Party bags, again

[FiveSatsumas]

Sorry, I know it’s a perennial question on here but I’d like opinions.

Party for my just-turned-five year old. Kids will be 4/5, one seven year old. Not a big party.

I hate tat in party bags. Not just the stuff that breaks in minutes but the colouring books that go unused, tiny tubs of Playdoh etc. I equally hate the virtue-signalling brown pencils + seeds + organic quinoa type. Which leaves me a bit hamstrung.

I’m planning on giving a small Lego set (example attached) and mini bag of Haribo (or maybe one of those Bear / yoyo snacks?). Is this OK do you think, or does it look miserly because it’s only two things? This would be my ideal to receive as a parent but that’s not the point clearly otherwise all the other parents would be handing out gin miniatures.

And advice welcome for a total fussbudget. I’d look normal if you met me, honest.

YABU - bring on the tat, they love it!
YANBU - that is fine/thoughtful/lovely/less likely to end in the bin.

We went to a party recently and there was no party bag, the kids didn’t care.

This is a fantastic idea that I have duly stolen. Thanks.

It's perfect, op. Ignore the weirdo who claims they'd put it in the bin 😂

Why are there any party bags at all? What happens if there isn’t…. take the blue pill today.

I always found party bags were a good way to signify the end of the party and that it was time for people to go home

I like putting a single pretty cupcake, in a bag with ribbon on it. Love the idea of book. Plus a few penny sweets, will look great.

Of course they didn't. Because they don't need a present to thank them for having a lovely time at a party. It's such a silly tradition, I can't believe it's still going given all we know about plastic and waste etc. now.

This.

I quite like doing something at the party that is the thing you take home. We have previously done tie dye T-shirts, batik pictures, mini canvases, making crayons in moulds, decorating mini Christmas cakes/making baubles (we do Christmas parties as well), Lego mini builds where we grabbed cups of parts from pick a brick & gave kids ideas for what to make and cookies. I’ve also bought books, drawstring sports bags with those sticks you dive for and beach balls at a pool party, passes for a future visit to softplay and we’ve had parties where they got nothing or just got birthday cake. It’s fine to not do them at all if you don’t want to.