Our daycare won't allow any baked goods (cupcakes) due to allergies. Most parents put together small treat bags to give each child with little balls, pencils, gummy snacks, etc. Half the time I end up throwing these away. Just wondering if there were any ideas of something cute that won't just end up in the trash. I think there are 25 kids so maybe $3-$5/kid?
How about homemade CDs with yor son's favorite songs? You can even buy CD labels to dress up the CD :)
This is definitely cheaper than your budget but we always do Snowman Soup "kits". Basically hot chocolate (we just buy the pkgs. of mix), marshmallows & a candy cane with a cute poem. My kids are in elementary school now and still like to make them for their friends. Just do an online search for "Snowman Soup" and you will find lots of cute poems you can download to print. I'm with you--a lot of that other stuff the kids like but there is so much of it it can add up!
Stickers. They get stuck on something and then they go away, so nothing for other moms to deal with. You can buy a bunch of multipacks and then mix and match sheets of stickers, put them into some envelopes and voila! finished.
Dover books also makes the mini-books you find at the bookstore or toy store; they are about $2 a pop and have sticker which restick, or tattoos or stencils or theme activity books. We often get these when we are on a trip as a souvenir.
I would do things that could be used at the school.
I once donated a pack of crayons for each kid in the class (it was summer and each pack was $0.20 due to school supply sales) so for $6. 30 kids got a new pack of crayons and a new pencil (1 penny for a 12 pk at Staples!).
Ask the teacher if there is something that the class is needing. - Crayons, paper, books, etc.
How about a coloring book and crayons? Cheap, and it will likely be used instead of thrown out.
Look at Oriental Trading Company!!!
But I second the coloring books, crayons idea. I do not like all those small toys. We are doing something similar for my daughter's classroom (preschool) for treat bags for Christmas. They are getting a Christmas stamp each (my daughter loves stamps), a whistle (sent in by another mom) and stickers along with candy. I figure that is okay - not too much junk.
Another great idea would be glow sticks!
