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.

You’ve said exactly what I came here to say.

Just to add to this, Swizzles sweets are good for vegans/Muslims (I don’t know enough about Jewish restrictions to comment either way). Not all of them, the squishy ones aren’t, but things like the love hearts and refresher chews are all animal product free. And the mini bags of Mcvities gingerbread men.

Things I've seen for that age group:

Sunglasses
Football
Fidget toy
Slime
Bath bombs
Top Trumps

Basically one bigger thing rather than a bag with lots of small things.

DS at that age used to love (and probably still would at 11) fidget toys, snap bands, bouncy ball, keyring, bubbles, mini slinky!

Ah yes, they put keyrings on their school bags sometimes so they love those.

Definitely not too old for stickers.

Yep sweets or chocolate all the way. Ask the allergy kids’ parents what they can have. No, no one needs a party bag but no one needs a party or presents either but it’s part of the ‘fun’ of throwing your child a party!

I just do a nice cupcake sometimes in the theme of the party. No complaints and normally eaten as leaving. It stressed me out that I was just paying for cr#p. Plus as children get older parties seem to get more expensive even if less children. My parties as a child were at home with a few friends. Always had a great time. I think everyone has expectations of an Instagram/celeb party and its not doable.

If you're looking for something that isn't just plastic landfill tat, and I'd agree with hmm about the quality/interest in any cheap £1 level book from the works for an 8yo, then look for something else that gets consumed/used up. Stationary, stickers, temporary tattoos, even a bath bomb? That isn't on the level of a plastic fidget that will break after two minutes and then be chucked away.

Give them all a wee packet of chocolate hearts , 79p home bargains

For my daughters 8th i got them each a sweetie cone, a squishmallow egg and a bracelet (Amazon, pack of 10 each with a different main charm)
7th birthday i got a sweetie cone, mini ballbearing maze and a mini space theme activity book, again both from amazon.
Kids loved all of it.

You don't have to do anything but I would do something such as sweets

What about something like a teddy bear key ring? I did those for DD's party last year and the kids loved them. Most of them have them on their backpacks at school now.

Or a novelty Disney character.

It doesn't have to be a lot but I do think they're young enough that something would still be a good idea.

If it's girls then some hair things or bracelet? Maybe with their name on.

When DD was 8, I bought a load of £2 sunglasses from Primark (they are still UV - even at £2) and made a cardboard 'display'. Kids then got a bag of sweets and to 'choose' a pair of sunnies. Went down well and were actually used.

But the average 8 year old now has had what 3 years of parties with party bags already - more as it starts at nursery and honestly, mine have never had a party bag toy thar didn't end up in the rubbish in weeks or less. To each their own t by mine have been fine with parties where they went home with cake only and I don't remember anyone else of that age complaining either.

MN is down on party bags. Kids on the other hand absolutely love party bags but they don’t have to be plastic crap. Something like a pencil, a rubber, or a reusable straw together with a few paper-based stickers and a slice of cake will satisfy the kids but is also useful enough.

I would hate a cone of sweets. As if the sweets people describe don’t also come wrapped in plastic!

This time of year a bag of mini eggs is a good shout

This. OP is already providing the party and food. That should be enough.

Shein does loads of party bag fillers, you can get 20 bouncy balls for £1, 20 poppets for £2 etc.

I would not recommend buying from Shein or Temu. They tend to steal your payment details and abuse them.

Never happened to me, sorry to hear you’ve had that experience.

DD7 and her classmates are obsessed with fidgets and slime so for her mermaid party in may I was planning on getting some cheap fidget packs off of Amazon and putting a bit on each bag and then maybe looking in b and m for some shitty cheap slime crap too.

B and M great for crappy stuff for party bags though. DD’s best friend did water bottles with the kids initials on and with a pack of sweets and a pencil. Went down a treat

For my DDs 10th birthday last year we gave out themed cupcakes & a themed bracelet.
And the cupcakes were allergy friendly. So yeah I think it's still a thing.

Notebooks and sparkly pens. Went down a storm