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?

Mine like seeds & books!! But not flower seeds, strawberry plant seeds.

They also like:

• sweets/chocolate
• a balloon
• bubbles
• stickers/tattoos
• rainbow scratch sheets
• they often get excited by the plastic tat on first glance but eldest (rising 7) is increasingly realising it tends to do very little & break almost immediately and is less and less bothered with it.

Keyrings are popular. Spy pens are good. Any crafty stuff is appreciated, tubes of glitter glue, various fancy pens eg a metallic felt tip or a fabric pen, baker ross type kits.

We've had stuff like lip balm, sun glasses, nail varnish in party bags that have been popular.

Sweets, chocolate, plastic crap, bubbles, cake!

Cake
A toy
Sweets

I can honestly say neither of my 2 have ever had a book or a packet of seeds!

Mine like stickers, or tattoos, a bag of haribo, a lolly, maybe a balloon or one of those noisy blower things. DD likes a bit of cake, but DS isn't really a cake lover, so I'll eat his!
One party they had recently, they got bouncy balls, which were a big hit! They are 6, nearly 7.

Sweets and mood rings

Oh and i don't really care if kids might appreciate plastic crap more, the environment doesn't need any more throwaway plastic shipped from china so I won't be buying it. If children weren't aware plastic rubbish existed they wouldnt want it.

Round my way plastic tat is rare in party bags and most children are happy with books and craft stuff because that's what they are accustomed to.

Kids love tat, it's the parents that don't 🤣 Keep everyone happy and stick with edibles, sweets, cake - anything that gets eaten/used up and doesn't add to landfill.

£7 is a lot. I reckon on 2.50 -3 max per bag, plus cake. It isn't meant to be a proper present, surely?

I'd go for useful stuff - novelty stationery, post it notes, or non plastic such as stickers, rainbow scratch board, or something that will last like a ball. I think there are plenty of nice ideas that aren't just a waste of money.

Every party bag has bubbles in so I wouldn't bother with those personally.
Mine would like a book as long as it was a good one.

I don't think kids prefer plastic tat actually...the fact that most of it is binned by at latest 2 weeks after the party shows they aren't keen on it. It's not worth sacrificing the planet for 5 minutes of excitement, especially when they'll be just as excited by non plastic tat.

I am all for plastic toys if the child plays with them and they last a good while. Most party bag stuff isn't good quality enough for that so better to just avoid the plastic. There are non plastic alternatives less worthy than seeds and books

Basically I don't want to spend much money.

I've just spent on the party, cakes, venue etc and my kids actual birthday!

It's what can I get that's super cheap and puts a smile on the little devil's faces.

Haribos, party blower , bouncy ball, tattoos, cake

Stickers, sweets, whistle, fancy pen

We're in the minority in this household as we love getting a book. Sweets too of course, but no chocolate because of allergies. We used to have a chuckle because there was always a pencil in every party bag my son got, he made me promise not to put one in for his guests.

Last year he had a car racing theme and I put in a Hotwheels car from Poundland, a mini chequered flag and a packet of Haribo.

Balloon, any sort
Sweets/chocolate
Scrunchie
Slime
Rainbow pencil/fancy pen
Mini bath bomb

Seed packets have never been planted, baking kits sit in the cupboard… afraid the worthy options really are a waste, here anyway

Best option IMO is to work out the amount you’d spend on a classic party bag, then spend that on one item that they might actually keep - maybe even something personalised (requires a bit of organisation). DD got a personalised water bottle from one party and still uses it 2 years later

My kids love plastic tat in part bags.

A punch balloon was a huge hit.

They’re all different!

DS1 doesn’t like sweets or chocolate. He was delighted with a banana from the last party bag (a joke but he felt very understood). DS2 was utterly chuffed by a sweet cone. My two did both like the parties when they got books. They were quietly perplexed by the gross sticky slug things from one party. Both would be pleased with seeds and nag me endlessly until they were planted.

Mine loved books, especially fairies and princesses because I didn't buy that type of book

Everything that’s been mentioned someone has piped up and said “oh but my child would hate that”. So my general approach is to not give much of a fuck about pleasing all the kids, but I DO care about 30 bags of shit getting binned. So I buy something with these priorities:

• not straight for the bin tat
• something that could be used or passed on (and passed on ideally)
• something easy
• not too expensive

I tend to get one item. In the past I’ve bought Lego stuntz bikes and polybag sets. And (OMG!) books which seems to invoke horror and ridicule and a whole host of book hating kids. I set them out on the table so please don’t take one if you hate books! I’ve got the Mr Men/Little Miss sets before, plus Horrible Histories/Geography, Holly Webb, Football School. My kids will like them if no one else does (but they actually do) so not a waste. And cake. But I’m an adult so I get to decide, I don’t have to do something because a 5yo thinks they like it but actually tmw, it’s in a landfill site.

Mine’s only 4. His favourite thing to get in a party bag is sweets but other things that have gone down well have been play doh, mini Lego-style figurines, squishies, books, stickers, bubbles, and tattoos.

Something that never goes down well - although this might just be age related - is those mini colouring books. He loves a colouring book generally but the mini ones are too small to be useful.

Oh, some other things that were well-received recently was a rainbow pencil and a stackable crayon pen.

One of these inflatable swords and a big bag of Haribo Tangfastics.

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5/6y: sweets, eaten on way home and rest in sweetie jar. Sometimes cake. A balloon

Spy pens and little spy notebooks were a big hit at my 5 year old's party!

I think it ready depends on the child. My youngest (DD) is the only one still young enough to get party bags and she actually loves a book (especially any re animals). We’ve never received seeds but I think she’d enjoy that too. She also loves: novelty stationery, notebooks or secret diaries, gel pens, tiny cuddly toys, key rings, badges. In my experience the following are also popular with both boys and girls: Whoopee cushion, magic tricks, card games, Haribo, popping candy.

IMHO the party bags need to both please the child who receives it AND not massively annoy their parent. For instance, I never put bubble gum or very small bouncy balls or marbles in a bag (in case there are younger siblings in the house for whom this would be a choking risk), nor anything noisy (kazoo) or messy (paints, ‘tattoos’ or hair streaks, glitter) as even if the kids love these things I know that at least some parents would hate them!

Stretchy men are the most successful thing we put in party bags. Endlessly entertaining for children of both sexes! I notice that you can get a bag of 20 on Amazon for £4.49!