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Original poster

Party bags dillema

106 replies

Windymiller123 · 21/10/2021 17:44

Sorry, not sure where to post this but I need some advice re party bags for my 4 yo b-day party.

Her b-day is two days before Halloween and I was wandering around the shops today and thought maybe I can get the kids Halloween buckets instead of regular party bags and fill them with (healthy) treats. The buckets are made of plastic, but they are nicely made and of course reusable. Would this be acceptable and not too far from the standard party bags everyone expects?

OP posts:
ParkerTheThief · 21/10/2021 21:12

How much are you planning to spend per child? If you want to avoid plastic tat you could use these although you could argue that the energy spent melting usable crayons to make um, usable crayons isn't very eco-friendly

Disclaimer - I have never used the site but spotted it on insta the other night

MrsMiddleMother · 21/10/2021 21:16

I wouldn't be happy with the plastic pumpkin bucket or an actual pumpkin. Tbh even a book is too much, if my kids got a book every party they went to that'd be about 40 a year! Honestly you're better off just doing a piece of cake in a napkin. Parents are swamped with tat, things to store for all different holidays and enough to do without the extra.

Isababybel · 21/10/2021 21:23

www.amazon.co.uk/Halloween-TOOELMON-Perfect-Biscuits-Goodies/dp/B097THCBCF/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
What about paper bags like the ones above? Plastic buckets are going to end up in the bin, i definitely do not have storage for things like that!
I also dont recommend sending actual pumpkins to be carved as you are just making work for the parents who are probably already busy enough as it is.

MoomaidAhoy · 21/10/2021 21:28

Cheap plastic buckets are not going to be reused more than once or twice (they will break). Also, in my family a Halloween bucket would go straight to the charity shop (who may well bin it if it doesn’t sell before Halloween). We don’t go trick or treating.

partyplanner82 · 21/10/2021 21:41

How about orange paper bags?

Findahouse21 · 21/10/2021 21:47

Just as an aside, halloween buckets are great sick buckets. Thank me later!!

elbea · 21/10/2021 21:50

Paper bags are far more green than a cheap plastic bucket, in what world aren’t they. Its renewable and recyclable.

I’d be really annoyed if somebody foisted tat on me like that bucket. Realistically who is going to reuse that, most people have something already. It’s made from a non renew me source, single use and then in will rot in the ground for the next thousand years.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 21/10/2021 21:51

I would avoid Halloween as I know lots of families actively dislike it.
If you’re wanting to avoid sweets and plastic, I’d go for a slice of birthday cake, small colouring or sticker book, and some felt tips or crayons in a paper bag.
Or use plain fabric bags, then buy some fabric pens and make decorating them one of the party activities.

NisekoWhistler · 21/10/2021 22:31

Books are the way forwards, you can get them for £1 each at card factory or the works, everyone is happy and no landfill shite.

00100001 · 21/10/2021 22:41

Just pita piece of cake, a bag of haribo and a sheet of stickers in and be done with it

Frazzledd · 22/10/2021 03:15

Well I think it's a sweet idea! Fwiw my 2&4 year old Dds love a bucket! There's a couple that have been rocking around my house for a year or so and get used for shopping play, toy sharing, block stacking...

They'd be re-used here, but then I'm not a 'judgy' mum (nor do we go to '40 parties a year' like a pp Hmm ) so a little gift bucket with some treats would get a heartfelt thank you for the kind gesture.

Fetarabbit · 22/10/2021 03:36

I wouldn't get books, lots of people seem to do them now and chances of getting a duplicate or one the child doesn't like is annoying. I'd also hate to get an actual pumpkin as agree that its just more work. I like the bucket but most people probably won't reuse it.

I'd do cake, colouring pencils, stickers and a small notepad in a paper bag- or a pack of wildseeds or something- stuff that will be used and not take up much space!

Frazzledd · 22/10/2021 04:09

I wouldn't get books, lots of people seem to do them now and chances of getting a duplicate or one the child doesn't like is annoying.

