Do i have to do party bags for 8yos?

[Partybaggage]

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.

Doesn’t have to be picture books! Could be puzzle books, colouring books , fiction books etc.

Please don’t do books. The kids just don’t want them.
Sweets and a piece of cake all the way!

If it really has to be books let your DC choose them for each child (eg pound shop puzzle / colouring books), not the generic bundle ones which invariably went straight to the charity shop.

Not this! It literally says not suitable for under 14s! I'd be gobsmacked if someone gave this to my 8yo.

If you have a Smiggle near you, the 5 items for £5 bit is good. I got each a pen and a popup thing from there for a recent party. I'd rather buy less, but good quality for party bags because I also don't like cheap instant break tat.

Bag of sweets or Easter egg each. Contents get eaten, packaging goes in recycling.
All good.

No bloody books, they go straight into the recycling bag. The chances of getting a decent book for £1 is zero - especially for an 8 year old.

I go to the works and get the little craft activities. They're £1 and everything you need to make something is inside. Wrap in wrapping paper with a lollipop or something. Easy and cheap.

What are you feeding the allergy kids?

Who said anything about picture books? They do lots of book series that are fine for eight year olds.

As for reading ability variance, don't parents still read to their children at that age (as well as kids reading by themselves)?

Ha ha I thought this and have since learned that the party bags are even more important around this age! There is all sorts of trading goes on and endless discussion about the contents in the way home (I picked up 3 kids from the last party)

Ditch and the kids’ only memory of your lovely party will be no party bags! Sad but true.

@PheasantPluckers I read to my almost 8 year old but he wouldn't want just any book, he'd prefer to choose as it's a personal preference. Problem also with buying a series is that who wants to just read book 8 from an 8 book series meaning that the parent either has to buy the others or it goes unread.

Honestly, think it's fine to not do a party bag and send them home with cake. Yes maybe the odd child will be disappointed - is that the end of the world?

I love party bags, it makes kids happy. Sweets, one or two novelty items like a pen, little ball. They’re only kids once

No. They're 8. They don't need sweets, they don't need random books that they are unlikely to be interested in.

They're old enough not to need to be coerced out the door.

Enjoy the party.

I've never done plastic tat because it's straight to landfill. We just do a paper bag with a piece of birthday cake and a few sweets.

I really wouldn't do books

I have an 8 year old, he loves reading but at 8, they have their own preferences - it would be like giving an adult a random book, it's total roulette whether it's one that they would like

A random picture book for a 3 year old, lovely, but an 8 year old not so much

I would just go for a sweet cone

Top popular party bag contents based on my sample of about 10 8 year old parties this academic year:

Erasers (eyeball ones went down particularly well)
Pencil sharpeners
Something chocolate
Sour/challenge type sweets like Toxic Waste
Those plastic men that climb down walls and windows
Pokémon or football cards.
Clockwork chattering teeth.

That's such a good idea! Why did I never think of this for my December born dc 🤦🏻‍♀️ Definitely going to do that this year!

I’ve done sweet cones for the last three years. Get 3 bags of 40p sweets from Tesco and a personalised sticker. Tie up with a ribbon. Looks really effective.

Something like this, a pen, sweets

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Activity-Fillers-Favours-Supplies-Occasion/dp/B0B65VH79X/ref=mpssa113?adgrpid=56914779081&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9wgs1WJdOSH26UFJk1fYkQhParzr5xoqgoVpSBB2Q3QRRQlhHF8JXtch28k5SdQIixMAZgFExwFnhNs0kpcL2Xc4l7NXOVN9UkGXVy9ccT-pt27KZhxoXCzecLTefTMt5yvrgetNfce4ukBGncL2UN5T3UNl76WppfRBLLe2jET1QZlPCjrgHuQ3GgebOlzfibajZS7Avvk8kVfT8aTw.IBgxDrrPEud5fx1L9mmhwXgKSWUiTZzLqABc4PG4GOQ&dibtag=se&hvadid=606389671835&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9045653&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=5881093116536262685&hvtargid=kwd-317201639756&hydadcr=211488_2251821&keywords=mini+puzzle+books+for+kids&mcid=0006cf68ea60393ca314bdb13212c8a7&qid=1740137215&sr=8-3

Fidget toys are all the rage for this age group - for my son's upcoming 8th birthday, I've bought a box of 10 fidget toys from the Works for £5 and will split them between the party bags, along with a slab of cake and job jobbed (only 4 kids total - obviously for 15 you'd need a few more boxes of toys).

The Easter eggs are such a good idea.
Even a pick and mix chocolate bar.
Choose one.

No need to do it - just say No!

Kids don't need a present to take home from a party, and cake gets impossibly mushed in a paper bag.

I've been making sweet cones for friends for their children's birthday parties instead of party bags. My son's birthday is coming up though and I don't really want to make sweet cones so I will be doing party bags.
I've got things like mini notepads and a funky pen, erasers, a packet of crisps, a small packet of Haribo, gamer wristbands/cute beaded bracelets. Managed to get a lot of it cheap online.

For everyone saying ‘kids don’t need a party bag’, I think you’re being a bit of a misery guts. Kids don’t need a party either. Or birthday presents. But we give them them.

A birthday party is not the appropriate time or place to teach some self-important lesson about resilience and disappointment.

Kids love a party bag. Parents love something to keep them quiet for a bit after the party. It doesn’t need to be expensive. Yes, it’s a faff, but they love it. And really, if we’re honest, that’s why we do so many annoying parenting things isn’t it.