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?

If you want to give seeds and a pot then also give some soil or something like these. It is a pain otherwise if you don’t have any.

You could also buy terracotta pots (Amazon have loads cheaply) and then paint them as part of the party.

Multipack of playdough.
One tub and one cutter each.
Plus smarties, stickers and a colouring in sheet.

Ds is 1 soon. I’ve bought 20 of the works 10 for £10 books for the 0-4yos which is the majority and planning to do with a small pack of buttons. Not putting in bags or wrapping and will let parents/older kids choose so hopefully they get one they don’t have. I then have maybe 3 kids that are 6,7,9 which I’m going to do something small separately probably like primark cosy socks, lip balm sweets type thing.

oh instead of fruit pastilles for younger ones try jellytots. Also vegan and gluten free. My friends GF kids get pastilles (the older one) and jelly tots for the younger and I’m DF and can eat them.

For DD's 5th birthday we did:

Bath bomb
Rainbow pencils
Unicorn eraser
Stickers
Haribo

Sweets and cake. I'd rather there not be anything that I'm going to have to find a home for, no matter how shortlived.

Books (used to get them from the Book People, but Amazon has some nice collections), Haribos, Kit Kats, piece of the birthday cake.

These are very lovely. www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1314029681/personalised-party-bag-birthday-seed?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=seeds&ref=sr_gallery-1-7&bes=1&sts=1&organic_search_click=1

Though I might be tempted by some small brown envelopes and the kids can decorate their own seed packet.

I like the little canvas bags that come with colouring pens. I think you can get them from The works or toys for a pound. Com. We put cake and Haribo in there.

Did key-rings for DS this year. The mini classic board games one. Got multipack from B&M but they have them in poundland and the card factory for a couple of quid each

Did a painting party for dd and the establishment had souvenir mugs on sale for 50p each. Instead of a party bag we filled each one with a full size dairy milk, hot chocolate sachets and marshmallows and that went down really well.

The canvas bags look fantastic! What a fab idea!

DD is 5 and loves the plastic tat in party bags. Still plays with bits that she got years ago. The books she has got in party bags tend not to be read more than once, as they're often just cheap and not very good. Didn't like bath bombs as she's not used to them and didn't like them in her bath water!
Has also liked: stickers, temp tattoos, jewellery, multi colour pencils, mini bubbles, snap bracelets.
Around here the kids eat cake at the party so it doesn't end up in the party bag.

"The books she has got in party bags tend not to be read more than once, as they're often just cheap and not very good."

Agree. I don't like cheap books as a rule. We have too many books as it is (just seem to acquire them, mostly as gifts but we also buy quality books) and my heart would sink at yet another one if it wasn't great.

The works always have offers on books

To those saying about cheap books being crap the works 10 for £10 have Jill Murphy’s large family series which are very good books

Fair enough! I have also got a couple of good (classic) book collections from the works for a good price. It's just the ones you usually get given in party bags tend to be a bit crap.

The Works have the Hairy Maclary books in their 10 for £10 which are fab!