Party Bag ideas for 11 year olds?

[flupcake]

DD is having a bowling party for her classmates for her 11th. There will be a mix of boys and girls. I am really stuck about what to do for party bag / party gift. As they are a bit older I don't think they necessarily need a bagful of toys, but I can't think what to do instead. Books are difficult as by that age they all have quite individual tastes in books. I'm not really into the idea of doing pampering stuff for the girls and anyway that wouldn't solve the boy problem! There's about 20 kids to buy for. Any ideas please???

[redskytonight]

Declare in a bright and breezy voice "you're all far too old for babyish party bags now, so here's a piece of cake and a balloon/some sweets."

[Aftershock15]

Either just a bag of sweets each or if you want to give a gift as well something like a pack of playing cards or a Lego mini figure. I have never seen the point of sending cake home - it always ends up as an unappealing squashed mess, although individual cakes seem to fair better.

When one of mine had a bowling party I made them all bowling shirts - cheap bright coloured t shirts and then found an image of a bowling pin and put their names under. Used that iron on printer paper to get the transfer to the shirt. Meant they were easy to spot in the bowling alley as they all put them on over shirts as they arrived and it was the take home thing, with sweets.

[SpookyMooky]

Just some sweets each at 11, I think. DD was 9 last year and people are starting to wind it back now.

[steppemum]

we didn't do party bags at 11, and the kids didn't expect them.

Are they at secondary? Mine would actually have been embarrased by party bags at secondary.

[flupcake]

No they are still at primary. Hopefully the last party I will have to do!! Sounds like I don't need to do party bags then! 😄

[DoItTooJulia]

I'd do a lucky dip. Fill a bucket with shredded paper and wrap some bits up (jokes like whoppee cushions are good for this or glo sticks or packs of rubbers) and empty a bag of sweets into it.

They all take a wrapped up prezzie and a sweet/mini smarties out of the bucket. I also do a tray of cupcakes so they can also take a cake home.

[CakeStories]

WE provide a party bag - if your party has been organisd let the party supplier do this for you!

[Leeds2]

I would do something like a big sweet cone, giant bar of Dairy Milk or a box of Malteasers.