My boys are playing baseball this season, and besides marking practices and games on my calendar, I also signed up to bring the snacks after a few games. After seeing my kid’s first after-game snack, I am so glad I didn’t go first.
That’s because these after-game snacks were a whole thing. Our first was a cute reusable gift bag filled with a baseball card, a woven baseball necklace — and the snacks. I was floored. I’m also a bit embarrassed to admit that I immediately logged into my Amazon account to start planning my own over-the-top snack.
I usually don’t mind being the “extra” mom, but this one got me thinking: are kids’ sports snacks the new birthday parties? In other words, is this yet another chance for parents to go above and beyond, all in the name of a good theme? And to what end?
I surveyed my players
Before I went all in with the after-game gift bag snacks, I asked my boys what they wanted. My older one was ambivalent about the extra treats, but had a few requests for the snacks, like Joyride candy and chips. So I focused more on that, though I did buy the popular “baseball drip” themed gift bags for the treats.
Courtesy of Rachel Morgan Cautero.
My youngest is into arm sleeves, specifically compression arm sleeves that baseball players wear to keep their muscles warm and protect their skin from the sun and turf. Of course, at 6 years old, they’re purely decorative, but I honored his request and included a cheap version of the arm sleeves in the gift bags for his team. And when I say cheap, I mean about $1 per pair, which I felt OK about.
I kept a budget in mind
I know it can be easy to blow your budget in the name of a good theme. I’ve hosted enough kids’ birthday parties to learn this one firsthand. That’s why, when I decided to up my game (pun intended) for after-game snacks, I set a budget. I knew I wanted to spend no more than $5 per kid. With 12 kids on the team, $60 was my limit.
Courtesy of Rachel Morgan Cautero.
Buying in bulk, planning ahead when ordering from Amazon, or splitting up non-treat items like baseball cards, candy, and temporary tattoos are other budget-friendly ways to join in on the trend. My boys have gotten all in their after-game treat bags this year and have been happy.
Along with the cute bag and arm sleeve, I included a carb-heavy snack and a Gatorade, since experts suggest including healthy carbs and hydration in after-game snacks.
I leaned into the trend
I was honestly a little surprised the first time I saw one of these treats after a game. Do parents really need another task on their to-do list? What’s wrong with orange slices and Gatorade? Absolutely nothing, but I enjoy a challenge and leaned in.
I’m probably an “extra” mom myself. My kids’ birthday parties are always big and a bit over-the-top. One year, we rented a petting zoo for my 5-year-old’s farm-themed party. Another year, it was a video game truck for my 7-year-old. But I don’t do it all. For example, we’ve never done advent calendars or treats for their classes on their birthday. We also don’t do cute matching outfits for school picture day, family Halloween costumes, or boo baskets.
What I’ve realized is this. You can go big for your kids, but you can’t do it for everything. You have to pick and choose your things, or you will drive yourself crazy. Did I choose to lean into the after-sport snack as one of my extra things? I sure did. But it made my kids — and their teammates — smile, so I guess I’m OK with it.
