Sunflower - Party bag

[Hpcalculator]

Not an AIBU question but something that puzzled me.

I have a year one kid and we have been to 4 parties in the last couple of months, out of 3 gave us a sunflower pot as a gift party bag. I thought it was a lovely idea as I am not into all these plasticky things that are usually in party bags.

However, and as my kid’s party is approaching soon, I am wondering if the sunflower thing is overdone or is it a fashion thing to do or it used to be a thing many years now and I had never spotted it? Also, any other “sustainable” ideas as I am now bored of sunflower pots and we have far too many at home?

AIBU - Sunflower pot is a traditional party bag

AINBU - It’s a current trend and a bit overdone

Also, just after thinking about it, you could get a load of the seed bombs and get the kids to place them in their own gardens and watch as they grow or throw them someplace wild but that they can watch as they grow.

Hyacinth bulbs are poisonous and tou are supposed to wear gloves to handle so maybe to Hyacinths.

books are tricky because the reading levels vary hugely in Y1, but it's always a nice gift.

I think sweets are the easiest ones, kids will eat them, they can share with siblings, there's no effort involved.

alternatively you could just give each child a big sweetie cone instead of a bag. Filled with marshmallows etc they can easily be bulked out, big enough not to need to give anything else.

@Hpcalculator Just be really sustainable and don't do a party bag at all?

I HATE getting baking kits or craft kits in party bags - DC always far too hyped up after the party to be interested, then they tend to get forgotten after that. To me it's a bit like giving people homework after the party.

My kids love the plastic tat best tbh! Stickers are also a huge hit, also fun pens/pencils and some sweets.

Books are ok, as pp have said it helps if there's some ability to choose so people don't get one they already have.

If you want to do plants then maybe wildflower seed bombs?

I'd just do sweetie cones with a thanks for coming tag. Super cheap, you can buy bulk sweets and the bags and fill them yourself. Minimal waste and kids live them.

How about a homemade giant chocolate drop topped with tiny marshmallows, dried fruit like cranberries, sour cherries, raisins, white chocolate drops, other sweets or healthy nuts (pistachios look green and great). Melt a load of milk chocolate and blob onto greaseproof paper, decorate, put to chillin fridge, wrap in parchment and a reusable coloured ribbon.

Wildflower seed bombs sound nice in theory but do all kids have somewhere appropriate to use them?

I like the idea of sweet cones instead of party bags. I did party bags full of tat for my son's (whole class) party. Didn't factor in that on the day I'd have to cut the cake and then wrap lots of slices in napkins, then distribute into all the bags, and we did the cake at the end of the party, so afterwards people wanted to leave and it was a mad rush.

Interesting party 'bags' we've done or received over the years:
A hula hoop each
A picture book
A water bottle full of sweets
A China cup and saucer with a cupcake in the cup (afternoon tea theme party for tween)
A personalised mug with chocolate bars inside
A little wooden fairy house to hang from a tree

I find party books a bit meh, its usually one of the ten for £10 from The Works and imho they're a bit dull.

Have a look on Etsy, there's some fab bits on there. A personal favourite was little bags of wildflower seeds in envelopes that had thank you for coming to xxxx's party on the front.

A personalised mug with a hot chocolate sachet and bag of marshmallows went down well for DC’s party bags. They were child sized mugs and had either hearts or stars and their name. Worked out at about £6 per child which I thought was pretty good.

Sweet cones have been done to death round here. We’ve never had a sunflower in a pot though so I’m tucking that idea away!

I love making and eating these but my kids would absolutely not touch those I’m afraid!

That popcorn grass above is amaaaaaazing! I’m doing that!

OP any sunflowers we’ve received or planted have died very quickly 😢

These are a nice balance of useful, fun, eco!

3 in each bag, with a slice of cake. Job's a good 'un.

https://plasticfreepartybags.com/product/twig-colour-pencils/

• 3 individual pencils, per bag, not 3 bundles...🙂

@GodSaveTheClean £6 per child?! Bloody hell. Not too bad if there’s only a handful of kids but in year 1 it’s likely to either be whole class or at least 10+ kids. I don’t know why you’d want to spend £50+ on party bags/favours on top of the huge amount probably already spent on party/food/cake etc. The kids really don’t care that much, they’re mainly in the party bag game for the sugar IMO. Hence my suggestion of sweetie cones - can be done for less than £1 each if you make them yourself 👌