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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU...Books instead of party bags?

89 replies

ILoveGroot · 28/01/2019 20:18

Just thinking of giving something more useful and long lasting than the usual party bag fillers, although I'm aware children love the usual things.

My DS will be 6 soon, and I thought of going everyone a book, plus a few sweets and a piece of cake. Not sure it would be appreciated though?!

OP posts:
AliTheMinx · 28/01/2019 20:18

We did this at 6 and 7 and it worked well x

Racheyg · 28/01/2019 20:19

Dcs went to a party where they gave out books. I loved it, no plastic bags of tat. I say go for it

HeyThoughIWalk · 28/01/2019 20:19

My kids would love this!

TheColourPurple · 28/01/2019 20:20

This sounds fab

Harebellmeadow · 28/01/2019 20:20

Hope you will buy them from the literature-encouraging Book People. Have been buying from them for over a decade and hope they last for decades.

Harebellmeadow · 28/01/2019 20:20

I mean, hope the Company thrives forever.

ChrisjenAvasarala · 28/01/2019 20:22

I'm doing a Harry potter party and giving all the kids a copy of Quidditch Through the Ages with a homemade chocolate frog... So I'm hoping it's a good idea too!

Gizlotsmum · 28/01/2019 20:23

Do this a lot and it always seems to go down well.

mystifiedinbrighton · 28/01/2019 20:24

I’m doing a similar thing soon - no party bag but a helium balloon and cake. Books were my other idea, I think it’s great. Most people loathe getting more plastic tat, and most parties have quite enough sweets.

roundtable · 28/01/2019 20:25

Did this for last two birthdays with a couple of packets of sweets and slice of cake.

Parents loved it. Some kids were a bit miffed Grin but considering they forget about party bags in 5 minutes I could live with it.

I swore no more party bags after attending a party where the parents had put in a whistle amongst other such plastic delights. Angry

NoKnit · 28/01/2019 20:26

I'd prefer all consumables over any kind of toys or even books. I'm pretty minimalist though and don't like my kids having loads of stuff, books included they only have about 15 each and I prefer to chose myself otherwise they get too overwhelmed

Scotinoz · 28/01/2019 20:29

My 5 year old has been to several parties lately where the party bag has been a slice of cake and a book. I think it's great, and she's been thrilled 😀

ChrisjenAvasarala · 28/01/2019 20:29

Noknit, do your kids use the library for reading then or have they literally only read a handful of books each?

YouWereRight · 28/01/2019 20:31

We did this once, very few of the children didn't complain openly.

The parents seemed pleased though.

DillyDilly · 28/01/2019 20:32

@Noknit. Surely your kids don’t read the same books over and over, couldn’t they read the book and then donate it to the local charity shop??

Do you never let them pick out their own books ?

angelopal · 28/01/2019 20:32

What books have you been given/ received? Any recommendations for 4-5 year olds? DD will be 5 soon and was thinking a book and some sweets but not sure what to get.

HomeEdRocks18 · 28/01/2019 20:35

That sounds great. I once gave out plant pots and packets of sunflower seeds. The idea being that the tallest sunflower would get a prize at the end of summer

oblada · 28/01/2019 20:35

We had that at the last party my 4yrs old went too. Cake + book. Fab! My DD was chuffed with the book! You can never have too many books in my view!

APurpleSquirrel · 28/01/2019 20:36

Books are a great idea! Much better than the plastic tat.
For my DD 4th party we gave out cake, a small paper bag with sweets & stickers & a choice of My Little Pony, Ninjago, Lego City or Lion Guard Sticker/Activity book.

TheClaifeCrier · 28/01/2019 20:37

Friend of mine did this recently. She got multipacks of activity books from the book people and gave out one each at the end. They were used by my two far more than any plastic tat they would normally get in party bags.

Noknit that makes me sad for your kids to be honest.

Littleredhouse · 28/01/2019 20:38

We're doing this in a couple of weeks for our 4 year old's birthday. A book and some cake is great I think!

Steamedbadger · 28/01/2019 20:40

We've done books (with sweets), it went down well with children and parents. I'm not keen on handing out cake myself as it always ends up bashed, stale and with bits of paper napkin attached to it. I always gave them a slice of cake to eat at the party and tried to foist as much as possible on to any parents who were there.

Leeds2 · 28/01/2019 20:53

As a mum, I think books instead of plastic tat is an excellent idea, and to be recommended!
I am not sure DD (now 20!) would've thought the same at age 6. She loved books/reading, but I think she would've thought it a bit "meh."
That said, if DD were 6 next week, I would've ordered books from the Book People already!

NoKnit · 28/01/2019 20:54

For those who asked yes we do use the library and they do get new books when they've outgrown them. It makes everything a lot less stressful for us all.

I am not quite sure what the point of feeling sad for my kids comment is. We've chosen to live this way. It's the same for toys we have very few fits into 3 deep idea trofast bins plus a shelf with puzzles and games. I personally feel sad for kids who have masses of books and toys and can't use their imaginations as they have too much stuff.

littlecabbage · 28/01/2019 20:56

Do it OP! I hate it when the DC come home with (plastic) bags of plastic tat which gets binned after a day.