AIBU not wanting to give out party bags?

[surreynotsurrey]

Wait, you've been invited to a party, fed, watered, entertained, not had to tidy up or pay for anything AND you expect a party bag?!

It's fine not to want to give them but it's very hard to get people to leave otherwise!

Yep

I don't but my 6yo finds them quite interesting.

How do you get the kids to leave

I don't do them either - not environmentally friendly!

When I stopped doing party bags, all the other parents stopped too #trailblazer

Open the door. "Out"! Job's a good un.

Like PPs, they are a useful signal that it is time to leave.

It's a lovely tradition. My DCs are always delighted with party bag tat and a few sweets. Keeps them happy in the car when they're overtired after the party.

Errrm you sound like a wonderfully welcoming host - full of joy

My sil was telling me the other day that she took her little boy to his bf's party. She doesn't drive and by the time she had paid cab fares, entry to the venue and food for her other 2 children who she had no childcare for and a present she had spent near £100 just so her child could attend the party! So YANBU but saying they've paid for nothing is a bit misleading. Attendees have to get there and most, if not all, will bring a present even if they are the only expenses.
And yy to party bags being a cue that it's time to go.

Lately we've gotten books/activity books/puzzles.

Think of them as "now fuck off home" bags and your perception will change.

My DD2 wanted to give out a Kinder Egg to each guest. Her little face when she saw 20 Kinder Eggs in the tesco delivery my eldest did thosee sweet cone things - ordered the bits off eBay and had a fun hour making them up - both options cost about 80p per child.

I think it's nice to give a little token as a thank you. Although calling them "fuck off bags " did make me laugh and sums up the real purpose of them!!

We only give sweets these days, as I can't stand tat.

My kids and their friends just love them. LOVE them. To the point her favourite thing at Christmas was the GIANT party bag (stocking).

DS1 didn't get a party bag from the party he went to at the weekend.

The whinging in the car on the way home as a result nearly got me in the phone to the hosting parents, bellowing, 'YOU FUCKING STARTED THIS, YOU CAN DEAL WITH IT!'

Please, for the sake of the other parents, just give the bastard bags.

I've stopped doing them now (my DCs are 8 & 10) but did do them for years. They cost about £1 each - the kids don't care what's in them, it's just exciting, even if they are full of tat!!

My kids adore party bags - they keep them for weeks on a shelf in the kitchen. They love the plastic tat and sweets. We use recycled paper bags to try and be a bit more eco friendly. I put in pencils, rubbers ect things that kids can take to school and use - get loads of cheap bit off ebay.

The whinging in the car on the way home as a result nearly got me in the phone to the hosting parents, bellowing, 'YOU FUCKING STARTED THIS, YOU CAN DEAL WITH IT!'

How very ungrateful.., think you're kids need to learn some manners

I wouldn't not give a party bag tbh

*DS1 didn't get a party bag from the party he went to at the weekend.

The whinging in the car on the way home as a result nearly got me in the phone to the hosting parents, bellowing, 'YOU FUCKING STARTED THIS, YOU CAN DEAL WITH IT!'*

that would be my kids

We went to a party where the host brought put a box of books and the kids took one each. I thought it was brilliant. They were books from a big set so £1 or less each

Don't give them a party bag then. It's not The Law.

I secretly love doing party bags.