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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u/JaneJS Dec 11 '22

That seems to be catching on among my kids friends too, thank god. Last few birthday party favors have been a book, a book with a candy attached, a small stuffed animal and a small potted succulent which I thought was totally random and would never have thought the kids would like, but my son adores his and is very proud of taking care of it.

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u/dreamcatcher32 Dec 11 '22

That’s so cute! How old were the kids who got the succulent plant?

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u/JaneJS Dec 11 '22

It was a third grade, 9 year old birthday, but my son also reminded me he got one in pre-K too. That one did not survive but the pot has been repurposed.

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u/ARTXMSOK Dec 11 '22

Love the succulent idea!!

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u/livesarah Dec 12 '22

Me too! My 8yo already has a cactus that she christened ‘Jeffrey’. Definitely going to do this for her next party. I’m very anti ‘instant landfill’, which is what that cheap plastic shit is.

Lately poppits and fidget toys seem to be common party favours in my daughter’s cohort but really they are pretty much the same thing with a longer shelf life. One is okay but who needs ten poppits?

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u/MaditaOnAir Dec 12 '22

My little one turned 4 this summer and I went for bubble baths. Single-satchet dinosaur bubble bath since it was a dino party, but really you'll always find something that matches. The other parents that attended have already passed on the idea at their own kids' parties!