Party bags

[Thistledew]

Is this a bad idea for party bags for DS’s 6th birthday?

I’ve planned his party so that his similar-age guests will get little party bag style gifts throughout the course of his party - a fancy pen to mark off clues for a treasure hunt; a lucky dip style prize once they finish the hunt (everyone is a winner); make your own hand puppets; sweets to be grabbed from a piñata.

Would it be a good or bad idea to hand out the party bags at the start so that they can have somewhere to accumulate their stash?

And if I hand out the bags at the beginning, what do I do with two other things that aren’t part of the party events?

I’m just a bit worried that the expectation of party bags at the end will mean disappointment if there isn’t anything else to hand out.

I think you need to hand something out at the end - could that a slice of cake/a cupcake to take home?

Yes, I can definitely hand out a slice of the birthday cake at the end.

What about the two additional toys? I have a seed bomb and another little toy that is on the theme of the party but not part of it. Shall I hand those out at the end with the cake or put them in the bags to start with?

I wouldn't worry about how they will keep their stash. They'll either remember to take it with them or not - either way it doesn't matter.
Keep party bags to the end as it encourages kids out of the door when it's done.

I’m slightly worried that the party bags might seem a bit meagre if I just hand them out at the end- as the loot that is to be accumulated throughout the part is designed to be part of/instead of the things you would normally get in the party bag.

I did something similar one year. I wrote their names in big letters on the party bags, lined the bags up on the floor along a wall. They then put what ever they had won/made on top of the bag . Towards the end of the party, I (probably helped by one of the Mums who had stayed, or possibly DH, can't remember!) quickly popped things into the bag, adding the cake and a couple of other bits. Meant we could check everyone had everything.

You can do that! Pop the other bits in two separate large bowls by the exit and say take one of these each and a slice of cake to pop in your bag, jobs a good un. As long as they get something at the end. I once did a party with a build a bear and an art canvas at £££ and they took home both plus cake and I still was asked why no party bag

I’ve been to about 15 6th birthday parties this year and I’m going to say no.

They won’t get it, won’t remember the stuff they’ve accumulated and will think there’s not much in the party bags. Sorry.

Soz but I was thinking the same, I don't think they'll associate the things you give them throughout the party as being 'party bag things'. They'll just look at whatever is in the bag at the end.

Maybe have a short craft activity where they decorate a paper party bag with their name at the beginning, then they can keep adding their bits to it. Others wise I think you’ll just end up with lots of lost stuff / squabbling about things being put down and picked up by someone else.

You definitely need to give something out at the end (cake is fine), it’s the unspoken parent code for - take your children home now I’ve had enough!

Thanks for all the comments.

I think I will aim for naming each of the bags and then hanging them on the washing line (party is on our garden) so that they can be added to as the party progresses, but then they should hopefully all be in one place so that I can add a slice of cake and the other little gifts at the end of the party.

I think that it is a nice idea, but that you are missing the point of the party bags a bit, which is to get the kids to go home with a smile - hence they should ideally be a surprise. And you are adding to your own stress but having to keep track of things once they have been given out (I suspect some won't make it to the right bags and then some DC will appear to have more at the end).

Wouldn't it be easier to give them some cheap biros to do the treasure hunt, something like a lollipop as a prize, and have the party bags together and sorted before the party starts?

Make life easy have the bags made up.
Balloon/ punch Balloon (if you do the punch ones add a few grains of dry rice to make them rattle.
Bag haribo.
Fun size Mars.
Pencil
Cake

Don't go wild

This

I named the bags and put sweets, a little pack of seeds and a little craft activity set in all of them. Then when someone won a prize for a game it was added to their party bag (I had a lot of helpers though...)

You are all a bit crackers... the OP's plan is a lovely one.. as they leave, you can give them the extra things.

Personally I prefer cake to be eaten at the party.. but heh.. not my party.