AIBU...Books instead of party bags?

[ILoveGroot]

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?!

I always give books. Only once has a kid turned his nose up but that said more about him than anything else.

Think I'll do it, majority seem to think it's a good idea. My DS is looking forward to choosing specific books for all his friends (from The Book People), he loves books. Was also going to include some sweeties!

I was going to wrap them as thought that would make them more exciting?!

Noknit, it's reasonable to decide you don't want your kids to have toys if that's your choice. But it's very unfair (and completely untrue) to say that children with lots of toys cannot use their imaginations. The thing that stands out the most in all of my oldest child's school reports is "his imagination is amazing". The stories he comes up with, the situations he puts his character into and the characters he creates. He is a very imaginative child, and I credit his toys for a lot of that. I don't do toys which use batteries and scream and shout and light up, but we do use lots and lots of action figures and ships and planes etc. And he will create entire little worlds using his figures and send his figures on adventures etc. Toys and imaginative play with those toys have a huge impact on imagination and also on their social development and problem solving skills etc etc.

Books in lieu of party bags are a great idea. Except the parents that gave DS a football whistle in his last party bag. Your kid’s getting a trumpet.

The few times my DC has been given a book & slice of cake instead of a party bag she hasn't been v impressed. She loves all the usual tat that come in party bags.
In theory I really like the book idea but in reality the books received from parties have always been a bit rubbish / poorly chosen. Not ones that have ever been favourites or even read more than once or twice.

NoKnit

I agree with you regarding too many toys-- my daughter only has a handful (doll house, blocks, tool box, racing cars, tea set, a couple of balls and stuffed animals) plus puzzles, art supplies and games.

I'm not sure how having lots of books prevents kids using their imaginations though. My daughter probably has 50 plus books and additional library books. She gets read circa 10 books a day and often uses the stories to inspire her pretend play. Books open her mind to new ideas she hasn't experienced and teaches her new vocabulary she wouldn't otherwise learn. Limiting books / access to books isn't shown to benefit children in anyway.

To the OP-- books are a great idea for the party bag. We are doing it. The plastic tat goes in the bin after a day so its a total waste of money.

Books are great if you avoid ones that people are likely to already have. We've been to parties where the parents have split Julia Donaldson sets and pretty much everyone has The Gruffalo, so there were a few copies left over.

^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.*

Or

"A book is a device to ignite the imagination." –Alan Bennett

I love books as do the young children in our family. We have just had our two local libraries closed and replaced with micro libraries. 😭

I make a birthday cake with individual cup cakes for home. I have little cases for these so can send extra for siblings.

No though to helium balloons, one of my neighbours boy used to let the helium out.

Ah, what a lovely idea! Going to do this for my two now! Thanks OP!

Where's Wally work well for that age and Book People sell them in a multi pack. One of those and a pack of funsize smarties would work a treat.

I did a book and a small selection box for an 11th birthday. I hate tat and had angst over what to give a mixed group. DD chose Goosebumps books to split. I also gave out a cupcake in lieu of the cake wrapped in napkin which rarely gets eaten.

We’ve had books and the kids have loved them. This year we had a football themed party so did footballs and whistles! I bet we were popular!

I did this for DDs 5th bday - went down well.

One of the best post party presents DS ever got was a blanket .

The party mum had bought a job lot that was themed to the party (super hero's) and embroidered each one with the child's name (I think she had a sewing machine with that function). I think she said they were about a fiver each bought as a job lot which tbh isn't that different to the average party bag once you've bought the bag and filled it.

I must admit I thought it was a bit odd at first but DS (still 8 years later as a teen) loves that blanket and most of his friends still have theirs!!

It's on his bed as a throw and it's been on multiple holidays with us (he used it to get all snuggled up on the plane and make hotel rooms familiar!).

I always give books instead of cheap party bag crap that no parent wants. They've always been well received.

@noknit - how on earth can reading stifle a person’s imagination? A love of books and reading opens a persons mind, imagination and creativity.

The same with a lot of toys - they encourage and aid a child’s imagination (except for a lot of battery operated talk at you toys). Building blocks, Lego, playmobil, dolls, toy cars, toy kitchen stuff, marble runs, dolls houses, small toy animals - my kids spent hours and hours playing with all this type of stuff and their imagination was a joy to witness !!

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!

This is awesome!

My dd is a teen and still remembers getting a colouring book and cake as a party bag.

Yes!! What a great idea

I think this sounds a marvellous idea. As a child I'd have loved it!

@UrbaneSprawl - Flying Tiger sell harmonicas for £2. Just thought I'd leave that fact there...

I did books when mine were little. Think I managed to get a set of Roald Dahl books that worked out about £1. Added a few sweets and cake, probably a balloon - worked fine.

One year did sunflower seeds, pots, compost. Kicked myself afterwards as I should have had a height competition with another small prize in the summer.
Another year, colouring books and pencils.

I really tried to avoid the plastic tat.

NoKnit

you have it completely wrong. First, having toys does not stop kids imagination in any way - plonking them in front of the tv does. Playing with toys does the exact opposite!

Books? No one can have too many books, it sounds so depressing for your children.

It's a fair choice to want a minimalist life, but you are depriving your children if you only allow such a tiny number of books. I feel so sad for them.

Book and a slice of cake is common here. Parents love it, kids less so - only because it's from a cheap collection from Book People and not really a book they would choose themselves. But it's still a good option and we did it for dd's 5th birthday.