In Favor of the Loot Bag: How to Come Up With Funkier Party Goody Bags

by: Louella S. Suque
2007-08-29

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A children’s birthday party will never be a children’s birthday party minus the must-have loot bags. Loot bags, which are terrific to receive, can be such a hassle to organize with all the other party preparations that you have to bother with. Simple loot bags stuffed with the usual party treat can be fun. But have you thought about putting a little effort to come up with better goody bags?

You can always do better than giving away boring bags filled with the usual sugar lollipop and a plastic action figure. Like birthday cakes and party frills, you can very much customize your own fun party loot bags.

Concoct your own sugar delights

Feeding children candies can set off a bad habit of indulging on unhealthy food choices at a young age. Instead of purchasing preservative and sodium-laced candies that could hurt not only your child’s molars but also his physical well-being, try cooking your own sugary fancies at home.

Try chocolate apples made of apple preserves dunked in chocolate—white, bitter or semi-sweet. It's up to you. You can also make individually-wrapped cereal bars made of bran flakes and slated peanuts. If you have a tight budget but still want something good enough, you can always opt for brown sugar shortbreads cut into fun shapes with a cookie-cutter.

But it’s not all about sugary treats, mind you. If you want to try out on healthy snacks, throw in Japanese rice crackers and fish sausages in the bag. There are also fruit flavored yogurt drinks and sugar-free energy bars. They are all-natural and fat free, yet appetizing.

GI Joe will do better in the battle field

Instead of throwing in action figures in loot bags, opt for toys that challenge a child’s creative ability to get their brains in tip top shape. Mini coloring books can be a superb idea partnered with a box of crayons or colored pencils. Little cartoon puzzles are also good options especially if you throw in a mini pack of origami papers.

Throw in a Rubik's cube and a mini-chess set. These old school playthings may not be as popular among small children today but they continue to promise good fun and provide a boost to the mind.

Deck your bags

You can always decide on a bag other than the usual plastic ones with boring cartoon faces. Make your child’s party extra extraordinary by customizing your very own loot bags. Purchase colored sandwich bags at a supermarket and have a printing house produce stickers of the birthday celebrant’s name in happy colors. If you can do caricatures, make one of your child’s and print them out to stick on the sandwich bags. You may also print out each of your child-guest’s name and stick them on the loot bags of their favorite color for a personalized feel. If you have ample budget to spare, you may have small tote bags custom made so children can recycle them later on to use for school.

Art Attack!

Yes, your little guests can have a go at customizing their own goody bags. As part of the party activity, distribute paper bags among your child’s guests along with tubes of glitter glue and art materials. Ask them to decorate their own bags, offering a special prize for the best-looking loot bag. Afterwards, hand out the treats to the kids a la Santa Claus (you may even dress up for the occasion) and have them share their art-inspired bags with other children.

Thematic loot bags? Why not?

You may amplify the party fun by sprucing up your loot bags according to your chosen party theme. If your child is having a pirates-inspired party, give away loot bags made of mini flour sacks filled with chocolate gold coins. A fairy-tale themed party for a little daughter can use plastic goody bags in the shape of a shoe—a la Cinderella. If your child is having his birthday party in time for Halloween, have loot bags in the shape of a grinning pumpkin.

For a winning party, always keep in mind that apart from a groovy loot bag worth a pleasing smile, a birthday bash worth remembering is one loaded with fun times and a gracious reception. Happy birthday partying!

If you have any comments and suggestions, you may send them to info@hotoccasions.com. We'd love to hear from you.

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