What do kids REALLY want in party bag?

[00100001]

Organising the party bags for the 5yo niece.

My opinion is in the bag goes

Cake slice and a bag of sweets. (Haribo/squashes mini bags), and a mini fidget pop toy or a balloon or something like that.

has been implied I should put books or seeds or whatever in?
Surely all a 5 yo wants is actually sweets...?

20 Marlboro and a lighter, can of spraypaint and packet of skins.

About 20 years ago I use to give goody-bags to 5 year-olds as they left my events... each bag contained something to eat (like a chocolate bar), something for school (like a set of markers), and something to play with. The dollar store was my main supplier.

20 Marlboro and a lighter, can of spraypaint and packet of skins.

Tsk. It's not 1986.

I love doing goody bags and tbh probably go a bit OTT...

For DD's 9th I did:
Mini bag of Haribo & kinder bar
Glow stick
Souvenir pencil from the activity they'd all done
Cute animal mini rubber (I bought multipacks from WH Smith and split them)
One of those little spiral wristband things
Stickers

Trying to remember last year - it was ocean themed so I bought a multipack of mini sea creature soft toys among other things - v cheap on Amazon and DD still plays with hers now!

IMO - the point of goody bags is to stop kids who have to leave the party from sulking/tantrumming and to give them something to distract them on the way home. Seeds? WTF?

That sounds like a great compromise of no plastic tat but still a treat/fun 🙂

This year for DCs' birthdays (6 & 8yo) I put in a book, lots of different small sweets, cake, and a Smiggle pen and pencil (bought earlier in the year during a sale and stashed away).
Of the party bags received, the favourite part is always the sweets, especially if it is something a bit more unusual like popping candy. I have one DC who likes cake but not icing, and another who likes icing but not cake, so between them that is always happily hoovered up too. Books have been a welcome addition provided some thought has gone in to match interests and reading ability. Smelly or sparkly gel pens/other fancy stationary is always a winner, along with stickers or tattoos.

Over the years we've had a lot of plastic tat. DCs are always very excited about it, but it is often broken by the time we get home (cue tears) or else forgotten about and collecting dust soon after, destined for landfill. It is a fleeting gratification. As for little bouncy balls, I've recently had a clear out of toys and found over 20 of them lurking in various corners! These are the item that has annoyed me the most over the years with their pointlessness, as they are not an indoor toy (they end up ricocheting off walls/furniture and causing damage), but one bounce outside and they fly off into a bush never to be seen again (cue more tears).

No to seeds! We get given so many and it is wasted. Plastic tat isn't the most eco choice, but my children do save them and play with it until broken! I usually theme the bags to match the party theme.
Cake, balloon, bubbles, tattoo, toy/accessory and a bag of sweets.
My daughter had a mermaid party and they all got scrunches in pretty holographic colours, like mermaid tails and a little pearl effect bracelet.
My son had a pirate party, they all got an eye patch and a foam sword.

Child has a December birthday so in November when the selection boxes were £1 I bought one for everyone and wrapped them. Kids liked a bigger gift. Bargain for me!

I have seen some excellent party bags. Punch ball balloon, glider, things with play value go down well.

Stickers 🤣
My child was over the moon when she got some.
Or tattoos
Or a balloon to blow up

Kazoos, a fart whistle or similar. The parents will hate you of course

I really don’t think they care they just want something

after one year i went completely over the top (bubbles, little toy and sweets) Following year decided as had spent enough on the party so gave them a tube of smarties. They were just as happy

one year I gave a book and sweets the moaning 🙄 so following year back to a tube of smarties (the one that are about 60p not the massive tubes you get at Christmas)

I used to do temporary tattoos, sweets, cake and glow sticks, but the best liked ones were sweet cones. Get the cones off Amazon and then get bags of marshmallows/chocolate buttons etc from Home Bargains ..job done. No plastic tat (except the cone).

Seconding slime or putty! That would be a real hit. Although some parents may not thank you for it 😄