Aibu to not buy party bags for 8 year olds?

[healthandwealth]

My son is having his 8th birthday party this weekend at a soft play. AIBU to not buy party bags for the kids? I'm a bit over giving/receiving plastic crap for the kids and wonder if the kids will really notice if they don't get party bags? If I do get something it will just be a big wheels car each and a bag of sweets. What age do you think it's acceptable to stop the party bag nonsense?!

I think too young to stop. A lot of the kids are only 7.

I'd go with bags - they do like them and you can choose what to put in them, it doesn't have to be tat - even a few sweeties and a slice of cake and a pencil/eraser would be good.
I would think 7/8 yr old boys would love a car and some haribo or similar.
It just "finishes off" the party for them.

My two are ten years old and party bags still reign.

You don’t have to fill them with tat though. We’ve done books, stationery etc.

My DS is 10 and still adores a party bag!
Doesn’t all have to be plastic tat. Party bags received by DS and DD last year included:

a book (Goosebumps series, the Mum of the party child said she a bought a pack of 12 from the Book People I think) and a pack of Haribo

Back in the summer he had A bag containing a mini water pistol and pack of water balloons, bag of mini marshmallows and some stickers

Colour your own bag with pens (I’ve seen them for a few quid each in Tiger and Wilko) sweets, balloon, bit of cake

A cheap football and a lollipop

I think as long as there is a little something to bring home and some sort of sweet treat they’re happy!

You put a slice of cake in a bag?

I stopped doing them at 7. None of the kids say anything and their parents followed suit

Last couple years we havr just given a sweet cone and cake

At DS2’s 9th birthday last year I didn’t do party bags. There we only a few of them and on did ask and whinge when he was told I hadn’t done them. I frankly couldn’t be arsed so I didn’t. Maybe one more year OP.

In a serviette steffi. Totally standard.

I always found it a good way of rounding them all up at the end..theres always that one kid who's squashed flat at the far reaches of the ball pool who refuses to come out ...one shout of " come get your party bag" usually sorts it.

They will notice at that age.

Apart from anything else party bags are a good way to say “party’s over time to go”. If you don’t want to do a load of plastic tat think of an alternative. I’ve given out books from Poundland before or sweet cones

My kids have had a tube of rolos, chocolate buttons etc. before.

One year my mum gave the party bag money to charity. I was mortified at the time. Lovely sentiment, thinking about it now.

I did party bags at dd's 9th bitthday.

I done more stationery from b & m though.

A pen, a pad of post its, a notebook, a pencil, an eraser, couple of sweets from a big bag and a slice of cake.

Seemed to go down well, but cost about a quid per bag, so not mega expensive.

I think party bags will still be expected at this age. What about sweet cones or jars?

Never done party bags, no one has ever mentioned anything.

I think they'd be expected

How about a craft kit from b and m or home bargains

YANBU, not all U.

I don't think we ever did party bags after dc1's first year at school. An average of a bag full of sugar and tatt every week convinced us! Since then we've always done Going Home presents (which is what I had as a child). A book or fancy pencil or similar, and a slice of birthday cake. Plus a balloon if we'd used them.

steff13 isn't that the whole point to take some cake home after all the crap they have eaten? Has been for the almost 40 odd years I've been attending parties? .....

At that age they will expect them, it's still young.

They don't have to be filled with tat, you can get hundreds of things that will be used or consumed and won't end up in landfill.

@NeverUseThisName but that is essentially a party bag? I take the term party bag in this discussion to mean a gift given to those attending the party at going home time.

at that age I was doing stationery, and sweets.

You don’t have to do party bags but I think it’s nice to give something. Most kids are happy with some sweets.
One year I totally forgot party bags for 9yr old ds party. I was in the supermarket so desperately trying to buy something on the day and bought inexpensive coloured mugs and put a sachet of hot chocolate and some sweets in it. Kids were happy.

Personally I think it's completely unnecessary to feel pressured into providing party bags at any age let alone worrying at this age if ok to stop! Parties are expensive and I can't honestly think of any friends who would 'expect' a child to receive a party bag. My son has had party bags before from parties and it's all ended up in the bin, just not needed. What's wrong with a piece of birthday cake and thank you for coming??