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Classroom Goody Bags: A Growing Concern
by Emma Collins
Updated: Feb. 7, 2022
Originally Published: Feb. 4, 2022
“Rubbish.” “Just trash.” “Total waste!” These are just a few of the messages I received after expressing my disdain for goody bags on social media. While some parents made exceptions for carefully curated treats, the majority concurred: goody bags are an enormous waste.
Recently, my home has become overrun. There’s an enormous Ziploc bag filled with sugary sweets in my kitchen cabinet. Our office supply drawer is overflowing with cheap novelty pens, erasers, and tiny packs of crayons. At the bottom of my son’s toy bins, you can find a collection of flimsy plastic trinkets — all broken or missing pieces. Strangely, most of this clutter has entered our home since school commenced in September, despite my son not attending a single party!
I’ve never been a fan of goody bags. For each birthday, I’ve carefully selected more eco-friendly take-home treats (like a paper bag of marshmallows or handmade wooden bead necklaces). While I might come off as snobby or joyless, the sheer wastefulness of standard party favors drives me insane. Almost everything my son brings home from parties is destined for the landfill. It’s a waste of resources and, quite frankly, a poor use of parents’ funds. Until this year, I mostly sighed and accepted it.
However, the 2020-21 school year has left me even more frustrated. Last year, our school suspended classroom celebrations due to health concerns. I was relieved to avoid the usual favors. But now, celebrations have resumed, and so has the avalanche of waste. The first parent who brought treats was cautious, offering donuts for the class on their child’s birthday. But by the second birthday, someone decided that goody bags were a must. Since then, every birthday brings home a plastic bag stuffed with, well, junk: tiny containers of slime, sticky hands that quickly gather dirt, and “useful” plastic bookmarks.
Now my son is already dreaming about what he wants to give his classmates for Valentine’s Day, and his ideas are extravagant. While I’m not against participating in the class card exchange and including a piece of candy, we won’t be including any favors. I dread the useless trinkets he’ll bring home.
Can we all agree enough is enough? It’s 2022, and many recognize we’re facing a climate crisis. As birthday parties and classroom celebrations return, I urge my fellow parents to stop buying cheap, disposable toys that bring only fleeting joy. This behavior fosters a throwaway culture and promotes mindless consumption.
It’s a vicious cycle: once one child hands out goody bags, others feel compelled to do the same. Each one seems to outdo the last. And please, let’s not just swap plastic junk for “eco-friendly” options that are still wasteful and often more expensive. So, who’s with me? Let’s put an end to the goody bag madness; if not at home, then at least in our children’s classrooms. They can have all the candy and cupcakes they want, but let’s draw the line at junk.
As a final thought: if you, like me, have a growing pile of these tiny plastic items, my friend Lisa Henderson suggested a clever idea. Save the favors throughout the year and use them to fill a piñata for your child’s birthday. That way, we can give those unwanted toys a second chance. Surely, there’s enough in circulation to last until our kids forget this wasteful trend?
EMMA COLLINS is a sustainable living expert and the author of The Little Guide to Eco-Friendly Parenting. She lives with her husband and child in Seattle. You can follow her on social media @emma.collins.
For more insights, check out this blog post on related topics. If you’re interested in more resources around parenting and family planning, consider visiting Make A Mom, an authority on family journeys. Additionally, for a comprehensive understanding of pregnancy, feel free to explore this excellent resource.
Summary
Classroom goody bags are increasingly viewed as a wasteful practice, contributing to a cycle of mindless consumption and environmental harm. As school celebrations resume, parents are encouraged to reconsider the necessity of these disposable items. Instead of participating in this wasteful trend, families can opt for more meaningful alternatives, ensuring that children enjoy celebrations without the clutter of unwanted trinkets.
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