What do you like in a party bag?

[TokenGinger]

I'm doing a birthday party for DS for the first time this year and I wondered what to put into party bags. When we go to parties, we end up with a bag of things DS often doesn't use or play with and it inevitably ends up in the bin or plastic toys out into his toy box never to be seen again, or little colouring boxes and crayons again which rarely get used as lovely as they are.

I went to a party last year and they just gave a sweet cone and a plant pot with some seeds for children to grow a flower themselves which I thought was fab.

I'm thinking of doing a paper bag of pick and mix sweeties with a cupcake, but wondered if that's a bit naff and if I should add something else?

What do you like to see in party bags and what gets used/appreciated by your DCs?

A mini plant and a photo. I realised not many of DC’s (any?) friends had printed out photos so during the party one of us ran off to get a group photo we had taken to get printed. By the end of the party everyone had a photo to take home. They all seemed to love it!

I would like the plant pot and seeds and maybe a book.

We had a crocodile party once and the best item in the party bags was a crocodile-shaped children's toothbrush - several mums later texted me to ask where it came from (the supermarket) as their child had requested another when it ran out. They also usually do sharks, tigers etc.

Absolutely ❤️ I will do that. His best friend has a dairy allergy which I why I was leaning towards the Haribo option to make sure it was suitable for most, but I will double check for any other dietary requirements too xx

Ah yes, good shout. I'll make sure I check for any requirements and will make sure we cater for them x

I'm sick to the gills of party bags. Tons of plastic shite. Expensive and nobody values them.

Last birthday I bought 12 sweet cones. Kids got sweet cone and a piece of cake. Everyone was happy. No plastic tut.

One year we put in blow up light sabres - were on amazon.. if near easter could do a buttons easter egg.

Sorry - hadn't rtft - so didn't see re allergy. We found fruiybpastilles were vegan.when looking for vegan sweets for school event. But I wouldn't give to 4 year olds as too chewy and therefore could be a choking risk.
Can sometimes get packs of multiple hot wheels cars, so can split those.

Fruit pastilles!

Fruit pastilles are gluten free, too! They're a good all-rounder, but agree re; choking hazard.

For anybody interested in the book option, I just saw this on The Works for £30, so less than £1 each per book - www.theworks.co.uk/p/childrens-book-collections/mr-men-my-complete-collection-48-book-box-set/9780755501878.html. I think by the time we invite children of close family and friends, plus his closest friends in nursery, we'll have around 35 children so this looks great.

Seeing how many parents are fed up of party bags, I'm swaying towards the idea a previous poster mentioned of a book wrapped in tissue paper with a packet of sweets. Or maybe just a paper bag with the book, sweets and cake in x

Please god no whistles!

Books that kids chose at end - works do them for about £1 each

Plant pots and seeds

Hair scrunchies - I love it when DD gets those as we use them all the time

Has to be useful abs disposable- hate the plastic tat that just clutters up her room

Something edible and a book.

I love party bags.

Kids love a packet of sweets, chocolate or a lolly.

Something that they can also keep. I like the idea of a cup, it will always be used and be a lovely reminder of your child each time they use it.

Plastic cheap stuff just ends up in the bin.

Balloons and stickers

If you let the kids chose there own pick a mix, you may get some that take loads and loads and there isnt any left for others

Do you know diet requirements ?
Children who only eat halal couldnt eat pick n mix so would be left out

A mini vuvuzela was in one bag - the dog howls at it. Hoping it will chew it up soon.

Whistles and mini vuvuzelas can top the list of undesirable items in party bags.

For my son’s 6th birthday, which is in winter, I did mugs, with hot chocolate and a book from the Works. I put them in wine gift bags, so that the parents could reuse the bags for gifting. The bags were set up as a “night time” treat, so that the kids would want to go to bed in the evening (sort of a reward for the parents for taking their kid to the party too!)

Plant in a test tube www.etsy.com/uk/listing/745321470/pea-pre-washed-x-10-grow-a-plant-in-a?ref=related-1

easy to grow, great fun and suitable for all - no soil needed, or outside space.

For DD's 2nd birthday we bought a load of books from the works and asked everyone to take 1 and pick up a cupcake on their way out.

For her 3rd, it was jungle animal themed and we had reusable drawstring backpacks with animals on and they contained:
Small pack of colour pencils
Small colour book
Pack of haribo
Bubbles
Wrist slap band
Cupcake

We've been to a birthday party recently where the party bag gift was ingredients to bake shortbread and cookies, which is a nice idea

Im surprised to see bouncy balls being mentioned, after several children have choked on them.
They should be banned.

We’ve had successes with:
sweet cones
books
seeds and a little pot
craft sets (mosaic ones from wilko are fab)
little notebook and a nice pen

DS's birthday is in July, so last year for party bags I went to poundland and got sandcastle buckets - for £1 you get a set with small bucket, spade and sand moulds! Then put the cake and some sweets in the bucket 😁

I also like the idea of getting cheap water bottles/cups/tumblers and filling with sweets and/or pencils etc

Glow sticks/stickers/balloons/bubbles/sweets/cake all good.

I'm a bit meh about books in party bags as we've often already got the book.

Personally don't like getting seeds or a craft kit, DC not really keen so it feels a bit like getting homework from the party!

We got bucket and spade sets from poundland, then I would put the cake and some sweets/ raisins in the bucket. Often saw friends still using them a year or two later.