https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:25:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2868009 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 22:24:16 +0000 irene 2868009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: Don't take it seriously! I just finished hosting DS' birthday party too, kids (6-7 year olds!) were all anxious grabbing at the favors, which I thoughtfully got these puzzle books (with jokes and cross words and what not) from Highlights, and I put a pencil with each of them. I even had DS drew a simple bowling image (we had a bowling party), made them small and into little tags and tied them on the books (I am a graphic designer by trade so it takes me no time... ok an hour or two :silly: ). Very tasteful, useful, educational and "thoughtful" one would think. And seemingly everyone wanted them.</p> <p>They all headed to the arcade game section afterwards for a few games before pick up. DH reported that my carefully crafted favors were left everywhere as kids probably put them down as they played the games and forgot to pick them up. They probably completely forgot about them as they walked out with their parents. So honestly, don't bother, it is somehow human nature that our barbaric side is we grab at "free stuff" instinctively. It is survival instinct :grin:</p> <p>And may I say, how annoying people don't RSVP, and people who decided they just don't come when they RSVP'd Yes?! Your case was fine and excusable that they texted you and the kids were sick. My party 4 of them didn't show up, 3 of them didn't bother to reach out to me before or after the party! I still don't know what happened to them or their kids. The funny thing is, 2 out of these 3 kids went to a birthday party the day BEFORE our party, and we saw them at that other party. </p> <p>And thankfully all 26 of my guests RSVP'd (I did have to follow up with a handful of them). How could 15 out of 30 of your guests didn't RSVP?! Have they never hosted a party before I wonder? I never understand that. Karma will get them when they finally hosts lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2867906 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 14:59:12 +0000 Mrsbells 2867906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: i wouldnt send treat bags unless you had enough for everyone. Its also going to be tricky for kids who actually attended because they will feel left out not getting one even though they already got one at the party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2867885 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 14:32:36 +0000 erinbaderin 2867885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: I don't love them either, but at the end of the party I was basically swarmed - all the kids came running out of the play structure and I said "Oh, is it picture time?" (at the end of the party the staff has all the kids get together for a picture) and one kid literally yelled "IT'S LOOT BAG TIME!" I was trying to get my son to hand one to each friend and there were kids climbing all over both of us to get to them. It was like a scene out of the Walking Dead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2867876 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 14:03:17 +0000 irene 2867876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unless you are sending out gold bars in your gift bags, I'd say don't bother. Sorry but I am anti-gift bags.... I can not collect more cheap plastic knick-knacks and candies. I usually collect them both and give them all away in our Halloween basket at Halloween. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2867788 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 08:24:00 +0000 erinbaderin 2867788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pretty definitive response - thank you! One mother, when she cancelled, said she was going to send the gift to school today, so if she does I'll send that one in tomorrow - unfortunately B is in junior kindergarten so I couldn't pick most of his classmates out of a lineup, never mind have a way to contact his parents outside of sending a note to school and asking the teachers to put it in the mailbag. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2867781 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 07:18:09 +0000 MLE81 2867781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kaohinani: I absolutely agree with your rationale from a manners/party protocol perspective. My DD is only turning 3 in March and we’ve only done family parties so far (that’s the plan this year, too). From what you wrote, though, I’m already dreading the amount of effort it seems to take just to lock down RSVPs/numbers for larger, friend parties. Sounds exhausting!! </p> <p>Oh, and I teach 2nd Grade, so treat bags are probably much more of a big deal for my students than older ones. Even slight differences in content can cause major drama ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2867761 Sun, 20 Jan 2019 20:08:09 +0000 lamariniere 2867761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Normally I wouldn’t but we had a situation at my DD’s party. One boy was invited but never rsvp’d and didn’t show up, so I didn’t think much of it. I didn’t have his parents’ direct contact info, so I didn’t even know if the paper invite made it home. The week after the party, my DD came home from school with a gift from the boy, but there was no explanation. So I sent the goodie bag and put it in another shopping bag and told DD to give it to him before or after school and not show it to other kids. I finally ran into the dad a few weeks later and he explained that they had planned to come but their son had gotten into big trouble the day before and so they couldn’t let him go to the party. It was complicated, but I felt like we couldn’t let the gift go unacknowledged. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2867756 Sun, 20 Jan 2019 19:47:36 +0000 Ms.Mermaid 2867756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my view, the whole point of the treat bag is to bribe your kid to leave the party so I wouldn’t bother for kids that didn’t make it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2867753 Sun, 20 Jan 2019 19:39:25 +0000 Kaohinani 2867753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MLE81: I hadn't even thought of that. I am an educator as well; however, my DD is in upper elementary (nearly 11). When OP wrote the bags would be placed in mailboxes to go home, I "assumed" the other students would be oblivious to the fact. Whoops! I also do not know the age of OP's DS at this time. Perhaps if the gift bags/treats were given out of school/in private? Otherwise, definitely no. Thank you for bringing that to my attention as I was SOOOO focused on party protocol and manners. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2867751 Sun, 20 Jan 2019 19:32:46 +0000 MLE81 2867751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Teacher perspective:<br /> Although generous and well-intentioned, treat bags often cause challenges in a school/classroom setting. You mentioned that the ones you send to school would go directly into the recipients’ mail bags so no one else would see, but more than likely someone will “spill the beans” the next day, which could then lead to hurt feelings for those who didn’t get one. </p> <p>I agree with Crazydoglady: leave it be. Those who came to the party got their treat bag, and that’s that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2867747 Sun, 20 Jan 2019 19:08:59 +0000 Kaohinani 2867747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For the ones who took the time to RSVP but could not show due to extenuating circumstances, sure ... to the rest who were invited but could not show you the decent courtesy of an RSVP? - NO.</p> <p>I have planned spa parties for DD and parties at horse ranches for both my kids and have had similar issues arise where some parents will RSVP and their child will be unable to show (due to illness, poor behavior, a car accident, etc.) AND THEN other families don't take the time to respond so I have to "hunt" them for a final count. In the end, if a child misses my kids' (either DD or DS) party after RSVP-ing, he or she will receive a goody bag and extra treats (cupcake, treats, etc) from the party. If someone did not RSVP and I had to hunt them down for a definitive "no," while I feel bad, their child does not receive what they would for having attended. I feel bad but c'est la vie. Manners are important to me ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2867745 Sun, 20 Jan 2019 18:58:11 +0000 crazydoglady 2867745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If they sent gifts, then maybe I would go out of my way to give a favor. As it is, I would leave it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-send-treat-bags-to-school#post-2867744 Sun, 20 Jan 2019 18:38:04 +0000 erinbaderin 2867744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son’s birthday was yesterday. We invited the 28 kids in his class and two from his daycare. Only about 15 people RSVP’d at all, and then the day of the party, four moms texted me to say their kids weren’t coming - three were sick, one said the roads were too bad. </p> <p>So my question is, do I send treat bags to school for those four kids? It isn’t their fault they couldn’t make it, but then there are the other 15 kids who were invited and their parents didn’t respond - it isn’t those kids’ faults either? The bags would go in the kids’ mailbags home, so it’s not like the others would see that some kids got one. What would you do? </p>