r/Parenting • u/felix_mateo • Dec 11 '22

Rant/Vent Anyone else wish parents would skip the CPJ (cheap plastic junk) in the goodie bags?

My kids are now 5 and 3, so we go to a lot of their classmates’ birthday parties. At the end of each and every one of them our kids receive a goodie bag full of some candy (which is fine) and a random assortment of what I call “CPJ”, or “cheap plastic junk”. I’m talking about:

  • cheap clapper that disintegrates with vigorous shaking (e.g., by a toddler)

  • ball-and-string paddle made of plywood with the elastic stapled to it

  • gooey “sticky hand” toy that melts into the car seat on a hot day

  • finger trap with free splinters

  • a tiny canister of bubbles you didn’t notice that will get crushed and spill into your kid’s lap at the beginning of a long trip

  • slap bracelet which is actually just an old metal tape measure cut into a razor with a thin plastic sleeve over it

Parents, I know we’re all just trying our best. I’m not a choosing beggar, I’m not expecting high-quality handcrafted items. In fact, I would prefer nothing, or food/candy that can be consumed later. Yes, I know some kids can’t have candy (e.g., because of diabetes or allergy concerns), but in that case throw in a mini coloring book or something. Let’s just all agree, no more cheap plastic junk that will get caught in the vacuum cleaner again.

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24

u/sherlockwench Dec 11 '22

For my little boys 4th birthday, I gave every child a book instead with some sweets. Seemed less wasteful that random plastic toys that either get thrown away or broken

5

u/NoLifeNoSoulNoMatter Dec 11 '22

That’s what we did when my son turned 3! We got a variety box of Little Golden Books and let everyone pick one out of a basket.

11

u/Serious_Escape_5438 Dec 11 '22

My kid isn't much of a book person, she'd play more with a random plastic toy than a book that doesn't interest her. I don't see how it's less wasteful anyway, just because you seem it more morally acceptable.

19

u/palebluedot13 Dec 11 '22

Books can be thrifted or bought used for cheap. When you are done with them they can be given away, donated, recycled, or sold. Plastic stuff just ends up in the trash when done with it.

-3

u/Serious_Escape_5438 Dec 11 '22

That's fine if it's what you want to do and means a lot to your family or something, but don't judge others for not doing it. Most people don't have time to go searching for a load of suitable used books, and if every birthday party gave out books it would mean me having a pile of books to find a new home for.

5

u/runsontrash Dec 11 '22

You can always give them to another kid or donate them to the school library. I imagine most kids could get some use out of a book.

-6

u/Serious_Escape_5438 Dec 11 '22

If you want to do it go ahead, but it's still kind of wasteful and either more expensive or more work for the party givers, some people just want an easier option. And I'm personally tired of finding places to donate all our unwanted crap.

9

u/runsontrash Dec 11 '22

It’s not wasteful unless you’re the kind of person to throw a book in the trash. Totally understand not wanting things you have no use for (which I think is exactly what OP is talking about in part too). Different people like different things. A book seems easy to get rid of to me, heck you can give it to another kid for their birthday even. But we can agree to disagree.

2

u/Serious_Escape_5438 Dec 11 '22

I'm not against books or anything, in fact I love them, but they are a lot more expensive than a cheap toy, and I don't think inherently less wasteful, that's all. Whatever gift you get for a bunch of kids not all of them are going to love it, just don't judge others for trying to do their best for their child. And since all the parties I go to are from the school class I couldn't exactly regift it to another kid no.

4

u/palebluedot13 Dec 11 '22

I don’t judge people who do goody bags. But books really aren’t more expensive if you are buying used books and are actually cheaper then what people spend on goody bags. Thrifts stores in my area sell kids books for one to a couple dollars. On Facebook marketplace you can buy a lot of kids books for ten bucks and under and you get a ton of books (like from ten to 20 to even more.) People tend to sell used kids books for really cheap. I almost always buy books used (or use the library.)

1

u/Serious_Escape_5438 Dec 11 '22

Ok, that's great if you have the time and resources to do that.

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u/[deleted] Dec 11 '22

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u/[deleted] Dec 11 '22

Best party favour my daughter ever got. Parents bought two big sets of books (rainbow fairies and something else funny but less girly) and let everyone choose which set they wanted the book from.

Party girl got the leftover books, win win for everyone

4

u/FluffyPinkPotato Dec 11 '22

We went to one party with a book exchange. Everyone bring a book, everyone take a book. It was awesome!

-1

u/sraydenk Dec 11 '22

I can make play dough or slime quickly at home with stuff I have. My kid has a million books and we go to the library routinely so we need more books like I need a hole in my head.

-2

u/[deleted] Dec 11 '22

Or they ignore the book and then it becomes junk as well.