To ask for your alternatives to party bags

[TheoTheopolis23]

Had the great idea of doing sweetie cones from a poster on here (they were of the opinion that the toys were plastic tat, broke easily, crap for environment etc., Plus kids only really interested in the sweets so just do sweetie cones and I thought they had a point).

This went down a treat, no pun intended; another school Mum told me she was going to copy it so there have been a few more since.

What could you do instead, rather than sweetie cones again? There's an old thread saying personalized mugs, drinks containers, t-shirts etc.
But I can't see mugs or drinks bottles for less than £7/8 and there are hopefully going to be 40 kids. T-shirts - I thought you weren't supposed to put kids names on t-shirts for safety, and I wouldn't know what characters etc they're all into so ...

I can't see most of the parents going in for the plant a seed etc type stuff.

Personalised chocolate bars looked like a goer, but I'm hoping to do chocolate fountains and giving them a chocolate bar straight after is kinda more of the same.

Has anyone done anything else that went down well?

Thank you 🙏

Yes if I could get some nice bottles, it would make a change from the cone, and hopefully be used for drinks after.

I once did party bags with wooden yo-yos and wooden pencils with animals on top when I was feeling worthy. Plus sweets - and a sheet of stickers. kids seemed to like them. Bought big boxes from a wholesaler. Slightly older kids seem to like squishy stress balls and rubix cubes but this probably counts as plastic tat. I once went to a party where kids could choose a picture book - I think you can get them quite cheaply from places like The Works or here:

https://www.thebookbundle.com/products/julia-donaldson-picture-book-collection-10-books-set-gruffalo-cave-baby-room-on-broom?variant=43442796495098&currency=GBP&utmmedium=producttsync&utmsource=google&utmmcontent=sagorganic&utmmcampaign=sagorganic&gclid=CjwKCAjwp6CkBhBBEiwAlQVyxR7C-0ReRl--CBUyixCgGJeqE-pwn3PIon4gZNMzh3p3cAiXPnSfUxoCpC8QAvD_BwE

😂

I will freely admit, I get carried away. I'm a frustrated party/event planner.

And I don't like doing the same things.

One of DDs parties I got them all a comic/magazine. This was when they were last year at primary and she just wanted to invite all the girls in the class. They couldn't all make it but we ended up with about 12. I got whatever the tween girl magazines for that age and wrapped round a large tube of smarties with a hair bobble.

Comic for younger kids? Though in somewhere like The Works you can probably get books for small children for less than that. Last Christmas DD was donating to a local charity that wanted books for children. She drew the 5 year old boy option and in The Works she managed to get something like 10 books for £10

That's a much nicer book bundle than most - the Works tends to have ,"baby animal in sacharrine story" type stuff in their multi buy books.

I've had them and they don't tend to get read.

Tha knyou so much everyone got all your suggestions.

Some may not suit this type of party but would definitely be great to keep in mind for others.

A little bag of Haribo, a chocolate bar, a balloon, some stickers and a mini tub of play dough.
can all be used up so no tat that will go in the bin, and no hassle either.
or a big bubble wand

Most successful was some buckets and spades. Got them from Poundland, though tescos also tends to sell them quite cheaply. Managed to open the netting up to add some cake and they all went off happy. Saw them in use still with friends years later at the park.

depends how old the kids are but previously I’ve done large bubble wands , £2 each from Poundland. Those and a piece of cake, went down a treat

Seriously bouncy largish hand balls. Best thing ever. Write their name on them.

'That's a much nicer book bundle than most - the Works tends to have ,"baby animal in sacharrine story" type stuff in their multi buy books.*'
*
😂 😂

Yes, the books that were given out at the party I mentioned were the Julia Donaldson ones but bought from a bookshop - wealthy parents and many moons ago. I was doing up a holiday let and discovered you could get them for less - It may have been The Book People actually - but that went bust.

Great idea, was going to suggest this kind of thing.

Or a Rubix cube each, I got one as a kid and loved it https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coolzon-Pyraminx-Triangle-Megaminx-Turning/dp/B08D3S47DX/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?crid=QUXZ99R56JNI&keywords=rubiks+cube+set&qid=1686645852&sprefix=rubiks+cube+set%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-8
These work out at £2 per child

If my DC went to a party and I got lumbered with a mug or a tshirt after I would be annoyed. Its even more of an inconvenience than a little plastic toy and not at all a more sustainable choice.

Party bags were much better back in the day when it was basically a few sweets and a slice of cake, maybe a balloon.

Just do sweets or a cupcake.

All this junk for 30/40 kids every time someone has a birthday is just mindless waste.

Perfect.

If my DC went to a party and I got lumbered with a mug or a tshirt after I would be annoyed. Its even more of an inconvenience than a little plastic toy and not at all a more sustainable choice.

But as I've just explained, I wouldn't - be Suze I know we'd use the mug.

I have already covered my reservations about t-shirts.. But as another poster has said, her child has worn a similar T-shirt.

People are all different.

Just do sweets or a cupcake.

Thanks for the instruction.

Smh

Thanks for the other ideas folks.

I like the idea of a bubble wand each. Yes plastic but also you know it'll be used and appreciated. Or a bouncy ball?