Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Do i have to do party bags for 8yos?

124 replies

Partybaggage · 21/02/2025 07:44

Kids party on Sunday, costing an arm and a leg. Do i really have to do party bags for 8 year olds? Seems a bit too old for that?

If i do have to do them what should i put in them that won't cost loads. I feel they're a bit old for stickers and stuff.

OP posts:
ACynicalDad · 21/02/2025 07:55

We ditched them, full of tomorrow’s landfill. If you feel you have to these are much loved and cheap https://amzn.eu/d/1w5SAIW

Singleaftermarriage · 21/02/2025 07:56

I do sweet cones. All they care about is the sweets anyway!

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 21/02/2025 07:57

Do a book - get a bundle in the works and a piece of cake.

I think at that age they still expect something.

LovelyLeitrim · 21/02/2025 07:58

No don’t! Even if you’re the first person in the class/group to buck the trend, others will thank you.

EarlierDistraction · 21/02/2025 08:03

I think they still expect something. I disagree with the book thing, we always ended up with ones they already had or not interested in because the same sets were always on offer, either sweets or a bouncy ball or similar plus cake in a paper bag. Doesn’t have to be loads of stuff. At that age I used to take the DCs to a pound shop and get them to choose one thing for each guest (we had moved on from whole class parties at that point).

Therealmetherealme · 21/02/2025 08:04

It depends how many are coming, if it's just a few I would, otherwise cake should be enough.

If it's only a few, 'full size' chocolate bars go down well, by the 4 packs and tie 2 or 3 bars together for each child. Sorted.

dairydebris · 21/02/2025 08:07

I took my sons friends on a day out go karting and to a restaurant and back to mine for a few hours gaming.

A year later one friend still asks me at drop off why there wasn't party bags.

PheasantPluckers · 21/02/2025 08:10

Agree with the The Works books sets split ip and sweets or biscuits with a personalised label.

MuggleMe · 21/02/2025 08:14

Cake, balloon and pack of haribo in a paper bag is sufficient if it's a large number. Otherwise we did some sweet cones for an 8th birthday that went down well.

changedmyname24 · 21/02/2025 08:16

I would give a £1 Easter egg each, or chocolate bunny etc. I have a son with a birthday in December & always did selection boxes for his parties!

Itsawildridealright · 21/02/2025 08:18

For a party I still would, loads of easy options including the ones on this thread (although I too would skip books, you've no idea who's read what), mine stopped at 9 when the party option turned into a sleepover instead 🤷🏼‍♀️ easier and yet harder!! 😂

MayaPinion · 21/02/2025 08:18

Give them a bag of Haribos or Cadburys buttons each. They’re usually about £1.25 each and go down well. Don’t buy the books in a pack from the Works. That’s been done to death by the time they turn 8.

changednameagain1234 · 21/02/2025 08:19

Yes, unfortunately I think you do.

We did sweet cones

Adhikv · 21/02/2025 08:20

Yes I think you do, sweet cones or maybe a hot chocolate cone, cheap and goes down well.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 21/02/2025 08:21

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 21/02/2025 07:57

Do a book - get a bundle in the works and a piece of cake.

I think at that age they still expect something.

Give them a bit of resilience then ... dont always get what we expect in life

NerrSnerr · 21/02/2025 08:22

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 21/02/2025 07:57

Do a book - get a bundle in the works and a piece of cake.

I think at that age they still expect something.

Problem with books for 8 year olds is that there is such a massive gulf between ability and what children will read. When my daughter was 8 one friend was reading Harry Potter and another was struggling and still learning to read.

Partybaggage · 21/02/2025 08:26

Problem with any kind of food is that two of the attendees have very restricted diets due to allergies. I don't know what they can and can't have.

There's about 15 kids coming.

OP posts:
MinnieMountain · 21/02/2025 08:26

Of course you don’t have to. They’ll have had a fun party. They don’t need a present too.

Antsinmypantsneedtodance · 21/02/2025 08:40

People suggesting book bundles clearly missed the 8 year olds. Don't give picture books to 8 year olds!

I'd goto home bargains or b and m and hunt out some cheap sweets.

WonderingWanda · 21/02/2025 08:49

They are only interested in the sweets. Just buy a select of sweets from homebargains and chuck them into some party bags. If you must add something then a novelty pen or pencil is always useful.

KittensSchmittens · 21/02/2025 08:52

In the last we've had a large block of cadburys chocolate, a football (I think it was one of the cheap ones available from sports direct), a mini nerf gun - all went down well.

6namechange3 · 21/02/2025 08:56

I stopped at about that age, several people thanked me, A child that was rude enough to ask for a party bag, got told that ds's mum had paid for a lovely party and just to say thank you. ( by their own mum not by me)

PrettyParrot · 21/02/2025 09:54

We did 'sharing' bags of chocoloate - one each. Check with the parents of allergy kids, and remember that if you have any Muslim/Jewish/vegetarian/vegan kids attending, they won't want to eat Haribo due to the possibly-pork gelatin. Skittles are a good shout in that case (vegan) or mini packets of oreos (also vegan).

Snowmanscarf · 21/02/2025 09:57

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 21/02/2025 07:57

Do a book - get a bundle in the works and a piece of cake.

I think at that age they still expect something.

That’s what I used to do! Although I added some sweets in the bag as well.

sanityisamyth · 21/02/2025 09:58

ACynicalDad · 21/02/2025 07:55

We ditched them, full of tomorrow’s landfill. If you feel you have to these are much loved and cheap https://amzn.eu/d/1w5SAIW

This.

Swipe left for the next trending thread