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Original poster

11 year olds - party bags?

31 replies

InsufficientMum · 13/02/2023 08:28

Do 11 year old girls still expect party bags? We'll be doing pizza and film- am I supposed to try and theme match to the film? Or generic? Or are they too old now?

(No boys will be there.)

OP posts:
BettyBoo123456 · 13/02/2023 08:31

Personally, I would say too old now at 11.

fruitpastille · 13/02/2023 08:31

I would give them a slice of cake to take home and maybe some sweets but no more.

Zola1 · 13/02/2023 08:31

Are they girly girl type? For my daughters 12th I didn't do party bags but made them all a little bag for the sleepover with bed socks, face mask, towelling head band, nail varnish, bits like that!

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11 year olds
watcherintherye · 13/02/2023 08:32

I think I stopped party bags around 9. At 10+ they got a slice of Birthday cake to go home with!

watchfulwishes · 13/02/2023 08:32

Party bags are generally unfashionable even for younger children as everyone has tat galore.

Give a nice piece of cake or bag of sweets and a cheerful thank you.

UnicorseTime · 13/02/2023 08:33

My daughters just been to one and had a lovely bag - face mask, fidget toy, sweets type of affair.

UnicorseTime · 13/02/2023 08:34

She was v excited. I'd go with a party bag if it's just a few personally with a few older girl "stocking filler" type things.

watchfulwishes · 13/02/2023 08:34

Are they girly girl type? FFS. It is 2023 and the definition of 'girly' is no different from 1973. I know it is not the point of the thread but when will being girly not be associated with being into make up and nail varnish.

Cococomellonn · 13/02/2023 08:38

Are they girly girl type? FFS. It is 2023 and the definition of 'girly' is no different from 1973. I know it is not the point of the thread but when will being girly not be associated with being into make up and nail varnish.

but some girls do lien this stuff and some don't - I think that's what PP means

OP I would do sweets

KatyMac · 13/02/2023 08:46

At about that age I bought cheap fabric and did a workshop making knot bags!

Or a mini-make up bag and some vaseline lip gloss

UnicorseTime · 13/02/2023 09:14

Lip salve is great.

Mardyface · 13/02/2023 09:18

At 11, I bought one of those big mix packs of vinyl stickers off Amazon and then DD decided how to split them up into the individual party bags. We handed them out during the party rather than at the end and there was suddenly a FRENZY of delighted swapping! Was like a busy souk or something for about half an hour. Brilliant.

edwinbear · 13/02/2023 09:20

DD and her friends still do party bags. For her 11th I gave them:

A 7th Heaven sheet face mask
Test tube thing of bath crystals
Novelty lip salve
Fluffy bed socks
Sweets

They were all pretty chuffed with those. I was only doing 6 so the individual items were more expensive than when I did whole class parties, but as I only had 6 to do, the overall cost was similar.

Mardyface · 13/02/2023 09:23

Also I must say that I personally love party bags. You don't have to do them if you don't.

Original poster
InsufficientMum · 13/02/2023 09:34

She wants to invite 8 (which would leave out 3/10 girls in her class). She is absolutely not yet into make up or stuff like that although some of the girls are. DD's current short list for the film is Rogue One, Percy Jackson or Night in the Museum, maybe the Addams family (but I've not seen that one, although we've watched Wednesday). It won't be a sleepover, I was planning to set it for Friday as they have no afternoon school and do pizzas whilst watching film, then cake, maybe a card game and send them home by 4.

OP posts:
NutYourPlace · 13/02/2023 09:38

We generally get sweet cones to take home now my DC are this sort of age.

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 13/02/2023 09:39

The last few parties of primary school I didn't do party bags as such but did have things for them to take away. So for a sleepover I bought them all a water bottle to use for drinks during the party that they kept, also they made tie dye t-shirts during the evening. The party before that was during covid restrictions when they could only be outdoors (in December!) so I got them insulated drink cups for hot chocolate, fingerless gloves to wear while doing an activity, plus the item they made.

Cococomellonn · 13/02/2023 09:42

I like the sentiment of party bags as I think people enjoy them and they add something to a party but I don't like tat that I'm not going to use so that's why I think sweets are a good idea. I also like the idea of a book or lip balm.

HipHopBanzai · 13/02/2023 09:43

I think it's pretty normal to still get something to take away from a party. DD was at a 12th birthday over the weekend and still got a small party bag with some sweets, a facemask and a lip gloss.
Sleepovers don't always have a party bag but she's usually come home with a sleep mask or a little pillow or something instead.

UnicorseTime · 13/02/2023 09:49

Well it doesn't have to be tat they won't use? There's lots of lovely suggestions so far!

WordtoYoMumma · 13/02/2023 09:52

For my daughter's 12th birthday we did a pizza and film type party, I set up a pick and mix for the girls to choose from to take a bag of sweets home. They also got a bit of cake. I enjoyed setting up the sweets (I have a load of jars from when I did a sweet buffet at my 40th a few years back!) I had stripy paper bags for them to fill. It was nice for them to have something to take home but not too expensive to do (and I got to eat the leftover sweets 😁)

keeprunning55 · 13/02/2023 09:55

A little something to go home with is lovely-who doesn’t like a gift?! Cake, sweets and a lip balm?
Why are 3 of the children not coming?

MaoamAddict · 13/02/2023 09:57

Sweet cone/cupcake and a lip balm would be ideal if you wanted to give them a small token

GoodChat · 13/02/2023 09:59

MaoamAddict · 13/02/2023 09:57

Sweet cone/cupcake and a lip balm would be ideal if you wanted to give them a small token

I think this is a good idea plus the face mask someone else mentioned.

I'm 27 and I still get excited to see what's in my children's party bags so I don't think you're ever too old!

Original poster
InsufficientMum · 13/02/2023 10:13

@keeprunning55 there are 10 girls in her class, and she wants to invite 6 of them. Of the remaining 3 one has previously stolen from her (bedroom), and the other two she doesn't really have anything to do with. She would have invited one more but I said she couldn't leave out just two. There will be 10 kids in total which is about 4 too many for our flat but I'm hoping as they're that bit older, it won't be too crazy!

OP posts: