’ money. Until recently, I could only sigh in frustration.
However, the past school year has brought new levels of irritation. The previous year, our school paused classroom celebrations due to health concerns. While I understand the kids missed out on treats, I was relieved to skip the little favors that often accompanied these celebrations.
Now that the party ban has been lifted, we’ve been inundated with junk. The first parent to host a birthday celebration cautiously brought in donuts for the class. But by the second birthday, someone eager to celebrate decided goody bags were essential. Since then, every birthday results in my son bringing home yet another plastic bag filled with, you guessed it, junk: tiny containers of slime, sticky hands that quickly gather dirt, and “useful” plastic bookmarks.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, my son is already dreaming big about what he wants to give his classmates. I’m not entirely against festivities: We’ll participate in the class card exchange, and I might slip a piece of candy into the envelope, but there will be no additional favors from us. I dread the trinkets he’ll bring home.
Can we all just agree to stop this madness? It’s 2022, and we all recognize that we’re facing a genuine climate crisis. As birthday parties and celebrations resume, I urge fellow parents to stop purchasing cheap, disposable toys that provide only fleeting joy. This practice promotes a culture of waste and mindless consumption.
Moreover, it creates a vicious cycle: once one child brings goody bags, others want to as well, leading to increasingly extravagant offerings. And please don’t just swap out the plastic junk for “eco-friendly” alternatives, which often come at a higher price: that packet of seeds or beeswax crayons is still a waste of resources. So, who’s willing to join me in ending this goody bag frenzy? Let’s keep the candy and cupcakes but ditch the junk.
Lastly, for those like me with an ever-growing stash of these tiny plastic toys, my friend Lisa suggested a clever solution: save the favors throughout the year and use them to fill a piñata for your child’s birthday. At least we’ll give these unwanted toys a second chance. Surely we have enough to last until our kids forget this wasteful tradition?
Summary:
In a world increasingly aware of climate change, the author expresses frustration over the overwhelming amount of waste generated by goody bags at children’s parties. Despite the joy they may bring, these bags often consist of cheap, disposable items that quickly end up in landfills. The article calls for a collective effort among parents to stop this trend and reduce waste, suggesting creative alternatives like using leftover favors for piñatas.
SEO Metadata:
Goody bags, waste, climate crisis, children’s parties, eco-friendly alternatives, reduce waste, piñata, party favors.