Annoying? Really? Hmm

Fetarabbit · 22/10/2021 04:15

@Frazzledd

I wouldn't get books, lots of people seem to do them now and chances of getting a duplicate or one the child doesn't like is annoying.

Annoying? Really? Hmm

Yes, would rather nothing than tat in book form. The reason I'm assuming most people give books is to try and be more sustainable, but if it won't be read as its one that was given from a works bundle previously then its wasteful still; charity shops here have stopped taking children's books as they get so many they can't shift. Honestly just a piece of cake is much better if someone doesn't want to provide typically fun stuff. Just as some people find 'plastic tat' or actually fun things annoying.
JustLyra · 22/10/2021 04:37

I think it's a lovely idea, but any family that's likely to make use of a bucket will already have one 2 days before Halloween.

PurrBox · 22/10/2021 04:44

I like your bucket and also like the real pumpkin idea. My kids would have loved both of those things at a party.

All you folks who are so down on the buckets- do you assiduously avoid plastic shampoo bottles? containers for cleaning supplies? plastic packaging for fruit and veg? Is your recycling and rubbish devoid of any plastic at the end of a fortnight? Do you wash bedding, towels and jeans very rarely? and never buy unsustainably produced clothes? Do you avoid washing synthetic clothing ? Do you drive?

Out of all the wasteful plastic we consume (I hate it as much as anyone), your buckets look like fun, OP.

Frazzledd · 22/10/2021 04:51

Honestly just a piece of cake is much better if someone doesn't want to provide typically fun stuff. Just as some people find 'plastic tat' or actually fun things annoying

So what would you say is a 'typically fun' item to gift a 4 year old?

My 2 & 4 year old dds love stories, so books are a great gift for them? You can't please everyone (obviously!)

DifferentHair · 22/10/2021 04:51

Personally I think it's more tat and bad for the environment. I really dislike this custom where people load each other's kids up with sugar, wrapped in plastic, then put in another plastic container.

People who are into Halloween would likely have their own buckets and other paraphernalia. It won't be reused in most homes.

I go to some effort to reduce our environmental footprint and it annoys me when junk like this comes through my door.

If you do a gift for all the children, I think a book or some pencils are nice.

feelingkenty · 22/10/2021 04:58

I just say no to giving party bags. Yes I know I'm a killjoy but I just can't do all
The landfill crap. If my children are at at party and they get one great, they can of course take it I'm not that much of a grinch. It's just not something I am comfortable with providing because of the landfill situation.

I've previously done them once before with paper bags, sweets, a small wooden spinning top, pencils etc but now I just say no.

We are pretty up front about not buying things for the sake of it, not buying things that we only use once etc so when my DDs ask why I say it's because they are not good for the environment and isn't it better just to have fun at a party rather than speculating about a party bag at the end of it.

I also dislike balloons for that reason

southcarolina · 22/10/2021 05:10

I think it's a nice idea but most will go in the bin. I do a cheap book or sticker book instead of party bags.

Auroreforet · 22/10/2021 05:32

I stopped doing party bags and bought one small present each dependent on the age and made a bran tub.
The youngest went first.
It added excitement to the party and I wasn’t buying so much tat and with a piece of cake there’s no need for sweets.

waitingpatientlyforspring · 22/10/2021 05:53

My ds has an October birthday. One year I found skull shaped glasses. The kilner jar kind with a lid and straw. I filled them with sweets in place of a party bag.

londonrach · 22/10/2021 06:07

Great idea. I've a five year old and the party bag is the most loved bit. I know MN hate it but the children love the plastic we used to love as a child ..the worse party bag ever was a seed one. We had soil seeds and a cup all over her car seat before we got home. Nothing wrong with sweets...it's a party! Hope your DC has a nice time with their friends

londonrach · 22/10/2021 06:08

Stickers are great too if you want to pop some in the bucket

2reefsin30knots · 22/10/2021 06:14

Just knock up a roll of felt at home out of some locally sourced wool and make bags out of that. You can fill them with lentils (which support the ecosystem when they grow) and a slice of vegan cake. If you want to add something else, you could put in an ocarina- they are great for kid's early musical development and music supports maths, so a great start towards the 11+ too.