Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

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

Original poster

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:
HardenYourHeart · 21/02/2025 16:41

LavenderFields7 · 21/02/2025 16:30

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

Show quote history

It wasn't me. I knew they were sketchy. Some friends of mine ended up losing a bunch of money from their credit card accounts

user1471538283 · 21/02/2025 16:47

I used to spend a fortune on party bags and a friend of mine gives £1 Easter eggs which the children all love! Or maybe you could do some chocolate bars?

Undethetree · 21/02/2025 16:58

Its fine not to do party bags. Or alternatively a tube of smarties/fruit pastilles/cake.

I have 3 kids, one is 8 and they have all been to a few parties now where no party bags were given out. No issue at all, everyone had had a great time.

Newbie887 · 21/02/2025 16:58

I did party bags at my son’s 8th (and 9th) bdays. The kids all went mad for them still. I wouldn’t do books as the cheap ones are a bit rubbish and babyish by the time they are 8/9, and also you have no idea who has read what or reading ability etc.

agree with those saying do a sweetie bag with a balloon and a bouncy ball in it. Or a large bag of haribo / maoams per child. Or a large bar of choc per child 😂. It’s what they want lol.

last party bag I did had prank jokes in it: a fake nail through finger, a Whoppee cushion, and a snapping cockroach chewing gum (all off Temu, aprox 70p or something per item). Plus some sweets. All the 8 year old boys went crazy for it. Love the first posters suggestion of throw down snap things. A pack of these with a small bag of haribo or similar would be enough.

My daughter (7) recieved a bath bomb, fun watermelon spongy thing, flannel that you put in water and “grow”, and some sweets in one of hers the other day. Loved it and will use it all.

caringcarer · 21/02/2025 17:01

A bar of chocolate and a packet of sweets each. Kids mostly expect something.

Whatwouldnanado · 21/02/2025 17:02

Smile and do as you like. Bit of cake in a napkin. Job done.

Organisedwannabe · 21/02/2025 17:05

PheasantPluckers · 21/02/2025 08:10

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

The problem with books is there is a vast difference in reading age. My DD has a reading age of 14 and some of her friends have a reading age of 6. You’re going to struggle to find some thing which is suitable and of interest for all.

OP what type of party are you hosting?

Comedycook · 21/02/2025 17:08

Yes...8 is still party bag age. My dc would have been quietly disappointed at that age not to get anything to take home.

polinkhausive · 21/02/2025 17:15

We went to one party and I thought to myself this mum is totally a mumsnetter.

No "plastic tat" or sweets but a packet of wildflower seeds, an apple and a box of raisins

I mean really

I would actually have preferred a random book from the works!

SatinHeart · 21/02/2025 17:16

I'd do a bag of haribo, but if you're wanting to avoid food items maybe a pack of glow sticks each or a pack of trading cards (pokemon/Minecraft/whatever else).

Can't see the kids being that impressed with a book tbh.

theboffinsarecoming · 21/02/2025 17:20

B&M currently have bubble blowers at about £1.50ish each, so you could buy a load of those. In a bag with a couple of fun-size sweets and a piece of cake. Job done.

PrettyParrot · 21/02/2025 17:23

I'm really surprised at how many are saying "Who cares if they are disappointed, life is cruel" about 8yos at a birthday party 😂 what on earth made you so sour?!

cerebuswannabe · 21/02/2025 17:25

Yes you absolutely do. Sweet cones are so easy to do!

Rainingalldayonmyhead · 21/02/2025 17:25

If they are coming to the party. and there is food surely you have asked about allergies?

Yes do them. Sweet cones are fine and you can make them yourself. Or make cake pops - kids love them. Or popcorn cones. Or hot chocolate cones……

notthatoldchestnut · 21/02/2025 17:49

My DD had a sleepover for her 8th bday. We took them bowling and for dinner and then a sleepover after. There were 6 inc my DD.
I ordered some lanyards from Etsy as a VIP pass for the party which we delivered in advance and I had sweet cones made for the kids which were £1.50 each. They don't need more than that

Original poster
Partybaggage · 21/02/2025 17:59

I'm not doing the food. It's a laser tag party so the allergy parents have spoken to the venue about that separately to make their own arrangements and then we've paid for whatever they're having. I'm pretty sure they are allowed sweets though so I'll head to the shops and get some party bags together. Thank you for the input everyone.

OP posts:
Ireolu · 21/02/2025 18:21

We had party bags for DDs eight. One made up by the venue. We added candy kittens and a novelty pen. Kids were happy.

MumonabikeE5 · 21/02/2025 18:27

innever thought they were important, and didn’t explicitly make them for birthday parties until the kids were 6/7. And then it seemed like it was the most important thing .
my ten year old was insistent that we made party bags, even if it meant less gifts for him.

you don’t have to put mindless plastic crap in them.

ODFOx · 21/02/2025 19:06

I was a Mumsnet Mum before I'd even heard of it!
I went through a few years of sending home made 'grow your own sandwich' kits home: little brown envelope ( the size that lunch money or wages used to come in) with printed instructions, folded kitchen paper, a paper twist of mustard and cress seeds. It evolved from the complicated gift of eggshells, instructions, cotton wool and cress seeds which was too much fuss. They were really popular so at least 3 or 4 of my DC asked for them for their parties. In a village school it was the talk of the playground each time and the only party bag thing that kids why hadn't attended asked for (minimal hassle and wait time, cut with scissors themselves and get to eat it). These were part of a party bag.
Otherwise one gift and some cake rather than a bag of bits seems better, but then you have to pick one successful thing which isn't simple.

Dery · 21/02/2025 19:32

At that age, I would. DDs are nearly 18 and 20 - from memory, party bags continued throughout primary school. I tended to get something useful and a bit fun - like a mini torch or a fancy ruler or a multi-colour pen: the kind of thing where it doesn’t really matter if they’ve already got one. One year, we also gave everyone a cup cake.

mumbruh · 21/02/2025 19:42

Fidget toys or slime (buy in bulk of Amazon on Temu)
With
Punch balloon
Birthday cake

Dutchhouse14 · 21/02/2025 19:51

I always did party bags probably until about age 11, possibly 12.
But I did try and avoid tat and tried to theme it to party.
If you want to go minimum effort get them a £1 easter egg or sharing bag of sweets /chocolates each.
Although the kids won't be rude about having no party bag I think they maybe a bit disappointed, to me it's part and parcel of a kids party

GreatCat · 21/02/2025 20:22

This sort of thing from Hobbycraft. £1!
www.hobbycraft.co.uk/rocket-plastic-suncatcher/6645521000.html

Craftyparty · 21/02/2025 20:34

Where is everyone seeing these £1 Easter eggs…!?

PerambulationFrustration · 21/02/2025 21:03

Give some sweets and if you want to give a book, give a joke book or those search and find books.

Swipe left for the next trending thread