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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Inappropriate party bag gift?

193 replies

SignOnTheWindow · 09/05/2017 00:58

Friend's DS went to an outdoor-activities birthday party (lots of running around grounds of large house; marshmallows over an open fire type thing). Sounds great fun, tbh.

Friend's DS was given a party bag at the end and in the back seat of the car on the way back he opened it and started playing with the contents... which included a penknife - cue him opening it and accidentally cutting himself. Not deeply enough for stitches or anything, but deep enough to end up with blood everywhere.

Now, one thing I didn't find out was whether the parents had been warned that there was a knife in the party bag. I'm assuming not because my friend is pretty paranoid about potential safety issues and I imagine would not have let him have the bag in the car if she knew it contained a penknife.

If they weren't warned, it seems a foolishly dangerous thing to put in party bag for 7 year olds.

What about if they were warned, though? AIBU to think that even with a warning, a penknife is an inappropriate gift to put in a party bag at that age? Or am I being precious?

OP posts:
KarmaNoMore · 10/05/2017 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

2rebecca · 10/05/2017 21:50

Odd to put pen knives in party bags especially as they are expensive. Odd to get worked up about what someone else's kid got in a party bag.

Kelliesparkles · 10/05/2017 22:04

I would not even think of giving one to an 11year old let alone 7years I think it's crazy
An no they are not babies but they are still very very young , I can not believe they put that in their party bag , very silly ideas 😡

SquidgeyMidgey · 10/05/2017 22:31

DS is 11 and has had a little pennies for a couple of years but he's very sensible and uses it with DH to whittle sticks and other wildly exciting activities.

IMO 7 is a bit young, and certainly without asking you first.

SquidgeyMidgey · 10/05/2017 22:31

Penknife not pennies ffs.. .

Pettywoman · 10/05/2017 22:51

My brothers and I had pen knives from a very early age. Common in the 1970s. I also learned to fire an air rifle at 7 and ride a moped at not much older. We did dangerous stuff but had a good sense for self preservation.

I would never dream of giving my kids a knife and to put it in a party bag for other people's children is just unbelievable.

The culture has changed, at least it has in my community. I grew up reading Swallows and Amazons and whittling sticks. My kids are all for dumb YouTube pranks and monumentally stupid stuff done for click bait.

Mermaid67 · 10/05/2017 23:00

I was in Greece recently and there were flickknives by the till in the supermarket 😮!

Cali13 · 10/05/2017 23:41

Tbh a knife as a party bag thing is just fricking stupid no matter Wat the age of the kids.... why a knife.?? They're dangerous . And kids shouldn't have them .. u have to be 18 to buy knives so I dunno y they'd give it as a party bag treat ?!?!

avamiah · 10/05/2017 23:48

Just when I thought I had heard it all.
I'm lost for words and I'm a regular on here but this sounds ridiculous.
Not you OP, the bloody half wit who put it into the kids goody bags.
What happened to sweets, birthday cake and a miniature Lego toy to build .?

Sammyislost · 11/05/2017 09:17

Not a clever idea. Even if a 7 year old is able to use a knife for outdoor activities, it should be given to and kept by the parent and remain under parental control and not be gifted to a child as it bypasses the control of the parent.

QueenofPentacles · 11/05/2017 11:43

What no crossbows? seriously;
How ridiculous and mad. They are still on round ended scissors fi.

BillyNotQuiteNoMates · 11/05/2017 11:52

I can't imagine what would be going through someone's head, to put a knife of any description in a party bag, for any aged child, whether you warned the parents or not. For once in my life, I am totally and utterly flabbergasted!

hks · 11/05/2017 14:43

a totally inappropriate gift to put in a party bag imo even if she had thought about warning the parents first .i would not have been happy

if children are to be using them then it would be with adult supervision even for crafts / outdoor ativities, camping etc.

manicmij · 11/05/2017 17:35

No way are 7 year olds babies. They know everything about everything in my view, their rights in particular. As to a knife in a party bag, did seem a bit of a strange item but then perhaps the child who had the party is a normal 7 year old and relishes a penknife. Of course kids cut themselves especially opening that kind of knife, but they learn who not to land up with cuts. Not just the kids need to grow up - parents can do with a bit of real world stuff too.

WankersHacksandThieves · 11/05/2017 18:06

DS1 will be 17 in the summer, I'm thinking party bags containing a 2 cans of special brew, a bottle of 20/20, a couple of joints, a few ecstasy tablets, a machete and the keys to the neighbours cars...WIBU? :o

Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 11/05/2017 18:25

YANBU that's bloody dangerous and stupid to put a pen knife in a 7 year olds party bag what the hell where the parents thinking.

user1472151176 · 12/05/2017 03:43

Penknife in a party bag sounds odd to me, regardless of whether or not children know how to use them safely.

user1491572121 · 12/05/2017 04:55

Wnaker that's a bit childish for 17 year olds. You should just give them each a bag of crack. Far more grown up.

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