To ask if this is a good idea re party bags?

[MaryMaryVeryContrary]

DD’s 5th birthday is in a couple of weeks. Rather than filling a bag with plastic things from Amazon, I’m thinking of buying a load of books from the Works and each child can take one on the way out (along with a slice of cake of course). As a parent would you think this is a nice idea or a bit twee and show off ‘look at me such a superior educational parent’?

I've been to a few parties like this and it's a good idea, they get invited to loads of parties at that age so get lots of party bag tat elsewhere! Book, balloon, piece of cake.

It's fine but it prolongs the exit. The party bag is in actual fact a 'fk off' bag. Upon receipt of the bag the person holding it can now able to leave. All of their party guest jobs are done. It also allows you to signal that it is time for them to 'fk off' . If I was doing the book I'd wrap them and turn it into a lucky dip.

I did this some years, much better than a load of plastic tat. 5 might be a bit small, though. I did horrible histories and that type when they were a bit older. Those sweet cones always go down well, too. I did mister men cups filled with sweets on year.

Ive done that before and received books before, in my experience the books don't get read because they actually aren't to the child's liking or it's a double. Unless it's something they can swap when older like Horrible Histories, Horrible Science or Goosebumps when older. If you do do it, I wouldn't wrap them but have them open so the child can see or write the theme on the front 'Cowboys', ' Princess', 'Space'.

The party bag situation that went over the best was a 'build you own' one, with paper birthday ice cream tubs / paper cups and then various items like mini highlighters, erasers, haribo, bouncy balls etc that the children picked them selves as they went out the door. Obviously you can buy age appropriate ones but I tried to choose useful things children like instead of tat.

Bubble bath, packets of seeds, a mug.

I used to do this quite regularly. The Book People used to do brilliant bundles that worked out at about £1 each book. That with a piece of cake and job done! Parents appreciated it more than a plastic whistle and other tat.

Bubble wands always went down well, I think the Works are doing 2 for £1.50, they're also doing a pack.of 4 with seahorses at the top (I think they're £3).

Friend of mine did this, books laid out on a table each book had a name tag of the child. Was really nice

We always do books 📚 ❤️ Such a lovely idea and always well received. Yes there's a slim chance you might get a duplicate but that's no different to Birthday presents/other gift bags. I'd much rather get a book for my children than other stuff.

I think that giving each child a book is a nice idea, but will only seem nice to the parents (and only some of the parents).

Bottom line is that you need to be thinking what would a 5yr old child actually want ? (rather than what you would like to give them)

5yr old kids want the 'plastic tat' I'm afraid, and you run the very real risk of making your child the butt of jokes for the foreseeable future if you give out books instead of 'toys'.

Give them what they want is my advice.

My child is a reader. She would love it. Not all children are.

I would go with a bag of sweets.

I did this with my kids 25+ years ago. Even just did cake sometimes. You'd get the odd comment from a child but parents grateful no tatt

We did the I-spy books for party bags one time - they went down well.

The name 'Fuck off' bag is fabulous! Yes, this is exactly what it is! I'm past party bags in my house but now this what they shall forever be known as!

Great idea but I’d probably allocate rather than let them choose and maybe put it in a paper bag with the cake to just give out for speed/ease.

We did little buckets and spades once and that went down really well with a slice of cake in each one. Saw people using them at the park years after the party. Books can be a little hit an miss especially at that age with very different reading interests and levels.

Probably depends though how well you know the children. If it is six or seven close friends and they are all fairly similar stage/ interests it could work well. A whole class party the reception might be a little more mixed.

Well that makes 2 of us. It's not about the contents, it's the message behind them!

I did this around that age.

In each party bag I put slice of cake and a Mr Man book as they were the right size for the bag. Might have put a ball in too. Stuff that’s not plastic tat, basically.

Absolutely. Been to a few parties that have just done this. I know kids like the plastic tat but at the age of 5 they are not going to be questioning things too hard.

I'd much rather have books than this, sorry. My kids have eczema so the bubble bath is a no, seeds are ok but maybe extra work for already stressed parents and I can't think of anyone who wants another random mug.

Totally agree about wrapping the books and having a 'lucky dip'

Lots of people do books here, it's OK but the works ones can be quite rubbish and not great quality. I think you have to be careful which ones you pick.

I often did the book thing when they were little.. and as they got older a single gift related to the theme of the party (eg a climbing party they got a water bottle and clip..) still given at the end as a cue to fuck off!

I've done a book, small chocolate selection box and cupcake before. Easier than messing about with a squashed cake in a napkin.

I did one year footballs from Poundland ( when everything was £1) I just filled a black bag - I think that was the best one I ever did . Kids left happy no stupid whistles and other crap the ended in the him a week later

As a parent I'd be happy to get a good book as my child loves being read to, but I would rather have plastic tat than a badly written, poor quality book that I might be forced to read over and over again. I've heard of a selection of second hand books being offered, think I'd like that better than crap ones from The Works. My child is a bit younger though. If he could read his own book I wouldn't be bothered.