4yo Party Bags

[CorpusCallosum]

I have lost my actual mind trying to sort party bags for a 4yo. What do you do that doesn't end up costing a fortune or filling people's lives with tat or sugar?

I'm a proper adult woman, this shouldn't be so hard 🫣

Bouncy balls are the first thing my children look for

I've bought masks to go in mine. And personalised chocolate lollipops.

Mini pack of haribo, lollipop, mini colouring book (amazon) cake and a bouncy ball.

At my middle daughters 4th I gave out little craft kits instead, the kids were made up with them and they weren't any dearer

I’d go for a sweet cone and piece of cake; people like suggesting a book on munsnet but the few parties I’ve been to where they’ve done that the kids haven’t been impressed and the books haven’t been great in my opinion as they’re bought for cheapness.

I hate plastic tat. I haven't gotten as far as planning party bags (mine is turning 5 in feb). But I tend to lean towards stickers, a packet of sunflower seeds, that sort of thing, and a piece of cake.

I love how the OP asks for ideas that aren’t sugar, and you reply with the solution of……. A cone of sugar 😂

Bubbles, stickers, bouncy ball and sweets all go down well!

Have a look at the Rex London sale - they have a £1 and under section and loads of kids stuff.

I used to do fewer nicer things rather than loads of plastic tat — things like mini colouring pencils in a tube for 50p each, some hair bands for girls, a yo yo or puzzle or similar, and a bag of chocolate buttons and you are good to go!

If you don’t mind putting lollies in a multipack bag of the little chupa chips ones are about £1.80. Or a sprinkling of chocolate coins or similar. There are loads of non-tat options. One party I went to, the mum had got a job lot of those little bird whistles that you fill with water - DD was delighted. And I’ve been to ones with a lucky dip for a book (The Works usually have cheap pick and mix picture books) and a balloon.

Oh and Flying Tiger have great party bag stuff.

Scratch art book marks, snap bands, bubbles, stickers and tattoos are popular with mine.

I’ve had quite a lot of baking kits, planting kits etc. i think the level of tat is definitely a notch down on what my nieces and nephews had a decade ago when they were little. Sweet cones seem popular at the moment (although obviously doesn’t fill your limiting sweet stuff criteria) but they are easy, look nice and are relatively cheap. Agree with a previous poster that sometimes the books aren’t always great (as they tend to be the 10 for £10 ones so sometimes great, sometimes the ones no-one else wants). Shove in some stickers or tattoos, a treat and some pencils or something and then you’re done.

My soon to 4 year old will be having snap bands, bubbles, stickers and a cup cake in their party bags.

And of course not forgetting a tube of bubbles for 4 y olds! Flying Tiger do nice ones.

Is your child a boy or a girl, OP, and what sort of things do they like?

Rex London sale link below.
They have erasers, party bags and invites, notebooks, hair grips, multipacks of cat and dog pencils, all sorts for £1 and under. There’s also a Clearance section with some more kids’ party stuff.
www.rexlondon.com/kids-sale?ptid=5842

www.rexlondon.com/clearance?ptid=5842

www.rexlondon.com/stationery-sale?ptid=5842

Bubble wand and bit of cake

Places like the works so books for £1 so I've done this before with a slice of cake. I wrapped the books so it was a lucky dip for the kids so now squabbling or swapping.

Went down well anyways

A book from The Works 10 for £10 selection and a slice of birthday cake 👍🏻

If you have a sainsburys local to you then have a look in the party section. They have a range of party bag fillers (stickers, stationary, little origami kits) in the habitat range that are good. Also check stationary areas of shops for reduced packs of pens, pencils etc that can be broken down.

Hobbycraft also have a section with party bag bits - bouncy balls etc

Bubbles always good.

Haribo, chocolate coins etc

Cake

A balloon 🎈

@BeenPurple i did reflect on that after but honestly that’s what kids want in my experience and the party phase goes quickly so might as well enjoy it

I get mine from craft and crumb. They do little individual boxes with baking kits etc. I don’t do them for whole class parties as they’re about £4.50 each but if the DC are having a smaller party they’re a great option. Alternatively have a look on the Baker Ross website, loads of crafty bits that you can buy in bulk.

Tesco has a great range - glow sticks, bouncy balls, stamps and a small pack of haribo

The Works 10 for £10 books are here:
www.theworks.co.uk/c/offers/multibuys/10-for-10?tsz=80#9781529508604

I always found them pretty variable in quality, but there’s usually enough choice that they always have a few good ones from Walker Books or similar. One of these wrapped up plus some cake and a balloon or bubbles did actually go down well with my DD! (And definitely with parents!)

I did plastic drinks mugs one year, few pens and a piece of cake in them. At least 2 of the kids still have them, nearly 10 years later.

I’ve just sorted bags for my DD and bought them all from The Curious Caterpillar. They have a number of themed bags to choose from and it worked out cheaper than all the odd bits I’d looked at on Amazon

There's 22 kids so even getting 3-4 things from the £1 and under ranges, plus the bags themselves is adding up to over £100 for party bags 🤯

And, we have 5 parties within 6 weeks with many of the same group attending. We don't need 5 bouncy balls no matter how fun they are 😂

I like craft and crumb. If I discount siblings (as the bake boxes make 6-8 cookies I feel they could share the activity?!) then it's only 15 and would be £67 for everyone - cheaper than bag of 'stuff'. Every child would get a balloon and cake. Siblings are all younger, but would this still lead to tears??