Inexpensive Gifts/Prizes for Elementary Age Kids?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

No insult, but I think you'd want to be really careful about any kind of food item with food allergies, and kids with specific diet requirements. You might inadvertently either make a kid really sick, or exclude a kid.

I can see the concerns. I think if they get to pick the prize though, it might not be bad. There are probably safe items though, liquorice, jolly ranchers, pixie sticks, etc. I mean, at some pre-covid elementary school dances they had candy kiosks and stuff for kids to buy candy.

I guess the OP already had a mandate though of no food items, so it’s moot anyway, I guess.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Do they still make those Styrofoam airplanes that you put a penny in the nose and it has a rubber band engine.


I used to love those when I was a kid.

They used to be balsawood or something in my neck of the woods. Fun toys though.

[bizaro86]

My wife got a few of these slime kits on clearance for $5 - so progress is being made.

https://canada.michaels.com/en/natio.../10517146.html

I'm going to check out a bunch of these ideas this week - thanks so much everyone! Continued ideas definitely appreciated 👍

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Weitz

They used to be balsawood or something in my neck of the woods. Fun toys though.

I have seen those at PM Hobbycraft. They’re pretty cheap. No propeller though, just the weighted nose.

https://www.pmhobbycraft.ca/eagle-balsa-glider.html

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Do they still make those Styrofoam airplanes that you put a penny in the nose and it has a rubber band engine.


I used to love those when I was a kid.

Not since that kid lost an eye

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Not since that kid lost an eye

Plus most of these kids weren't even born when they discontinued the penny.

[CaptainCrunch]

I was thinning out the boxes of stuff in my storage (There must be 20 ink jet printers in there). and I opened a box that I had moved from my college apartment with, and in the box were several college text books (Anyone want to learn Cobol for the Vax4000. How about Pascal, or a sealed TurboC compiler on 20 5.25 inch disks?


I need to have a vintage junk sale.



But anyways, there was a huge jar of probably 100 pennies in there.

[Canada 02]

may I suggest

https://belarusbearforce.com/

[bc-chris]

Medals.... the cheap plastic ones with the ribbon for around the kids neck.
My kids (grades 1 & 3) got a couple of those medals this summer and still love them

[DoubleF]

If you find one of those egg vending machines (IE: Winnie the Pooh Keychain, mini rubix cube, little figures etc.), I think those would be popular. Around $4 each IIRC?

Rubix cubes if bought in bulk on Amazon can come close to $4-6 each. Unfortunately the boxes of 3x3x3 are hard to come by, but some of the other rubix styles might be neat on their own.

Speed Cube Set, Aitey Cube Bundle 2x2 3x3 4x4 5x5 Pyramid Megaminx Skew Mirror Ivy Windmill Sticker Magic Cube Collection - Puzzles Cube Toys Gift for Kids and Adults Set of 10 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07VG645VK/...5RXMTZPP38YJFB

I think 3x3x3 individual rubix cubes are like $10-12 bucks? Bulk is cheaper, if you can find it.

Metal puzzles and brain teasers might be popular.

Puzzle Boxes, PeleusTech 6Pcs IQ Brain Teaser Set Metal Puzzle + Wooden Kong Ming Lock for Children Adults MT1142 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01KLZ3R0S/...5G577RCQ6VGY0H

Meao 24 Pcs Metal Wire Puzzle Logic Brain Teaser Set - Metal Ring IQ Puzzles Difficult Games - Ideal Intelligence Toys Gifts for Kids and Adults https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08GF82SRT/...ing=UTF8&psc=1

Sensory toys as someone else mentioned

EDsportshouse Sensory Toys Bundle-Stress Relief Fidget Hand Toys For Kids And AdultsSensory Fidget And Squeeze Widget For Relaxing Therapy-Perfect For ADHD Anxiety Autism https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07D1KRT47/...ing=UTF8&psc=1

Flashlights
EverBrite 6-Pack Mini 9-LED Flashlight with Lanyard, Impact Handheld Torch Assorted Colors with 3AAA Battery Included (Hurricane Supplies, Camping, Hiking, Emergency, Hunting) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B071SJ6NBS/...BFKZW6BF3K9FXW

3 color pen

BIC 4-Color Shine Ballpoint Pen, Purple Barrel, Medium Point (1.0mm), Assorted Inks, 3-Count https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07FCVFPMC/...Y1VFXPXK9M86NP