Alternatives to party bags?

[Travellingraspberry]

It's DS birthday coming up. Booked a party venue etc and starting to get the usual other stuff organised but wondered if anyone had any suggestions for something other than the usual party bags full of little bits (plastic tat!)? Kids will be aged 4-5.

Big pack of books from the Book People.
Craft kits from Baker Ross.
Packet of seeds (or split a packet of big seeds like sunflower or beans) coir pellet and newspaper pot.

We did a book and a cupcake. Got the books from the works think was 10 for £10 or similar

My DS went to a party once where they were all given a football instead of a party bag. Was great idea.

A lucky dip. Fill a bucket with wrapped gifts (books, pencils, whatever you want) and shredded paper.

Stand at the door with a tray of cupcakes and each child takes a cake and a gift.

I had age range 4-10 at the last birthday party I did. Instead of party bags I managed to get them all bottles of cookie and muffin mix that you just add butter to. They only cost me £1 each and the kids all loved them. I got them from b&m.

I was just coming on to say footballs aswell.

I went to a party where each child was given a large bubble wand.

My kids got water bottles once, sheets of stickers, origami paper, proper soft toys, footballs, also sometimes nothing. Lolly bags are still the most gladly received though, has to be said.

We have been given books, cookie mixes and homemade play dough, sweet cones.

We usually give out a bag of tat and cake and this year i did home made sweet cones.

A friend went to one where the children got to choose between a selection of marrows

A ball is a nice idea.

Other popular additions are masks, bubble wands, books and craft kits .

I hate it when DC get a sweet cone.

I am trying to do dd's with minimal plastic:
They have - unicorn biscuit kit (aldi)
2 pencils split from large pack
Foil covered chocs (from halloween aisle)
Cake

All in paper bags which dd will decorate with stickers

Tub of homemade play dough and cutters

We've done books from the book people and a piece of cake. Children get to choose their book. Very popular with parents and actually cheaper than the tat.

Thank you so much for the replies, liking the ball and book ideas!
@cookielove marrows [laughing] ha ha!

we do party bags, but I try to get fewer, better things to put in, often just a single item alongside plenty of sweets, which TBH is all most DC are after anyway.
over the years we've done a notebook and pens, bath bombs, character socks, gloves, pack of hair accessories, small soft toy.

Books, balls, craft bits, little pot of bubbles all work well. Or as a PP said, a lucky dip in the way out with just a bit of cake in a bag that sounds nice.

What doesn't work are whistles, or tiny bouncy balls. Do not put whistles or bouncy balls in. Why do parents do that, do they hate us? Whistles should only be sold to referees and lifeguards and sending a teeny bouncy ball home with a preschooler who has a crawling sibling who puts everything in their mouth? Argh!

I got these bags for ds’s party:

www.theworks.co.uk/p/craft-activities-for-kids/colour-your-own-everyday-bag---assorted/5052089219069?CAWELAID=720011340002626239&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5vbQwYXQ5AIVjLHtCh3XnQXLEAUYASABEgI_l_D_BwE

So they can be kept and reused.

And we did a piñata and the kids filled the bags themselves with the sweets when it broke. Also chucked a little bottle of bubbles in each one as everyone loves bubbles right?

And SIL did character reusable drinks bottles filled with sweets for DN’s party which were very well received.

We’ve done sweet cones for my sons party today. Cost £1 each and going to give a piece of cake too.

Nothing. It's just more crap (Mostly plastic) that they don't really need. I spend a bit more on the party and just wave them off.

The last few parties mine have been to have been given sweet cones and I think that's a better idea than the usual bag of crappy toys.