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.

For context I don't have young DC and am aghast that people (parents/children) expect a present for attending a fun party and have probably won a prize during party games.
I may be channeling the 70s or 80s, we just got cake to take home because... you know...cake is lovely.

Tbh to my 6 year old it’s the bit she gets most excited about!

Yes, They are children and expect them. Mainly sweets and you can use paper bags if you don’t want ant to contaminate the planet more

Yeah kids love party bags.

Things I have seen go down well with this age group;

Torch
invisible ink pens
Pokemon cards (buy in bulk from Amazon, not new packs)
Throw-downs
Squishy balls
Big pile of second hand books and kids help themselves (bizarrely this was a massive hit)
Popping candy
Magic tricks

Just had a whole load of 11 year old parties including our own over the last month, everyone did party bags.
A lot still did the usual stuff, we did a couple of fidget toys and sweets.

I totally hear you! Another expense to an already expensive party. My DD is turning 8 in March and I’ve purchased stuff from Temu that were good value and I know won’t end up in landfill….for a few wks/months anyway! So coloured pens, key rings, bracelets, squishy animals and pocket bears. The girls in the class love them and swap them in school. That’s her & her group of pals though and kids are all diff. Temu I know not the best retailer to be buying from and too late for you now sorry

I put a slice of cake, a mini chocolate bar, mini bag haribos, a lolly and a sheet of temporary tattoos (you can buy packs off Amazon) in my boy's friends ones.

I did do the party bags and they went down very well with some fidgets toys, sweets, cake, pencils, erasers etc in. Thanks for all the suggestions and the push to get it done as i think my dc would have been upset if i hadn't done it.

Of course you do, don't be such a mean bean. It's a predictable and nice way to signal the party is over
Sweets, a balloon and a couple if bits of novelty tat plus cake.
Who actually wants another book from The Works in their house?

If you read my posts you'll see i did do them.

People whose kids like books, maybe?

Oh, and 'mean bean'? 🤔

I'd do sweets or something edible rather than a book. Those cheap Works books are for younger children and I just don't think most kids would get excited at receiving a random book

There’s that mum from my child’s class who makes a big show of disgusted throwing the sweets directly into the bin at the party venue.

She doesn’t refuse the bag, she takes the party bag and chucks the sweets in view of everyone.

She is horrible.
The avoiding refined sugar and e-numbers is NOT helping her child make friends

Maybe sweet cones and a book?

I used to buy books that come in packs like a series and give one book out each.

Just do a leaving gift, so one item, garish bath bombs seem to go down well.

Temu! But check delivery times! I had pink boxes with heart sunglasses, a bead bracelet, lipgloss and a scrunchie for £2 each

I hate this idea. Poor animals if any around , especially dogs, horses, old people etc etc . No I’m not Woke I’m just not keen on this .

Cheap puzzle book or notebook and pen .
Chocs, cake.

I gave each child a piece of cake and one of those foot long tubes of bubbles. Cost £1.50 each.

No, kids are there to party and have fun. Anything more than that is OTT. No one needs more stuff.

I'm all for a party bag, but something consumable and not landfill plastic tat. Sweets / chocs (sour stuff always popular) or last year DD did a tiny pamper type bag... split a big box of bath bombs, a multi pack of lip balms and a cheap face mask each with a lollipop in a paper bag, sealed with a sticker. Very very cheap, hopefully all gets used.

@Partybaggage glad it all went well.

FYI we stopped party bags only in secondary school. 10 year olds still LOVE stickers and sweets and stationery are our go to...

By 8 you probably do need something, but you can do one thing per kid plus some sweets or cake - the fidget toy keyrings go down really well and you can get them v cheap on Amazon in multipacks.

Hate cheap party bags full of plastic stuff. My DC don’t care for them either, they will play with them for a few minutes and then it all ends up in the bin. So bad for the environment. In the past we’ve done books (for small children that fit the theme of the party), had cookies made, small terracotta pots with seeds for kids to take home and plant, small wood birdhouses for painting. Upcoming party for DC in a couple of months and the children will be given a science book (it’s a science themed party).

I bought a load of mini Lego sets for about a pound each on ebay. Bought some party bags in wilkos and added a few sweets and a slice of cake - easy!