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?

My youngest favourite was someone who’d toured charity shops in advance and bought up lots of second hand dresssing up stuff so the kids could all pick a costume to go home with. She got an awesome princess dress she played with for a couple of years.
Eldest actually loves books but is still usually disappointed when they come up at parties now older as they are typically ones she already has or a bit naff. When she was small she picked up a few Julia Donaldson ones at parties she was very pleased with. Her favourites were a make your own Christmas tree decoration thing from a party near Christmas and a mini teddy.

I try and avoid completely throwaway stuff. Ones we did that eldest’s Friends liked were drawstring swim bags with sinkers for swimming and mini Lego builds (we got the bits from the pick a brick wall and printed instructions). For youngest we once picked up a load of lockable diaries that were 80% off at Wilko and the kids were pretty excited about those too.

Not sweet cones. They're filled up with the tiny sweets that she doesn't like and a few nice ones on top.
Deffo not books. One uear they'd wrapped them up so ds convinced himself it was a box of lego (nothing like the shape of one!) V disappointed.
Dd (7) likes chocolate, balloons, stationary, stickers, fake tattoos .
The best was the mom went to a charity shop and bought loads of mega cheap jewellery and filled party bags with it. My dd loved that.
She also got invited to a Claire accessories party where she could choose £10 worth of stuff from the shop. Couldn't cope with the choice and got very upset and stressed

Ds11
One mom gave prime and a homemade cookie. He loved it.
Ds is all about the plastic tat and food.

They both love bubbles and glow sticks

I don't think books work unless it's a high quality picture book that all abilities would enjoy, which could then be expensive. A cheap first chapter book like rainbow fairies or whatever would only be suitable for children at that reading level and with those interests.

I think cake, decent sweets, balloon, bubbles or equivalent is the way to go.

As a tomboy, any jewellery went straight to my sister!

Mine (nearly three year old girl) likes pretty much anything, but I'd find seeds hard work unless they were something very easy like cress! She particularly likes sweets, bubbles and stickers, but for her the main fun is just having a bag of bits to unpack (and she's played with everything she's ever had in a party bag I think!)

I would agree with what everyone is saying. Books generally aren’t that popular. The only one we got that went down quite well was a captain underpants which was given just the right age before he had read them all.

My kids liked books, but not the multipacks from The Works as it would be either (1) a popular book they already had or (2) a dud book padding out the set

Temporary transfers, bouncy balls, stretchy men

Mine would love this too 🤮

Because kids are obsessed with it.

So glad you started this thread.
Mn has had me howling in the past!

Mn mum -" we give out books the children love them." No they bloody don't let's be honest. And they will end up in a landfill never even opened.

" how about a small packet of seeds" how shit. Plus I don't have a garden so they get thrown out. Or put on window sil and no one waters them.

"A small educational toy? My child is hyped up from the party so I'm not doing straight away plus I have educational toys that suit their interests. So we will put in a cupboard and unless there's another lockdown and we a desperate the toy will fill a landfill when they go off to uni

Party bags with some sweets / chocolate and a fidget toy or tat and the best for kids.
After a party I let my kids eat the sweets and play with the tat that they love whilst I grab my lunch ( why feed kids and not parents). Then the party bag is finished with. End.

"why feed kids and not parents"

i hate this about kids parties! When we've had hall parties I've always provided food for adults as well as kids, although I tend to avoid a mealtime as frankly it's enough work to provide drinks, snacks and cake and I cba to provide a full meal. As a guest I actually prefer to have lunch at home and then just have snacks and cake at the party. Hate being hungry and feeling like I can't eat too much or not liking the food!

They like the traditional bubbles and balloons.