To ask what your KIDS actually like in a party bag?

[wibblewobblebottom]

So many people here suggest a book and a packet of seeds saying 'they go down a treat '. As if a 5yo is "thrilled" at receiving a seed bomb and a book from the works? 😂

We used to give stuff like a big bar of dairy milk. Or a bag of haribo. Or whatever hanging bags were on special offer. And would also chuck in something else. Things like whizzing balloons or gel pens or blind bags or whatever the latest craze was at the time and depending on age.

So what do your kids actually like in a party bag?

I don't know any child who likes seeds. My DS is made up with some stickers. I like it when there's chocolate in there because I can usually steal it.

Any sweets/chocolate and bubbles are the top favourites in our house.
Colouring books, crayons are bottom I would say.

A whistle to annoy me with 😂

Twin girls, they like hair clips and hair bands (sometimes sparkly ones from home Bargains) and hair bobbles.

They like those sparkly stick on face or hair gems from Home Bargains, fake tattoos, sticker books, balloons, cake.

They are 6.

Not books. My DD used to be totally gutted when it was fairy/princess story books - they went straight to the oxfam book shop. Balloon, cheap gift & cake. Her favourite ever was the flick a chicken.

Spy pens

Whoppee cushion

Sweets and tat, basically!

I try to put useful stuff in, like mini squishies, ink stamps, bubbles, but honestly DS’s favourite bag to date just contained this stuff:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/nicknack-Assortment-Stocking-Birthday-Classroom/dp/B0C3CCTXWC/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?keywords=party+bag+filler&qid=1695505021&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

Rocket balloons
Fingertraps
Fidget toys
Those things you push down and they jump up

The books from the works are always shit. Makes the parent look good but the kids hate them. Sweets. Bubbles. Cake.

Plastic tat and sweets!

I gave out rainbow scratch pads, a squishy, bubbles and a mini bag of haribo this week. They went down well.

I don’t do party bags anymore - sent everyone off with just a slice of expensive cake.
I really hope it catches on - fed up of tat and UPF crap I have to bin.

Those popper things with a spring and a sucker. Old as time, still hilarious: and yes it is plastic tat.
Years ago a friend gave out Poundland plastic tea sets and little car tracks. Went down a storm.
Magic painting books where the dye is on the page and you just paint with water. Polystyrene planes/Santa/fairy flyers.

It is so age dependent. One of mine had a rockstar party and we got them each an inflatable guitar. Those were really good.
A cheap football is good for throwing and kicking.
Haribo
Anything novel/interesting: we did eggshells and cress seeds with a little instruction sheet one year and the kids did like them even though it was cheap as chips and home made. DS had kids showing him their cress sandwiches for weeks.

Depends on the age, but sweets and spy pens win with my 6 and 9 year old. I always let my kids choose what tat does in their party bags, they love being a part of it and they no what tat suits their age best. I do pre select options on Amazon so they can’t go nuts price wise. My children have A LOT of books, but books in a party bag go down terribly in this house.

I have a 6 year old and 7 year old. They like bubbles, fake tatoos, stickers, swop point crayons (I think that's what they are called) and sweets. Lucky bags go down a real treat. Points for sweets suitable for vegetarians.

Sweet cones and bouncy balls seem to be the favourite here.

Books never go down well as usually they are a bit shit.

I did a sweet cone and a bottle of prime, they were delighted. 'best party bag ever' apparently.

Also recommend doing a Be My Bear party - fake build a bear kits you can buy online. Good value, entertains them for about 45 mins and they get the bear to take home instead of a party bag.

DS loves a little tub of play doh too. I am less of a fan.

Plastic tat. The more annoying the better.

I'm throwing a big party party for 5 year olds.
I'm sending them all home with giant bubble wands. Can't go wrong with bubbles!

5 year old DS: bouncy balls, a medal, Haribo, spy pens, stamper pens

10 year old: loves it when it is one 'bigger ticket' item like a bottle of prime, a robux or vbucks voucher

Both love a slab of proper iced sponge birthday cake.

They both read loads but hate the shitty The Works books or seed bombs. Probably because they have tonnes of better books and they help their grandfather on the allotment (I promise we're not auditioning for The Good Life).

Sweets. The plastic tat entertains mine for 30 secs then ends up in the bin. Now they often don't even bother looking in gift bags any more which makes them even more wasteful!

Fidget toy
Invisible pen
body spray (older girl)
fun pen
torch
paint a pot thingys, like money boxes etc
ball
balloon

Yes FGS don’t give seeds or a book, just puts pressure on the parents or goes straight to charity.