not to give out party bags???

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, we're having a party for our daughters 6th birthday this weekend. We're going to a victorian museum where they get dressed up, and have a toor around then have a birthday tea and play traditional games. Each child wins a small prize in pass the parcel.
AIBU not to hand out party bags at the end? It's just that I've run out of money, with it being before pay day and already I've had to borrow some from my mum which I don't like doing. I see them as a waste of money to be honest and most of it ends up in the bin. It's just that I've never been to a party that hasn't had them. The last thing I'd want is a queue of children lined up waiting for them.

So what do you think, AIBU and will I be talked about forever more, or will the children still have a great time and not even notice?

My DD1 would love a craft kit!! Her idea of heaven!

A couple of birthdays ago for DD1's party, we spent ages dividing up soil and seeds and those little decomposable plant pots. I think the kids would have rather had sweets, tbh, but the mums seemed to like them!

We also went to a party recently where everyone was given a plant pot with grape hyacinth bulbs in (as well as a bag with some sweets) - my girls liked that and we've all enjoyed watching the bulbs flower.

Cake + £1 multi pack of sweets. That is all. Done. Thats all we wanted as kids anyway, forget the pencils- mini packets of haribo and smarties made our day. :)

If you wanted to be really controversial you could always throw in a multipack of fruit shoots or a voucher for McDonalds.

O thank goodness I've seen this thread! It's my DD's 6th birthday party in a few weeks time, and as someone who loathes the whole party bag thing - the idea of sweets and a balloon is a godsend.

Sour note? FGS I've heard everything now. If the experience of a party like the one described in the OP is cancelled out by not getting a bag of assorted crap at the end then this really needs addressing. It's attitudes like that that spoil the party, not the lack of party bags.

Party bags weren't the done thing when I was little, and I hope they won't be by the time DS is old enough. PLEASE blaze the no-party-bag trail for us OP!

My friend had a little christening/1st birthday do for her son recently. Just a few family and friends, nothing spectacular. One of the little boys went up to my friend and asked 'How many minutes until I can have my party bag please?'

He was most crestfallen to hear he wasn't going to get one but seemed happy enough with a balloon and a piece of cake at the end.

party bags are just soooo expensive! Did joint party for DD last year, total invitees came to about 45, so given it is pretty bloody difficult to do it for less that £2.00 a bag that was an extra £90 on top of entertainer, hall hire, food etc etc! Our entertainer did a 'toy chest' full of cheap toys so we did that - he charged £1 per toy for the first 20, and then 75p per toy for any number after that so we got out of it for under £40 in the end, plus a box of sherbert straws from Costco for them to choose from on the way out & a bit of cake in a bag. I just totally resented shelling out which would have eventually been well over £100 for a bag of plastic that would in all likelihood go directly into the bin! And kids loved poking around in toy chest to choose their own 'prize'

My ds is one tomorrow and is having a small birthday tea. I've made party bags just for some birthday cake and a mask (and a box of raisins to counteract the cake).

Didn't cost me much, 69p for a pack of 10 bags and £1 for 10 masks.

It was more for something for the cake to go in...plus most of the babies who are coming can't have small pieces of tat plastic.

I hope your trend takes off! It'll save me the hassle.

Cake, a balloon, couple of crayons, a sweet and some straws - very cheap and easy for quite young children, if you think kids are expecting a gift. I don't really blame kids for expecting a party bag if most people give them, but I'm sure they accept it if they're told there isn't one.

YANBU
for ds 5th bithday he 5 friends for tea, we decorated a pillowcase(£1) each with fabric pens and they took a piece of cake home in it.
Activity and bag sorted! (inspiration from another mn thread )

I am from Germany and we don't do cake in the bags. Although I think that's quite nice idea somehow. Although it means having to share cake... mh

On my birthdays we always did something, paint plant pots, do a craft activity, play a bunch of party games with prizes. So you basically collected some candy by winning games (mum made sure everyone got something). That's how I will do it for my kids. HOnestly, I am not just going to give away a bag full of stuff. If we do games they can earn it or if we do activities they get that to take home. More than enough I believe