Party Bags

[BabyMine]

I don't want to hand out party bags with plastic trinkets/junk. I would like to do something that hopefully will be educational but not expensive. There will be between 30-40 children. So....

Are party bags required and what do you recommend for a space themed party.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Wow!!!! 30-40 kids?! I would probably just to a balloon for each kid.

If budget allows then you could see if you can find astronaut ice cream.

Beth

[kransden]

Moon Sand? I know they have small containers of it, but I have no idea how much that costs. Maybe buy big containers and put it into smaller ones to give out?
Glow sticks? Those are spacey.

[BabyMine]

Wow!!!! 30-40 kids?! I would probably just to a balloon for each kid.

If budget allows then you could see if you can find astronaut ice cream.

Beth

At the museum we are doing it at they offer party bags for $3 per child. The stuff in the bags are aweful. I didn't know if I had to do party bags and if I did what would be good for $1.:D

[sariana]

Nope, party bags certainly are not required.

Glow sticks are a great idea, very popular IME. I don't know how much they cost. Glow necklaces or other glow things would work too. Maybe try Oriental Trading Company?

[BabyMine]

Nope, party bags certainly are not required.

Glow sticks are a great idea, very popular IME. I don't know how much they cost. Glow necklaces or other glow things would work too. Maybe try Oriental Trading Company?

I love the glow stick idea and the moon sand. I forgot about OTC. Off to check now. Thanks

[sariana]

If you have time, you could give each child a "star," that is find a star and assign one to each child. Give him/her a printout of info about that star (how far from Earth, how bright, how big, etc). That would meet your "educational" requirement but would require a time commitment from you.

[zoestargrove]

A girlfriend of mine did a softcover early reader type book about the first trip to the moon.

freeze dried astronauts icecream.

this website has a lot of ideas.
http://www.thespacestore.com/naandsppafa.html

[jerigirl]

Moon Sand? I know they have small containers of it, but I have no idea how much that costs. Maybe buy big containers and put it into smaller ones to give out?
Glow sticks? Those are spacey.
Ooooh. NOT Moon Sand! The joke in our playgroup is that you only give moon sand to people you don't like. Messy, messy, messy! I like the glow stick idea or astronaut ice cream or space themed coloring books.

[bubbaray]

Ooooh. NOT Moon Sand! The joke in our playgroup is that you only give moon sand to people you don't like. Messy, messy, messy! I like the glow stick idea or astronaut ice cream or space themed coloring books.


:yeahthat: No kidding. Our former CLEANING LADY gave it to us and I asked why here -- omom rightly replied "job security". That stuff is the work of the Devil. And I'm not kidding. Its ONLY an outside toy.

I am going out later today to forage for party gifts. I am thinking I will do hula hoops, and possibly skipping ropes, with a helium balloon tied to each. I have to buy 15-20, not 40 though.

[lucybabymamma]

I know at our dollar store they sell packs of 12 glow bracelets or 5 necklaces.
It could also be fun to go to crayola.com and create a space themed coloring page using a picture of the birthday child. That, a balloon and a few glow things would be unique and low cost.
http://www.crayola.com/coloring-page-maker/

[kwc]

We just had a rocket party for DS and these were the goodie bags (though this may get $$$ for 40 kids!)

-rocket and astronaut soaps from etsy
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32369983

-hand squeeze version of stomp rockets (each party pack has 2 launchers and 10 rockets, we split between 2 kids)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006N6USM/ref=oss_product

-a few glow in the dark stars from a big jar of glowing stars.

I loved the soaps but they are pretty small (the kids thought they were cute but not sure of true utility), and the stars were pretty unnecessary... the kids seemed to like the squeeze rockets best (though really young kids were not able to do it and my DS pulled the fins off 2 of his rockets immediately).
I do think the glow bracelet idea is a good one... you can get big packs cheap at Michael's or party stores. I am really anal and usually confiscate a all playdough, moonsand and slime favors.

If you don't want to do party bags, you could just fill a pinata... though 40 kids is a lot. I was so pleased with my party bags but DS insisted on having a pinata that I had to fill with crap. :(

http://www.shindigz.com/party/Space-Shuttle-Pinata.cfm

We've also given out mini-sticker books before (at previous parties):
http://www.thespacestore.com/stickers.html

[KrisM]

Target has a 15 pack of glow bracelets in the $1 bin.

[BabyMine]

:yeahthat: No kidding. Our former CLEANING LADY gave it to us and I asked why here -- omom rightly replied "job security". That stuff is the work of the Devil. And I'm not kidding. Its ONLY an outside toy.
:hysterical: Smart lady


We just had a rocket party for DS and these were the goodie bags (though this may get $$$ for 40 kids!)

-rocket and astronaut soaps from etsy
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32369983

-hand squeeze version of stomp rockets (each party pack has 2 launchers and 10 rockets, we split between 2 kids)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006N6USM/ref=oss_product

-a few glow in the dark stars from a big jar of glowing stars.

I loved the soaps but they are pretty small (the kids thought they were cute but not sure of true utility), and the stars were pretty unnecessary... the kids seemed to like the squeeze rockets best (though really young kids were not able to do it and my DS pulled the fins off 2 of his rockets immediately).
I do think the glow bracelet idea is a good one... you can get big packs cheap at Michael's or party stores. I am really anal and usually confiscate a all playdough, moonsand and slime favors.

If you don't want to do party bags, you could just fill a pinata... though 40 kids is a lot. I was so pleased with my party bags but DS insisted on having a pinata that I had to fill with crap. :(

http://www.shindigz.com/party/Space-Shuttle-Pinata.cfm

We've also given out mini-sticker books before (at previous parties):
http://www.thespacestore.com/stickers.html

How could I have forgot about Etsy. These are wonderful ideas.


Target has a 15 pack of glow bracelets in the $1 bin.

Off to Target tomorrow.

[BabyMine]

I know off topic but I saw this when I was looking at the space soap. This is cool.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=40334625

[baymom]

Another vote for the glow sticks...they sell packs of 15 for $1 at our Michaels. Also, I don't know how much time you have, but some budget ideas:

1) Find ice cube molds of rockets and make your own chunky crayons, like this: http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crayon-hearts-671639/ I made some with DC and it was very quick and easy. Just a tip, in case you do it...let them cool to room temp after you remove from oven, before putting the tray in the fridge, to prevent cracking. If you can't find rocket molds, how about a set of 3 plain circle ones in a little bag with a clever tag saying they are "planets for an out of this universe friend" or something like that? Also, they sell packs of 64 store-brand crayons at Michaels for $1. I

2) You could get tag board and have DC decorate it with solar system, star, ect. stickers, cut it out and get it laminated (at Staples, ect.), punch a hole at the top and tie yarn throw it to make tassels....viola, book-marks! This would be a cute, personalized touch with the books that a PP mentioned... Or, you could even give the bookmarks with a bunch of color pages you download online, or homemade cookies...

Sounds like a really fun theme for a party! Have fun!!